Freedom to Fly_Letting Go of Fear

"By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try, the world is beyond the winning."
~Lao Tzu

We can probably all agree that all of us want nothing more than peace and happiness. What many disagree on is what it is that makes us happy. In our lives we might strive for belongings, a certain job, or a relationship of some sort. On our mat, we might be happy if we can achieve a certain pose or look perfect in our vinyasa practice. But true happiness comes from letting go of desire, letting go of resisting what is Now, and embracing what we can do, what we already have, instead of forever looking for the next thing. Eka Pada Galavasana, or flying pigeon, is a pose that requires us to become aware of and face our fears. It is a lesson in addressing what holds us back and where the fear comes from. In our lives we sometimes stay in our comfort zone because we are afraid of what might happen if we venture from it. But when we let go of the past, of what we know, of what we think about ourselves, and embrace the opportunity to open our wings and fly, we open up doors to limitless possibilities.

Fear is an emotion that can stop us in our tracks. When we have a goal, whether a pose or something in our lives, failure to reach that goal can send us into darkness, feeling shame, embarrassment, depression, or thinking we're not good enough. It can prevent us from moving forward and experiencing some of our greatest successes and, in the end, true happiness. Each failure is a lesson. We had to fail in order to learn that lesson. That failure was our only way. It was our path. You are here for a purpose and your failures lead you to your purpose. They are often the door toward success. You've heard the phrase "when one door closes, another opens." And its true. Our failures, our disappointments, lead us to our truth, to our happiness. But this will only be true when we are open to receive and accept failure. When we are ready to allow our path to unfold. When you face a challenging pose on your mat, accept it and find your edge. Falling out of a pose is a great achievement because it means you've let go of fear and invited the risk of failure into your practice. Yoga is exactly that, after all, a practice. 

"Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny - he or she has something to fulfill, some message that has to be delivered, some work that has to be completed. You are not here accidentally - you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you." ~Osho