Autumn's Invitation

Heeding Autumn's invitation to pause and turn inward, the same call-to-breath comes periodically in life. If we don't take pause, we lose inspiration and we turn our backs on that which has 'expired' in our life. 

This is particularly true for the seekers. I get it - I am one. I looovvve books, documentaries, poets, speakers and wisen teachers who are agents of personal growth and evolution. Eckhart. Thich Nhat Hanh. Rumi. HH Dalai Lama. David Whyte... and the list goes on.

Nevertheless, I have learned not to be seduced by everything that comes across my path. I do keep my mind open and apply knowledge and practices, however I also know that a great deal of energy stands to be lost when I'm tempted too far from the tried and true. 

Don't get me wrong - it's incredibly seductive and with so many interesting things available at this time, I see more and more well-intended people spreading themselves thin like a tourist hotspotting their way to good health. Over the years, I have come to recognise that like all good things, we deeply benefit from taking the time to marinate ourselves in our practices in order to reap the fullest rewards. 

With patience and commitment we enhance our awareness and  can better assess if we need to do things differently... move in a new direction or switch some things up. 

We humans are creatures of habit, although not all our habits are life-enhancing. Only you can answer this. Are you happy where you are (health, job, relationship...). If honestly YES, keep doing what you are doing. If NO, it's useful to remember that if you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you've got.

Get a cup of tea and reflect on WHERE you are. WHERE you want to go. WHO do you want to be.

Maybe you don't know and that's OK. A first step may be to switch things up and say YES to doing a few things differently in order to learn more about yourself. 

• Consider the habits of the people that inspire you.
• Smile at strangers
• Go to a (different) yoga class
• Walk a new route
• Eat a new food that supports your dosha (your Ayurvedic constitution)
• Go to bed before 20:00 and rise before the sun
• Learn a new skill
• Breath with more awareness

Whatever it is - stay open!

If you hear yourself saying. I don't "do" yoga - remember that yoga is much more than movement. Likewise, Ayurveda is also much more than a diet. Both ancient sciences are time-tested (estim. 5000 years) on how to live in balance, healthy and in union with everything. It's inspiring to me how these days people are genuinely waking up to the gold nuggets in these sciences. I hear and read books by therapists, athletes, doctors, public figures touting the wisdom and foundational principles of these sciences. It's not new, but we're coming full circle because we have lost touch with nature (our nature) and these sciences work! 

I hope this little exercise helps you to find power in how little you can or need to do, so you can enjoy the beauty and abundance that naturally comes when we act from inspiration. 

If you are yearning for things to be different - let's make a date to discuss - or join me for yoga, Part 2 of Ayurveda in Daily Life, my Breathe Into Being workshop.  Don't simply believe me, let your results speak for themselves.