Letting Go

Letting Go. You hear it all the time - but what does it mean?

It's one of those statements that is so unique to each individual that there really is no explaination. I have been working at letting go lately. The letting go I have been working on is letting go of all that which is no longer serving me or making the world a better place. If it's not contributing to the greater good of the universe - let it go.

That sounds like a huge request! Really, it is. There are so many demands on each of us that the task of sifting through all of that which makes up our lives and determining what serves the greater good and what doesn't is quite daunting. In my situation - it came to a breaking point before I took action.

I have been balancing that which pays the bills at the same time as trying to make a life as a yoga teacher and water guru ;)

The problem that was arising: Too many demands from that which pays the bills leaving no time for that which fills my heart.

Outcome: A battle to maintain an open heart. My day job, in advertising was becoming more demanding, while my heart was screaming out that it was being smothered! My brain kept kicking in, "if you want to pay for all these trainings - you're going to need your day job!"

So I did my commute. A weekend warrior to heart expanding yoga workshops, lunch time classes, Tuesday night sessions - only to come back to the mind intensive advertising world. As I commuted back and forth to these different worlds the differences became so clear. Then the day job demands started creeping in on the weekends. I was sacrificing the work of dusting off the heart, making the world a better place, for what?

Then it hit me. Like a sack of bricks to the noggin! The advertising company asked me to put together a promotion for National Tobacco. We would be targeting University kids with smokeless tobacco. WHAT?! Ok - that's enough! No more, not one more promotion. I could gladly work on a campaign to bring awareness to the amount people litter, providing solutions to the problem. I could help put out the message to drive safe. I could even have my staff promoting not-quite good body washes. SMOKELSS TOBACCO to 18 - 24 year olds? Nope, no way!

I finally gathered the courage to end it right there. It does not matter that I have big plans for training and travel and need money. I finally surrendered to the Shakti energy flowing through my practice, my studentship and my teachings. In order to let that Shakti flow uninterupted - I had to let go.

The first Universal Principle of Alignment in Anusara Yoga is 'Open to Grace.'

At that very moment when I realize how big this commute from the way of the heart and the way of the wallet had become, I decided to 'Open to Grace,' leave the job which no longer served my heart. Which morally, back up plan or not, no longer sat right with my ethical guidelines for life.

Shortly after making this decision - I had the pleasure of an 11 hour drive to an Anusara Immersion where I could start sifting through my life and experience those mind expanding ah-ha moments. What is it in my life that works for the greater good? Focus on that. I have been working toward this for a while, but now I've been called to action.

Now that I have let go of the ball and chain I called work, there is room for the yoga to come in. There is room to pick up the sub classes when teachers call last minute. There is room for the workshops I want to attend and learn. There is room for the travels. I have surrendered to the Divine flow of Shakti Energy knowing that money comes when you need it. Between my 4 regular classes, all the subbing I can pick up with this open schedule and the alkaline ionized water machines - I know I will be taken care of financially.

It helps knowing that I have some savings and a wonderfully supportive partner, but the ultimate help is the trust and knowing that the universe will provide when you follow your heart. One of my favorite books, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho says: "When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it."

...And with this knowing - I can let go... and let the Shakti flow!