Suffering is caused when there was a mismatch between expectation and reality. Such a simple concept, but understanding it has really helped me to handle challenges that life inevitably throws at us.
Things don’t always go our way. It’s inevitable because not everything is within our control. Life would be pretty dull if it was probably. So when things are not going your way you have a choice. You can accept reality as it is even if you then do whatever you can do to change it. Or you can get frustrated, angry and anxious about the way things are. You can try to fight it, but that in itself will probably not change the reality you find yourself in.
I think it’s very natural to feel frustrated when things aren’t gong your way. It’s not particularly useful though. I am not saying you should lie down and accept your fate and not do anything to resolve your problem. You absolutely should. But sometimes that starts with accepting things as they are. If you don’t accept reality, it will still be reality – it’s just that you will be fighting it.
This all sounds really simplistic I know, but it really has had a major impact on how I handle life’s curveballs. How does yoga come into all this? Well yoga can help you to be more aware of the present moment and as you become more aware, that you have a choice about how you respond to something. As you notice these moments of choice more and more, you will become aware that often getting frustrated doesn’t get you anywhere. You might still feel frustrated. That’s normal. And you should absolutely not judge yourself for that either! Just notice it and see how quickly you can accept what is actually happening. And if it’s appropriate, or possible, to do something about it.
I know this is so much easier to say sometimes than to do. It’s important not to judge yourself if you find it difficult to accept your circumstances or your pain. We all go through challenges sometimes and some problems are easier to embrace than others. Just apply this whenever you can, I hope it helps you as much as it helps me.
Has yoga helped you to embrace life’s challenges? How….
