“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. ” Lucius Annaeus Seneca
You’ve met the person who takes responsibility for everything that goes wrong with her children, the house, her job, even the weather. And then, when something goes well, she lands the job, her child is healthy and robust, she say’s “how lucky”. You may even be that person. At times, I know, I am.
In the shadows, lurk not only the parts of us we rather not see because we consider them faults, but also our strengths. For some of us, it is hard to shine the light on our courage, our intelligence, our perseverance, and our resilience. We learn, early, to downplay those qualities so that the people around us can shine. This comes at a steep cost.
When we don’t own these parts of ourselves, we don’t hone them.
The world loses out. Name your strengths, your talents, your efforts and then notice when you and others reap rewards for them. Own Lucky.
Let’s Practice!
On The Mat
After warming up, come to standing mountain or Tadasana. Check in with your alignment and your breath. Bend your knees and prepare for bellows breath. Raise your hands over head in fists, inhale, pull your hands down with elbows bent as you forcefully exhale a loud “Ha” sound. Inhale and raise them up, repeat for 8 breaths. Stand and receive the effects of bellows breath.
Come into Warrior 2, with a strong wide base. Sink into your bent knee, hips square. Feel your muscles, the strength in your legs. Hold this position, back out 20 % and come back in. Now notice your edge, the place where your mind says pop back up but you know you can hold the pose a bit longer. Now notice your strength and your perseverence and awareness. Imagine someone you admire. What are the qualities you most admire in them? Are those qualities already a part of you? Are they qualities you want to embody and strengthen even more? Lengthen your spine, reach your hands out. Absorb those qualities, breathe them up from your feet, and circulate them through your body with your breath. Let your warrior dance. Continue on to the other side.
When you are ready, come into Parasita Padottanasana or wide legged stand so that your heart is higher than your head. Let your neck relax and the crown of your head be heavy. Complete your practice and take savasana. Deeply relax and let go. Awareness and compassion will do their job. Good work.
Off The Mat
Next time things go well in your life, look at your contribution. Acknowledge your role. What exactly did you do to contribute? Was it your efforts, your talents, your kindness? Own your contribution to this wonderful moment of goodness. Soak it in down to your toes. Feel it. Maybe write it down in a journal. Create a collection of stories where you were the heroine because you cared, you practiced; you were generous, strong and capable. Shine on….
Do you have strengths that you dismiss, or forget to notice and acknowledge? What are they?
“May we all feel safe, may we all feel our strength, may we all shine.”
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