| We all love to discover something that truly works | | | | the tool for its function. Instead of a tool that offers |
| for us. A career that offers a deep level of | | | | us great joy, our music becomes the joy itself. |
| fulfillment, a hobby that shifts our perspective, or a | | | | Instead of offering us a sense of accomplishment, |
| spiritual practice that leads us into new aspects of | | | | being a lawyer becomes the accomplishment in itself. |
| consciousness - all of these offer us a means of | | | | And so we serve the tool. |
| expansion and growth. Sometimes we find just | | | | Quite frequently, we stop questioning whether the |
| exactly what we need in our lives, a new tool | | | | tool even still serves us. Now that we've made the |
| through which we create greater balance, health, and | | | | career, the hobby, the spiritual practice, an integrated |
| happiness. | | | | part of our identity, we are reluctant to question |
| The problem arises when we allow the solution, the | | | | whether it still fulfills its original purpose for being in |
| tool that is working for us, to define us. Let's say we | | | | our lives. We keep doing what we've been doing, |
| begin a yoga practice, which cures the chronic back | | | | because we think that this is who we are. |
| pain we've been experiencing for years. We go | | | | All the things we do in our lives, our occupations and |
| around preaching to anyone who will listen about the | | | | hobbies and practices, are simply tools through which |
| joys and benefits of yoga. We go to class regularly, | | | | we express ourselves, expand ourselves, discover |
| we start chanting kirtan, we buy some cute yoga | | | | ourselves. They are not who we are. It stands to |
| outfits and our very own yoga props. Which is all well | | | | reason that we should take inventory from time to |
| and good. We've all been there. | | | | time: "Is this tool still serving me as the most |
| But now we go further. We get bent out of shape if | | | | appropriate expression of who I am today?" Maybe |
| we can't attend our regular class. Our favorite | | | | the tool is still working beautifully. Maybe it needs a |
| teacher leaves our studio, and we feel devastated. | | | | little tweaking. Maybe it needs to find a permanent |
| Everything revolves around yoga, around this | | | | home in the back of the tool shed, to be dusted off |
| practice. And, very quietly and slowly, we've elevated | | | | only occasionally. |
| a tool to the position of master. The yoga that was | | | | Take a truly honest inventory of your toolbox! |
| meant to serve us has become the altar at which | | | | Acknowledge that everything there once served you |
| we worship. Instead of a means to an end, it has | | | | beautifully, and should be honored as such. Shedding |
| become an end unto itself. | | | | some of those old tools may leave you feeling |
| We do this all the time - we find what works, and | | | | lighter, less burdened, and open to new solutions, |
| make it a part of our identity. We become a healer, | | | | new tools that may serve you in the perfect |
| a painter, a business owner, a writer, a runner, a | | | | expression of who you are right now. |
| musician, a lawyer, a yogi, a meditator. We substitute | | | | |