In one of the yoga teacher training programs I took, I had a manual that had an interesting index heading: "Measuring the Efficacy of Practice". I turned eagerly to the page to read what it said.
“Progress on the path of yoga is defined by an increase in happiness and contentment; your relationships improve, your feathers get ruffled less easily and you can find contentment in any moment, even if it is painful.” ( I paraphrased, it was actually quite a bit longer, but that is the gist of it.)
The goal of any authentic spiritual practice is to stop suffering and attain perfect happiness. We are hardwired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. But, most people seem to be living in a state of vague discontent. How do we become happy? The first step is to look around us and see how unbelievably lucky we really are. Count your blessings. Focus on all that you do have.
In order for this to be effective it is necessary to establish the practice of gratitude. Once a day stop and take stock of 5 things you have to be grateful for. You can keep a journal if you like a writing practice, or you can simply pause during the day and think of these things.
There is a well known saying: It is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratitude that makes us happy.
The next step is to go on a complaining fast. If you don’t like something and you can change it, then do so. If you can’t, complaining won’t help.
You may be surprised at how much of what passes for conversation is actually complaining. Once you become aware of this habit you may notice when others are complaining. In that case, don’t judge, simply take note and turn the mirror on yourself. Is that what you look and sound like when you are complaining? Does complaining help you get happier? According to the laws of karma, complaining only brings about more of the same.
One interesting note is that there has been less complaining in class. There are no good poses or bad poses unless we assign them such qualities. Challenging yoga poses are the perfect opportunity to practice breathing with equanimity under pressure.
Try these three practices: Count your blessings, keep a gratitude journal and go on a complaining fast and let me know how you are making out. Share your thoughts by leaving a comment in the space below.
Namaste,
Karin
P.S.
I wanted to share a poem I heard on my favorite podcast "On Being" with Krista Tippet. It seemed to fit with the theme of gratitude.
“I had no idea that the gate I would step through / to finally enter this world / would be the space my brother’s body made. He was / a little taller than me: a young man / but grown, himself by then, / done at twenty-eight, having folded every sheet, / rinsed every glass he would ever rinse under the cold / and running water. / This is what you have been waiting for, he used to say to me. / And I’d say, What? / And he’d say, This — holding up my cheese and mustard sandwich. / And I’d say, What? / And he’d say, This, sort of looking around.” - Marie Howe