YOGA - WEST OF THE NARROWS

"Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontentment makes rich men poor." - Benjamin Franklin

​

As usual, with the New Year comes New Year's resolutions, intentions, goals, call it what you may.....and I'm usually the first on board with this idea. A fresh start, a new perspective, a clean slate to move forward, I love setting goals and making timelines. It helps me feel as though there is a path carved out to follow. Yet, this year was different.

​

Usually hungry for a goal to achieve, this year my appetite was quenched. If I really wanted, I could dig up things to strive towards, but that assumed two things to me. One, I was going to have to strive, and in a recent effort to allow my Type A personality to simmer down, striving has lost its appeal to me. Going with the flow seems much more palatable. Secondly, it meant I was insenuating that some part of my life needed to change. That thought made me feel guilty.

​

Because I have a strong belief that life is by design and things are really at the core all part of 'the good', it seems to me that where I stand today is exactly where I was meant to be. So by working to change that, I'd be disrupting an evolutionary process in which I was meant to be a passenger, rather than the conductor managing each turn.

​

I decided to let go of a resolution/intention this year until, that is, I came across a compelling inspirational video on designing your life, or mainly the year ahead. I was reinvigorated! Where was my paper and pen?!? I needed to sit quietly and brainstorm ASAP! Surprisingly, as I did, about 30 minutes later I discovered the very thing I already knew......I did not want to set any goals, timelines or the likes. I wanted to just BE....and just be happy for that.

​

Santosha is a Sanskrit word and in Yoga philosophy is the 2nd of the 5 Niyamas, or self-observances/self-care practices. Is translates to contentment and gratitude. This state I was feeling reminded me of this word I had read so much about throughout my years of studies. I wondered...by being content, was I going to stop blossoming? Did it imply a lazy or a passive state? I certainly wasn't on board with that...

​

"Contentment is not stagnant, because of the changeable nature of our life and the world around us. Santosha is being aware that we are moving forward and being satisfied with our progress." - Nicholai Bachman in The Path of the Yoga Sutras.

​

It occurred to me, just because I'm not going to actively 'call the shots' in my near future, doesn't mean I am not open and excited for what life has ahead, satisfied with the natural progress. What is more important to me in this juncture is having gratitude for what is, connecting to the moment rather than getting lost in the future. Allowing the nectar of each day to be savored for what it is; something that was designed to be unfolding just the way it is.

​

I am in no way knocking well-laid intentions, goals, timelines, etc. Feel free to visualize your hearts out! I do invite you to soak in what you've already accomplished, enjoy the elements of your life as they are and ponder that maybe this right here, today, IS the purpose of your life, not something in the future. May you find the Santosha (contentment and gratitude) in your life today, and each day in this upcoming year.

​

Namaste, Yogis!