Typically, at the beginning of a yoga class, a teacher will guide us to choose an intention to hold for the duration of our time together. The intention might be to honor our body's current level of movement, focus on breathing and forgetting the outside world for an hour, or even just allowing ourself to be happy right there on our mat.
In all the years that I've been practicing yoga, I've never brought the practice of setting an intention to my morning routine - I'm not sure why. Recently, as my feet hit the mat one morning and I took that first deep breath, my mind automatically went toward setting an intention. And it wasn't about setting an intention for my morning yoga practice, it was about setting an intention for the entire day.
Every Saturday for the past few months, I've been setting an intention of cultivating kind thoughts for myself - I basically take the day off from beating myself up. What that means for me is this: every time my mind drifts to a negative thought about myself I recognize it and consciously think a thought to counter it. Like, negative thoughts about my body, bad hair day, smile lines - yes, I constantly pick myself apart - I do my best to push those thoughts aside by purposely honoring myself right then and there. I give thanks for those "smile lines" and the fact that I have hair. My body doesn't look like it did when I was 21 but hey! I haven't been 21 for a really long time.
Even on a cloudy day there is still beauty in a flower.
What intentions do you hold for yourself today?
♥
12 comments:
hope it all goes / went well. I've never clicked with intentions but I battle to stop mulling over negative thoughts and so in the past 6 months I've been trying to change my thoughts by singing either the Muppet song mahna mahna or 'to life' from fiddler on the roof - both up beat
Lovely snaps, and a thought-provoking post. I'll think on it.
I've struggled to keep a positive frame of mind this week. Maybe I need to try and copy your good intentions!
I practiced yoga in my twenties and have returned to it recently, but I have never been to a class. I tend to think of nothing but my breathing and relish just turning off my racing brain!
I *may* be putting something in the mail for you tomorrow :o)
Hope your presentation went well; I'm sure it did! It's so easy to find fault with ourselves; it's a struggle I never quite get past.
How did you go? :)
I don't necessarily have daily intentions for myself but I do them for the kids and I have one phrase I have uttered to TSYO since the day she was born ... she knows it off by heart and grins widely when I say it now ... 'I know, I know Mum! You say that to me all the time!'
I hope your presentation went well! I to pick myself apart all the time and I have a hard time pushing it all aside. But I'm working on it. You are a beautiful, caring, loving and well loved person. I've learned that by reading your blog. xo
Today my intention was to pamper myself. I went to the gym and then Clara and I went for a hot tub and massage to celebrate the end of my semester. It was wonderful!
Rinda
Hope your presentation went well.....my intention today is to enjoy my time with my family...ignoring the underlying tensions!!
Alison xx
Hi Deb, how did your presentation go? I hope well ~ I bet you killed it!!! XOXO
Wonderful pictures Deb and a very thought provoking post. I've never thought about intentions on a daily basis. How did your presentation go? I'm sure it went well.
I really like your pictures!! Your doggie is soo cute. My Mom always says to not think negative things, and definitely not say them out loud. Even on little things, like when you go, "I'm afraid that blablabla" -- just don't!
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