Exploring The Silence
By Rajni
I love sharing stories, and one, in particular, never fails to bring a smile to my face. There was a single moment that stands out in my life, a moment I often reflect on, tracing the journey from who I was then to who I am now.
It was my day off from the hotel I was working in. I remember it being a beautiful morning. The sun had just risen, and it was incredibly quiet, so I decided to go for a swim. The guests were not up yet, and the staff hadn't arrived to work. I had the place to myself.
Floating in the Bali sea, it was warm and still. I remember gazing up at the blue sky and noticing how expansive it was. Then something extraordinary happened.
I completely lost myself in the moment, experiencing an incredible sense of peace. In the distance, I could hear the faint rustling of coconut trees, the fishing boats leaving, and the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore, it was nature at its best, just lovely.
I felt supported and deeply connected, and time stood still. What I thought was 1/2 hour, ended up being 3 hours floating, realising during that time, I didn't have a worry in the world. Everything was absolutely okay; there was nothing to control, nothing to do but just be in the moment.
I felt free.
"It was time, for now, to focus 100% on myself"
It was a wonderful feeling. And in my heart of hearts, I knew it was time to leave my corporate job in the hotel business - for good. My time in Bali was complete, after decades of giving and being of service to others, it was time, for now, to focus 100% on myself.
And here's the funny thing: as soon as I left that peaceful, quiet moment, I went back to my daily routine of work, but what I did notice was the pull was so strong to leave that each day I delayed leaving added more stress. The weight on my shoulders became so uncomfortably heavy.
I became utterly disconnected, dreaded waking up in the mornings, having to face guests and manage staff and often preferred to lock myself in my office, staring at the four walls.
Inside, I battled with anxiety, depression, and self-sabotaging thoughts like, "You're unhappy; you have to leave." However, concerns about what would come next, how I would support myself, and others' reactions took over. My thoughts were so noisy, it was isolating and it felt horrible.
Leaving my job in Bali, where I learned so much about myself, faced incredible tests, met amazing people and found my now fiancé, was one of the hardest decisions of my life. But, I craved more of that peace I had experienced in the sea floating that morning.
There was a strong intuition, "If I don't do this now, I'll regret this for the rest of my life. What's the worst that could happen?" and concluded that I would simply have to start again. No big deal.
And WOW, it turned out to be the best decision of my life….
Silence Is The Door To A Deeper Wisdom
By choosing to leave, I instantly reconnected with my life's mission and got back on track to discovering my true self. Bali taught me that magic exists everywhere, not just in a tropical paradise. It happens when we stop, be still, silent, and observe, the world becomes a magical, vibrant, and very much alive place.
I had to let go of my desire to help people; I had to let go of trying to figure it all out and help myself first. To achieve this, I had to step out of my own way and stop pushing, forcing, and trying to control everything.
What I've discovered since, is that life works for you, not against you, when you embrace the perspective that things are happening for you, not to you.
"The only thing I was in control of was making a choice"
Just as the ocean helped me that morning, I let go, got out of the way, and in that moment (well, three hours!), I gained direction and crystal-clear clarity about my next step. There was no effort involved. The only thing I was in control of was making a choice.
There's immense power in being present; there is so much connection that you will never feel alone. In times of feeling hopeless there is always Hope, Love is unconditional, eliminating the need to find it on the outside.
Taking action is easy because you will have so much clarity in the decisions you make, moment to moment, knowing there is a bigger plan and an infinite source taking care of you. All that is needed is action from that space.
From my life experience, I know that peace IS possible. And not only possible but permanent. You only need to make it your highest desire; it's a simple choice - do you want it or not? Whatever you choose, find something to support you with that, give it your all, and everything else falls into place effortlessly.
For me, that something was the Ishayas' Ascension practice. What Ascension did for me? It supercharged that desire and accelerated my growth!
Finding Purpose In Life
And this is how I arrived here, talking to you, sharing my story. I knew from an early age that I was put on this earth to make a difference and I know you also had that feeling too.
I chose the two most impactful things I've been consistent with in my life - yoga and meditation. I asked myself how I could contribute, be of service, and make an impact while doing what I love, effortlessly and was open to what happened next.
Now, for me, teaching with presence in yoga is not just a way; it's the only way to truly connect with my students and make a meaningful impact both on and off the mat.
Thinking about my own journey, I've learned that exploring the silence within goes way beyond personal well-being. For me as a yoga and a Bright Path Teacher, It's more than just doing yoga poses and saying the right things.
"To be present is like a gift that keeps giving"
And I'm not saying that's not important; we all need guidance, of course. However, take a moment to take this in: if we connect to the Silence, come from a place of pure presence, of absolute connection, of unconditional love - how do you think that would impact your words and actions rather than if you came from a place of fear, doubt and judgement?
To be present is like a gift that keeps giving. It's contagious - it spreads good vibes in our interactions, making connections stronger and positive changes possible - more than your mind can ever come up with.
So, what's your story? Ready to be EXTRA-ordinary?