Beginning Anew

We can start over at any moment...

Everyday is a a chance to begin anew. I know it is cliche, but think about. When you wake up in the morning, you are born to a new day and have the opportunity to start fresh. Every sunrise is another chance to change your life to be the one you want to live. Every inhale is a new beginning, every exhale is a letting go of the past.

Our brain is constantly creating thoughts. These thoughts are electrical signals in the brain triggered by our environment and circumstances. Producing thoughts is just what the brain does. However, we have the power of choice at this juncture. We can choose to not think about our thoughts. We can choose to watch our thoughts like a person observing a scene playing out from afar, without judgement. It's when we start thinking about the thoughts that we are having that causes suffering for ourselves. Our thinking about thoughts creates emotions because we are attaching unnecessary judgements to the electrical impulses of the brain. You are not your thoughts.

So how does what I just said about noticing when you are thinking about your thoughts relate to starting over? When we notice that we are thinking about our thoughts, that we a making judgements about ourselves, others, or our circumstances, that is a chance to begin again. Take a breath, let it go.

In yoga, every time you roll out your mat, you are starting again. Every day is going to be different with its own challenges. Maybe one day you are rocking a balance pose, but then the next day, you can't stop wobbling. That is just how it is sometimes. Start over. Try again. Take a breath. Know that it is okay and that we have endless chances to begin again. In fact, it is never too late to begin a yoga practice. Meet yourself where you are and go from there.