Monday, 27th May 2020

“Satya” is a branch of the Yamas, prompting us to carve out an honest and integral life, which is far more challenging than it sounds. Please, allow yourself a moment to STOP and consider this – “How does it look, feel and sound when you are living your life morally and ethically honouring it?” Great, you might have that image! Now, are you living it authentically?

The queen of attending personal development courses, I put my trust in something other than myself to support me on a journey; which I needed at the time. I realise now, I have all the tools to traverse this expedition, called life, trusting that I have the answers within.

At the conclusion of one of our courses, the facilitator went around the group and somehow predicted each of our individual positive and negative (work in progress) traits. Both mine remain indelibly etched and have sublimely become a quest of sorts, particularly the latter. Mine were “honesty” and “integrity”. At the time I remember thinking, how odd, “aren’t they one and the same?”

Honesty

Much later on, it became clear that honesty was referring to an outer world experience, interaction and relationship we have with life.

Integrity

Integrity, was the one which took a lot more exploring to understand the true meaning and reference to my inner experience and landscape. This has been a long-standing nemesis, because how easy it is to forget to acknowledge and honour our own deep personal values as being valid and worthy. All the more reason to continue the work.

During some reflection with fascination and curiosity, drawn to the pondering the differences between ‘being nice’ and ‘being real’ and how these impact the relationships we have with both ourselves and others in countless ways.

In my personal reflection, ‘nice’ is the space we hold with ourselves when the things we say and do are intended to please others. It’s what we might be directed to do in seeking approval and acceptance, in coming across as doing for everyone else – all the while compromising our own peace, harmony and specifically our own integrity.

All too often this invested energy becomes futile, exhausting and a big zapper of energy which could have been redirected elsewhere. Our storage banks have just been exhausted from the ‘real me’ drought.

‘Real’ on the other hand – could be considered as the authentic way in which we articulate our truth. It is coming across as having personal boundaries and values that honour YOU – first and foremost. When the things you do and say come from a place of listening deeply, thoughtfully considering and eloquently executing without any seeking out of approval, acceptance or accolade; this is a grand investment indeed. Real me is not an invitation to have a catharsis of emotion all over the place and others. Let’s be gentle!

In yoga asana, this yama might translate in personal practice to ‘Nice yoga me’, only practice poses that are comfortable, that feel nice and safe and cosy – and, yep that is OK!

If; however, I want to progress and grow my practice and challenge my comfort zone, I’ll be required to ‘play my edge’ which becomes the ability to define the difference between safe and challenging ourselves to move a little deeper towards a place that we might not have allowed ourselves to feel; or visited for a long while (or ever) out of fear. This exploration can be exhilerating and a tad releasing if approached safely. Remembering, as in life, pain is an indication that this is not the right place for us to be visiting right now.

Honesty in our practice can open up new realities to explore our uniqueness and what stops us from moving ahead (on any level) and our abilities and capabilities which ultimately can become our building blocks to a more energetic practice both on and off the mat. This is what I absolutely love about My Yoga.

Inspired by The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele – spend one week observing the differences between ‘nice you’ and ‘real you’ and if you are inspired write about it? From whom or what do you seek approval?

Is it possible to be ‘Real Nice’ with authenticity and integrity?