Practicing Perspective: A Bedtime Story

Mind and the Ego Meet Inquiry and Heart

Mind says “Go this way, hurry up before it’s too late!”

“You can’t.
She won’t listen.
He doesn’t care.

This is the truth.” Ego chatters.

Mind remains attached to characters of a story, of its own making.
Stories that ignore heart and serve Mind.

Mind moves us into shadows,
then questions clarity
with blind duplicity.
It invites chaos and welcomes indecision.

It does not need truth to function; only words.

Or an offering by Ego.
Mind believes what it believes.

Until one day, mind meets Inquiry.

Inquiry begins the practice of perspective.

Ego fusses.

Inquiry quiets mind.

Inquiry asks not what it is; inquiry asks how it feels…
Inquiry creates space;
to breathe deeper, to spread out wings for a birdseye view, to see differently than before,

…before the mind was quieted.

Mind concedes,

“I see now….” Mind says.

“Thank you Inquiry, that’s enough for now.”
Says the heart, with a whisper.
“Let’s just be…”

Inhale….. and exhale…
Inhale…. and exhale…

“For how long?”, Mind asks
“Forever…?” asks Ego.

“For now…”, the heart reminds.

“The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand.”

~Rumi, 13th Century Poet and Mystic

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

The mind is conditioned, just like a muscle. It’s conditioned during our childhood, by the predominant people involved in our early stages of ‘being’ (I’m looking at you, adults). Then culture, peers and entertainment add another layer of influence during those highly impressionable teenage years. And the good news is, Inquiry is a tool to re-condition the mind to become more purposeful, more collaborative with the heart first rather than the ego.

Yoga Sutra 1.8:

विपर्ययो मिथ्याज्ञानमतद्रूपप्रतिष्ठम्

viparyayo mithyājñānamatadrūpapratiṣṭham

When we perceive something incorrectly in the mind (i.e. narrative loops or stories), it leads us to believe something false, which in turn causes mental disturbance – a.k.a. suffering.

Practicing awareness first is a sort of muscle of the mind that we learn from yoga. Just like bicep reps and lunges recondition muscles of the body, pausing to notice how your thoughts are making you feel is the first step of re-conditioning your mind. Inquiry is a reflex to that awareness, leading us to the practice of perspective.

This is one of many ways you can experience yoga without stepping onto the mat or taking an hour out of your day to attend a class (although attending a group class with other yogis has its own delicious benefits!)

Becoming aware of the narrative in our mind and loosening our grip from one single perspective is a process of inquiry. Even just one minute of rapid fire alternative possibilities or fact-checking is a powerful position to work from when managing fear, stress, anxiety, shame, anger and worry, as some of the more common unhealthy emotional signals activated in the mind.

The yoga sutras – especially sutra 1.8 – are a critical starting point to understanding how yoga is a direct path to reducing stress, strengthening relationships and experiencing more ease, or even better, more joy.

Sit with that… Breathe Deeper

Take a few longer exhales than your inhales and see how that feels on your nervous system.

We’ll unpack the characters of this bedtime story in our practice together. Trust me, I’ve been there and I can show you the way.

This is the role of the Acharya - a title of sorts in yogic and buddhist wisdom. Not a guru, more of a companion. Like a friendly, helpful sophomore to your freshman who is ready to show you around the school of life. Just someone that happens to be a bit farther along on a path that feels a lot like the path you’re currently on.

As an Acharya, I’m turning on the flashlight of my smartphone to shine it down behind me as we travel what may feel like a maze in the wee hours of the night, so you can see the path and decide when and where to take your next step. I’ll be right here when you’re ready.