“Joy is the natural state of the mind that arises when the mind is free of desire and aversion.”
– David Magone, yoga teacher
We value our freedom but often aren’t as free as we think we are, as our thoughts and emotions drag us down, yoga teacher David Magone shares. Rather than being imprisoned by thoughts about our unmet desires or our aversions, we can distance ourselves from them. We can let them go.
This doesn’t mean ignoring them. On the contrary, when we pay attention to negative emotions by practicing mindfulness, we are very aware that they are there. I think of this awareness as like the “reflective-I” in creative writing, the part of the self who looks back on—and learns from—the actions of an earlier version of the self. Through writing, we can observe our thoughts and emotions, interact with them and then choose to free our minds to make space for the return of joy.
This doesn’t mean ignoring them. On the contrary, when we pay attention to negative emotions by practicing mindfulness, we are very aware that they are there. I think of this awareness as like the “reflective-I” in creative writing, the part of the self who looks back on—and learns from—the actions of an earlier version of the self. Through writing, we can observe our thoughts and emotions, interact with them and then choose to free our minds to make space for the return of joy.
What unmet desires occupy your thoughts? What aversions weigh you down? Empty them on the page to open the window for more joy.
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