we can renew that perspective over and over, without having to wait
for favourable outer conditions or reminders. Thus, we stay in what
could seem an endless beginning.
Our mental patterns are a sort of dust in the machinery that
eventually covers our new eyes and makes us return to our habits.
Characteristics of a beginning
n We look at things seeing possibility rather than limitation and
are therefore less judgemental and preconceived in our approach
to them. Practice looking at things with new eyes, as if you never
saw them before. What you can discover will amaze you. This
includes yourself.
n We are really present and attentive. Because we don’t yet
think we know that person or situation we are more present and
attentive to learn and discover – this brings a special quality to
our experience and gives it a special glow. It makes us feel more
in touch with life and ourselves.
n It fills us with joy of living and optimism and make us feel fresh
and full of energy.
Creating conditions for
living a constant beginning
n Cultivate a fresh perspective. Every time you find yourself making
a habitual judgement, stop and ask yourself if there are other ways
of looking at the situation. Make it a game where you even try the
complete opposite perspective of your usual one.
n Meditation and concentration techniques are wonderful ways
to train your ability to be present and attentive. Practice this not
only when you are in meditation, but aim to bring that increased
awareness with you into every part of your daily life. Try setting
an alarm at regular intervals to help you remember to stop and
become aware.
n Do things on a regular basis that make you feel regenerated
and happy. The more surplus you have, the more you resonate
with the energy of the beginning. Yoga and time in nature are
great options.
n Anything that ‘de-clutters’ your system and brings you to a
state of purity and balance. This includes diet, different detoxes
and yoga and meditation to detox you at an energetic, emotional
and mental level.
The last essential key worth mentioning is willpower. Willpower is
needed for us to align ourselves with our dreams and aspirations.
And it is needed in order to return again and again to the moment of
beginning at will. Lack of willpower is most often what makes us not
keep the promises we make and not stick with our resolutions.
Willpower is something that can be trained, however small it
might be to begin with and it is expressed as an ability to keep the
promises you make yourself. Begin training your willpower by making
yourself a small promise – for instance that you will do five sun
salutations every morning for one week. And then make sure you
keep it! Every time you break a promise you weaken your willpower,
so begin with small tasks.
Every time you keep a promise, your willpower grows and you can
make the next one a little bigger.
Good willpower is one of the conditions to stay in a continuous
process of inner growth. And when we continuously grow and learn
we are continuously new. And when we are always new we are always
in the beginning.
By Maria Porsfett of Tara Yoga Centre (tarayogacentre.co.uk)