om spirit
between effort and ease, you find the
balance between striving and equanimity in
your life.
I like this new word graceME, it embodies
all the above for me. I’ll use that as my
weekend mantra while I’m attending a family
function, a wedding.
It’s with intention that I remind myself
as my plane lands that I embarked on my
experiment to prove to myself, and you, that
despite what’s happening around me, my yoga
practice will get me through the event with
grace and I’ll have a fun time at the party.
Preparing Me
Just like you prepare for yoga, ask yourself
how you can prepare your attitude for grace.
I slip this attitude on as I get dressed. I
visualise how I will behave. I take a moment
before walking out the door to put my hands
over my heart and set my intention (just like
I do on my mat). I check in with my spirit and
thank my wise, loving self for taking the time
to practice loving kindness. I give gratitude
for my body, mind and spirit and ask my
higher self for a message. I hear back “you
got this, your strategy is no strategy.” I laugh
out loud because I’ve used this one before.
Let’s see if it works again.
I head out and notice I’m friendlier than
usual to the people I encounter on the way.
Energetically I feel radiant and prepared.
I think back to times I’ve been in my yoga
bra and shorts standing tall and strong in
Mountain Pose at the front of my mat, ready
for action. Content in my skin. Peaceful. I
smile. This is my best me: Strong, flexible,
ready to move yet content with the stillness.
It feels familiar, feels right. Feels like home.
Engaging Me
You don’t have to entertain anyone, simply
be available, open. I found out that it’s
important to talk less, listen more. You don’t
talk during an hour-long yoga class, so I
know I can make it through a conversation.
People love to talk. Give them the gift of
active listening. That small gift will benefit
both of you because you can relax into your
heart knowing you don’t have to contribute
in any way but to listen.
This is supposed to be fun for you, too.
Sure, you need to take care of yourself if
someone is being abusive, but realise most
people will default to old patterns. Even in a
business setting you can be professional, yet
yourself. Authenticity is powerful.
Plan on who you want to spend your time
with. Learn how to change the conversation
quickly or simply excuse yourself. Remind
yourself that you have a choice how you
want to show up for yourself.
You have a choice to choose grace. If it’s
a family with past issues, don’t allow anyone
to speak to you in an unhealthy way. If it’s
business, always be professional.
Leave when you’re ready. Don’t forget you
can do that in a yoga class. I once left a
class where the sequencing was dangerous.
Never give the responsibility of your
wellbeing to anyone. Be proud that you’ve
come to find out in your practice that you’re
the one designing your life.
Happiness is more influenced by how we
choose to think and what we think about.
Choosing happiness from within includes
choosing the contents of your own mind.
Giving thought to how I wanted to show up
for myself had huge results.Reflecting on Me
Always choose to be your best self. It’s all
well and good to have life goals, dreams
and desires but make sure to slow down
enough to experience the moment. Speak
from your heart. Be yourself. Show yourself
and the world that looking healthy is much
deeper than what you see on the surface.
Emotional health, psychological health, and
connection to self and others also become
the things that you can be proud of. If you
take good care of your health, you can take
better care of others – connect more, give
more and be full of grace.
We all hope for similar things. We all want
love. Sometimes we fear intimacy, yet yearn
for it so deeply.
My wish for you is that you take the time
to learn how to design your moments while
focusing on living from your heart.
Let’s all strive for grace instead of striving
for the perfect pose.Stephanie Spence is a yoga teacher and
writer based in California (one-with-life.com)