A Life Lesson from Plants and Animals
Did you ever notice how frequently the mind compares itself to those around you? It is so easy to look the person to your right and left and think, "Oh they have a flatter stomach than I do," or "If only I had pin straight hair," "My skin looks so much clearer than that person over there." And the comparison list goes on and on and on...
We are constantly bombarded by images, advertisements, other people's conversations, facebook posts, that tell us the ideal of what we should look like and how we should define ourselves as human beings. Even taking a yoga class, where one seeks their sanctuary and acceptance, the mind is tempted to compare to practitioners that may seem more advanced than you, or the way their lululemon pants shape their legs and butt. The best way to overcome this is to practice non -attachment to your thoughts and to find gratitude for yourself, however this is easier said than done.
Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to take a lesson of other forms of life who do not compare, do not judge, do not wish to be anything other than being themselves because that is who they are.
Let us start with dogs. Think of a golden retriever, a medium sized dog with a medium frame that is strong in build. Now think of a greyhound, medium size dog with a very small frame, and rather frail looking despite their powerful racing abilities. If you were to place these dogs side by side, we as humans may find ourselves judging the muscularity of the retriever or the thinness of the greyhound, but the dogs themselves are being as they are without judging the other. They may be the same kind of animal, however their breed makes them unique and they exist as they are. These different breeds dont try and change themselves to be like the other cause there is no special diet (even a doggie diet), that is going to change the shape of a retriever to look like a greyhound or vice versa.
Not a fan of the medium size dogs...well you could try a similar comparison of a pug to a dachshund.
Let us go to a plant. Picture in your mind a little round cherry tomato. Small and compact. Now think of a beefsteak tomato. Meaty and Thick. Again same kind of vegetable, but different in its form. It would be quite comical to think that the round beefsteak tomato would compare itself to the petite cherry tomato, wishing it could be shrunk down in size and loose some tomato weight. How silly does that sound? There they are existing in their tomato like selves as they are with no judgment or self criticism.
You can think of countless examples of other living things that are of the same species that have a variety of breeds, whether it be animal or plant. Now as we go back to our human selves we can see that we are all of the same species, yet come in so many different forms. Some of us may be shaped like a medium sized golden retriever and others may be formed with thinner bones and small frame like the greyhound. Of course we can change our diet and exercise to fluctuate, but we cannot make a complete transformation to a different form. Whether we are 105 lbs or 140 lbs, you are still made up of the same qualities, have the same likes/dislikes, same amount of wisdom.
Enjoy yourself for what makes you, you. Don't compare. Don't criticize. Do accept. Do honor the person you are right now and every moment here after!
Thanks for reading!
Namaste,
Julie
We are constantly bombarded by images, advertisements, other people's conversations, facebook posts, that tell us the ideal of what we should look like and how we should define ourselves as human beings. Even taking a yoga class, where one seeks their sanctuary and acceptance, the mind is tempted to compare to practitioners that may seem more advanced than you, or the way their lululemon pants shape their legs and butt. The best way to overcome this is to practice non -attachment to your thoughts and to find gratitude for yourself, however this is easier said than done.
Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to take a lesson of other forms of life who do not compare, do not judge, do not wish to be anything other than being themselves because that is who they are.
Let us start with dogs. Think of a golden retriever, a medium sized dog with a medium frame that is strong in build. Now think of a greyhound, medium size dog with a very small frame, and rather frail looking despite their powerful racing abilities. If you were to place these dogs side by side, we as humans may find ourselves judging the muscularity of the retriever or the thinness of the greyhound, but the dogs themselves are being as they are without judging the other. They may be the same kind of animal, however their breed makes them unique and they exist as they are. These different breeds dont try and change themselves to be like the other cause there is no special diet (even a doggie diet), that is going to change the shape of a retriever to look like a greyhound or vice versa.
Not a fan of the medium size dogs...well you could try a similar comparison of a pug to a dachshund.
Let us go to a plant. Picture in your mind a little round cherry tomato. Small and compact. Now think of a beefsteak tomato. Meaty and Thick. Again same kind of vegetable, but different in its form. It would be quite comical to think that the round beefsteak tomato would compare itself to the petite cherry tomato, wishing it could be shrunk down in size and loose some tomato weight. How silly does that sound? There they are existing in their tomato like selves as they are with no judgment or self criticism.
You can think of countless examples of other living things that are of the same species that have a variety of breeds, whether it be animal or plant. Now as we go back to our human selves we can see that we are all of the same species, yet come in so many different forms. Some of us may be shaped like a medium sized golden retriever and others may be formed with thinner bones and small frame like the greyhound. Of course we can change our diet and exercise to fluctuate, but we cannot make a complete transformation to a different form. Whether we are 105 lbs or 140 lbs, you are still made up of the same qualities, have the same likes/dislikes, same amount of wisdom.
Enjoy yourself for what makes you, you. Don't compare. Don't criticize. Do accept. Do honor the person you are right now and every moment here after!
Thanks for reading!
Namaste,
Julie
Dogs and Yoga, two of my favorite things! Nice blog Jewel.
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