Autumn leaves turning russet and golden, beginning their transition from living sunlight collectors to foliage templates and compost.
Watching the leaves quivering in the wind and rain. Almost falling and yet, not quite. Seeing them holding on for that extra minute, hour or day to gather that little more sun to nourish the tree…somehow feels familiar.
My thoughts turn to how transitioning phases is a natural process.
Trees must shed their greenery and turn inward to conserve their efforts though the cooler, darker winter months, ready to burst into bloom in spring.
Personal transformation follows the same path.
Growth is not linear.
In our world of constant restless movement, I feel that perhaps we under value the role of resistance, and focus instead on progress, achievement, success. I wonder what it might be like, instead of always striving to overcome obstacles and challenges, we instead, embraced the pause.
As with the leaves not quite yet ready to transition to crisp underfoot loam, or slippery smooth path sliders, what might it be like if we simply appreciated moments of transition?
What if we simply appreciated resistance, and let it tell us that we’re not quite yet ready to transition to the next phase, that perhaps we need more sunlight, more time, or even more encouragement?
What if we listened to what resistance is trying to tell us?
What if, instead of trying to rush forward to the next and the next, we simply tuned in and allowed resistance to guide us?
As the Queen of Resistance, this is my path to learn. In the yogic traditions, surrender is deemed the hardest path, just as savasana is named the toughest pose of all. The hardest thing for us, is to simply breathe, and be.
To pause.
To embrace the present moment.
This time of year invites us to embrace the moment of pause, appreciate the joy of taking a breath, of standing on the brink, not yet ready to fall.
And perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, in allowing resistance to be our guide, we discover the resistance melting away as we surrender to the path unfolding before us.
Perhaps this awareness exercise which should take no more than 5-10 minutes, might help with tuning inwards:
- Sit quietly, and observe how you feel
- Begin by breathing evenly through the nostrils
- Notice your quality of breath. Aim for easeful smooth, even, soft and calm breathing
- Once you’ve established an easy pattern of nasal breathing, notice how you are breathing
- Notice how with each inhale, your shoulders might slightly rise, as your breath fills your belly
- Notice how with each exhale, your belly deflates and your shoulders settle
- Soften into your breathing, and see if you can defocus your eyes, turn your gaze towards the floor, or close your eyes if that is available to you
- Become aware of your whole body breathing
- Listen to the sound of your breathing
- Notice if there is an area where your breath feels sticky, rough or tight. Bring your awareness to that spot and simply inhale and exhale your awareness gently at that spot. Soften.
- Observe how you feel
- Now scan your body as you breathe: head, jaw, neck, shoulders, arms and hands, upper chest, stomach, pelvis, legs and toes
- Notice if there is a particular body which is calling for attention. Notice the quality of sensation there. Simply bring your awareness to that spot, and gently breathe your awareness there. Soften
- Observe how you feel
- Begin to wiggle your fingers, toes, arms, legs and head
- Look out in front of you, and notice if the world feels different from when you began
I wish you joy in your exploration of resistance as the gateway to surrender.
Main – Photo by Andre Furtado
