Be Love.

I was completely inspired by a quotation I read in 365 Days of Wonder a couple of weeks ago. It reminded me of lesson #1 from my trip in Thailand, which then reminded me I've been wanting to revisit those lessons now that I've been back in the "real world" (a totally paradoxical thing to say...) for a few months. I have realized my stressors will not evaporate because of my yogic commitment, but I am much better equipped to work through them now, because of my practice.

In most ways, my life is the exact same as before I left. Same passions: job, friends, apartment, hobbies, and for the most part, beliefs. But my outlook on the world and my "inlook" at myself, are wildly different. This may not be something many around me notice, but it is something I feel everyday. A certain lightness within. In my mind I can literally feel the physical space my yoga practice creates in my body. 

I can be a pretty anxious person. I'd love to tell you that my anxiety has stopped since my commitments to self-reflection, asana and meditation have intensified, but that is not that case. I still get anxious, but I am much more able to manage it. When I recognize this feeling, I pause and breathe. I understand it takes time to work through, and I accept that. If I'm in a situation where I can close my eyes, I do. If not, so be it. With my breath I picture myself full of peace and love. I fill my entire being with the love I know I hold within. This gives me strength and a feeling of calm.

In our society, love is completely idealized, commercialized and romanticized. To a certain extent, that works. But I also think it leads many people to believe that their life is not complete until they've found a partner, it turns into a mission: find Love and you've found life. As they strive to find love, people often sacrifice parts of their own being. What we fail to recognize is that we are love. The search is based on falsehoods, because the only place we need to look for love is within. Each and every being on this earth is the embodiment of love. We just don't always honor that within ourselves. So, in the words of Hugh Prather, "Don't strive for love, be it." One of the most beautiful aspects of living your love is that everyone feels it. People are drawn to and inspired by your love. Not your love for something, but rather your ability to simply, whole heartedly be love.