Challenging perception — I’ve been rubbing up against this a lot lately. And I’m trying to remember and convince myself that I can change my perception of anything. Anything at all. Even things of which I am totally certain… especially things of which I am totally certain.
Altering or altogether inverting perception is often talked about as if it’s simple, as if it’s as easy as flipping a light switch (usually when we’re chastising ourselves or judging someone else for not changing detrimental habits). But in practice it usually isn’t easy. The root systems of our seemingly simple, obvious, straightforward thoughts and beliefs are complex, multifaceted, multidimensional, often multigenerational, and so bio-psycho-socially integrated into our lives, our minds, and our bodies. So no, it’s not as easy as just flipping a switch.
Furthermore, it’s totally freakin’ scary. So then we’re dealing with this fear thing which we’re accustomed to running from and not toward. Because what happens when you voluntarily forfeit that which you once proclaimed to be true? You pull the rug right out from under your own self, and it’s like well, if that is not only not true anymore, but the opposite is now true for me, well then what else is untrue?! Oh my god, I’ve got nothing to hold onto anymore! Wait a minute… (exhale) I’ve got nothing to hold onto anymore…
My son asked me the other day what “freedom” is. I think this is freedom.
“You do not need to seek freedom in a different land, for it exists with your own body, heart, mind, and soul.” — B.K.S. Iyengar
Changing one’s mind and shifting perspective takes time, work, gentle presence, and patience. Sometimes we work from the top-down (mind to body) and sometimes we work from the bottom-up (body to mind). Usually it’s a combination of the two — body and mind informing one another. We challenge antiquated thoughts, concepts, stories, physical postures, and movements by interrupting old patterns and then re-patterning. We each have the power to do this.
“Yoga does not change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.” — B.K.S. Iyengar
In your yoga practice, or whatever sort of physical activity you do, I invite you to play, explore, and change it up. It can be a dramatic change, but doesn’t have to be. Variations of whatever your norm is are great. Play with a new pose, take a class with a different teacher, do a sequence in reverse, utilize a prop in an unusual way, try a totally new activity or one you haven’t done since you were a kid. Who knew evolving could be so fun? 😉
Krystal Barschig 