The one who is not afraid of the world, and who the world is not afraid of, is dear to me.
The Bhagavad Gita
Chapter 12 - Verse 1.5
Lets start this post by using the following prompt ‘How can you bring more harmony? And then define the word Harmony.
Harmony - The simplicity of finding balance, peacefulness, understanding, oneness, goodwill, and unity.
The answer may at first appear elusive my friends, living in a world that seems to thrive on increasing fear, aggression and violence. In our technological world at present, it is all too easy to slip into believing what we are hearing rather than seeing for ourselves through the news, false or otherwise.
Slipping out of balance with ourselves and others because of pressures, expectations, commitments, and illnesses. Factors that challenge our innate ability to be present with ourselves and others.
However, the good news is that we all have the flexibility and tools within to reconnect and tune into the essence of harmony. In the process doing our little bit to manage conflict, restore harmony, nurture relationships and manifest what we want to see.
I came up with my PEESTT formula that contains 5 simple practices that may help:
P - Presence: Being aware of your presence to yourself, to others, to the world.
E - Exposure & Environments: What are you exposing yourself to? Are you watching the news constantly? Are you listening or watching violence? Who is in your space? Do they bring support, nourishment, positivity and encouragement? Or is negativity present?
E - Expand your knowledge of the world.
S - Simplify: Review schedules, commitments and install boundaries.
T - Tune in with what brings you joy.
T - Travel (where possible),
When the Pandemic, although desperately horrific when the world stopped, we all changed, life changed. Covid slapped us in the face with the reminder that everything is impermanent. However, one positive aspect of the lockdown was the opportunity to reconnect with nature, appreciate our communities, practise meditation, mindfulness and yoga to help with the stress of it all.
When l saw the above verse (at the beginning of this post) taken from The Bhagavad Gita in a recent article, it resonated more this time around then when l had first read it. The verse encourages us to seek and find balance in all things worldly. Prodding us not to take things at face value but instead to do a little more enquiry by learning about nature, culture and society.
Coming from a mixed cultural background myself and having parents who loved to travel (my father the first from his village in Pakistan to win a scholarship to Cambridge) and a mother constantly trekking around Europe. You might stay travel and culture is in my blood. Living in Cyprus, Greece and Cuba with prolonged stays in Australia, Thailand, New York and LA. I was also fortunate to have a successful career that allowed me to experience life from many different religions, cultures and communities. Cultivating one might say a certain degree of worldliness and influencing how l see life, how l choose to live it and with whom. Evolving careers continued these threads of exploration and adventure when l was teaching yoga globally (for over two decades).
Me with my British Airways Crew, London 1997
With my beloved Jivamukti Teachers at Teacher Training Graduation, NYC 2009
With Shiva Rea, in Venice, California 2010
“The people we meet, change our lives forever”.
Travelling (where possible) even if it is to local gathering, community, wedding, concert, holiday, yoga retreat. Can often provide us with unexpected opportunities to connect with others. Saying YES sometimes can also unconsciously open ourselves up to meeting new people from other cultures in a relaxed environment, where differences maybe less threatening. More importantly finding a thread of similarity in our shared interests can allow us to hear, experience and respect life from different perspectives. In the process doing our little bit to manage conflict, restore harmony and nurture relationships.
Echoes of this particular sentiment played out for me last weekend. Receiving a last minute invitation to my friends wedding/blessing (they actually got married last year in Canada) so this was the English gathering. Normally not one for weddings, l surprised myself when l said yes straight away!. Even through it was a good two and half hours drive from where l live and l would be on my own, as Wim was back in Holland seeing his parents. It had been at least seven years as since l last saw Shab and Michelle. I had met them both when they had first walked into my yoga class back in 2011 and we had hit it off straight away. Since then deaths, marriages and Covid in between it was like no time had passed. A beautiful aspect of this experience for me was found in Michelle’s kind words of how much my classes and teachings had mean’t to her. Furthermore, how by attending those classes she had met other liked minded souls and forged other connections along the way.
Me & Michelle, June 2024
The Wedding! And the English Summer Garden Party - simply beautiful, June 2024
Being social and living in a friendly community can also have an enriching affect on your mental health. I am extremely grateful for where l live. My neighbours are varied in ages and backgrounds. Just sitting with some of them for a short while can be inspiring. Hearing experiences of travelling, living and working in different environments and countries allows a different perspective on life to emerge.
Notripophobia - Fear of not travelling or living a life without travelling
Immersing ourselves in studying other countries, languages and cultures can broaden our outlook upon and of the world.
A set of prompts that may help you realise and determine where there maybe an undeveloped source of potential and harmony laying dormant in your life. Furthermore, prodding your attention and uncovering what experiences you want to bring into your life now.
Prompts
Talk to someone (mindfully of course) who you wouldn’t normally have a conversation with and find a common thread to start a short but sweet conversation. What did you learn?
What can you notice and learn about that is different in your environment? What has changed from last time you viewed it?
Are my current experiences helping me grow and flow or stagnate?
What can you notice that is different in your view point to last week, last month, last year, last ten years?
Change your words and language around you describe what you see? Like your seeing it for the first time. Your words are more powerful than you realise.
What would l like to learn more about and why? How can it help me cultivate more harmony in my life and into the world.
What would bring you more harmony right now?
What would be helpful?
What can you offer?
The world is hostile yes, but the world can also be a source of inspiration, to act, to care, to learn, to evolve, to care and to change. Reminding us of what it means to be truly human and the importance of connection. After all our brains are wired to be social.
Until next time my friends.
BE WELL, MEAN WELL, LIVE WELL
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