Life is Messy...AND Wonderful
As you know, 2026 is really throwing me for a loop. It is challenging me and my yoga practice--gratitude, ahimsa, satya, aparigraha, and more are all needing to be pulled in. Along with pranayama and LOTS of meditation and protecting of my energies.
I was listening to my daily meditation on Calm, The Daily Jay, and he was talking about how messy life is. And beautiful. He started off with a parable:
Two friends went away for the weekend and on the first day it rained and they couldn’t partake in any of their planned activities. The next day, they went snorkeling and saw sharks and rays, but they both got seasick and had to spend the evening recuperating. The final day was a museum day where they viewed beautiful works of art. But then on the way back to the hotel, they were pickpocketed and their wallets were stolen.
The first friend recounted how nice it was to listen to the rain and be cozy; the beauty of swimming with sharks and rays; the wonderful art pieces they saw. The second friend was flabbergasted. He said how about the fact that we couldn’t do anything on the first day, we got seasick and had to stay in the second evening and we had our wallets stolen on the final day!
Yes, all these things happened and both friends are correct. The moral of the story is that life is, at once, messy AND wonderful. And it will always be like this. There are times where everything is flowing and all is good. There are other times when it feels as if chaos rules. Regardless, each of these moments are tinged with good and bad—the takeaway is how do you remember it? What moments stick out?
“How Does Positive Thinking Affect Cells?
Stress Reduction
Negative thoughts often trigger stress, which leads to the release of cortisol, a hormone that can damage cells over time. Positive thinking, on the other hand, helps reduce stress and keeps cortisol levels balanced, creating a healthier environment for our cells to thrive.
Improved Cellular Repair
Positive emotions have been linked to better immune system function. When we feel optimistic, our body is better equipped to repair damaged cells and fight off infections.
Telomere Protection
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes. Studies have shown that chronic stress and negativity can shorten telomeres, speeding up the aging process. Positive thinking may help preserve telomere length, potentially slowing cellular aging.
Enhanced Brain-Body Connection
Thoughts and emotions travel through the brain’s neural pathways, affecting signals sent to the rest of the body. Positive thinking promotes a harmonious brain-body connection, leading to healthier cells and organs.” (https://www.thenila.com/blog/positive-thinking-and-its-impact-on-our-cells.html )
and
“Brain Cell Activity: Specific populations of neurons in the brain process positive and negative experiences differently. Positive thoughts increase feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.” (https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2016/05/stanford-research-shows-different-brain-cells-process-positive-negative-experiences )
This is not to say that you don’t feel all the feels. Acknowledge when you’re sad, unhappy, mad, etc. Acknowledge when things are difficult. But also acknowledge that these aren’t absolutes. One day or a period of your life wasn’t all bad or all good. There were tinges of both and what is most important is acknowledging that life is messy. And wonderful.
Also, as we move from Summer (Pitta season) into Fall (Vata season), please lean heavily into routines (set bed times and wake-up times, set meal times—maybe even a meal on repeat). Eat warm, cooked food; stay away from raw food during this time. Lean into self-care routines such as your yoga and meditation practice, your evening sleep hygiene routine, your morning meditation routine. Do NOT multi-task—enjoy your meal without watching tv, scrolling your phone, or reading a book. Sip a cup of chai and use all of your senses to enjoy it. Practice Nadi Shodhana and Bhramari Breath to help ground you and quiet the chaotic movement in the mind.
With gratitude for our community and practice, which allow me to stay balanced.
Xx
Jesi
Comments