 Having a clear purpose is one way to find fulfillment in your life. The yogis taught that we each have a right calling, or dharma- something we were put here to do. That point of focus fuels us, providing a north star for our choices and a reason to keep going when life gets tough.
Purpose with a capital “P” seems to have all the answers. While you may wish for a grand calling that is yours beyond the shadow of a doubt, the reality is that most of us will, at some point, experience the uncomfortable feeling of bouncing along in life with no clear direction. A major factor in burnout, overwhelm and fatigue is a lack of clear direction. Spending energy on a job, relationship or activity that no longer holds meaning becomes too taxing. Facing a string of challenges and uncertainties can also lead to exhaustion due to the high mental and emotional toll. The challenges of 2020 have rearranged the way we live and left a foggy vision for the future. But you don't need to solve a world crisis to make a meaningful impact. Let go of the quest for Purpose, and look around at the ways, large and small, that you can contribute closer to home. When you home in on what you have to give, not only do you find greater reason for being, but you also cultivate a sense of empowerment, generosity and ultimately, fulfillment. To get clear on the ways you can uniquely contribute to life, grab your pen and journal, and ask yourself these questions: 1. What am I currently doing that feels exciting, interesting or satisfying? 2. What am I currently doing that feels exhausting or draining? 3. What are the obvious ways I contribute to my world? (i.e. caring for family, volunteering, work, etc) 4. What are some smaller ways I may have overlooked? (i.e. being patient with someone, offering a kind word to a stranger, cleaning up a mess I didn’t make, etc) 5. How might I use my presence, mood, attitude or words to contribute at home... at work... in my relationships? 6. Who/What/How can I support? 7. What am I ready to STOP doing to get my time and energy back? 8. Is there something I’ve learned or experienced that might help others? 9. Is there a skill or talent I have that I would enjoy sharing with others? 10. Where do I need support so that I can show up as my best self?
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 Some days, I sit to meditate and my thoughts immediately wander off to plan the next 30+ years of my life. We all have this experience from time to time, and if this has been your ONLY experience in meditation, go easy on yourself. Part of mindfulness is learning to be comfortable with the good, the bad and the ugly- including the chatter of your mind. My favorite techniques for these busy-minded days include mantra meditation to focus the mind, counting the breath to stay present, brahmari (humming bee) to soothe the mind and diaphragmatic breath to calm the nervous system. Brahmari soothes an emotionally overwhelmed mind. Here's how to practice it: Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take a deep breath and as you exhale, make an '"mmmm" sound like you just ate something delicious. Take another deep breath and this time, make the same sound but at a slightly higher pitch. Continue taking deep breaths in and humming on the breath out. Work towards extending the hum for 7 counts. The longer you sustain your breath, the more relaxing it becomes. But breathe mindfully because over-extending creates the opposite effect. Once you've got the breathing down, you're ready to enhance your vibratory experience. Plug your ear canals by placing your thumbs over the cartilage of your ears. Position the other 8 fingers on the sides of your head, above your temples. Start with 10 breaths and slowly work your way up to 7 minutes.  Kapalabhati Pranayama, which translates literally to 'skull shining breath', is a technique used in yoga to purify and energize the mind for meditation or mental work. It removes sleepiness from your mind, balances your nervous system and tones your digestive system. Kapalabhati is best practiced after asana (yoga poses), before meditation, or any time your mind needs refreshed.
Sit tall and relaxed with your ears, shoulders and hips stacked. Close your eyes gently and take a deep inhale through your nose, expanding your abdomen. Exhale through your nose with a forceful contraction of your abdomen, like blowing your nose. Allow the following inhalations to happen passively, expanding your abdominal muscles. Focus your attention on rapidly snapping your navel to your spine with each exhalation. Begin with 10 rounds at your pace. As you progress, increase your speed until your abdominals can support up to 5 rounds of 15-20 rapid breaths. If dizziness occurs, sit quietly until it passes and try again with less force and more awareness. Kapalabhati is not advised for those suffering from heart problems, high blood pressure, vertigo, hernia or women who are pregnant. |
Photo from Marius Muscalu