What if you run from joy?
And how to run towards it.
Dear Students,
The last few months have been a deep dive into the nervous system. Intellectually as well as experientially.
I’ve been teaching this material in classes, during the Make Practice Miraculous Challenge, and at Bend Yoga Festival.
I’ve been living the principles as a new wife and stepmom. Sometimes dangling by a thread of self-awareness during a very busy season. (you may have noticed the runaway train theme).
The presentation for Bend Yoga Festival was too good to give only once. I recorded the content and will post in the App next week.
During this exploration of all things nervous system, I’ve found something unsurprising: emotions like overwhelm, worry, anxiety, irritation and frustration are all too common and experiences of transcendent love, unflappable peace, and unbridled joy are all too rare.
I’ve also found something very surprising: when you see these on paper, the heavier emotions seem less desirable. Your mind says, “let's get away from those please”. And the lighter emotions evoke, “oh yes, gimme more of that.” But what happens when you’re invited into big love, quiet peace, and bright joy? Here’s what happens to me. I hesitate. Or shy away. Or flat out ruin it.
Yep. Not easy to admit, but emotions like fear, worry, overwhelm and anger can seem safer. They’re certainly more familiar.
I had an agonizing front row seat to this phenomena when my (now) husband asked me to marry him. There was a surge of love and joy and hope. Quickly followed by a tidal wave of terror. Hope, in particular, felt unbearably vulnerable. Like raw skin being rubbed by sandpaper.
Similar but different. Years ago, when my teachers would talk about harmony, balance, sattva, my mind would say boooooorrrrriiiiiiiinggg! I only wanted heat and intensity. Peace and quiet was not only unfamiliar but undesirable.
When you reject peace, fear love, and resist joy, how would those qualities ever expand?
When fear, scarcity, overwhelm, depression, and frustration have been life-long companions, how do you generate something different?
As our beloved Valerie Singer once said, “you’ll crawl over glass to get to the familiar”. That saying really gets me. Because I’ve caught myself, belly down in the glass, suddenly recognizing the unconscious pursuit of familiar.
And that’s what's tricky about all of this. We’re driven by shifts happening below consciousness. Once the mind catches up, a neurochemical cascade has already occurred in the body.
This is why being attuned to the body, noticing its signs and signals, listening for its wisdom, respecting the information, creates tremendous agency. There is space to be responsive.
This possibility is less like a skill. More like a relationship. Progress is slow and subtle, but deep and lasting. Sensitivity becomes a superpower as moment by moment you build the relationship with your nervous system.
If you want a tried and true process for this, join Make Practice Miraculous. During the 6-week Challenge, you’ll become more attuned to your body. Develop skill in responding respectfully. Learn to calibrate your nervous system through practice. And discover how to stay spacious and receptive in any situation.
Enrollment will open in about 2 weeks. We’ll start in August. There will be a maximum of 20 students. Bare bones details are here. Tour coming soon.
Important note: Make Practice Miraculous is designed to be a self-guided journey. But for the next round we’ll travel together and I’ll be your dedicated guide. If you can join this time, it will be well worth it.
May your practice bring joy,
Alison
