The Stillness of The Lake
The Stillness of The Lake
Do you have an inner critic? I do. I know he means well. This critic tries his best to help me. From his perspective he sees me veering off track, and is trying to bring me back on course. But his strategy is not always effective. What my inner critic doesn’t realize is he’s an aspect of me. He is in fact not the WHOLE of me. The WHOLE of me, at my center, is Self.
When I remember that I am Self, I tap into what Ram Dass calls “Loving Awareness.” I remember that I am calm, centered, and curious. When I separate from the inner critic, I can show him curiosity and compassion. I can love him without identifying as the inner critic. I can reassure him that I hear his voice and I am not trying to get rid of him. I can thank him and I can ask for a bit of space.
Yoga is a tool to work with the energy of the mind, to separate you from the chatter of the voices in your heads. Think of your mind as the lake, and think of your inner critic as just one wave on that lake. At first, the waves may appear large and crash into each other. They appear chaotic. Each wave moves across the lake with no regard for another. You are unable to peer into the lake because the waves stir the sediment and the surface is too much in motion.
As you apply curiosity and acceptance, the waves become smaller, more gentle in their form. They begin to recede into ripples. Your practice may ultimately bring stillness to the lake. Once the surface calms down, you can see what lies beneath the surface. On a good day, you may even see the contours along the bottom.
When you move past the surface of the mind, you can see your tendencies, patterns, and preprogrammed responses. Without being conscious of these predispositions, you create our suffering. You run on autopilot. But when you gain awareness, you can make conscious choices and move away from suffering.
It’s a big ask to get all this in one practice. In fact, it is improbable that you will. Your practice should be consistent, with effort, over an extended period of time. But a single practice can relieve suffering, and create separation from the inner critic. It can create some awareness of Self. Most days, that’s enough to be able to show up for our loved ones, colleagues, pets, and communities.
I’d love to hear more about your experiences — keep in touch.
