LESSONS FROM A GURU
‘The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.’ Psalms 28:7
Once again, while cycling, I listened to a transformative podcast. It’s funny because I’ve always thought I needed hype music to get the best workout. Lately, it’s been the opposite. No music, just straight inspiration. I feel so old as I just typed that. Has life come to that? No hip-hop, no EDM, just listening to words and stories with no music? Maybe this is enlightment.
At the end of this I’ll include the link to the podcast — it’s THAT good. You’re probably like, “why is it so good? What’s the big deal?”
The interview was with Lewis Howes and Sadhguru. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I what I did know — I was curious. One of the initial thoughts that struck me was, “why as a child life is so fun but as an adult it becomes tiresome and overwhelming?”
Sadhguru likens this idea to a tree. He says, “is a tree better when it’s older or younger?” The answer is obviously older, so why are not humans the same? Why is it that as we age we become cynical, more anxious and lose our joy?
🤬 those thoughts are so transformative! I could not get enough. The podcast was so good, after I finished it — I replayed it. The thoughts were so provoking, so enlightening, so simple.
Sadhguru went on to say something that struck me to my core. He said, “I don’t give people the privilege to make me happy or unhappy”
This statement in itself is absolutely phenomenal. One of the only things that we can control is our own selves. Life is unfair to everyone. Life is unpredictable for everyone. So, how we adjust, adapt and manage ourselves is the essence of life.
One more thing from Sadhguru that stuck out was the idea of mindfulness. Int his day and age, mindfulness is a popular trend. We are taught and told to be mindful but what Sadhguru countered with was the idea that when your mind is full — it’s too busy. If you have a full mind, always thinking — you’re overworking yourself.
Instead, have an empty mind. Clear your mind for only what is happening in the present. Be curious and let your mind relax. A car cannot operate always running it’s engine hot — and neither can we. Otherwise, we will break down. The same goes for our mind.
As I go about my day — my goal is to think less, live more. We have one life to live. Time goes by fast and therefore, I want to live it to the fullest.
Before I head on my day, this verse in Psalms speaks to our trust in God. Basically, it’s saying — God has things covered, don’t worry. Don’t over think your day, your life. Don’t focus so much on your life that you don’t live your life. It’s similar to business when you hear people say, “give your time to work on your business and not just in your business.”
I need to do better to have a larger view of life. I need to be grateful for so many small things that I take for granted and just live. I’ve got food in the fridge, a car, a job, a beautiful family — life is phenomenal.
I’m telling myself today — No one can create or steal my joy from me.
I’m telling myself today — Life is unfair to everyone. It’s how I adapt in the moment.
I’m telling myself today — Empty my thoughts and just be. Let my life be, let my life rest. Choose joy, peace, fun and love.
