This statement made by Kundalini Yogi, Siri Atma S. Khalsa, M.D., moved me from the first time I read it and has stuck with me:
“The distance between who you are supposed to be and who you’ve become is the amount of disease, suffering and depression you manifest in your life to compel you to close this gap.”
You don’t create change when you’re comfortable. You create change when things become uncomfortable, or worse, when they become unbearable.
If you’re lucky you start making changes when things are only at the slightly uncomfortable stage and still have the energy to deal with the situation.
For instance, you know it’s important to rest when you feel run down. Don’t wait until it turns into bronchitis or pneumonia.
Similar parallels run in every aspect of your life.
You’re supposed to look for new work when you’re ready for a greater challenge, not when you’re burnt out from doing something you’ve hated for so long it’s become normal to dread every weekday of your life and live for only the weekends.
I believe in the strength of group energy. This is one of the reasons I love teaching big classes, and also why I’ve created online communities of support in my online courses. When you practice yoga alone, you’ll never challenge yourself to the same degree as when you’re carried along by the energy of the collective.
Kundalini Yoga has a multitude of nervous system exercises that involve keeping your arms up for a LONG time. I often tell students that if they put their arms down, their neighbours will too, and it will be their fault the neighbour didn’t see the exercise through.
When you stay strong, you encourage others to do the same. When you take good care of yourself, you encourage others to do the same. And most importantly when you live life authentically in full alignment with your True Self you begin to live your purpose and this encourages others to do the same too.
Who is your True Self?
The only way to answer that question is through connecting with the stillness within you in meditative states, free from constant distraction. And, it’s an online journey I will be taking with students very soon.
As you’re at the beginning of a fresh new year, it’s a great time to ride the collective energy of change that’s in the air.
What area of your life has become uncomfortable? What do you need to address before it becomes a crisis? What have you been neglecting? Is it your health, your relationship, your career, your spiritual life?
You could choose to set an intention for each aspect of your life (health, relationship, spiritual life, career), or something I like to do is just ask…what’s important to you now?
I’ve gotten in the habit of asking this question daily and I use it as a guiding principle for what needs my attention.
If you’re ready to go on a journey of self- exploration with an incredible community of support, have a look at my new online course, Meditate to Master Your Mind, and fire questions my way, info@semperviva.com
Sat Nam,
Gloria Latham