Cultivate radical acceptance that everything is as it should be, embracing both light and darkness, as this allows you to see and appreciate the inherent beauty in the world. Understand that difficulty is a necessary part of life, meant to strengthen you from the inside.
Actively step outside the boundaries and decisions you’ve made about the type of person you are and what you’re capable of handling. Seek situations that require you to move beyond your perceived limitations.
Consciously commit to halting your usual self-criticism, even for a short period, to allow for engagement, enjoyment, and growth in new experiences. Recognize that talking negatively to yourself at home is free, but doing so when you’ve invested in an experience is a waste.
When you’ve invested time or money into an activity, fully engage with it rather than just showing up and criticizing yourself. Lean into new postures and movements to make good on your commitment.
Practice awareness and release the need to perform or present a certain image of yourself to the world. This process helps you see your actual reflection and understand yourself as a full spiritual being.
Extend the principle of nonviolence (ahimsa) to the language you use, not just towards others, but especially towards yourself. Recognize that violent self-talk impacts how you communicate with everyone else.
Understand that spiritual paths, like the eight-limbed path, are continuous, integrated practices where all aspects are happening at once, not a linear checklist to complete. Accept that your practice will naturally ebb, flow, and evolve with your changing needs and understandings.
Translate the physical lessons learned from practices like yoga (e.g., flexibility, strength, core engagement) to emotional and mental challenges in your daily life. Practice these internal ‘movements’ when things get hard to strengthen yourself from the inside.
Improve your well-being by becoming more other-oriented, such as through volunteering or donating money. This focus on others is a documented way to increase happiness.
Actively nip the ‘green-eyed monster’ of jealousy in the bud and try to avoid social comparison generally. This practice (asteya) helps preserve your spirit and cultivate contentment.
Recognize that more material possessions and external accolades will not make you happy. Practice aparagraha by noticing times when you’re feeling greedy and cultivating freedom from desire.
Practice satya by not lying to people and committing to living in truth, even when doing so is painful. This builds integrity and preserves your spirit.
Understand what it means to hold on to your essence and preserve your spirit, especially when engaged in acts that share your spirit with other human beings. This practice (brahmacharya) ensures you know what you’re getting into.
Practice saucha by keeping your body clean physically, mentally, and emotionally. This involves a comprehensive approach to personal well-being.
Develop a sense of austerity and self-discipline (tapas) in your life. This internal commitment helps you navigate challenges and stay focused on your path.
Practice svadhyaya by committing to studying yourself and looking within for answers. This introspection is crucial for personal growth and understanding.
Commit to finding and following a spiritual path (Ishvara Pranidhana) that resonates with you. This provides a framework for deeper meaning and connection.
Practice santosa by focusing on finding contentment in the present moment, without ruminating about the past or the future. This helps ground you and reduce mental suffering.
Recognize that moving your body (asanas) can be an important step towards spiritual enlightenment. The physical experience of yoga is a minor part, but a foundational one for deeper work.
Understand that the original meaning of asana is simply ’to sit’ or ’to be,’ and that being in stillness is the hardest posture. You only need to practice one posture, which can be sitting, lying, or standing.
Consciously use your breath (pranayama) to change the way you feel in your body and mind. This mindful breath work helps unite your physical and mental states, leading to a deeper understanding of yourself.
To calm your fight-or-flight system and reduce stress, take slow, deep belly breaths, especially focusing on a long exhale. This is a fast and easy way to chill out your nervous system.
Commit to detaching from external things (pratyahara) like what you look like, how much money you have, the stuff you own, success at work, and online identities. This is crucial for modern practitioners.
Achieve withdrawal of senses by accepting that your senses are alive and awake, allowing every sound and connection to be there. Then, consciously pull your focus inward, rather than trying to shut things down.
Practice meditation regularly to experience benefits such as reduced anxiety, less stress, better sleep, and fewer negative emotions. It’s a powerful tool for mental and psychological well-being.
Begin your meditation practice by assuming a comfortable posture and focusing on simple breath work. This tuning in initiates concentration (dharana).
During meditation, don’t expect a clear mind; instead, allow all your thoughts to collide and become chaos. By applying focus and staying in a space of concentration, clarity will naturally emerge.
Dedicate meditation time to process obsessive thoughts or make lists, knowing that if you apply focus and stay in concentration, you cannot obsess over anything forever. This allows for mental processing without endless rumination.
As a specific application of ahimsa (nonviolence), consider vegetarianism or veganism. This dietary choice is seen as a way to be nonviolent by not consuming other creatures.
Cultivate gratitude for the privilege of being alive and the ‘dope shit’ that happens every day. This perspective helps you find beauty and worth in life, even when it means facing difficulties.