I have a book that I often turn to for reference: Yoga: Your Home Practice Companion, compiled by the Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Centre (DK Publishing, 2010). In it, there is a chart entitled “A year of positive thinking.” For each month of the year, there is a quality and an affirmation. The idea is to repeat the affirmation – mindfully, with concentration and with intention – at the beginning and at the end of each day, so that by the end of the month, we will have developed a new habit of positive thinking.
The quality for August is Will, and the affirmation is “My will is all-powerful.”
Of the twelve affirmations in the chart, I find this one needs the most unpacking. What does it really mean?
First of all, there is a difference between Will and Desire. (I have explored this before here.) Will is not about getting whatever we want/desire. Will is about having the strength to release those desires – to be free from compulsions and habits that bring us temporary pleasure but that don’t serve us in the long run. A few examples: That extra slice of bread that’s so fresh and yummy, even though my belly’s full. Or that extra 10 minutes of snuggling in bed in the morning, even though I’d be better served by 10 minutes of stretching my body or elevating my thoughts with an inspiring book.
Will is about listening to and acting upon our highest wisdom, rather than being led by our senses.
Will is about
1/ asking yourself, “what changes can I make in my life to bring me greater well-being?” and
2/ incrementally, in small steps, with great patience and compassion, and with consistency and perseverance, making those changes. (THIS is your yoga practice. It can include on-the-mat yoga practice, but probably most of it is off the mat – in your home, in your workplace, in your community.)
It takes great will to undo years’ worth of habits. But it is possible because our will, like our body, gets stronger the more we use it. Have faith in yourself. Keep up your practice. And remember that practice is by definition perfect. (Many thanks to Sylvie Gouin for this bit of wisdom.) There is no good practice or bad practice – practice is perfect as it is. Think of a toddler learning how to walk. The mistakes, the setbacks, are part of the learning process; embrace them, and keep practicing. Mastery awaits.