My reaction
A friend who I haven't seen in quite some time stopped into my work the other day. When I first saw him he was passionately explaining and demoing to a co-worker/dear friend of mine some epic movements of the body that he learned in a training he had just come back from over the weekend. I smiled because from all the years I have known him, anytime he is speaking about the human body and its mobility, he's shining. He has this amazing way of teaching mobility of the body, his passion and care for this awareness always encourages me and so many others to get more curious about our own. This is truly what makes him and so many of us incredible yoga teachers. The ability to understand our own physical being and be curious about it. Seeing the unique way in which I am created allows me to see the uniqueness in all of those around me. Much like a snowflake, no one is the same.
At one point just the 2 of us were chatting and he was discussing a topic I didn't quite agree with. I could feel my body start to boil up, heart racing wanting to shout out and prove my point of why I didn't agree. These are the moments I recognize and can acknowledge how much my yoga practice has saved me in this life.
Just like the uniqueness of the form of each body is the uniqueness and form of each mind.
In that moment I put my attention on my breath and just looked at his eyes. There I saw myself, he was passionate about what he was speaking about, I too get passionate about topics I speak on. I realized then that it actually didn't matter what the topic he was discussing was. In that moment it wasn't my view of things that was important but rather all the work, research and effort he had put into sharing about this subject became important. His passion as he spoke felt like fire, and as charged as I felt because I didn't agree, I still felt the urgency to drop what I knew and get curious about what he was saying.
"How did he know that and why does he believe that?"
"Why do I believe the things I believe and why am I so passionate about them?"
"Am I so serious in my life I can't even entertain his learning?!"
I can also acknowledge that there were many moments I wanted to exit the conversation because listening generously to something I don't agree with and not saying anything was uncomfortable. Yet the practice of yoga and meditation has taught me and continues to teach me that staying with what's uncomfortable is practice and what's beyond discomfort is truly a peaceful place.
I look back to before I started practicing yoga, I was someone who would dig my heals in and get defensive until I was screaming on the inside. Now I can stand firm in what I believe to be true and still have respect for this person in front of me without having to react, just listen and feel peaceful knowing I need to change nothing. It doesn't mean my words or opinion don't hold value, it's knowing when to use them. Before I open my mouth to say something (most times) I ask, am I speaking to be right or speaking from a place of curiosity?, am I being supportive or judgemental? It's a practice of course so I don't always get it right.
After all do I really want to be someone to change someone else's perspective to meet my own and view the world the way I do? How boring would that be?!
Even after the conversation had ended I could still feel my body buzzing with energy because the perspective he shared didn't match my own and that was enough to create a charge through my body. Rather then going to everyone and anyone to then prove my point to lessen the charge, I went to a couple friends that match my perspective on most things and I simply asked for a hug to calm the charge I created within myself.
As I continue to reflect I can acknowledge the powerful human being he is to speak up about what he believes in.
The next morning we finished our convo via text msg and it was concluded that while we were so busy taking ourselves so seriously in that moment that the magic of the lesson to be learned was unfolding.
What I learned was, the lesson came not from the words he was speaking but rather what had no words at all. If I truly listen, I can truly learn.
As I reflect some more I am always so grateful afterwards for the interactions that seem challenging in moments, similar to the ones on my mat because each time I humble myself. I am not better or more special than anyone because of my point of view or what I've learned, I am just as special as they are for having one at all. When I put my attention on what I am grateful for about this situation I can see that the last half of my work shift zoomed by and the people I was working with allowed me the space to have the conversation and learn this valuable lesson...
My reaction will always keep me from love, my reaction will be the one thing to stand in my way of curiosity and my reaction will keep me from seeing the magic in everything. The more curious I am the more magic I get to witness.
Is there somewhere in your life with someone or something you're so in your rightness about that you are willing to sacrifice seeing the magic?
