“You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
This is Steve Jobs, of course.
During meditation, if we’re fortunate, we experience a kind of life-altering nakedness that permanently affects our perspective about what we are and what we are not.
What it feels like to me is the dissolving of my body. By the end of morning practice, my understanding is that I’m a body of energy that happens to be passing through this less significant physical body.
It’s a feeling that stays through the day. On a good day, I see everyone around me as the same kind of energy, and we feel like family.
One of the best consequences of this shift in perspective is that it makes me brave. When I know myself to be light passing through this day, I lose my fear of failure (light can’t fail), of humiliation, and of rejection. I lose my small-minded need for security.
I follow my heart more easily.
I don’t know whether Steve Jobs meditated. This is important, because meditation itself is not the point, any more than my physical practice of yoga is the point.
Freedom is the point. Waking up and discovering who we are is the point. Recognizing that we’re part of all that is, is the point. Living bravely from that perspective is the point.
It just happens that meditation and practice on the mat are excellent signposts saying, ‘Hey! You beautiful smacking whack of radiant light, you! Look this way! Here you are!”
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks to Steve Jobs for the reminder that we are light passing through.
Thanks to you, always, for the conversation,
kristin
Love this, thank you!
Lori, thank you back.
So happy to have happened upon your blog. It is 4:24 AM and my beautiful smaking light is just beginning to shine, thanks for bringing to mind this awareness! In response to your inquiry about what we look for in a yoga class. I am a yoga instructor, and you couldn’t have nailed it better. Love, love, love, lifting the curtain for our students to feel the quiet, the stillness, the loveliness of moving from their beautiful center outward. Thank you! Rachel
Beautifully said as always Kristin!!! From my light to yours!
“I see everyone around me as the same kind of energy, and we feel like family.”
“When I know myself to be light passing through this day, I lose my fear of failure (light can’t fail), of humiliation, and of rejection. I lose my small-minded need for security.”
Wonderful. Mantras worth memorizing. Thank you.
Bill
Thanks back, Bill.
Kristin,
I love your posts – so honest and authentic and inspiring. The thought of us as a “beautiful smacking whack of radiant light” will stay with me…such a lovely and well-put image! I will think of that light in my practice today…and hope that like you, the image stays present through all of my days.
Namaste
Thanks, you.
Namaste back.
Many thanks Kristin, for your clear, humorous and enlightened encouragement.
I stumbled on your blog on Yoga Journal this morning.
I gobbled up all your old entries….at times tearing up, then laughing out loud. I happened to need that inspiration this morning.
I was shocked when I got to the end of an entry and noticed your home location. I live in North Bay ON.!
Your loving guidance is close at hand……..but reading your entries helps me realize that it so close at hand that it resides within me……..I just need a little reminder now and then.
Thanks for the reminder. Be well.
Jackie,
God, what a fantastic thing to learn, that it’s all inside. I appreciate that one.
We’re also at Dr.Kristin Shepherd on Facebook, a place that seems a little more back and forth than this site.
Till we physically bump into each other,
kristin
Thanks for responding Kristen. Like Lisa, I posted here because I couldn’t at Yoga Journal. Happy, happy however, because I discovered this blog and it might be even more amazing!
Thanks for the Facebook suggestion, but I’m not yet enlightened enogh to use it……..Maybe a little more meditation will help.
Jackie
I’ve been reading your yoga journal blog for a while now and love the way you always close it with “thanks to you for the conversation” Ironically, I haven’t been able to figure out how to leave a comment on their page, so here I am.
The post today was exactly what I needed to hear. Last night I decided that I would go to a yoga class today, but I haven’t been in 2 weeks (yikes!) and was feeling a bit apprehensive. Your story made me realize how fortunate I am to have found a studio and teachers where I can feel comfortable. What a good reminder that yoga is about so much more than getting poses right or “improving them” with each class. Thank you.
Lisa, I don’t know whether my note reached you, so here goes a rough repeat: YJ had to cancel its comments section because of crazy spammers. I really miss the conversation that came from that section.
I’m thrilled that the blog was what you needed today. I know that feeling.
Thanks for taking the time and the effort to leave your comments here. I appreciate it,
kristin
“What it feels like to me is the dissolving of my body. By the end of morning practice, my understanding is that I’m a body of energy that happens to be passing through this less significant physical body.”
The first time this happened to me I had no words, only tears because it was so beautiful and I realized how special and incredible the gift was. I’ve only been practicing yoga for about 6 months and I am blown away almost daily by the glimmer of what is out there to be discovered.
Your blog so often exactly hits what I’m experiencing. Thank you so much for the gift of your insight and the gift of brilliant words!