Transitioning into Fall is a destabilizing time physically and mentally, making it easy to lose sight of our purpose. As deadlines approach and holiday chaos begins, we get trapped in the “not enough mindset.” Yoga and psychology teach an alternative approach, a way of showing up in our lives with less stress and more focus by shifting toward an abundance mindset. This involves practicing “non-stealing,” in yoga known as “Asteya.” In this context, non-stealing is less about being a thief in the traditional sense, and more about how we steal from ourselves in other subtle, yet significant ways.
Do you ever scroll endlessly on social media making comparisons to others, or maybe you hurry through the poses in a yoga class, or mask who you are to others? All of this robs us of our own vulnerability and robs others of knowing our true selves. In psychology, we often hear of attention in terms of “cognitive control,” or placing your attention where you want it and keeping it there even in the face of temptation. Honing our attention is an asset, but our focus often gets hijacked, and ironically, we are usually the culprits. Do you ever multitask in attempt to maximize productivity? Research suggests there is a high cognitive cost to pay to regain focus when shifting from task to task. In fact, it may take up to 18 minutes to get the same level of attention back on the task at hand!
Despite the disadvantages of stealing from ourselves, it’s quite common and automatic for many of us, stemming from the belief that we don’t have enough (time, money, love, energy, etc.). It takes deliberate effort to disengage from an automatic routine to pursue a new path. So, let’s fall away from old habits and intentionally let go of stealing from ourselves this season. Let’s cultivate an abundance mindset and trust that there already is enough.
