As l was resting in corpses pose after an intensive detox/twisting class, the following thought arose…..What does it really mean to live life on your own terms?
Not quite sure why that prompt suddenly entered my stream of conscious, maybe because l was trying to work through the stuff l’ve had to deal with the last few weeks it’s been intense and there was a lot of twisting in that class dear Elena!
In a yoga practice twisting poses can provoke stirrings bubbling away just underneath the surface to arise. Often triggering emotions such as anger, buried deep in our psyche, our muscles and more importantly our organs.
Laying there l realised, actually it was perfectly normal to be drifting along on that wave of thought. Feeling the reminisce of some of the strands from my most recent posts on blooming and blossoming. Gathering reflections from the past interwoven with the threads of possibility for the future.
Anger, regret, jealousy, and fear are all negative thought patterns that await us at the door to our minds trying to seduce us back into fear and unhappiness. Affecting our inner and outer behaviours that ultimately affect and create the landscapes that we choose to live in.
Don’t get me wrong, l also have my dark days of late, dealing with going through menopause to supporting a depressive family member. However, despite that l can normally pull myself up by my boot straps, somehow finding one thing to be positive about or focus on. My writing on here (has been a lifesaver of sorts so far!) along with my newly found love of gardening.
Nevertheless a thought that kept raising it’s ugly head in the background of my mind natter was victimisation. In this case, l’m referring to being held prisoner by my own internal natter (mindstuff) or Chittam as referred to in Sanskrit and yoga philosophy.
Often triggered and facilitated by negative experiences and thoughts patterns that we have had consciously or unconsciously for god knows how long? These patterns can often keep us on the hamster wheel of misery. A never ending repeating cycle of not really feeling like we are living how we really want. Building fear within, a fear that we don’t have what it takes to break free and often believing that we don’t deserve to thrive.
Of course, just to clarify l am not referring to victims of abuse or any crime, but instead our chittam (our mindstuff) as previously mentioned.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
yogas chitta vritti nirodha
Translation
YOGA = to yoke, to join, to unite
CHITTA = consciousness
VRITTI = fluctuation
NIRODAH = quieting of
A prompt that arose from deep within my psyche from witnessing these arising thoughts was how can l more fully live life on my own terms? and what does that actually mean?
What if it was basically about “How could l expand my passion?” and what actions would l need to take? Maybe it could be a review of the boundaries l have with myself and others?
With that in mind l came up with some following prompts which you may find helpful.
Prompts for “How to expand Your Passion?”
Look at where you are (honestly) now with your passions or passions.
How can you expand the scope of it/them?
What could you do differently?
What would it take?
Can you envision it?
If you can see it and hold it in your minds eye, believe in it, then trust and allow manifestation and your intention to do the rest.
Prompts for how you can work with boundaries with self and others?
Where and how much energy am l giving to others, myself, my passions? (And be honest!)
Are there any changes that need to be made?
How can l support myself fully as well as supporting others?
Living Life on Your Own Terms
Expanding Passion
Expansion like a blue never ending sky
Shinning bright
Illuminating and honouring vision and passions
Uplifting spirits along the way
Blessing me with ideas
Bringing possibilities for growth
Where was l last time you visited me?
What has changed?
When was the last time l truly smiled?
Passion for who and what?
When was the last time l truly smiled?
Realisations often ignited from a sunny sky
Revelations coming
Questions to answer
What do l want to grow within?
What do l want to see Blossom?
Always present as l head to my next destination?
Where will you take me next?
Thank you Blue Sky for helping me expand my vision and passion
NEW EVENT a free introductory session this coming Saturday 27th, July at 4pm for 30 minutes BST at The Blooming and Blossoming Circle. Please subscribe or check out my previous post for Zoom link.
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