By Lakshmi
Originally posted June 9, 2021
“As you work with reflection, you begin to see your life with a new kind of perspective – not what you’ve done wrong but what you are learning. And if you can remember that, it makes you more independent and strong.”
~ Swami Radhananda, Living the Practice
Seems like the pandemic is over with so many people vaccinated…but it isn’t quite yet. I’m wondering what the new normal will be as we transition from the current status. What are my next steps? What have I learned that I want to take into my next stage?
This takes me back to reviewing my journals to see what and how I learned from my victories, challenges and mistakes in the past that brought me to where I am now. I note that both Swami Radha and Swami Radhananda wrote books based on the journals they kept through the years (Radha: Diary of a Woman’s Search and Carried by a Promise, respectively). So journaling is such a treasure and I regret that I didn’t do more of it. However, it feels like it is time to reflect and write my thoughts particularly on this past year.
“Self-reflection is such an important part of yoga. It is said that consciousness knows everything but the mind can’t hold all of that knowledge. It just gets little glimpses. So, you need to put the glimpses together, keep gathering up the clues. Writing down your experiences helps you train the mind to concentrate and observe, and it creates a record of your own personal wisdom”.
~ Swami Radhananda, Living the Practice
I encourage others to use this valuable practice to check-in with yourself at this crucial time in our history…in your history.
Om shanti, shanti, shanti
Lakshmi