Make Room For The Good
even when things are bad
Join a class from our Weekly Yoga Schedule at: https://ssstephg.com/live-yoga
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THOUGHTS:
Dear Friends,
Wow. There is a LOT going on in the world, isn’t there? At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it’s important to acknowledge that it may sometimes feel like too much. If that’s the case for you, it’s completely understandable.
If you feel the weight of the world so heavily it’s affecting your mood, your sleep, your ability to show up for yourself or the people who depend on you, maybe it’s time to pause and ask yourself a few questions.
What do I feel? Name the emotion/s you feel. Leave out the why’s behind it, just identify the feeling/s.
What narrative is my mind creating around these feelings?
What can you change or influence?
What can you do for yourself and the people around you that will create a positive shift. Remember that fear and negativity shut down creativity, so it’s a-okay to start with small, immediate things. Little things done frequently often set the stage for stuff that grows into something bigger and longer lasting with more impact.
For instance:
I feel sad and scared.
My mind is panicking about _______ situation and spiraling into negative thought loops about the state of humanity.
I can contact my representatives about/donate money/volunteer time toward _______ cause.
I can close my eyes and take three big, slow breaths to clear my head. I can stop doom scrolling and give my kid/pet/partner/self a hug.
“The moment that judgment stops through acceptance of what is, you are free of the mind. You have made room for love, for joy, for peace.” -Eckhart Tolle
In this quote, Eckhart Tolle sums up what I’m getting at. In yoga, the concept of santosha says to accept reality as it is, allow space for everything—good and bad. We can be okay even when things are difficult. If we wind ourselves up into a fruitless, internal fight against the bad, we leave less space for the good. Life is complex. It’s never perfect. Things are bad and things are good. We can hold it all.
It’s true that the liberation of all people is tied together. Every person carries some degree of responsibility for making this world a safer, healthier, more equitable place. It’s also true that each individual has their own particular set of circumstances, strengths, limitations, abilities, and reach that determines the scope of what and how they can make an impact.
Some days, the best we can do is step on the brakes when our minds are taking us on a rough ride. Stop, reset, make room for something else. Take small steps toward that something else as you can.
If we all do what we can when we’re able, that’s a good start.
With Love,
Steph
YOGA VIDEOS:
You can now find ad-free practice videos at ssstephg.substack.com
And there are still lots of practice videos on our YouTube channel:
Here’s a short, quiet pause and some freeform, swingy movement to shift your energy.
The one below includes a little standing balance with options for dancer pose, plus some lunging and stretching before coming down to your mat for some chill twists, happy baby and reclined butterfly.
GOOD NEWS:
Love strawberries? Me, too! This “backwards spring” has meant an excellent strawberry season in Vermont!
JUST FOR FUN:
Looking for a nice way to spend a day off? Head to The Eric Carle Picture Book Museum. The Carle currently has an especially fantastic show up of Grace Lin’s wonderful work. Check it out.
PRACTICE WITH ME:
Find out more about classes and events here: https://ssstephg.com/live-yoga