How to Free Up Your Energy By Letting Things Go
This is the fifth of ten posts teaching the first two limbs of yoga— the yamas and the niyamas— in a manner that relates to contemporary living with real-world anxieties. A key component to a life of integrity is framing it with the yamas and the niyamas as you come to know how you relate with others and love yourself. I will teach these guidelines one at a time with the hopes you, the reader, take the time and care to implement these principles into your daily life. Notice your thoughts, words, and actions and if they are in alignment with the teachings I give.
This post looks at the fifth guideline— non-hoarding (aparigraha).
The fourth lesson spoke a lot about taking on the work of Marie Kondo in your life to free yourself of excess. The fifth lesson works alongside the concept of non-excess. It teaches us to not hold rigidly to objects, people, our bodies, or our thoughts. We tend to grasp firmly onto objects and not want to release our hold on items, even if we no longer use them as we once did.
Have you kept jeans you bought years ago, holding out for the day you’ll wear them again? How much energy is that draining from you? How would it feel to let go of the jeans and the idea of who you feel you would be if you wore those jeans?
What could you manifest with the newfound energy you have?
When we release our attachment to things, we free our energy to take better care of ourselves and families. We practice this lesson by not holding rigid opinions or controlling others.
What would happen if we let people surprise us instead of judging them? For instance, what if we support someone to take up an exercise regimen instead of labeling him as “the lazy one” and expecting him to fail? Can we genuinely support him in his actions and feel true joy at his successes?
What thoughts do you hold onto about yourself? Do you continually call yourself lazy, messy, or some other condescending label? Do you keep yourself in a cage as you grab onto ideas about your capabilities? Instead, stay rooted in the present moment.
Be honest with your energy, tap into the Divine light within, and act according to your genuine needs that serve your real self.
Don’t nurture the possible inauthentic self you might project. If you feel out of alignment with what you truly want versus how you show up in the world, it’s time to tune inwardly and figure out the fear holding you back. If you are trapped in inauthenticity, revisit truthfulness (the second post in this series).