How Do I Know if Something is for Me?
Hard work doesn’t have to be hard.
Hard work can be pleasurable, enjoyable, and divine. In fact, I would argue that hard work must be respected in this way for us to live fully in our authenticity. Hard work is necessary, but the struggle is not. Hard work can give you energy, and that’s how you know you are living in reality.
There is a yogic teaching about reality vs non-reality. In a nutshell, anything that gives you energy is a reality, and anything that takes energy from you is a non-reality. The simplest teachings are always the most profound and the most outrage-provoking. Recently I read an argument against this concept that went something like this: “well what about bills and taxes and life problems? Are you saying those things aren’t real?!”
It’s true, I’m no expert, but I believe this argument is missing the point. Sorting out all your real-life problems does not have to take energy from you. In fact, taking care of business should give you energy. That is the skill-set of the yogi; you face all that life has to offer with gentle strength and grace. Even the stuff that isn’t as fun.
It is not the thing itself that makes something a reality or a non-reality, it's how you feel about it. There’s no moral code of right and wrong, or real and not real. For instance, in many of the yogic teachings, it is suggested for women not to shave their armpits or legs. This advice is given as a way to increase pranic absorption, and protect the glands, to allow for deeper meditative awareness. For some people, the benefits of this advice will be felt in energetic alignment with how they approach the world, ie in alignment with their reality. For others, the energy they spend arguing with themselves about whether or not they should shave their armpits will be greater than the energy gained by keeping their body hair. For them, this practice would be a non-reality.
This teaching has been instrumental for me in the process of manifestation because it's a really simple litmus test for identifying the opportunities and circumstances that are in alignment with my soul’s mission, and those that are not. If it gives me energy, it should be investigated and applied. If it takes energy from me, it's easy to let go of it to make room for the next miracle to manifest. How do you know if the situation in front of you is a sign from the Universe…
…Ask yourself if it gives you energy.