Give Yourself the Gift of the Joy of Being Fully Present

DHARMA TALK - December 23 / 26, 2017 I heart Yoga / Verona Yoga Studio

The holidays for most of us means celebrating and spending time with our friends, family - which to me is what the holidays symbolize.  But in the current swirl of commercial and social pressures, its easy to forget all that meaningfulness and just bull through the season until all is done.  We focus on the food and the gifts that we forget to focus on what each and everyone needs during this holiday season.

Meaningful things happen when you give others your undivided, undistracted attention.  Because that’s what everyone is really striving for: to be validated, appreciated, celebrated and heard. To be raised up by their interactions, and not put down. When we connect to what's alive in others, the feeling is mutual.  We are both uplifted.  

For the next hour, I invite you all to focus more on your breathing.  Take a few more breaths than necessary.  See if that makes you feel better if you focus more on yourself and your presence on the mat.  See if it makes you appreciate yourself more for spending time on your practice.  And maybe bring this mindset with you throughout the holiday season.