Step Back

Beth and I have just returned from a week of yoga nidra training in Calgary with Dr. Richard Miller.  Although the week away was wonderful, I returned home to find piles of laundry, empty cupboards and a million things on my "to do" list.  I am leaving again next week, this time with my family, where we will spend the month of August in Wisconsin.  As much as I look forward to spending time away, the process of leaving is very stressful.  There are a million things that need doing, planning or executing for Pulling Down the Moon and I am feeling torn between the desire to "charge ahead" and the need to "recharge my batteries."  Quickly, I am reminded of a term that was used repeatedly over the past week: Prati Paksha Bhavana. Try saying that three times fast.  It's a Sanskrit word that means, cultivate the opposite, or step aside and come back to it later. Put aside the idea that everything needs to be done now, step back, gain new perspective and return to it later.  If I am feeling stress from my "to do" list, then I must cultivate the opposite and "do nothing" for a while to reach a point of balance. It might be hard work letting go but it sure would be fun trying!

What an empowering word to know for life's challenging journey's: Prati Paksha Bhavana.  Just when you think you've had enough but still feel compelled to forge on, think about stepping back, gaining new perspective and returning to the journey at a later point. Yes, I'll step back for the month of August and use this time to gain new perspective and new energy for the job ahead.  I hope you will think about doing the same.