Tuning in to the language of our bodies can be very enlightening, and increases our intuition So much can be revealed to us when we listen to the language of our bodies. Our bodies are always speaking, sending us messages through the way we move, the sensations that arise from within, and the gestures and expressions that we make when we are communicating with others. Tuning in to the language of our bodies can be very enlightening, especially as most communication is believed to take place nonverbally. It is also believed that the body never lies, and that if we want to know the truth about ourselves and others, then we should listen to what our bodies have to say. Anyone who has ever flirted with someone they are attracted to has probably, at one point in time or another, brushed their hands through their hair or found themselves leaning forward to get closer to that person. Someone feeling defensive will tend to cross their arms over their chest, while a person who wants to withhold something may look away when speaking. If you want to know how you truly feel about a person or a situation, then it is a good idea to tune in to what you are feeling inside. Excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and fear are just some of the messages that your body wants you to hear. Your body can also be a very reliable compass. Anyone who has ever been somewhere they don't want to be has probably experienced their bodies trying to move them away from that particular circumstance. And while it can be very easy to talk ourselves into and out of choices we may make with our minds, it isn't so easy to change the truth of our hearts that reside within our bodies. 'People should be more like animals...they should be more intuitive; they should not be too conscious of what they do while they are doing it.' Albert Einstein To begin tuning in to this subtle form of communication, start taking the time to notice what your body is telling you. Greet each feeling or sensation as a message carrying wisdom from your body. Tune in to what your body is telling you about the situations and people you encounter and listen to what others are communicating to you through their bodies. We already are subconsciously receptive to the language of our bodies, but when we choose to consciously pay attention, we hear and understand so much more about ourselves and the people around us. Trust your intuition, it is very rarely wrong and only has your best interests at heart. OM, peace, peace, peace. Your inventiveness can become the root of large-scale changes that take place in your life Sometimes you may feel compelled to approach your goals in an innovative and modern fashion because you believe that doing so will help you prosper. If you feel comfortable embracing novelty, your assumption will likely prove correct. Undertaking even a single task using a fresh strategy can give you insights into why your efforts have faltered in the past. Consider that there may be no right or wrong way to accomplish the objectives before you, so there is likely no reason to stay true to one methodology when creative inspiration strikes. What has served us well in the past will not always meet our needs in the present. Recognising this is one of the key elements of innovation, because it allows us to break free from the patterns that might have set limits on our potential. Our imaginative minds can take us in so many directions yet using practical methods to bring what we see in our thoughts into being can be quite challenging. We are undeniably, creatures of habit. We tend to gravitate toward what is comfortable and familiar even if it no longer serves us. It is a part of being human. Your life today is the sum of your habits. How fit are you? How happy? How much yoga do you practice? – all a result of your habits. Want to change any of that? yoga philosophy addresses this intriguing aspect of our human existence -- according to yoga philosophy, not only do we form habits throughout our life, we are born with certain karmic conditioning that influences our mental and emotional habits -- called Samskaras. The word Samskara comes from two Sanskrit words, sam = same, complete, joined together, and kara = action, cause or doing. The meaning of the word points to the understanding that the repetition of our thoughts, behaviors, and actions becomes our conditioning. The more we repeat any Samskara the stronger and more engrained it becomes. Samskaras can be positive, and help propel us forward in our evolution, or they can be negative, get in the way of our evolution, and even be destructive or life threatening. Often Samskaras go unnoticed, quietly and unconsciously guiding our thoughts and behaviors until we bring our attention to them. Our Samskaras even sneak into our yoga practice with us. The physical practice of yoga helps us gain understanding and insight through the body. When physical practice is combined with the underlying philosophy of yoga there is great synergy that fuels transformation of the mind – creating change on the level of thought and emotion. One of the greatest gifts of yoga is heightened awareness and the capacity to see ourselves clearly -- viveka -- a Sanskrit term that can be translated as right understanding, discrimination or knowledge. If we realise that aspects of what we see are outdated or harmful we can take steps to create change and even replace old ways of being with new positive Samskaras. One time tested method is to employ a Sankalpa or resolution. Translated, the word Sankalpa also means seed. In order for a plant to grow first there is a seed placed in fertile soil. The same is true of transforming our habits. First we must plant the seeds of change. Our practice is like the fertile soil that brings the seed to fruition. Identify what you want to change. Is it a negative habit that is getting in the way? A positive habit you want to create or nurture? Perhaps both? Sankalpa is determination. Willpower is a one-pointed mind plus determination. The more one-pointed your mind and the more determined you are, the more you will have willpower. The complete practice of yoga: asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra and bhakti, or devotion, is the time tested method to developing a one-pointed mind and the fertile ground for planting the sankalpa to support you in realising your full potential in the here and now, this life. Building Willpower: Sankalpa Shakti - Himalayan Institute |
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