ARE YOU FIGHTING LIFE RIGHT NOW? GOOD NEWS, YOU CAN PUT THE ARMOUR DOWN

A friendly guide to keeping your zen and your sense of humour intact

Hi dear friend,

Let’s face it, life can be a battlefield at times. From battles with ourselves (hello, negative self-talk and self-doubt) to battles with others (um, have you ever been in a meeting with your boss and your arch-nemesis co-worker at the same time?), it’s no wonder we sometimes feel like we’re at war.

Joking aside, it’s natural to have disagreements and arguments, but sometimes these battles can become more intense and harmful than they need to be. Sometimes they are external, involving conflicts with other people. Other times they are internal, involving imbalances within ourselves. The question is, are you at war with yourself, others and the world? And if so, how can you overcome it?

When all the covid-madness started in Spain, where we lived at the time with lock downs, regulations, police giving big fines to people for just walking outdoors without a mask and the financial strain for a lot of people around the world, making families with babies beg for food and receive charity hand downs just to be able to survive, due to not being able to go to work, I can truly say I lost hope for humanity for a while.

During the Plandemic time I made a mistake and watched 5 min of main stream media news from India. That broke my heart even more. So many hungry people, yes I know there is poverty, but this was very different, due to all the lockdowns.

Losing hope can be a very difficult aspect of being at war with the world and yourself. When I lost faith in the goodness of humanity for a little while, it felt like I was completely alone in this type of struggle.

Whatever the cause, it can be a devastating experience, leading to feel anger, despair, and hopelessness, making it difficult to see a way forward. Luckily there are tools to take us out of that kind of mind-set.

For me I grab onto friends and connecting with light minded. I meditate more and start rolling things I am grateful for, in my mind, which always helps and lifts me. And my daily mantra, ‘This too shall pass’ (good and bad) has been with me for years. I even have a ring engraved with these words.

There are ways to find hope and connection, even in the darkest of times.

And practicing the Yoga philosophy has been a game-changer for me when it comes to dealing with life’s battles and obstacles.

I used to think the only way to win was to suit up in full armour and charge ahead like a knight in shining armour. But it turns out that approach just led to a lot of bumps, bruises, and bad communications.

Entering the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which is the science of the mind in the Yoga philosophy. These teachings are like my secret lightsaber for surfing life’s obstacles with more ease and less stress.

One of the main principles is Ahimsa (non-violence), which is all about doing no harm and being kind and compassionate to ourselves and others. You might be thinking - “Uh, duh, I’m already nice to people!” But practicing Ahimsa goes beyond just being polite and nice.

It means treating yourself and others with the same care and respect you’d want for yourself. And let me tell you, it’s not always easy.

There have been times, when I used to have a boss and I’ve wanted to give him a piece of my mind or scream at the driver who cut me off.

But instead, I try to take a deep breath and remind myself that being kind is more important than being right.

Now, don’t get me wrong - I’m not some perfect, enlightened being who never loses her cool. But by practicing Ahimsa, I’ve learned to handle life’s obstacles with a little more humour, a little more finesse, and a lot less shielding.

At the end of the day, the struggles we face with ourselves and others are a natural part of the human experience. And by practicing Ahimsa and nurturing greater awareness and compassion, we can learn to navigate these battles with greater ease and grace.

I would love to hear what tools you use.

Until next week, stay grateful and curious.

Much love,

Kim