I am not a glass-half-full kind of gal.
I was diagnosed with depression in my teens, and have struggled pretty severely with crippling anxiety and depression throughout my life.
I am really good at seeing the dark side of things. I am wired that way.
But, over the years, I have learned how to shift my mind in positive ways. I have learned how to let the light in.
I often scan the news in the morning, and feel the weight of the world on my shoulders as I read about the seemingly unending wars and the ecological devastation around the world.
I found yoga in 1996, and became a yoga teacher in 2000 after realizing that yoga was the first thing that made any sense to me about the world.
I devoted myself with my whole heart to all of the practices and teachings, and definitely experienced some relief from my own misery.
In my younger years, I would imagine my future self living in a state of bliss, surrounded by radiant beings in all directions. I was sure that the world would change for the better because of all of us doing so much yoga.
In 2018, I went through a devastating divorce. Then, 2020 happened. In 2021, I experienced intense burnout. Throughout all of this, our world is experiencing crisis after crisis: environmental, humanitarian, and the crisis of the soul.
Over time, I realized that no matter how much yoga I practiced, the world would continue to have darkness, and I would continue to be myself. But, even with all of the darkness, I have learned how to find the light.
One of my teachers taught me a simple and powerful trick for shifting my perspective.
When you find yourself caught in a mental loop of despair, fear or hopelessness, you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and remember that there is always a key in your back pocket.
This is a metaphorical key. It is the key that opens the door to curiosity.
This key can shift your mind to focus on CREATING something new. This might be a new perspective, a new idea, or maybe even a different way of doing things.
Curiosity lets the light back in. Curiosity opens your mind and your heart to new ways of being.
You can’t be afraid and curious at the same moment.
As children, we were naturally curious, and we would let our imaginations run wild. However, as we went through school, and worked hard to “know” things, we lost the connection to our natural curiosity and imagination.
There is a quote that is often attributed to Albert Einstein: "The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
Once you think you know something, you can easily get stuck there. So, one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself, and for the world, is to willingly “not know” for a while.
This is the key in your back pocket that opens the door wide to the light.
Here are a few ways to practice “not knowing”, in order to let the light back in.
Learn something new. I recently started to learn how to play the guitar. I have always wanted to play the guitar. For years, I thought it was too late, and that I should have started when I was younger. But, I found an app, and started from the beginning, and now I can play some songs! I feel joy when I am practicing, even though I am not very good yet. What have you always wanted to learn, but were afraid of “not knowing”?
Ask why? Taiichi Ohno, who helped create the Toyota production system, developed the practice of the 5 Whys. When something is no longer working, you ask yourself why it is not working. You ask why until you get to the root of the problem. This is a simple practice of self-inquiry, and it reveals deeper truths that we often miss in our busy lives. Here’s an example:
1. Why do I feel so tired today? Because I didn’t get much sleep last night.
2. Why didn’t I get much sleep last night? Because I was worrying about the meeting at work tomorrow.
3. Why am I worrying about the meeting at work tomorrow? Because……
Repeat this mantra. You can do this walking, standing, or sitting down. My favorite mantra is this: I am loving awareness. You simply repeat these words silently as you breathe. When you catch yourself thinking about something, you just bring your awareness back to the mantra. These words de-clutter your mind and they give you access to your true self.
These are just a few keys to letting the light back in. But, it’s important to know that there are infinite ways of coming back to yourself, and of brightening up the darkness.
Marni Sclaroff is a life coach, writer, artist and yoga teacher who brings a lifelong passion for living a creative and purposeful life to people all over the world. With more than 30 years of experience in the holistic, visual and movement arts, and a Master’s Degree in Art Education, she is well-versed in the languages of artistry and transformation.