There is something about an environment in which we we feel emotionally safe. Psychologically we all want to feel a sense of belonging. Some have said the sense of belonging is one of our most innate psychological needs.

When I first started to take yoga classes I was seeking something fresh. I went to every event. I was thirsty for all of it. There was a sense of completion I felt from being in a space where I felt safe to explore my mind, body and spirit. I thought, hmmm… peace does exist. I then delved deeper into my studies and practice to become a teacher. I had to share this mind blowing experience with everyone! I soon realized these life changing things were not for everyone and exploring life with all of this new knowledge had to be navigated with discernment. Not everyone wanted to hear it and putting it out into the world needed to be a laid back approach. Let’s just say teaching yoga in the Bible belt can be a bit tricky.
Soon though, the facade of peace and unity wore off. I was smacked right across the face with human bullshit. My bubble had been popped! For quite sometime I lived in a kumbaya bubble where there were teachers to worship and friends to chant along side. I got bitch slapped right across the face by reality.

We tend to need to look up to someone for the answers. We get to have this sense of belonging as well as adoration for a teacher. However, it can be daunting when they knock themselves off the pedestal by exhibiting normal human behaviors. Woah!? Aren’t you my guru of love and light!? Don’t you float on clouds and hover over the ground when no one is around!? Bam! There you are looking yourself in the figurative foggy mirror. You wipe it off, you sort of see yourself, it fogs up again, damn it, wipe, someone turn off the steaming shower of bullshit so I can confront myself!

We want so badly for someone to hold the key to all that is love and light. We believe what we want to believe. We see what we want to see. Then, there is a moment when reality delivers us a swift upper cut to the jaw to help us to gain clarity of self. We place too much of our happiness and self worth in the hands of others. Our innate need for belonging needs to be filled by ourselves. This doesn’t mean we don’t need community or that we shouldn’t admire others and strive to live in a similar way. It simply means we can not expect Godly things from human beings.

The moment we place our power of self in someone else’s hands is a dangerous lesson begging to be learned. I once had a friend remind me not to give my power away. Power in the sense of our ability to choose what we give our energy and thoughts to on a daily basis. The power to decide where we want to focus our thoughts and actions. We become the observer of self. We then learn the extremely important difference between responding to life rather than reacting to life.

It’s the beat we take between the inhale and the exhale. The space between the movements. We recognize our soul and our worth. We realize the sense of belonging does not come from a place of lack or need, but rather a decision to share our divinity with others. A place of self acceptance evolves within and we remember that from which we came so we can stand confidently in who we truly are and realize peace still does exist. It has been within us all along and no teacher or group of people can give us peace.

Anytime we do anything that raises our vibration there is a moment when our eyes are closed, there is a buzzing just below the skin’s surface when all of our energy is free to roam throughout the body. Our eyes become soft behind the lids, brow unfurrowed, jaw relaxed. Our thoughts slow and seem to make sense. Faith, hope and love pulse through our entire being. The sense of peace and belonging we yearn for is met even for but a moment. We inhale, exhale and remember our truth. Tricky part is attempting extend that peace into our daily moments. Ha… such is life…