Drop the Comparisons + Fall in Love with Your Life

"Comparison is the thief of joy" - Theodore Roosevelt

When I was volunteering in Spain, I was surrounded by others who were also in a time of transition. I was constantly experiencing new things: new places, new people, new challenges, and new discoveries. I was practicing yoga regularly and my mind was buzzing with thoughts and questions to explore.

Once home, this buzzing in my mind began to disappear. Instead of thinking about philosophy, yoga and mindfulness, I was thinking about how to live. 'How to live' - what does that even mean? Is there only one way to do so?

As I caught up with friends and family after being being away, I found myself comparing my life to others'. I felt completely lost; as if I had wasted time travelling and volunteering.

The confidence I experienced during my time in Spain was gone. Here I was teaching yoga and inspiring others to live a yogic lifestyle, yet I wasn't even doing so myself.

I reached out to my old boss and friend for some guidance. As I opened up about the emotions I was experiencing, he said something which really spoke to me: 'Don't discount your own experiences'. He reminded me how special + valuable the lessons learned from travelling are; that not everyone has the courage to take time to travel or volunteer and I should be proud of my decision to do so. 

As I reflected back on our conversation, the darkness from comparing myself to others began to fade. Yes, I still compare myself to others - especially when I go on social media - however, now when I find myself feeling down due to a comparison I have made, I take a step back to remember + cherish all of of my own experiences. Because it is our own experiences which should feed our happiness and not those of others causing us sadness or doubt.

May we meditate more on the things we have vs the things we want.

May we be grateful. Be loving. Be kind.

Not only to others, but also to ourselves.

xx

Seva: Selfless Service

I worked as a waitress for 4 years. I sweat my butt off as I served tables, cleaned up others' messes and dealt with unhappy customers. It wasn't an easy job, but I held on for the tips. Certain customers would tip generously, while others left pennies (literally). I resented those who didn't tip and simply smiled goodbye to those who were generous. I was chasing the dollar, one table at a time. 

Letting Go of the Ego

I eventually left the restaurant industry and am now teaching yoga full-time. I absolutely love teaching yoga, however, I periodically feel sick of hearing my own voice and stress about money, even feeling tempted to get back into serving for the extra cash.

As these thoughts continued to cloud my mind, I decided to add more asana and meditation practices into my routine in search of some clarity. I realized I was solely focusing on me vs on my students. My ego had taken over and I lost sight of why I started teaching in the first place: to help others - not to make the big bucks.

Serving should be a selfless act, not a selfish one. The more I meditated on this thought, the less I thought about money and the other stresses in my mind before teaching. My energy lightened and I felt more present & connected to my students' needs.

No Tips Required

Seane Corn describes seva (selfless service) as "going outside of your comfort zone and extending yourself when you might normally withdraw". Corn continues, "I'd love to say everything I do is selfless, but there has not been one experience where I haven't gotten more from it spiritually that I could ever give".

Moral of the story, in giving yourself fully, you open your Self to receive. 

xx