WINDS OF CHANGE
Something’s changing. There’s something transformative happening globally. And it has to do with you, and your dharma.
There are more and more people refusing to settle for less. They don’t want to be constrained by work hours that don’t leave space for good health or good times. They’re no longer willing to spend their entire day or week feeling stressed and tied down to obligations that don’t align with what’s most important to them.
They want to live a life that’s aligned with a greater purpose, and brings along with it the rewards of living their dharma. They want freedom, choices, and to be able to pursue their passions. And they’ve decided to figure out how to do this. They’re going for it.
ROADBLOCKS
And then they get stumped. They don’t know where to begin. It all seems a bit overwhelming. They begin to ask themselves, “But…how?”
Your soul knows.
All you need to do is learn how to listen.
THE FOUR SOUL DESIRES
Ancient Vedic texts describe four soul desires. The four purusharthas, also known as the four aims of life, are intrinsic. They’re directly linked to the personal, unique Jivatman part of our soul, and the infinite, unlimited Paramatman part of our soul.
1. Dharma: your duty, calling or life’s purpose.
2. Artha: prosperity, or having the things you need to do your dharma.
3. Kama: pleasure, the reward of living our dharma.
4. Moksha: liberation or freedom.
Dharma—your duty, calling, or life’s purpose. What’s yours? I can help you answer that.
HOW TO LISTEN TO YOUR SOUL
The trouble with trying to answer that question is that we look for the answer in the wrong place. We look within our existing frame of reference. Because it’s what we know.
But looking within our existing frame of reference just affirms what we used to think was true—before we started to explore the idea that maybe we could live a different life. Our existing frame of reference tells us that we can only do what other people have done. And because we’ve been living within a frame created by other people who think the same way we used to, we think we have to stay within the box of doing what drags us down.
LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE
To find the answer to our dharma we need to look somewhere else. We need to climb out of the existing frame of reference that tells us that the way to get somewhere is to be very linear, analytical, and logical. We need to climb out of our mind. And into our bodies.
Your soul—plus the non-verbal part of your brain—communicates to you through physical sensation. When you’re doing something that’s not in alignment with your dharma, those sensations of tension, shortness of breath, and feeling locked-down or stuck come from the non-verbal part of your brain, and your soul.
Together they’re telling you: you don’t need to do this. There’s an easier way. Listen.
LISTENING
When you’re doing something that’s in alignment with your dharma, those sensations of strength, lightness, ease and peace come from the non-verbal part of your brain, and your soul. Together they’re telling you: do more like this. Keep listening.
HOW TO LIVE YOUR DHARMA
The big answer to how to live your dharma is this: do more of what brings you ease and peace and flow. You don’t need to pin down the exact verbal, word-based definition of your dharma. You can live it simply by listening. Your soul knows. And, as long as you keep listening to your body, your soul will guide the way.
Trust. You are an invincible summer.
Thinking of you,
xL
Join Lindsey’s November 30-Day Happiness Challenge. November’s theme is Dharma: Your Soul’s Calling.
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Editor’s note: This was another guest post from the amazing Lindsey Lewis–life coach and yoga teacher. Stay up to date with her latest at www.libreliving.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
Photo credit: Camillia Lee