Self care isn’t egocentric. You want some ‘me’ time. Give your self the oxygen first, earlier than you assist others.
As a mum, and overloaded trainer, I do know these truisms, and possibly even say them to others. Actually I feel I used them in my final publication, encouraging folks to return on retreat to revive and refresh. It’s not that I don’t imagine that relaxation is essential, however there’s a flaw within the phrasing. Self care and ‘me’ time each recommend that there have to be a form of care or a time that’s attainable to be disconnected from our self. And that we work in a dichotomy of me and also you, separate, divided. that in some way we are able to act in such a way that ISN’T for the self.
Within the Vedic educating, there’s all, solely, one factor, and we’re part of it.
We are able to distinguish between Self and self – sure you learn it proper – small s vs huge S. This isn’t merely a chunk of pernickety faculty trainer trickery. Within the Vedic world view there’s ONLY the self. It is available in individualised kind, packaged as YOU, maybe recognized by your pores and skin, physiology or life experiences. However there’s additionally, all the time the atmaan, or Self (SELF) which fits by many, many names: totality, the universe, atmaan, Brahman, God, divintiy, potential, pure consciousness. It’s the knower behind the realizing, the supply of the witness that lies behind all our exercise. Our individuality is intimately, inherently and inextricably linked to Self. There is no such thing as a time when self just isn’t SELF, no method that we are able to act eliminated and separate from the cosmos. There’s however one factor, and we’re it.
There is no such thing as a time when the wave just isn’t ocean. Even the droplets of froth within the ‘white horses’ of the stormiest storm, which appear separate and much faraway from our idea of ocean, even that is ocean, is foam-droplet kind. So it’s that my binge-eating, overwhelmed self who finds herself pulled into anger-reactivity, that is nonetheless ME, and of the identical being as my calmest, wisest, most able-to-respond self.
Sure, our meditation, our peace, our moments of pleasure are all entry to huge Self. However so to is our work load, our arguments with family members, our perception that happiness is on the opposite aspect of ‘only one extra’ (drink/slice/episode/buy).
If there isn’t any NON-self, then the query needs to be – have you ever prioritised care? Are you somebody who provides air/time/area/power/happiness or somebody who’s utilizing it up from different folks?
The supply is perpetual, everlasting and really very deep. Nuclear fission after which some. So no concern of working out of power. From the fullness comes fullness and fullness stays. There’s loads, and all the time extra, higher, deeper ranges to entry.
A fast method for me to examine on my self/SELF care is to find out how shut is delight. Is there one thing scrumptious on this second/ this activity, this present day? As we glance down the barrel of January and resolutions, watch out that you just don’t resolve to be totally different. You don’t want to alter if you’re already the ocean – however benefit from the present kind that ocean takes. Learn the interior climate and take steps accordingly. As we speak are you tropical, sargasso, Pacific or North Sea – or approaching hurricane mode?
Meditation is an opportunity to recollect we’re ocean. Drop beneath the uneven waves, broaden, and have a direct expertise of higher ranges of bliss. When you don’t have a meditation apply, please come a chat to me. When you do however its light, please come and discuss to me. When you tried and really feel you might have failed PLEASE come discuss to me (I as soon as heard somebody was given a F in her mindfulness course! I taught her, and its not gold stars all the best way). I’m a meditation trainer not as a result of I’m so good at it, however as a result of I do know (and know effectively) all of the pitfalls that stand in the best way of an everyday apply.
I want you pleasure and resolve for the New Yr. Set your intentions, however keep in mind weight reduction and health and so on take time, and are actually good to take up when the solar comes out. I will probably be spending January resting extra, studying just a little, and having fun with the hunkering down that the chilly and moist brings. And speaking to YOU about meditation, I hope 🙂
Right here’s to all, a joyful 2023
