"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.”
― Stephen Mitchell, Tao Te Ching
Hello Friends and happy new year,
As I sit in the dark room of our hotel room, signs of a new day are appearing across the sky and a traffic noise in the distance can be heard though the windows. A call on Prayer from the near by mosque is filled with a hope for peace. A new day, a new opportunity.
Mornings are always my favorite part of the day. Early mornings, especially, when the silence is golden and really deep. They are always a welcome space for a meditation, and writing with a good cup of coffee.
Amidst the whirlwind of a house move, our belongings packed and ready for relocation to our new home in Dubai, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement. It's a surreal realization that I am now a homeowner in this vibrant city. Yet, what truly astounds me is the divine orchestration of it all. The alignment of my passion for yoga shaping my purpose, the magical convergence of my unique family, and the unexpected roots we've planted in Dubai – it's a dreamlike narrative for an ordinary person like me.
So, how does one manifest dreams like these? We often say, "follow your heart," but I prefer to think of it as maintaining a constant dialogue with your heart. In my experience, these conversations unfold in three areas of the body: the chest, throat, and belly. Every decision, from the trivial to the monumental, becomes effortless when you're attuned to the rhythm of your heart and body.
While the mind and logic will attempt to divert you, toward decisions that are approved and popular in the culture/society you live in, the heart's current is quiet, and powerful in a different way. It feels more like an invitation, rather than a pressure to act or be a certain way. Trusting its pull is imperative; answering the divine invitation and accepting the dance may be both exhilarating and terrifying, promising and uncertain.
Here are some indicators that guide you towards what's meant for you (purely based on my own experience, but also scientifically proven to be true for all humans)
A sense of expansion across your chest ( feels like being liberated from shackles)
Full and free breath
Inexplicable inner smiles
Positive, yet slightly nervous, sensations in your belly
Decisions that might seem unusual or uncommon, but that feel very good in your body
Conversely, signs that lead you away from your true path include:
A contracting chest and tightness (Shackles ON feeling).
Hindered, non-fluid breath.
Lump-like feelings in your throat.
A rock-like sensation in your belly.
Decisions driven purely by logic and cultural norms, lacking fulfillment.
Living authentically requires courage, demanding a heightened awareness of your emotions. By paying close attention and honoring your body's sensations and reactions, you can differentiate between the heart's guidance and the mind's chatter. Then you decide which one to follow. Choose wisely.
May these steps serve you well on your journey.
with love,
Danica
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