By Christianne Asper-Contant
Lessons on bringing to this world my true present self
When I reflect on the state of the world, I notice a stark contrast between the values and priorities of some people and others.
So much of a recurring theme in the challenges we face is this contrast, that all I can conclude is this: The universe is teaching us some hard lessons!
So, what do I need to learn?
The answer, as clear as my voice:
I must volunteer to be the kind of student who is willing to bring to this world the one gift I have to offer — My True Present Self.
This past Monday, the day before the election, and the first day leading a collective cleanse, meditation was particularly challenging.
As I sat, I felt the strong flame of my ravenous hunger demanded my attention. My thoughts tried to soothe the inner turmoil by pointing out that I’d eaten a warm, succulent, and completely satisfying meal the night before, but my feelings persisted.
Then, to grace me, came the wise reminder that: ‘I am not the feeling’.
So, I practiced observing the physical experience without judgment, as if from the outside.
Underneath the skin of my serine-looking posture, was an “inquieta” (un-quite) child.
Discouraged I thought, “After all these years of meditation, this is where I end up?” Again, reasoning came to the rescue, reminding me that this was a heavily charged time. To add to the intensity, I was holding a container for a group of people who were also on the first day of their cleanse. Naturally, a heightened sensitivity was to be expected.
And just as I came to accept the distracted mind preventing my interior from experiencing the serenity exteriorly displayed, again I received wise guidance. The kind that allowed me to observe my mental chatter without judgment, as if from a distance.
Did this eradicate my hunger or agitation? No!
Yet, this student was paying enough attention to get what lesson needed practice:
‘I’m not the feeling I’m experiencing’.
A lesson that would carry me beyond the momentary reprieve from hunger and agitation. This practice of observing that my physical or mental experiences and I are not the same accompanied me more closely along the week. It provided me with a more solid ground to stand on when receiving the heartbreaking results of the election two days later, for example.
Knowing that my desires and other distractions will continue to tug at me, my aim is to appreciate, not ignore, this tool here available to help me become the kind of student who can bring to this world — My True Present Self.
How do you go about making more mindful choices that align with your true self?
Might observing your thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences without judgment, be of help?
Now, for those who are curious about how Ayurveda can take these understandings to the next level, please keep reading…..
In Ayurveda, our physical, mental, and emotional experiences are influenced by three fundamental energies or ‘Doshas’: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of us has a unique combination of these doshas, which determines our tendencies and characteristics. When our doshas go ‘out of sync,’ physical or emotional discomfort results. By recognizing and understanding our doshic tendencies, we can achieve the ultimate goal of Ayurveda — To restore balance within ourselves.
There is no better place to catch our Doshic tendencies than from a ‘free from judgment mode,’ however brief this moment of observing more objectively may be. And so, any challenge becomes an opening into which of these three fundamental energies needs to be tended to.
Now, revisiting the example I gave earlier — the roaring flame of “I’m famished” was informing me that the Pitta Dosha in me needed to be fine-tuned. So, after that meditation, I gave myself the specific task of calmly consuming the Kitcheri (nourishing meal, in this case with cooling spices) which I’d earlier prepared. Then my ‘Pitta gone wild’ happily settled.
Although less immediate, I knew that ‘Vata Dosha’ would also have to be tended to. After all, there was a reason why the “inquieta” (fidgety) child in me, had strongly signaled for my attention earlier.
So, when I was finally able to turn the office sign from “Open” to “Closed” off into the woods, I went. This time, I found a new path that took me down deep into the gorge of Seneca Park. There I stood and chanted AOUM more deeply than ever before. And this is how I experienced both my ‘excess Vata’ and the sun going down together as one.
In other words, once I recognize that the feeling being experienced is a result of a particular Dosha gone wild (in this case two of them), I can more effectively and gracefully redirect these energies back to their optimal equilibrium, and equanimity.
Through the practice of Ayurveda, one that I’ve been a student of for twenty-five years now, I can more easily spot the compass inside here.
As dynamic as the balanced states of the three Doshas may be, it is here that I see my compass point in the direction of my ‘North Star.’ The generous angle from which I can more effortlessly serve as my true present self.
Volunteering to bring our true present selves to this world does call for courage and endurance. There is no doubt that sometimes I just don’t feel like putting in the effort.
But then I ask, what greater contribution can I make than to share my unique gifts? What could be more rewarding than this? For me, this is the only answer that comes.
May we all find balance amidst life’s challenges and continue to illuminate our paths toward personal and collective transformation.
If you have any questions or areas of curiosity specific to Ayurveda, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope that these reflections can serve as a springboard for your exploration.
About Christianne: Christianne is a Holistic Wellness Coach with over two decades of expertise in Ayurveda and Yoga. Her comprehensive approach to optimal health emphasizes the importance of harmony within oneself, especially when facing life’s challenges. Based in Rochester, NY, Christianne serves as the Yoga Director at The Assisi Institute and the driving force behind Well-being Compass.
Christianne’s unique approach empowers individuals to navigate life with lightness, grace, and resilience by addressing their overall well-being, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. Her credentials include being a Clinical Ayurveda Specialist since 2003, certified by The California College of Ayurveda. She has studied under renowned teachers like Dr. Vasant Lad and Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri).
Additionally, Christianne is a certified Yoga Teacher with specializations in Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy, Yoga Nidra, Relax and Renew®, and Advanced Teacher Training. Before transitioning into the wisdom sciences, Ayurveda and Yoga, she spent over a decade as an ACE-certified Health Coach after completing a Psychology degree at CSULB
Christianne's Website: https://well-beingcompass.com/
Contact Info: https://linktr.ee/wellbeingcompass
