There’s nothing special ‘bout January,
There’s not a lot going on.
There are 31 days of nothing much,
I get so bored I yawn.
Each day seems to drag along
With nothing to look forward to.
So I guess I’ll sing this little song
Till January’s through.
Wow, I am amazed I still remember the words to this song! A song I used to sing in music class in the fourth grade. I don’t think I consciously realized it back then, but this song definitely shaped my view and thinking around the month of January. I’d sing along, not even realizing that in reality I wasn’t very excited about the month of January, due to the words this song had placed in my mind about this month. I can remember asking my mom, “When is January going to be over?” Followed by, “This month is so boring.” I was always eager for January to pass and for February to arrive. Not only was my thinking around the month of January not very positive, but because of it, I unconsciously wasn’t being very present either.
I share all of this to say that our words have power. For our words then turn into thoughts, and these thoughts then influence our behavior and reaction.
Check in with your thoughts. Do you keep occupying your mind with an inner dialogue about negative situations? Such inner dialogue eventually affects the subconscious mind, which accepts it as real. This means that if you often tell yourself that you can’t do something or aren’t good enough, the subconscious mind will accept your words and put barriers in your way of believing otherwise. If you keep telling yourself that you are good enough and that you can do what seems or feels impossible, your mind will find ways to push you towards this way of being.
If you consciously choose the thoughts, words, and phrases that you repeat in your mind, your life will start to change. You will begin discovering and creating new circumstances and situations.
Instead of repeating negative words and phrases in the mind, why not choose positive words and phrases that help you create the life and situation you want?
It’s like I often say in class, “What are you thinking right now, as you’re holding this pose? What words are you telling yourself about being in this pose? You can either be suffering and struggling in the midst of this pose, or you can be creating ease and peace for yourself in this pose. You have the power to choose that.” We may not always have control over the situations and circumstances that arise in our life, but we always have control over how we choose to react and respond to the situations and circumstances.
May we choose loving and kind words. May we choose positive thinking. May we choose a life that is a reflection of our beautiful inner light. Both on and off the mat.
About the Image:
Marina Mukandala, is featured in this newsletter issue in Parsva Bhuja Dandasana (Baby Grasshopper pose). The benefits of Parsva
Bhuja Ddandasana are:
- Builds strength in the core to lift the hips
- Opens the hips
- Strengthens and tones the thighs, hips, and butt
- Strengthens the legs, arms, and shoulders
- Builds self-confidence, inner-strength, and self-esteem
