A little something nice for the holidays

I like to read things to my yoga classes, either at the beginning when we're settling into ujjayi breath, or at the end either at the start of savasana or right before we close. I will be reading this to my class this evening. It does mention God, but please don't let that be a hindrance to your understanding and accepting its meaning. If you like, you can substitute the word "Spirit," "Energy," or "Universe," or whatever you like that is meaningful to you.

Why have I chosen it? This time of the year we tend to go into the holidays with anticipation and sentimentality and the hope that everything will go smoothly with our families and that everyone will get along well with no conflicts. Our expectations are meant to soften our experience of the world and provide security for our own egos. Often, though, reality falls short of these expectations. Do we decide to dread the holidays or those family members? Do we shrink into smaller versions of ourselves to protect our own egos when met with conflict? I hope I can face situations as myself. I hope I can honor the light within myself and let it shine. These days I try be courageous enough to act from a place of truth, of real love, and not out of fear. My wish for you is that you can find your truth and your love, and recognize opportunities to act from that place.

Our deepest fear

is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear

is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light,

not our darkness,

that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves,

who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people

won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest

the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;

it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson

Namaste.