INTENTION: I Am Enough.
One of my favorite quotes is from the Persian poet Khalil Gibran, who wrote, “And God said, ‘Love your enemy,’ and I obeyed, and loved myself.”
In life, we tend to ruthlessly judge ourselves. We are self-critical and self-punishing because we think there is something inherently wrong with us. We spend so much time and energy on what we see as wrong with ourselves that we miss the present moment because we are continuously dredging up toxic talk from our minds. As Nietzsche expressed, “You yourself will always be the worst enemy you can encounter; you yourself lie in wait for yourself in caves and forests.” We hide in the deepest places within us, ready to pounce and ruin any situation with self-doubt and self-criticism.
We all have an inner critic. At times, this little voice can be helpful and keep us motivated toward goals—like when it reminds us that what we are about to eat is not healthy or what we are about to do may not be wise. However, this voice can often be more harmful than helpful, particularly when it gets into the realm of excessive negativity. This is known as negative self-talk, and it can fuel stress, anxiety, and depression.
Negative self-talk is any inner dialogue you have with yourself that limits your power to believe in yourself and your abilities and to reach your potential. It is any thought that diminishes your ability to make positive changes in your life or your confidence in yourself to do so. Negative self-talk can be stressful and limit your success.
Think of it this way. Thoughts are like drops of water. When you think the same thoughts over and over, you create an incredible body of water. First, it may be a puddle, then a pond, and as you continue to think the same thoughts it becomes a lake and then even an ocean. If your thoughts are negative, you can drown in a cesspool of negativity. If your thoughts are positive, you can float in the ocean of life.
The practice of yoga is an internal journey of self-discovery, an opportunity to connect with your true self on a deeper level. At its core, it is about developing a deep reverence and pure love for who you are. Yoga is a beautiful practice for those who suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression as it slowly and lovingly allows a holistic way to heal negative self-talk from the inside out.
In a world that is obsessed with all things external, we are suffering from feelings of not being good enough, smart enough, successful enough – you get the picture. Indeed, social media demonstrates that we should always strive for more - to be more, do more, have more, and consume more.
Yoga is an internal practice where you cultivate a conscious connection between mind, body, breath, and essence. The practice of yoga involves listening to what you need in each moment and choosing to honor what you hear. Yoga invites you to accept lovingly all aspects of who you are (mind, body, breath, and essence), allows you to heal and grow in each posture, and supports you to choose self-love over ego and negative self-talk.
Through yoga, you can focus your mind and emotions to find a gentler, more loving way to be comfortable in your skin and let go of guilt, criticism, judgment, self-loathing and self-harming. Yoga allows space for deep internal healing and a conscious space in the day where you can enjoy just being who you are and lovingly express self-care in action.
If you consider how many years it takes to create the layers of unconscious critical self-talk, it will take time to change your thinking through self-acceptance and self-love and consciously let go of old thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that no longer serve you or that you no longer need. Show up on your mat with the intention to grow yourself from a truthful place of deep compassion and love.
In yoga, an intention is not a goal. Rather, it is something you offer yourself to help guide you to walk in your highest truth or to be your best self. To slay the dragon of negative self-talk, start each day or week with a positive intention. These can include simple phrases such as, “I am good enough,” “I am able to cope,” or “Breathe - you got this!” When negative thoughts arise, challenge yourself to put a positive spin on them.
This week, our shared intention is I AM ENOUGH. Everything you need is already inside of you. The deeper you dive into the practice of yoga the more you accept and love who you are at your essence: love, light, compassion, patience, peace, joy, kindness, forgiveness. Yoga shows you how to honor your uniqueness and let go of the struggle that comes when you compare yourself to others. Your yoga mat is the perfect place where you can mindfully start the practice of letting go of the old stuff. You experience a very grounded sense of acceptance of self, rooted deep in the awareness that you are the love you have been seeking. You are enough.
Your relationship with yourself is the most important of all relationships you will have in your lifetime. It is the foundation on which all your other relationships grow. Remember, it is not selfish to put yourself first because when you love and take care of yourself, you have more love to share with others. This places you in an empowered space of embodying love, rather than a subjugated place of seeking love because of a misperceived perception of lack.
Make self-love a priority every day, or, like old unhealthy habits, you can slip back into self-criticism and doubt. Self-love is like a muscle you need to strengthen, and you can do this by bringing the intention, I AM ENOUGH, to every yoga session to create a sacred space for you to ground yourself in a moving meditation of self-acceptance and self-compassion.
Love & light
Jeanne and John