A few weeks ago, many of my social media connections were posting about the first snow of the season. What struck me most about some of these posts was their tone, a focus on the negative aspects of the event and a dread of the coming winter.
I found the sentiments a bit ironic knowing that I had seen some of these same people post about how we need more kindness and positivity in our world.
How can we promote kindness while at the same time focusing on the negative, complaining about our life situation? The answer lies within our very essence.
The fact that we all have the universal give of positivity within us is directly challenged and diametrically opposed to our human experience.
The beautiful part of this duplicity is that we can express both positive and negative opinions at the same time.
Yoga teaches us that we do not have to pick one side or another. Acknowledging our ability to be complex beings can lead us towards self acceptance and joy.
You can dislike the snow, yet at the same time marvel at the way the snow sparkles as it falls. A shift in perspective, even for a moment, allows the brain the opportunity to disrupt its usual thought patterns.
Over time, with practice, your mind will form new neuro-pathways. You may find you crave acknowledging the beauty and joy in an event that you used to dread.
Some of you may believe I am too much of an optimist, perhaps hiding behind false positivity. Yes, it is true that I find the positive in most situations.
While there is a good possibility I use this as a coping mechanism, I also strongly believe that acknowledging the beauty in a moment or experience can bring me the same joy as spending time reminiscing about the things that brought me joy when I was younger.
The benefit of the former practice is that I am sitting in the present moment versus the past.
Ultimately, through my yoga journey I have decided I am much happier when I find joy in the everyday things. I find the posts about the first snow mesmerizing and each one brought a smile to my face.
The bottom line is I cannot control what happens to me. However, I can control how I react, all thanks to my yoga journey.
