The Tao Te Ching says that
All life embodies yin
And embraces yang.
Through their union
Achieving harmony.
(Tao, chapter 42)
Yet today, this harmony of yin and yang, contemplation and action, is hard to find. We live in a world of excessive yang—frantic action, multitasking, incessant noise and interruptions from ever present cell phones, texts, emails, and social media. Without the mindfulness of yin, yang becomes mindless action.
How do you include contemplative yin in your life?
I begin each morning with meditation and creative writing time. For my HeartMath Inner Balance meditations I use an app on my cell phone.
This morning, during meditation, I laughed when someone called my phone, it vibrated and went into voice mail. "This is my meditation time." I thought, returning to meditation.
A half hour later, I was writing an article when someone knocked on my front door. I shook my head and laughed again. "This is my writing time," I told myself, and went back to my article.
We need to create boundaries around our precious yin time. It takes inner discipline to affirm our need for yin when besieged by the world outside. But we need time to reflect, to check in with ourselves, to seek inner guidance and inspiration. And if we don't give ourselves regular yin time, no one else will.
How do you connect with yin in your life? Do you have regular times of solitude for meditation, prayer, and inspiration? And can you pause during the day when life becomes too yang, to take a brief yin break to restore your balance?
I invite you to join me now in a brief yin break meditation.
First gaze gently downward or close your eyes.
Then take a deep, mindful breath and slowly release it,
Releasing tension.
Slowly breathe in and breathe out once more,
Releasing stress.
Then once more slowly breathing in and breathing out.
As you return to normal breathing, ask yourself three questions:
- How do I feel?
- What do I need?
- What can I do?
As you connect with the inner guidance of yin, may you move forward in greater harmony.
I wish you joy on the path.