Janell Loving
Your task is not to seek for
love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it. - Rumi
I love that quote. Each time I read it,
I am reminded that directing my focus correctly is what allows me to
achieve my dreams, and that listening and acting from the heart
allows me to achieve balance in mind, body and spirit.
As I began to contemplate how I adjust
my approach to balance, I realized that adjustment for me lately is
about recognizing ways that I sabotage the balance that I crave by
intently focusing on how to change or make it better. By obsessing
about where my balance should be, what is or isn't out of whack I am
indeed adjusting my balance right out of the harmonious rhythm
that I am seeking.
One
of my first yoga instructors made a lasting impression on me when she
said The most important
lesson that we learn is to be constant in the practice of being
present.
At the time, it seemed like an easy enough task - practice being
present. It turns out, as my practice has grown, this is much harder
for me than it seemed. It is sort of like riding a bike. If you look
too long in a direction other than where you are heading, the bike
begins to veer off course in the direction of your gaze. Directing
focus to what is right in front me, moving one step, and one breath,
at time with the intent that I have created is the practice of being
completely present for me. Being aware aligns my perception of
balance and allows me to do the best that I can in that instant,
completely immersed in the full experience moment by moment.
To be in the moment, I am discovering
that I must move from the heart, before my mind has a chance to bring
reason or prejudice into focus. This is how I find courage to
readjust and stay rooted in the present moment. Being present with
intent from the heart opens up my ability to move through a fear, a
limitation or that nagging voice of doubt in my head, gently guiding
me back to a present center of balance. I am slowly understanding
that this one small action turns the chemistry of authenticity into
fireworks and passion to fuel the journey of an extraordinary life.
Each journey begins with a deep breath
in. Identifying and pushing individual boundaries requires focused
intention and a release of a deep breath out, in order to realign our
perception of balance during the journey.
To Bloom Where You Are
Just Breathe
