WEEK 9.1 (FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4TH) – THE PROMISE OF SPRING
“As we settle into our mats, with Spring soon arriving in March, let us embrace the spirit of transformation that Spring heralds. The Northern Hemisphere is abloom with spring’s first whispers, from the delicate dance of orchids to the lush mango trees. Spring invites us to awaken, to be nourished, and to be inspired by the promise of renewal. It is a time when nature’s creativity flows abundantly, and the weight of winter’s darkness is lifted from our shoulders.
As the days grow longer, let us too lean towards the light, finding energy in the brightness and moving away from the shadows of the past. Like the houseplants stretching towards the sunbeams, may we also reach for the light in our lives, fostering growth in its warmth.
Remember, the ebb and flow of seasons teach us that change is life’s only constant, each transition a path to new beginnings. To end in certainty we must begin with doubts. As a tree sheds it’s old leaves to make room for the new, we find ourselves amidst the natural cycle of letting go, let’s honor both the loss and the hope of what’s to come. In our practice, as in life, let us embody the essence of continuous renewal, shedding the old to make way for the new with each breath we take.” – David Scott
“Spring cleaning isn’t just about sorting through things, and getting rid of clutter. It’s about taking stock of who you are, and how others see you. It’s a chance to redefine yourself, to change expectations, and to remember that it’s never too late to recapture who you were, or to aim for where you want to be.”
“In practicing the Science of yoga we strive gain ground on our illusions. Today we stand on the boundary of our finite knowledge, what is known, ot is not all there is, but it is all that we know. Our duty as yogis is to constantly explore the fringes and boundaries of our darkness using the flashlight of awareness. As we we expose more truths and take back more land in our quest for understanding of self and our universe we will realize we are infinite.” – David Scott
Theory of Cognitive dissonance—the extreme discomfort of simultaneously holding two thoughts that are in conflict and contradictory.
Remember how hard it is to change yourself, before trying to change anyone else. You cant wake up someone pretending to be asleep.
“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted (and they often double down on what they know to be false to protect their pride.) It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.” – Frantz Fanon
“A paradigm is a deep rooted emotional way of thinking. It is so ingrained in our subconscious that we may not even be aware it is there. A paradigm shift occurs when we break this pattern and think outside of our comfort zone. The journey of self-discovery involves unlearning what we discover to be false truths. Learning to unlearn is the highest form of learning. It is so hard to teach someone something they think they already know. What good is our eyes if our mind is blind. Our real enemy of truth is not ignorance, doubt, or even disbelief. It is false knowledge. Thankfully Yoga teaches us to not only be flexible in our bodies but also in our minds.” – David Scott
Warren Buffet, said “When science proves something we strongly or passionately believe in, to be false, we should write it down immediately, because the human mind will do everything possible to push it out of our memory, (due to cognitive dissonance) and we will forget it in 15 minutes.”
No rain. No flowers. When it rains look for rainbows. When it’s dark look for stars.
“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” —Susan Gale
“Every single cell in the human body replaces itself over a period of seven years. That means there’s not even the smallest part of you now that was part of you seven years ago.” — Steven Hall The human body is a remarkable phenomenon of continuous transformation and renewal. On a cellular level, we are not the same individuals we were seven years ago. Each cell within us has embarked on a journey of regeneration, replacing old matter with new, such that every seven years, we are essentially reborn from the microscopic level up. This cycle of cellular renewal is a testament to the dynamic and ever-changing nature of life itself, a reminder that we, too, possess the innate potential for change, growth, and renewal. It is a powerful metaphor for personal development, echoing the idea that we have the ability to redefine and reshape ourselves, our lives, and our identities, time and time again.
“Please all, and you will please none.” – Aesop
“Be a voice. Not an echo.”
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss
“The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.” – Rita Mae Brown
“Sadness flies away on the wings of time.” – Jean de La Fontaine
“Life is a question and how we live it is our answer.” – Gary Keller
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – William Shakespeare
“God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.” – Augustine of Hippo
“The less I needed, the better I felt.” – Charles Bukowski
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop. Enlightenment is when a wave realizes it is the ocean. – Rumi
Just as a drop of water contains the essence of the entire ocean within it, each person carries within them the essence of the universe. Like a wave that is part of the ocean, individuals are inseparable from the larger cosmic reality. Enlightenment comes when one transcends the illusion of separateness and understands their essential nature as interconnected with all of existence. It’s a realization of the underlying unity and oneness that permeates everything.
“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” – Elbert Hubbard
“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.” – Khalil Gibran
“In true love, you attain freedom.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“If love appears, boundaries will disappear.” – Osho
When you’re happy you enjoy the music, when you’re sad you understand the lyrics.
“One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.” – Rita Mae Brown
“Life isn’t as serious as the mind makes it out to be.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.” – Frank Tyger
The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” – Lao Tzu
“You’ve got to spread your wings if you really want to fly.
-Take risks
-Try new things
-Go places you haven’t gone
-Be willing to not know
-Be OK with making mistakes
…and you will go further than you could have ever dreamed possible. Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that is going to require the most from you and take you the farthest.”