The level of our training
Life is short and it is at least half terrible, and for every kind stranger, there is one who would break you, though I keep this from my children. I am trying to sell them the world. Any decent realtor, walking you through a real shit hole, chirps on about good bones: This place could be beautiful, right? You could make this place beautiful.
// From Good Bones, by Maggie Smith //
Right now, it is easy to see the terrible. To focus on it, to search for it in the news and social media updates. And depending on the news source and the social media post, they could be two very different things or, two very similar things.
Right now, remember that if the world is at least half terrible, like Maggie Smith suggests, then it is at least half beautiful.
Perhaps that is what she is really suggesting.
The practice of yoga teaches us to observe. It shows us that going through the hard stuff, the dark stuff - the shadows - is an important part of our journey to freedom. It teaches us to sit with discomfort and not bypass or ignore the truth. When we do this, we are able to compassionately detach. We learn that this is different than ignoring or holding too tightly to some reaction or truth. We simply see and feel, “This is coming up for me right now.”
Or, “I am observing my reaction to that news article my mother sent me.”
Perhaps the thought is, “I feel sad and anxious in this moment.”
I think the universal powers are actually asking us to look at the hard stuff right now.
As I personally work through my reactions to what is presently going on in the world I am also noticing more opportunities to investigate, explore, and heal from personal past traumas.
I am reminded that I am an extremely sensitive individual and always have been.
Right now is hard on the sensitive ones, but if you have been doing your practice that work is evident now.
When listening to The Model Health Podcast, I heard the quote, “You don’t rise to the occasion. You sink to the level of your training.” This is showing up for all of us now and why it is even more important to put into place however you practice, how you, “train.” Yoga, meditation, breathing, reading, dancing, cooking healthy, self massage, wholistic self care.
Although you may feel like a pressure cooker ready to explode on occasion, keep facing the fire, the dark stuff, the fear with courage. Depth of character is developed, your warrior within is cultivated, connections are strengthened, compassion is revealed, and the deepest truth is illuminated.
The most rewarding thing is the beauty that comes from all of this.
With peace,
Amber
