Really? Can this possibly be true? It seems a bit cruel and unfair on the face of it but read on to find out how we came to this discovery in my latest self help podcast
Well, actually, it can be very true. This became apparent in my MatChat with Mina self help podcast with Kate Winter. She shared with me her story which began with having it all – an exciting and rewarding job, a husband she adored and children, all wrapped up in a lovely family home. So far, so fabulous. Then, brutally, she lost it all in a couple of months. She was made redundant, her husband had begun a relationship with her best friend, and in the split that ensued she had to move out of the house she’d lived in for many years.
She couldn’t believe it. How and why could that have happened, losing everything she had worked so hard for and deserved? She was left lost, broken and bewildered, because what else could there possibly be?
It turns out the universe had an alternative plan for Kate. She to go through all that pain of loss to realise she was absolutely meant to be something and somewhere else. She became a yoga teacher, adjusted her career focus and met a partner more aligned to her authentic self. So, in the end what the universe took away was in fact giving her MORE. Kate now feels lighter, more content and fulfilled than when she thought she “had it all”. She found her inner resilience and real purpose.
The yogic scriptures have a lot to say about this. They say that in order for the Ego mind to control us, it distracts us with desire, or kama (sanskrit), among other things. This can come in the form of job status, wealth, social standing etc. Naturally, these are all very attractive things – indeed, it’s how we tend to define success in western cultures. But the flip side is they act as a barrier to knowing who you really are: our True Self. The Self we are meant to be, not want to be. Unfortunately, getting there is painful and involves loss and a lot of letting go. Because why would you change anything when the going is good, right?
However, as Kate discovered, the journey is worth it. Pain really does equal gain!
The wise do not look for happiness in [pleasures conceived in the world of the senses].
Bhagavad Gita Verse 5.22
Namaste
Listen to the latest self help podcast here.