Comfort vs Courage: Week 4

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

The purpose of life is freedom. External circumstances can most certainly create challenging situations; however, according to yogic philosophy, it is the internal restrictions we place on ourselves that induce our true suffering. The day we understand that most of our suffering is created by our own minds is the day we start moving towards freedom. 

This is what the Comfort vs Courage Challenge has been all about. Stepping just one bit closer towards freedom.

Two sources of suffering are grasping and avoiding. When we find something that makes us feel happy (or free), we tend to grasp hold of it so tightly that the thought of losing it creates suffering. On the other end of the spectrum, when we find something that causes us pain or discomfort, we avoid that thing to such a degree that we create a new level of suffering. 

Anyone who has read Pink Panties & Other Life Lessons will know about my love affair with boots. Sometimes, my desire to find the perfect winter boot consumes my mind to such an extent that it no longer feels positive. I am constantly searching stores, scanning social media, considering options, weighing pros and cons. It has taken over my mind. It does not feel good to NEED something to this extreme. My grasping towards the just right boot is now a source of suffering. 

On the other hand, avoidance can also cause discomfort. My fear of parallel parking sometimes dictates whether I say yes or no to social and professional invitations. I have allowed the fear to run certain parts of my life. I have overthought the process of parallel parking, creating imaginary situations that indeed would prevent anyone from trying this skill. My desire to avoid parallel parking is a great source of suffering for me. 

What I want you to see is that both of these situations have been created in my own mind. They are two examples of how I have allowed the mind to control my life. I am imprisoned because of my thoughts. The entire purpose of yoga, stated in the second verse of the Yoga Sutras, is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. When the mind no longer controls us, we are truly free.

Let's circle back around to our Courage Challenge. While I asked you to face a fear/discomfort, what I was really asking you to do was to step outside of your mind and to realize that you are able to take action regardless of what the mind is saying to you. When you act in this way, you are proving that the mind does not control you. You may not conquer your fear (yet), but you have taken a step towards freedom. If we continue to take baby steps in this way, one day we might discover that we feel truly free.

Assignment

1. Do the thing.
2. Take a picture if possible. 
3. Share with the class. 
4. On the poster, write down one emotion you felt right before you took action and one emotion you felt right after.