Recently the Dalai Lama addressed a lucky group at Radio City Music Hall in NYC for three full days of teachings. Would have loved to attend. Maybe next year. Many of those whom attended wrote that it was one of his best. Magnificent.

A respected teacher & mentor of mine was there and discovered a great lesson before he even began speaking. The lighting on stage where the Dalai sits on his throne are very bright so that everyone can see him. He takes the stage and is wearing a tiny tennis visor to soothe his eyes from the bright lights.  Later at a luncheon he was asked about the visor and said that he wore it to shield his eyes from the bright lights. Instead of asking the stage managers to change the lighting to his liking, he turns it into a lesson. Work with things as they are.

We have moments every day to employ this lesson. It is so habitual to want to change, fix, complain about and control our environment. We spend quite a bit of energy doing so. Truthfully most of what we spend time changing or fixing isn’t permanent anyway. There might be a little relief but then organically things return to their natural state.

Here is a little experiment which might be fun. Take one week out of your life and try to just deal with things as they are without the need to change them. It’s going to be hard…yes. Obviously if it affects your safety  that doesn’t count. Common sense. I mean just the dumb little things that drive you crazy. The things you habitually complain about that really don’t matter. Your energy is very powerful. Direct it creatively and see what sort of freedom and joy come along. Write about it.  Each day pay attention.

Peace,

Yoga Jane