There are many yoga practices: mental, physical, emotional, physical. One sort of yoga practice I do is letting go of certain ideas I believe to be true, for instance the notion that I’m not any good at speak off the cuff in front of a camera.
Here’s an example from today:
We spent a little time this afternoon making some videos that will probably find their way onto one of my websites. The purpose is to educate people and perhaps sell things.
I don’t feel comfortable in front of cameras. In fact, I feel the opposite of comfortable.
So, when I posed to speak to the camera, I had to keep reminding myself that I was choosing to do this video project and I just needed to put my attention on my (eventual) audience. That seemed to work okay until a tiny internal voice came in to tell me I needed to be more logical in the message I was trying to get across. A little voice and pfftt!, immediately off purpose. That’s my biggest hurdle – trying so hard to remember all I need to say that I leave out stuff and present as sort of wooden.
I’ve had enough experience doing things for which I had to let go of my preconceptions – who I think I am – that I know I’ll get through this one.
Surrendering to new experiences breaks down rigidity and makes you feel fully alive. And, it creates new learning. More than these fabulous benefits, letting go of a built-up self image puts you more in touch with the inherent emptiness that a person is, from which anything can be created – even successful videos. Watch this space.
savicara nirvicara ca sukmavisaya vyakhyata
This process is possible with any type of object, at any level of perception, whether superficial and general or in depth or specific.*
*Patanjali’s Yogasutras, translation and commentary by T.K.V. Desikachar.