Open Heart, Open Mind
The theme for my yoga class this morning was acceptance, for yourself and those around you. This thought was heavy on my heart after reading an Instagram post last night about how fixated we’ve become on ourselves in this world of social media, we’ve become the ultimate critics of ourselves and others. The comparison game is strong and the self doubt is heavy.
Let me ask you this, have you ever wondered what the world would look like if you were standing, or walking around upside down? Possibly not, maybe it sounds silly, but so much of what we see, perceive, experience is based on our perspective and if we shift our perspective might that just change what we see, perceive and experience? When we move throughout our home, our workplace, our community with an open mind and an open heart might that radically shift the way we interacted with others? Notice I did not say how others interact with us. We are only in control of our actions, our behaviors and our responses. Sure, if we soften in those areas we might see a shift in others, but once we find ourselves in a space where we are living more authentically and accepting of ourselves you might just realize you aren’t as worried about how others act, behave or respond. It might not affect you as much, or sometimes at all!
This self acceptance, it can be hard work. We’ve been told, especially women, that we are not good enough just as we are. Next time you’re at the grocery store or the airport, check out the magazine covers. Turn to page 22 to see how you can get a six pack, turn to page 46 to see what you should or shouldn’t be eating, page 57 for who you should or shouldn’t be dating and so on.
However, I challenge you to go stand in front of your mirror and where you once stood, picking apart the pieces you didn’t like, perhaps because someone or something put the idea in your head that you shouldn’t, bask in all the beauty that is YOU! At the deepest part of your core, all the beauty is already within you!
What we often see on the outside are the layers we’ve put on to hide our true selves. These layers come in all forms. They come in the form of too much weight as we medicate with food, they come in the form of too little weight as we medicate with restriction, they come in the form of scars, sometimes physically visible, often times not. Only when we see ourselves and the true beauty that lies in each and every one of us can we heal our physical bodies. Imagine a world where we were all living from this more true, authentic space. That sounds pretty great to me.
We all have a story to tell and if you are breathing your story is not over, we are the writers, the editors the masters of what is still to be created! Perhaps now is the time to start a new chapter.
