According to yogic philosophy Truthfulness, or Satya is a core value and foundation for a balanced and joyful life. The meaning and practice of Satya reaches further than only speaking the truth. It is about being honest with yourself in your emotions, thoughts and actions. When living in your own truth you become more at ease with yourself, feel more confident, are able to take care of your own needs and to make decisions that serve your higher self. Read this inspiring text from yoga teacher Amanda Holmström and start living your truth!
You are much more than a sum of your past, what you've been through and the decisions you have made. You are far more than the labels we put on ourselves, whether it be a mother, a yogi, a teacher or something else. Even though these roles may serve you and give you purpose one way or another, they might also limit you as they put you in a box of, for example, what we have been told a yogi should be like. If you experience these adjectives as negative, for example “unemployed” or “sick”, it becomes even more important not to identify with these limiting roles and tap into who you are beyond this.
Yoga teaches that you are already whole as you are and that nothing needs to be improved or changed. The yogic path is not about becoming someone or something else. Through a steady practice we can learn to accept ourselves and shed what does not serve us, from here we can make conscious decisions to express ourselves and live according to our true values.
We easily get caught up spending our days on auto pilot and turning to quick fixes when we feel disconnected or out of balance, which is a way of searching for the truth or a deeper meaning outside ourselves. All the answers you are searching for and your truth already exists within you and cannot be found externally. Yoga is the opposite of a quick fix, its path is honest and sustainable, with present moment awareness as the foundation and acceptance as a key.
Yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation are great tools to learn how to accept rather than change. These practices calm the body and silence the mind in order to tap into stillness where you can connect with your authentic self.
Make it a habit to ask yourself questions, write in a journal and take time to get to know yourself and your dreams. What do you enjoy? What makes you grow and what do you seek? To make a vision board is a creative and fun way to discover and become curious about your dreams and desires! When self-reflecting, see if you can see past influences of friends, family and society. What are your core values and how can you live more accordingly to them?
When facing decisions, both bigger and smaller ones, practice turning of the auto pilot and ask yourself what you feel and what you need right now. For example, before you step on your mat, ask yourself what you need today. What does your body need, what are your limits and what are your challenges? What does your mind need? How are your thoughts and emotions? Checking in with yourself on a daily basis on the mat gives you a foundation to honor yourself of the mat as well.
Trust yourself and trust the process!
With love,
Amanda
Further readings
- New research findings on anxiety
- Tantra and desire, by Sarah Platt-Finger
Video recommendations
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