My World View

Everything depends on our world view. If we see the world as a dark, even an evil place, that's what it will be for us. If we view what is outside us as pleasing and inviting, then that is what it will be.

What is my world view? What do I say to myself a lot? "People are _____." (fill in the blank with your favorite derogatory word) is something Ii say when I'm having road rage, or I'm frustrated with trying to get a point across to college students I think aren't paying attention.

Negative words. Heaviness follows. I get sunk down into a depression, into a hole I can't find my way out of. Sometimes I feel like someone or some thing is keeping me down in there! Could it be my thoughts?

On the sunny days, the days when I am greeted by my world of flowers and colors and I see them, my world view is different. My mantra is different: "People are kind and loving." "My world is beautiful." "I am grateful for all I am, all I have and all I give."

This past week I helped celebrate a birthday. I love all the spring babies! They love to enjoy the earth! And this particular April baby spoke of her dreams and desires and how she was achieving them! When I shared that story with a yoga student he shared his "bucket list". And I thought, do I even have a bucket list? Do I have any desires? Am I just going through the hole to the end, or am I reaching for something in particular? I guess my bucket list has had going to the Galapagos Islands on it. I want to see the turtles. And there's the Mississippi River. I want to float down it like Mark Twain. And do the donkey ride in the Grand Canyon. But will I? Will Ii actually seek to make that happen?

An insight this week was this: I am an observer of life. I do not experience life. I allow life to be experienced around me. My direct observation is not equal with my full participation. I am the reporter, sharing what I observe, writing about experiences outside my realm. Hmmm...Is that because of my world view? Is it pure laziness? I always was an under-achiever.

Do I simply go through my days...doing the "work" and going to bed? Or do I en-joy my days, my life? Am I experiencing my world? Many people are planners. I am not. I plan a class and then shoot from the hip. I travel with other people who are wonderful researchers, and therefore planners, and I just show up a and have a good time. My daughter will tell you she wants me to have a retirement plan. Am I missing something by not making a plan?

From Nischala Joy Devi's book: The Secret Power of Yoga she writes: "Consciousness expands outward from the heart as we become part of the physical world." Stop. Conscious expands outward? You mean it's not all about me? I knew it! As our consciousness leaves the heart it manifests as thought or emotion. And what we believe is what we project. We turn toward pleasure, or the belief that life is beautiful, or we turn toward pain, deeming life painful. We have the choice of how we view the world and how we respond to it. Some of us think we can only grow and change if we experience difficulty. Others think we can get what we want without so much hardship.

On the yoga mat, our own little microcosm of the world, we approach our bodies, mind and yes, even the yoga poses, and the breath all with attitude--our world view attitude. People are all about the pain or are too easy on themselves. My German background says "work, work hard". My slacker attitude says, "be gentle with yourself". And somewhere in-between lies the balance, that place where we discover our own world view and our own path to wherever it is we're going.

And hopefully, smelling the flowers along the way.

Namaste

Debbie