Photo Credit: Me – November 2015 – Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains: Our day of hiking turned into a wet slog as we toured the park in pouring rain.
I wrote in my book, that while we were traveling, I had to remind myself and my kids that not every day would epic. While I might have had great plans for idyllic sunsets and gorgeous campgrounds nestled into the woods, that was not always the case. Some nights we slept in parking lots, covering as campgrounds, nestled right up against the highway. Instead of campfires and sunsets we had trips to Walmart, laundromats and rainy nights sitting in a stuffed camper.
I had to let my expectations go and realize that I could not be attached to the outcome. Even before I studied yoga, I was practicing the fifth Yama, Aparigraha, non-attachment and letting go. This article from Yoga International is a great outline of ways to practicing non-attachment or non-possessiveness. While letting go of material items is first on the list, knowing that clutter and too many things can cause anxiety, it’s also important to let go of expectations.
In our yoga practice, this might mean letting go or not attaching to where your practice was a year ago or the day before. Instead, giving yourself grace and kindness, knowing that the hardest part of the practice is showing up and once you make it to the mat you have succeeded. Let go of expecting anything else.
Breathing, self-care and helping others are other ways to detach. When you can tune into how you feel in the moment instead of jumping ahead or ruminating on the past you can enjoy where you are and allow yourself some relaxation or give yourself to others in a way that feels fulfilling.
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