“Stay in the center and notice each moment with calm serenity.” - C. Lewis

 

As we continue our studies of the Niyamas, remember they are the 5 personal practices that relate to our inner world.  The 2nd one is Santosha, contentment and a calm center.  I spoke last week about 2 qualities to cultivate Santosha - acceptance and gratitude.  This week I want to focus on “non seeking” as a means to cultivate Santosha.

 

Many of us are constantly getting ready for the next thing, there is a Chinese proverb - “we never really live, we just get ready”.  Do you see yourself getting ready for the next thing and so missing what is in front of you?  Do you tell yourself you will be “content” when X, Y and Z works out?

Another way to look at Santosha in terms of non-seeking is to check in with yourself and how you look at others.  Do you look at their lives and see what is missing in yours?  “We look across the fence and see what we don’t have, rather than looking inside the fence and enjoy what we do have.  When we look over the fence we move ourselves into lack.” Deborah Adele

 

Both of these blocks to Santhosha are focused on our outside environment, but remember the Niyamas deal with our inner world so…Santosha has to come from the inside out. Can we drop the need for outside details to line up in order for us to be content? Can we stop looking outside of ourselves and using the lives of those around us as a personal measuring stick for how we are doing and then how content we can be.  I once had a life coach from Handel tell me…Karen put away the measuring stick, you won!  Can you put away your measuring stick? Can you stop reaching and grasping for the next thing and instead find contentment and inner calm right now in the reality of your own life?  In other words, as our intention this month states; Today lets commit to making peace with ourselves!!!