Yoga Is For Everybody? Not Quite...

This 2-minute quiz shows you if yoga is for you. Or what you should do instead.

Your 5 Most Important Appointments with Life

Yoga | Yoga for Beginners

How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most. -Stephen Covey

Like many people, I don’t enjoy going to the dentist. I often have trouble keeping my appointment. I know keeping this appointment is important to my health. Yet, I still sometimes resist sitting in the dentist chair.

This resistance led me to sit down with myself and have a serious conversation between my head and my heart about those Life Appointments that are most meaningful to me.

Shifting Your Perspective

Instead of coming up with reasons to avoid appointments, spin your perspective and realize that these appointments are moving you in the direction of your best life. Time on the mat in yoga or meditation gives us that opportunity to check in with ourselves and take stock of how we’re doing.

Instead of feeling like we should do this or that (out of a sense of obligation or responsibility), I have come to realize that it is better to list out the life appointments that are the most valuable and life affirming. It makes it easier to stick with them. 

All hard edges seem to soften. Thich Nhat Hanh says it like this: “We have an appointment with life, and that appointment takes place in the present moment. If we miss the present moment, we miss our appointment with life, which is serious.”

Here are my 5 Most Important Appointments with Life:

1. Meditation and Prayer

Without fail, I wake up every morning and meditate. Sitting in stillness even if my internal meditation is loud, makes for a more quiet external rest of the day. This empowers me to start the day with a clean slate.

And before bed, I commit to saying my prayers. I practice listening to the guidance I know the universe is trying to offer me.

2. Community

Seek connection, contribute to your tribe, invite new people on the periphery of your life into it. Create opportunities to bring people together.

3. Fullfulling Acts of Service (paid or otherwise)

Doing good is the active manifestation of the supportive thoughts we put out into the universe. This could mean doing something helpful at home or being involved with organizations that help facilitate our giving.

4. Pleasure — both rest and adventure

I choose to rest before I get tired. I love myself enough to design a day and a life I am in love with by making time for new adventures and quiet pleasures.

5. Yoga

This practice is a daily tune-up to bolster my commitment to self-care. It gives me time to study myself (physically, mentally, emotionally) and accept myself fully.

Your key life appointments are a visible demonstration of your values. Your values are your identity. When your values align with your actions, you are fulfilled. When your appointments don’t support your values, then we live disharmoniously. You can change this incongruence.

Today, renew your commitment to live in harmony. What are the most important Life Appointments for you? How are you doing keeping your appointments with life? 

PS: You'll be happy to know I do make time for my dentist appointments because it matters to me.

Image credit: Silvia Mordini / Jim Beckwith

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