Nykki Hardin

Most will agree that 2011 was filled with plenty of challenges and while these have not been “fun” (my judgement), they have provided unlimited opportunity for growth.  Life always has its ebbs and flows, and for some reason this year seemed to be a bit more turbulent than before.  Instead of breathing through the discomfort and putting my head down, surrendering with trust and faith, I felt so far tipped off my axis I didn’t know which way was up.  Eventually reaching a pinnacle of disgust running around like a chicken with its head cut off searching relentlessly for answers, I finally stopped and asked myself….  “WHAT IS GOING ON?  I’ve been here before and I know how to help myself, so why does this seem so different?”  And in this stillness I began to realize exactly what was happening – I’d lost connection with my inner guidance and trust in self.  I’d been searching outside myself looking for answers and letting external voices guide my decisions, all the while denying my own intuition.  WOW.  Painful to look at but honesty is everything, especially when it comes to personal growth and transformation.  Knowledge is power and with this insight, I began moving forward yet again committed to checking in with myself and honoring what was right.  Inevitably falling back into that space of well known inner turmoil and unpleasant external circumstances, there were missing ingredients.  And then the AH-HA moment— I’d lost consistency in my daily spiritual practices.  It all became crystal clear and suddenly I remembered what to do, and in remembering what to do, I began remembering what NOT to do. 

SO where did I go from here?  Recommitting to the mat and to my daily meditations.  Up to this point I had been practicing, but the actual practice was inconsistent in form – the time of day, the routine, the location, the instructor….  The search for “my teacher” led to sampling various vinyasa/power based classes around town and increased levels of frustration.  Additionally I began adding and subtracting different meditations and exercises on an ed hoc basis.  And then my heart guided me back to Ashtanga Yoga and Transcendental Meditation, the two systems that I know work for me. 

The two most important ingredients I have found in navigating through the tides of life with grace and ease have been some form of a daily spiritual practice whether it be via meditation, yoga or something else which provides a platform for quieting the mind and dropping into the zone, and CONSISTENCY.  Consistency requires dedication, discipline, and COMMITMENT (hello LA), but without these elements there is no foundation for success.  My advice?  Find what works for you and stick with it!  Trust that what you have chosen is the right thing and commit to practicing every day.  As you do, watch the magic unfold as your internal and external existence will begin to transform and blossom into all you never even imagined.  

And of course happy birthday to my most precious niece Kahli who was also born on this day!  But it all starting with Grandma Sue, aka, "The Sheriff," and for those of you who were fortunate enough to know my mom, you will laugh at this nickname and understand it completely.  My mom was filled with so much love it was almost unbelievable.  It never ceases to amaze me how many lives she touched when she was here, how many kids she truly had (as she adopted everyone!), and how she made an impression on everyone she met.  She wore many hats and juggled many plates, all while raising three kids on her own.  On the outside, she made it all look so easy.  She is the most dedicated person I have ever met, and she was an inspiration to all.   

Water sports have always been some of my most favorite activities and almost every day I go  snorkeling at a small beach nearby because it has few tourists and is one of the better places in terms of underwater life.  The time in the water is probably my absolute favorite time of day; it is the first thing on my mind from the moment I wake and as the window of opportunity arises to once again convene with the healing power of the ocean, my excitement and eagerness can become overwhelming.  I share this to help describe that these waters are quite familiar territory and have been chartered many times.

Today was different in that, for the first time in six weeks, the water had close to zero visibility.  Regardless of the lack of "visible" entertainment, I still desired to swim and enjoy the freedom of movement in the water.  The swim was awesome and felt amazing until about half way through, I started to become a bit fearful, thinking that the water may not be deep enough and I may kick a rock or piece of coral and cut my leg or foot.  Of course it is always very important to be careful and cautious, however, I have been in these waters enough times to know that there was nothing to worry about-- the fear was all in my mind and it was taking the enjoyment out of a very pleasurable experience.  After having a conversation with myself, I slowly dismissed the idea and happily continued on my way.  It was fascinating to "watch" the thoughts and to be able to overcome the fear.

Later I got to reflecting on the experience and how it was an analogy for life.  The only thing that is certain in our existence here on this planet is that nothing is certain.  Regardless of how much we plan our days, weeks, months, etc, we cannot be sure that everything is going to workout exactly as we "hope" or think.  Regardless of this uncertainty, every day we get out of bed and face the unknown-- sometimes with zest, sometimes with dread, sometimes with fear, sometimes with courage....  And often times with all of the above.  The uncertainty is actually very exciting and what makes life interesting, however, the "not knowing" can also be intimidating and scary because once again, we do not KNOW.  We have had this same experience everyday, these are not unchartered territories, and the fear is something that we create in our mind-- putting energy into an outcome that we do not want.  If we can learn to relax and breathe into this fear, we remember that we are safe and that life is actually quite fun and exciting.  The fear is never going to disappear, and the more and more content we can become with the uncertainty, and the less we try to control the outcome of situations, the more we are able to relax and feel the joy and freedom and embrace the flow.  When we learn that the only true security we have is our own state of inner contentment, then we are able to revel in every waking moment and appreciate the beauty and abundance. 

Yes, I will fear this fear of uncertainty (the ocean), and regardless of the lack of visibility, will swim through it in order to let it pass, reminding the emotion that it is not powerful and I can transcend the experience, remembering that I have been in these same waters every day and chose to feel the excitement and the happiness and the joy of it all!

I know that plenty of people have blogged about facebook and everyone has opinions about our little social network.  Now it is my turn to add a little of my own "two cents."