By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Students often attend Yoga sessions for relief from a constant barrage of negative messages during the day. If you listen to the news for ten minutes, you are likely to feel puzzled as to why so much social injustice still exists. Anyone can change the world for the best, by cultivating positive energy, and teaching others how to do the same thing.

Just like anything else, cultivation of positive energy requires a plan of action; otherwise, we will spend the vast majority of the day reacting to bad news. One method is to visualize and plan the day ahead. Some people feel they have no control over their lives. In fact, they do not have control over their lives because they have envisioned it.

Visualize Tomorrow

This requires a little time on the night before, but it is much similar to packing your lunch for the next day. Another way to make visualization more real is to write down your tasks and objective, while allowing some time for the unexpected surprises that life gives us.

Avoid Energy Drains

Unfortunately, there are people who sap energy from everyone else. One person I know refers to them as “time bandits.” They manage to fill the day with self-created obstacles, engage in lengthy pessimistic conversations, or talk about the flaws everyone else has.

You could compare them to human land mines. You can be hurt, the longer you spend time with them. You feel the energy being sapped away from you as their list of grievances grows. You may have tried to help before, but their goal is to complain about everything.

In reality, you choose who you associate with. If you associate with someone who drains your energy, you have to make some decisions to improve your life, or stay in a life boat with an energy drainer, drifting aimlessly through oceans of pessimism.

It is not easy to turn your back on anyone. However, if you show someone there is light at the end of the tunnel, and they refuse to see it, you have to move forward or allow someone else to hold you back.

Define Your True Self

In Yoga, we learn to identify one’s true self. Some call the cosmic self: “atma.” We also learn to avoid judging ourselves and others harshly. It is true that we are not our thoughts, but our thoughts have a way of defining us – in the form of self-criticism, regret, and negative thoughts.

Yoga teaches us to honestly look inside, to see the good and the bad. We can change today for a better tomorrow, but we cannot change anything until we stop engaging in self-criticism.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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