yes

The Mantra “Yes”

I taught a workshop in last week and afterward found a small pebble on my mat with the word “YES” on it.  A woman came up to me and shared she makes these pebbles and felt moved to give me this particular one.  Chills moved through my body, I teared up and gave her a big bear hug.  The strong rush of emotions appeared because I’ve been working with the mantra  “YES” for the past year and a half unbeknownst to the giver of this small gift.
As I keep evolving, I have realized that fear and worry about what others may think have kept me small.  I have gotten in my own way and the straightjacket of perfectionism and the disease to please have kept me from taking risks and living my life in full color and aliveness.  Through various situations in the past 18 months, I’ve been reminded over and over to make my mantra “YES”.   I’ve actually done it, and the results have been astounding. I said “YES” to taking a belly dance class…terrifying! I bared my soul at the “Inspiring People” series which terrified me more and in the word of Brene Brown created a serious “vulnerability hangover” when I was done.  Yet, because I’m committed to “YES”, I did these overwhelming things and have been infused with energy and also greater self-respect.
Too often we all play it safe in our lives…choosing to only do the things with which we are familiar, or only doing those things we know we can excel at.  Yoga has taught me that our capacity is GREAT and our potential DEEP.  Pantanjali suggested more than 20 centuries ago that by committing to yoga: “Dormant forces, faculties, and talents come alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”  So not only does the practice help you be who you are…but it is far better than you ever imagined it could be.
Say “YES” to something this week and see what happens.
“There is no one way to live your life. There is only the step-by-step adventure with no knowable distant plan. when one is saying yes, it does not matter upon what the foot rests at a step’s completion.  Wherever it is, it will be the perfect place to say yes again.  Let yes become your mantra, your magical key, your silent friend.”  -Pat Rodegast and Judith Stanton from Emmanuel’s Book III: What is An Angel Doing Here?
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