Yoga and finding purpose in life, part two

Go within, that is where the answers lie. Let the light from within shine the full expression of your soul.

Sarah Collin

Yoga has supported me in my life journey for the past thirty five years or so. I discovered the benefits in my early twenties in preparation for motherhood. Over the years, I have come and gone from yoga whilst living in remote regions of northern Australia where it was not readily available. In 1997, I studied the work of Paramahansa Yogananda with the Self Realisation Fellowship, and this changed my life and remains the steady foundation upon which I live. It is my rock. People noticed and wanted what I had!

I started to look for a way to teach this and that is when I was introduced to Dru Yoga in 2007, another life changer as I embarked on my journey of yoga teacher training – one that hasn’t stopped since! You know when you are on the right track as life opens up and nothing gets in the way of you pursuing your calling.

Yoga works because it supports the process of getting to know yourself, and I feel this is the most important aspect to pursue in seeking purpose. It must begin here because if you have no idea of who you are or what makes you come alive, you will strive and fail to feel like you have any purpose at all. You’ll find yourself grasping at lifelines from a place of stress and survival. Look around and you will see many coming from this place, relying on prescription drugs to numb the pain or any other number of addictions to distract from the all-important task of going within and getting to know yourself.

Knowing yourself is an inner journey. If you have no idea where to start, that’s OK. As I mentioned in part one, we lose ourselves in the busyness of living and time passes us by. I have recorded a couple of YouTube videos you can access here with journaling ideas. The illustrated discovery journal a wonderful tool for slowly exploring what made my heart come alive. Like a jigsaw, I slowly put pieces together and began trying things out to see what I liked and what I didn’t, what made my heart sing and what didn’t resonate so much. I still use it today as whilst we are walking this earth we continue to grow and evolve, and we need to stay tuned in for when things need to change.

Find something that makes you feel alive because when you do, there is a connection to a higher calling. It’s that point when you surrender, trust, and become willing to take steps forward and let life unfold. Stay in your heart and feel the inner connection. To do that, you need to have space for stillness and inner awareness. Your daily commitment to your practice will support you.

It is up to us to make meaning of our life, and we make meaning happen when we dedicate ourselves to taking time to honour what’s in our heart. To honour what’s in your heart is to know yourself.

Take the first step and let the nourishing practice of honouring your heart grow, because in putting yourself first and keeping your inner fire glowing, you will be a beacon of light to all you meet, and that is what the world needs right now.

Take responsibility to find purpose and make meaning of your life, know you are enough, live wholeheartedly. Know yourself.

Namaste

Sarah