Yoga has taught me it is ok to be out of balance. Nothing exists without its opposite.
It’s generally through these opposites that we learn and grow. Take “Balance” or ‘Moderation” for example. This is one of the Laws of Nature.
If your actions are otherwise, that is if your actions are too extreme in any one direction for too long you will miss the target. Nature does however find a way to bring you back ‘on track’.
In my experience it is generally through suffering!
Thankfully Yoga is also beginning to teach me that “Suffering is optional”.
Yoga has also taught me that “Balance” is not an end state and the ironic thing is that sometimes being out of balance is the very thing that inspires me to find it again, each time learning new skills that help me deepen my understanding of this Law of Nature.
Both states – ‘balance’ and ‘imbalance’ are valuable teachers because the reality is both exist. Being perfect isn’t the key to finding this centre point. Choosing to “pay attention to what you are doing and making a conscious choice” is!
Here is a little story – a favourite of mine that I have adapted from one of my great teachers/mentors Dan Millman. Enjoy the story xox Tammy
How do I find Balance? the student asked.
“When you’re out of balance, it feels normal to you as this is where you spend most of your time, its familiar to you. Because of this you tend to stay with the familiar.
“So the fastest way to find centre is to overcorrect – to deliberately practice the opposite of what you’re used to doing.”
For example, if you speak too rapidly or too quietly for people to understand you, then you need to deliberately talk in a way that ‘feels’ too slow or too loud’.
If you tend to throw a ball and hit to the right of the target you need to throw what ‘feels’ too far left.
“But I want to hit the target, Im worried about missing it by throwing to far to the left” – the student says.
“Im sure you do!”
“But once you’ve worked both sides, it’s far easier to find centre”
the master replies.
This applies to anything in life!
This story has been adapted from The Law of Balance’ – Finding the Middle Way
(The Laws of Spirit, A tale of Transformation) by Dan Millman
Click here for Dan Millmans
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