Meeting Challenges with Joy

Life is full of challenges, contrast and polarities. Of course, we all know this. The balance of nature and our growth requires it, and at times this proves painful. We often latch onto the positive, or alternatively stew in the melancholy of our dramas and become accustomed to reacting vs responding, particularly if triggered by a potential 'threat' and the protective nervous system takes over. Ideally, we view the play as a witness, and in our awareness respond to situations and events from a place of serenity and calm. When balanced in the neutral mind, it becomes much easier to access the place of stillness from which divine wisdom arises and our soul's voice may speak to us and through us clearly. From this space, we are given the opportunity to choose the demeanor we employ in particular situations.

I am not referring to flattening over bumps, or 'spiritual bypassing', nor negating perceived negative or undesirable circumstance, but acknowledging fully the realness of it, accepting it completely. In responding and acting on subtle and gross levels as our highest selves and from neutrality, we may navigate appropriately, in fairness and compassion, discernment through a balanced lens first. But what if we then CHOOSE to add a drop of joy into the mix? Surely there is nothing to be lost when sprinkling a dedicated dose of the essence of our true nature onto that which is already working through itself. Again, I don't refer to ignorance or what may be labelled as 'rose tinted glasses', we are not disputing the nature of the circumstance, whether a broken bone, spilt milk, or those things heavier such as loss or illness. Still we process the emotions that arise. The directive is not to cover up the truth of the moment at play, but to transcend its mark of suffering. As a teacher of mine stated memorably “If we are to be unreasonable about anything, let us be unreasonable about joy.”

Recently I had an experience in which my capacities to practice this were greatly tested. I cried for days and certainly felt fully the extent of the emotion and was present with the circumstance, but even throughout the storm and definitely once it's peak had passed, a warmth of contentment and happiness remained present. Why would I suppress or ignore the light that has seen me through every success and failure until now? I will be joyful! I will smile inside, even in the face of beasts I have never seen. I will choose this for the ones I love and all those who need to remember themselves as love. In our pure intention, love may freely dance out into the ether and from our calm mind, and we may tell it where to go. Of course this can be much easier said than done at times. As always, have compassion for yourself and treat yourself with gentle loving kindness, hold yourself the way you would a dear friend.

Our ability to first witness from a place of detachment as our highest selves, followed by utilization of discernment in the balanced neutral mind is the perfect pipeline to then syphon joy into the scene, the medicine of our true nature, love, then permeates and dissolves in ourselves and those around us the dense emotional energy that has now accumulated from whatever has happened. Neutrality in this context doesn't mean standing by and not 'taking a side', our emotion stirs us to act (or not, which is also an action), our anger lights our fire to share love, our frustration to invite ease. From neutrality we pave a perfect path TO act, where our intentions and actions may align to serve the highest good. In adding a dash of joy, we may further increase the POTENCY of our alchemy as we transmute energy through ourselves, the miraculous beings we are. Joy does not have to look like dancing in the streets and gushing at every pretty picture, though it can. It may appear outwardly solemn in fact, but it is faceless, it does not subscribe to 'how it should look', it merely IS. It carries the impact of a volcano and the grace of a butterfly, the magnitude of the universe itself and the subtlety of a silent breath. In choosing joy, the signature of our true nature, even amidst suffering, even as worlds burn and babies are born, we further anchor ourselves to love, uniting heaven and earth, breath and body, space and time, healing ourselves and the world.

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

There are countless methods to bring us back to presence and a space of equanimity. One I find to be particularly potent for this intention and a powerful practice to centre at any time is Nadi Shodhana, also known as Alternate Nostril Breath. This breathing method has numerous benefits, including bringing harmony to the left and right hemispheres of the brain, balances the energy of the nadis (energy channels), calms the nervous system and infuses the cells with oxygen. Below is a breakdown of the breath. You can practice this with me here, or follow the instructions below.

1. Sit comfortably so that you can sit up tall.

2. Close the eyes or gaze at the tip of the nose with eyes 1/10th open, letting a bit of light in.

3. Cover the right nostril with the thumb with the rest of the fingers pointing up or middle and pointer finger placed between your eyebrows in your third eye space.

4. Inhale deeply and fully through the left nostril. Pause.

5. Release the thumb and now cover the left nostril with the ring finger and pinky. Exhale through the right nostril. Pause.

6. Inhale through the right nostril. Pause as you close right nostril with thumb and release left nostril. Exhale through left nostril. Continue steps 4-6

Continue for 5 to 20 minutes to begin and see how you feel. This is a great practice for any time of day and also before yoga practice or meditation.

Sat Nam <3