If you want to be able to step outside your comfort zone, I have something that will give you the support and confidence you need. It is four statements to guide you in your thinking, feeling and decision making.
These four statements banish fear and get me into a high-quality mode of functioning. I feel I am able to see reality more clearly as I relate to the people around me.
For example, in holding workshops and retreats it is common for fear, self sabotage or over-preparing to occur. These fears are ‘inner friends’ I have faced many times as I walk the path I am on. No doubt you too step into new, unknown realms and need an anchor or guide-rail as support.
Read each of these statements and see how they feel in your body.
“I have nothing to prove”
“I have nothing to hide”
“I have nothing to defend’
“I have nothing to protect”
I recently ran a workshop “Owning and Loving your Yoga so it Rings True for You.” This topic inspired me to abandon negative thinking in order to share myself openly and hold space successfully. I committed to a deep alignment of my inner life with the workshop intention.
In holding space for others my intentions were: to teach without
proving my worth,
hiding my weaknesses,
defending my ignorance
or protecting my vulnerabilities.
Aligning with one’s actions with one’s truest, deepest calling is not easy.
It took an initial hit of self-awareness svadhyaya and grit, to deeply listen in.
With these four statements I experienced a radical throwing off of ‘shoulds’ and limitations. My physical body opened up, shoulder loose, chest big, smile wide. And my breath flowed too. So much love can be felt on the breath.
Because I had these powerful four statements, I found the process from start to finish to be engaging and delightful. Without drama or incident, I learned to be easy instead of fearful and I warmly connected with those involved in hosting the event and those attending.
How did the participants experience my offering?
“Our yoga teacher workshop by Katie de Araujo, created a beautiful exploration of yogic freedom, and permission to honour and embody our own unique yoga journey as individuals and as teachers.”
“We explored concepts such as curiosity, roundness, and replacing goals with presence. We connected over personal reflections on yamas and niyamas, while time flowed as smoothly as the energy in our bodies.”
As humans we can be triggered, stressed or defensive. It is not a great state for us, and has an impact on those around too.
If you feel there is something more and that the reflective path of insight can uplift and liberate the mind, then I offer you this embodied skill.
If they feel like fake words, great, that means that you are engaging with satya (truthfulness). Naming truthfully how the phrases land in you is the first step, and the work is before you to be done.
It is good news to know you are on the right path, asking the useful questions.
From the deep psychology of yoga, these four phrases: nothing to prove, hide, defend or protect, can be viewed as a kind of surrender. An offering up and letting go of the self and of the ego.
PRACTICE
Say these words, one phrase at a time, and see what arises for you in your heart or in your belly.
“I have nothing to prove”
“I have nothing to hide”
“I have nothing to defend’
“I have nothing to protect”
Visualise yourself speaking with a lover or a stranger from this state of selflessness. Do you feel freedom to side step the mental noise and open a fresh path of presence with another?
If stuff arises you’d like assistance processing, you can book in to a Yoga Therapy session in studio and online. I am available for such deep work.
In letting go we receive gifts we could not have known to ask for.
