Yoga and change

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello all,

I’ve been away from the forums for some time, so this may be a re-introduction. I apologize for any unclarity in my writing, English is not my first language and I find it a bit difficult to decide the right words when posing this question.

Here goes, lot of words:
I have learned a lot during the last year or even months, possibly more than ever before. About myself, my Self, Life, old ‘truths’ and new, about practice. As with all new insights or knowledge many questions also arise, many of which I can answer myself. Others are not so easy.

I have not had a regular practice during the last months. I have not taken regular classes with teachers. This has been because of lack of money, habits relating to consistency and a stressful situation where I pushed myself beyond my limits in order to reach someone else’s goal. (This I did because I had made a commitment to reach this particular goal, but I had not been aware that it would take so much of me.)

Long story short and details cut out, after I had fulfilled the commitment I got away from the stressful situation as I could see that it caused unawareness, and it brought up very old and destructive thought and behavioral patterns. The remaining effects of the situation are more or less gone as far as I can tell - destructive thoughts are gone, body is getting back to normal after weight loss and exhaustion, I am getting back to practice.

So - getting this far into my explanation/question: even the possibility of reaction to what happened is “new” to me. I have not been able to use discernment in that way before, as far as I know.
Seeing what happened, and the effects of my choices, is (I guess) an outcome of my studies of self and Self. I have not in any way strived for change in that sense, I have not tried to change my way of responding to what is unhelpful or negative for me and yet it happened. This I think of as progress. And it has happened pretty quickly.

What I on the other hand have tried to change actively is the before-mentioned problem with consistency. My difficulties with maintaining a steady pacing has had a severe effect on some material aspects of my life: studies, work possibilities, income. I know I can survive as the situation is now but I really want change.
I want a good, steady job (I do volunteer work but that does not help me pay rent),
I want to be financially self-sufficient (I am not),
I want an education that can help me make a change in the world (by this I mean a formal education in, let’s say garden engineering or dentistry, that could lead to me working with the environment, or people, in developing countries)…

All in all, I want solidity in the physical world.
Life is wonderful and I feel a deep reverence to this all-encompassing force that is All, or what to call it, I am grateful for all the wisdom there is that helps me grow,
but,
I have no idea how to achieve this change that I need?
How do I (or anyone), create a deliberate lasting change in life, from a Yoga perspective?
And how come the unexpected changes happen?

Many thank yous in advance,
Nila

#2

I don’t think this is really a yoga question, although I would say that practicing yoga might help you to learn the skills you need to make this change that you want. From what you described, I think you already know how to make a change. You said that you had a goal, and you were committed to it, and you saw it through to completion, even though it had some negative effects on you. You just need to apply that to your own life.

First you need a goal, or better yet, an objective. A good objective is realistic, achievable, and time-specific. Then you need to assess where you are now and map out what you need to do to get to your objective. Then you have to do it.

Achieving consistency is hard to do. Your goal has to become the most important thing to you. It has to be the first thing on your mind when you wake up, and the last thing before you go to sleep. As they say, keep your eyes on the prize. From time to time, you evaluate how you’re doing, and make adjustments as needed.

I hope that helps.

#3

I would say it is blessing…the one who is to get the change forever and ever is blessed with lot of qualities…

#4

“I was kneeling in prayer in the chapel - I was thinking of something that was coming into my life that filled me with apprehension. I knew it was not the will of God that I should be saved from this experience. Even at that moment it was moving toward me. Suddenly God told me the prayer He would listen to, and I said quickly: ‘Change no circumstance of my life. Change me.’”, Sri Gyanamata, “God Alone: The Life and Letters of a Saint”

#5

The change happens from within, in our chakras.

#6

“The only constant in the world is change.” - Swami Vivekananda

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

#7

I like all these replies. They’re helpful to me, as well.

#8

The works of Jiddu Krishnamurti are the most revolutionary text’s I have ever read in my entire life. His work will re-wire your thinking. Look him up.

The only man I truly to be enlightened of our time

#9

Movement is the expression of consciousness and change is the result. All yoga practices are designed to change, asana changes the physique, pranayama changes the energy, yama-niyama change the psyche.

What comes in their way is our inconsistent practice and unwillingness to change.