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Sanskrit Power

When life gets a little turbulent for me, or for some reason I forget my way, I remind myself of these guiding principles.

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Satya- Truth

Finding truth means we’re embracing freedom- both for ourselves and others.

How?

When we embrace our own personal truth, we are destined to make choices that support our deepest desires.

But to know that, you have to ask yourself a serious question:

What is my purpose, and what do I want out of life?

Finding that, you can stand firm in your convictions.

Let go of the lies you might be telling yourself, and embrace your own needs.

But be honest with yourself. Be aware of your shortcomings and acknowledge them so it can help you grow.

In this way, you can make serious headway in the world!

Ahimsa- Nonviolence

Nonviolence is a really interesting concept in Indian philosophy.

Surprisingly, here are two aspects of nonviolence: physical and mental.

Many times, our thoughts are undirected, and we’re unaware of how often we harbor negative thoughts towards others.

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Bringing that under control, and truly wishing the best for someone, is possibly one of the most powerful things we can do in life.

After all, our thoughts dictate our actions, however subtlety!

Shaucha- Cleanliness

To really come into our own power, we have to understand the concept of shaucha.

Shaucha is purity of mind and body, but in action.

Not only is it important to stay physically clean (I hope you are!), but keeping the mind clear of “emotional toxins” is even more important.

Anger, fear, jealousy, prejudice, greed, hate- they destroy our ability to be happy.

And just like you take a bath to cleanse the body, the process of self-examination cleanses the mind of impurities as well.

Upeksha- Equanimity

No matter what is going on in life, there is always an opportunity to practice peace.

Remaining calm in the face of trials may be challenging, but it is also rewarding.

Inner strength flows from calmness, and gives each of us the opportunity to react to situations in a constructive way.

In two words: stay grounded.

Santosha- Contentment

Santosha means finding contentment and happiness in every circumstance, regardless of how hard things can get.

Many times our minds tell us we have to have everything “just so” in order to be content, but that’s not true!

A yogi realizes that everything is precious and fleeting in this world, so gratitude for who and what we have is the best way of going about life.