How to stop running: Release your struggle and relax into the world.

“There is no need to search; achievement leads to nowhere. It makes no difference at all, so just be happy now! Love is the only reality of the world, because it is all One, you see. And the only laws are paradox, humor and change. There is no problem, never was, and never will be. Release your struggle, let go of your mind, throw away your concerns, and relax into the world. No need to resist life, just do your best. Open your eyes and see that you are far more than you imagine. You are the world, you are the universe; you are yourself and everyone else, too! It's all the marvelous Play of God. Wake up, regain your humor. Don't worry, just be happy. You are already free!” ~ Dan Millman

A friend told me recently to stop running... but I'm not. I'm quite settled, actually. I'm stepping into my self and what I love to do: teaching. That takes me to places some people may or may not ever get to see in their lifetime... and if it looks easy or busy or like I'm running, well, that's perception I suppose. Because life is sometimes hard more often than it is light and easy, I find myself waiting more than anything. Waiting for replies, waiting at airports- waiting more than being busy. I don't run anymore, either. I walk. Early. Because being late just makes me anxious.

There are days where I am shifting through figuring out what my "brand" of yoga is and how I can create a better connection to my students that will spark something transformative in them and still keep me inspired to teach.

On those days, I just keep coming back to myself. And, yes, as my friend told me, you have to learn to quiet the voices in your head that tell you that are you anything less than worthy. What helps quiet those voices are surrounding myself with people who push my buttons but also offer up support in a loving way. And, if you can figure out how to make me laugh and quit taking myself so seriously, bonus points.

“I think the only way to get through this life is laughing hard and constantly, mostly at myself.” ~ Shannon Hale

Our words and thoughts have so much power, don't you think? We can use them to build or destroy. If I have ever used them destructively, as we all do from time to time, it's been in a moment of complete loss of control triggered by fear.

So, thank you, friend, for teaching me that the world and relationships and life is often messy, and we have a choice in how we respond. Sometimes we just have to turn 180 degrees and walk, not run, in the direction of our own self and LIVE for we are already free.

May our hearts release all struggle and be filled with only love for ourselves and one another.

Autobiography

I took a sharp look
I took a long prowl
I questioned the serpent
I questioned the owl
I called up the mayor
I called on the sage
I tried reading Proust
I tried life on the stage
I went into therapy
I went out for sports
I suffered every ailment
from sniffles to warts
I went to the dogs
I went to the Pope
I climbed Annapurna
I fasted on dope
I dug up the desert
I delved in the sea
But nowhere I looked
could I recognize me

So eventually I
had to give up my plan
of escape to Siam
and accept myself here
just as I am

But it wasn’t easy

~ James Broughton