“To be free from suffering, free yourself from attachments.”
– Buddha
If, as the Buddha said, “The root of suffering is attachment,” how can we free ourselves from wanting what we want? Attachment has long been a challenge for me—not so much attachment to what I have, but rather attachment to what I want for myself or others in my life, such as acceptance of a proposal, application or job. When the possibility of an opportunity presents itself, I tend to daydream and write about it. I get excited. Even though I know nothing is guaranteed, it’s difficult for me to stay detached. Yet, again and again, I’m presented with proof that attachment to a possibility can lead to heartbreak.
Enter yoga. Its philosophical teachings of abhyasa (effort) and vairagya (letting go) remind me to work toward what I want—or support others to help them work toward what they want—and let that be enough. While we can determine how much effort we put into something, we can’t control outcomes determined by outside influences. Thinking of things this way doesn’t eliminate the sting of a disappointment (not yet, at least), but it helps me rebound faster and trust in the process.
How can you detach yourself from desired outcomes?
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