I rarely say I can't believe it
At this point, the most unbelievable things have happened. I may become mildly delighted, disappointed, or neutral, but rarely in disbelief. Countless "unbelieveable" things from one end to the other end of the spectrum have occurred by this point, so I just raise my eyebrows and carry on.
Everything is true and subject to change, Yoga's sat vada and parinama vada premise, remains the constant. Still, I caught myself being floored by my favorite tree at home turning from green with a tinge of yellow to bright yellow within 24 hours. Did this change really happen over night? Definitely yes, and mostly no.
Yoga evokes an evolutionary mindset, with reality and flux working in tandem to keep the probability of positive transformation alive, as long as we are steady in practice. Whether we like it, hate it, or it evades us, change is a potential cause of suffering. Potential because we become mentally, emotionally and behaviorally capable of shifting how we experience change. How we set forth to either resist it or accept it, ignore and store it or process it and grow from it itself becomes subject to change, but not all at once.
Kramanyatvam parinamanyatve hetuh, we learn. Change is possible, in nature it is inevitable, and significant change events result from a series of micro developments over time. Right now, my entire left hand is henna-ed. I took up mehndhi as a means to self soothe meanwhile my precious Mom received cancer treatments for 8-9 hours at a time. Strangers compliment me on the art, and I admire it so that I do on myself weekly. It started off shaky, disjointed and experimental. Then steadier, connected and with honed techniques. I learn a little more every time in my weekly session, and although those long treatments are finished, I take with me the weekly collection of experiences that yielded my current skillset.
Whether health or sickness, vibrant trees in Autumn or blooming ones in spring, what seems to happen over night results from smaller steps building over time to bring on the noticeable change. This is why putting off health goals is dangerous. And why the mental capability of warding off distractions becomes paramount. Discipline is personal. Change will not happen if we don’t take steps and only happens based on the steps we take. Strategy and intention matter. Active participation in our own process sets healing in motion. Results take a fair amount of time to manifest into lived reality, but they are commensurate with the degree of effort and inner conviction.
Mind steadying, healthy routines in place, guna-s modulating toward for more balance, “suddenly” her A1C goes down .3 points. His LDL drops to 90. Her periods aren’t accompanied by advil every four hours. He doesn’t ejaculate prematurely. She attracts a healthy man to be in a happy, exclusive relationship with. He can get through a shift without back pain. Her drinking habit is under control. His migraine headaches haven’t returned. Everything is true and subject to change, and the empowered steps we take now generate positive qualitative change at some point in the future.