Polish Your Perspective

There is no "should".

So many people, myself included, have been complaining about the weather. It's hard not to. We do have a president for what "should" be happening with the weather at this time of year. But it is a perfect example of how what we think should happen can't possibly be what always happens.

You can see this in the ways of human behavior as well. It's hard, if you insist on seeing the world only through your perspective, to understand how people can make decisions that don't mesh with your point of view. If you insist on making the world fit your expectation you will only be setting yourself up for disappointment and strife. 

What if you acted as if what you are perceiving as obstacles was what you were supposed to have? Be adventurous! What if you perceived those obstacles as stairs instead of boulders. Maybe you become a rock climber. Live with less shoulds this week. 

Get Out of Your Own Way

There is so only so far logic and analyzing can get you. It is unrealistic to think you could know every piece of every circumstance. Open to the present moment, let logic and analysis take a back seat to experience. As we practice becoming more aware, we react less and act more.

Let openness be more important than logic. Create a mind set into which you can place possibility instead of doubt. If you are constantly spinning your wheels on any given situation you may end up stuck in what could go wrong. While there is some benefit to being prepared for failure, opening up to what could happen invites it into your life.
A good friend of mine is attempting to decide whether or not to home school her daughter. You can't possibly know which one of those choices is the best. There are so many details and possibilities to consider. Each has its own pros and cons. At some point you have to allow decision come forward. 

Bravery

 Bravery is not the absence of fear but overcoming it.

(I'm sorry to start off cliche.)

Bhuddist monks create mandalas. They spend days creating an intricate pattern in colored sand; very meticulous and very present. It's the only thing they do in that time. Then, as practice in accepting the ever changing nature of the universe, they sweep it up. 

When we practiced willpower it was important to let go of planning the hows, and concentrate on the fact that you were moving yourself toward something you wanted. Freeing yourself of the hows is a practice in surrender. Concentrating your willpower on the act as opposed to how you could possibly complete the act is a better use of your willpower. I'm not suggesting that you sit around and wish, but that you purposefully direct your decision-making toward achieving whatever it is. 

The practice of surrendering to the moment is another way in which we can practice will power, as well as presence. If we are all the way present and not insisting on making our experience fit our expectation we can progress in our lives in a way that may be unexpected but incredibly fulfilling.

Decide to do something well by committing your whole being to meticulously completing whatever it is all the while excepting that you can't keep it when you're done. Experience beauty and joy in transience. Do not fear the end. Because you are a better human being for having committed yourself wholeheartedly. And it can never really be taken away from you completely.

Only you can prevent yourself from experiencing the totality of existence by cowing to fear, by creating walls and defenses. When you're in defense mode all you can think about is the good you used to experience. The present experiences pale in comparison. Don't wallow in the past. What are you afraid of? Really. What do you stand to lose by living wholeheartedly? Ask yourself these questions and quiet yourself until the answers come.

Willpower

I was thinking about presence while developing the class. I realized one of the ways yoga is unique in our culture is that it provides practical techniques to achieve goals that we have attributed strictly to willpower before. Such as being a 100% present. When you're in school (that's the best example I can think of) you're told to sit down and be quiet. Being an adult in a meeting is a good example of the progress that can be achieved. While I don't want to detract from the things that you can achieve through willpower, it helps when you have some techniques to enhance it.

My usual example of the strength of mind over body is the placebo effect. But that doesn't correlate exactly because will power is a function of the ego, not a subconscious process. You can talk yourself into wellness or illness. You can hold off on illness and even death. There are so many stories of terminally ill people waiting for a specific set of circumstances to die! Incredible. What do you want? Deciding to do something doesn't mean you have to have all the hows lined up. A more important first step is to decide to do it in the first place. Sometimes we have to practice thinking along a path we wouldn't normally consider. Neurons can develop new pathways. It is possible to create a mindset that can surprise even you.
Yoga gives us techniques that can improve our willpower. The sanskrit term tapas refers to a fiery determination. When you practice tapas you increase your capacity to get things done. With determined effort you can make decisions which lead you toward wellness. 

Today you're going to do things you never thought you could do. Without injury or force. To keep the internal fluidity is important. Even the strongest poses should have the look of being able to move at any moment.

You can do anything you set your mind to.