Who do you think you are?

Weaving the Yoga Sutra into our lives: Who do you think you are?

The first four sutras invite us to be present and participate in our lives (1.1), to modulate our ways of being (1.2), to live in the natural state of conscious presence (1.3) instead of misidentifying with the temporary experiences we live (1.4).

After deciding to use the Y.O.G.A. S.I.M.P.L.E. as a vehicle for presence, we recognized that all people are constantly improvising and that each person is conducting an experiment with their life. Such experimentation can be conscious or unconscious. In yoga we want our experience to be conscious and guided by an attitude of deliberate curiosity.

As we try to be present and act deliberately we find that we get distracted frequently. Today we are exploring the nature of these distractions by contemplating a series of questions related to: Who do you think you are?

You will need a pencil and paper for this exercise.

Take a moment to write down words that you use to describe yourself. Free write, so that there is no editing or censoring. Simply write down whatever comes to mind.

Now, review each word you wrote and ask yourself:

• How long has this word been an accurate descriptor of who I am?
• Have I always used this word to describe myself?
• When did I start using this word to describe me?
• How long will this word accurately describe me?
• Can you think of similar labels you used in the past, but that you no longer use?
• How many of these words are essential, the complete essence of who you are?
• Are there any labels that have always been accurate to describe you?

As you go through this inquiry, contemplate the different ideas you identify with, and notice how ideas may have changed over time. Some of the descriptors may be recent additions to your self-description, while others may no longer accurately describe how you see yourself. Reflect further on these ideas by asking:

• To what extent do these labels define, or influence, what I think I can and cannot do?
• Are these labels at my service, or am I at the service of these labels?
• Do these labels enhance the quality of my life, of my energy and awareness?

Pondering these questions helps illuminate the main concept presented in aphorism 1.4, which is the human tendency to identify with our ways of being, such as our education, age, upbringing and origin, as well as our pain, worries, anxieties, accomplishments, beliefs, and circumstances. Many of us identify with our belongings, our bank accounts, our titles, or professions. As we reflect, we may hear a couple of questions in our heads: Are you trying to tell me that all those things I have worked so hard for (like my degrees, position, status and belongings) are not who I am? And, if I am not all those things, then who am I?

During this week, notice what concepts and labels you identify with and use the questions we use today to clarify how useful these ideas are for your conscious and compassionate participation in the world. Remember that none of these exercises invites you to judge yourself. You are simply feeling, noticing and clarifying your ways of being.

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This is an excerpt from the book Unravel the thread: Applying the ancient wisdom of yoga to live a happy life

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