Setting the Intention

In yoga, we talk a lot about a sense of just "being," of just being present in the moment. Letting the thoughts and emotions rise up and fall like waves against the shore. And not having stories or expectations about the moment, but just observing the thoughts without judgment or reaction.

The idea of just being, of not having a purpose but just observing life without judgment is difficult for me. I'm genetically and behaviorally trained to plan everything and to figure out what is a good thing and what is a bad thing, maximizing the good, minimizing the bad. Every movement, every word, every second of every day must be towards some "goal" or "objective." Every action deserves an immediate reaction.

That pressure is what drove me to "snap" during my quarter life crisis, and I'm starting to see that same level of pressure in the publishing aspect of writing. The fantastic thing about having two "people" living in my head is that each "person" has taken a different part of the business. Suni takes care of the writing and the personality, where Whit takes care of the business stuff. Unfortunately, Whit has been pressuring Suni to produce more, to go faster, to do more.

So far, Suni has been able to block out this pressure, and simply give Whit a pat on the head, then do whatever the hell she wants to do, but still come through on time with whatever it is she needs to do, breezing over the finish line like a gazelle.

Another thing we do in yoga is called setting an intention for the practice. So when things are hard, when you're twisted in an odd angle and your muscles are trembling and screaming, you return to your purpose for being on your mat today, and it will bring you peace and focus. I often use it to state, up front, what I would like to get out of the practice that day, whether it's to relax or to stretch or to simply move.

I've tried to set an intention to be more observant and less reactionary. To let go of my expectations that I have to answer every email immediately, that I have to complete everything on my plate as soon as possible. To let go and observe life as it comes, from the whims of Suni's creativity to the way music shifts and moves my mood like the shifting tides, without judgment, without reaction, and with peace.

Namaste.

Do you try to let things happen as they will, or do you try to plan everything? Sound off in the comments!

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