Yoga Journal Article on Self-Love

A January Yoga Journal article's title is Nurture the New You. The writer is Dr. Kelly McGonigal, health psychologist and yoga teacher. She says that yoga can lead to self-compassion. People who do yoga, she writes, are more likely to love themselves and not make themselves wrong when they eat too much, skip exercise or yoga, etc. They are not crippled by failure. They care about their own needs and move on from failure. The experience self-love, compassion for themselves and others, joy and equanimity. The Yoga Sutra I.33, she writes, advises to cultivate love for those you are happy (I'd say anyone is the goal), compassion for those who are suffering, joy for those who are viruous, and equanimity for those who make mistakes, including yourself!

Me, Me, Me

Did I mention me? Oh, yeah, of course I did! To me, again, all is a yin/yang balance, different levels or a multidimensional mix of each at different moments. Intuition guides you. If you don't get it, it's because it can't be explained in words. In religion and other growth and development programs, like Landmark Education, and almost every spiritual path, the we or Self is highlighted. Yet often people are really into their ego, but inauthentic about it. They have a mask. Different people have different natures. Part of it may be genetics, part can be soul or environment. We are all part of One, nd must care and make a difference. One perspective is that we are "Dust in the Wind" like the song says. The Universe is vast. Antoher is that we are perfect beings, loved by God. Another is that we have the Universe inside of us. This is all true. It is also true, that, no matter hwo much I signal to my cat to bark for food, or told her if she'd understand, she would not. She is a cat. Meow. Some people are meant to be stars; others monks. If you get a monk who is meant to be a star, he'll steal money, be corrupt, etc. LOL

This year I vow to be selfish in a transformed way. I am committed to pleasure and money for myself, my dreams come true, and having great people who are a loving and intelligent stand around me. This may lead to being able to make a greater difference for others. Oprah, for instance, has her face on all of her magazine covers, several houses, lots of clothes and jewlery, chefs AND a school for African girls, contributions to charity, and a book club.