During a yoga class here in Maui, the teacher said something that caught my attention and rang very true for me. She said, “Be above and beyond your outside circumstances.” What's interesting is that I really needed to hear those words to help me get through a situation that presented itself on the very next day.
These words are easy to hear, but not at all easy to put into practice. When something happens in life that you didn't expect at all, you are blind-sided and after the initial shock, you have one of two choices: How you react and whether or not to Let it Bring You Down or Let it Build You Up.
When you choose to be easily affected by outside circumstances that are out of your control, you are resisting what is, and the battle inside can continue for as long as you allow it to. This gives power to the situation that is disturbing your peace of mind and attempting to weaken your core self (your higher self).
On the flip side, you can begin to view circumstances as things that happen because they are supposed to. They are what is and many times happen for good reason even though we don't see it that way. When you allow yourself to feel what you feel and process for as long as you need, time and space serve as healing agents that help you to shift your perspective on any situation. Instead of becoming a victim, you become an observer. You then make the choice to not be so affected because you become aware that this too shall pass like most things ultimately do.
Once we discover that there is a path that moves us from resistance to acceptance, we are able to be above and beyond our outside circumstances because we have finally come to understand that no matter what happens, the most sturdy and reliable rock we need to hold onto lies within us.
We all nurture and grow our inner rock (the core self or higher self) in different ways. I work to strengthen mine through mindfulness, inspiration, courage, faith, practicing trust (which is a daily challenge), self-compassion (being kind and gentle with myself), yoga, meditation (calming my mind), self-reflection, and prayer.
What makes up your inner rock? How will you strengthen it so you can be above and beyond your outside circumstances when need be?