14/09/2023
Hi there
Last week I was deeply immersed in an online Meditation Training with my yoga teacher, Kia Miller and a group of students from around the world 🌏 I love these deep dives into yogic practices and philosophies, as there are always so many 'Aha' 💡moments for me.
One of the great things about the week was the unearthing of lots of my unconscious patterns of thought and behaviour. While this is sometimes challenging and confronting, the knowledge gives me the opportunity to change. Often these behaviours and thoughts are so habitual that we are completely unaware of them.
I recognised that I'm often stressing about not having enough time to do all the things I want to achieve and do in this short life, so my mind is always planning to make sure I get it all done - this is also reflected in my physical body which literally feels like it is holding on for dear life to keep it all together 🚀🚀😬 In my mediation this manifests as "planning" thoughts always coming into my mind - what I'm going to do, how I'm going to do it, when I'm going to do it - it's exhausting!! 🤪
It reminded me of a quote from author Aldous Huxley:
"It’s dark because you are trying too hard.
Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly.
Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply.
Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.
Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me.
So throw away your baggage and go forward.
There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet,
trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair.
That’s why you must walk so lightly.
Lightly my darling."
💛
So now, as I go through my day I am more aware of when I'm falling into the trap of worrying that I'm not going to get it all done. When my shoulders start hiking up with stress and my body is feeling contracted, I breathe, consciously relax my body and tell myself that not everything has to get done all at once - that there is time. "Lightly child, lightly". 💛
Love Charlotte xo
