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Feel the wonder
Looking within to uncover the wonder that’s inside us all. By Leo Babauta
Iknow it’s fashionable to say that it’s wonderful to be cool with being alone, but for many people, it’s a depressing thing. We can run to junk food and mindless distractions and sometimes even destructive behaviours, just to comfort ourselves and hide from the fear of being alone.
We run from the feeling of loneliness and try to fill the emptiness with comfort, and that’s a very human thing to do. We want comfort, and we don’t want to confront the
distressing feelings we might have.
But it can be something worth exploring. Try turning toward these bad feelings. There’s a lot to be learned there. Opening yourself up to the feeling of loneliness, allowing yourself to really feel it and see it, this is where growth can happen. This is where you can learn about yourself, and what it’s like to feel pain, and how to cope with it.
Turn inward and feel the pain. Where is it in your body? What kind of sensation is it? What is the quality of this sensation, the
intensity of it, and does it change? Be curious about it. I’ve found that it isn’t as bad as I think, once I allow myself to look at it.
Turn inward and see what else is there: a sense of curiosity, a sense of wanting intimacy, a desire to be a good person, a better person, a sense of being flawed. See everything that’s there, really look.
And what you see is the divine. You are filled with wonder. This cannot be seen when we are with others and our lives are filled with busy-ness and noise and distraction. This can only be seen when we are alone, and there is space to notice, and we allow ourselves to look.
Once you learn to appreciate the wonder inside of you, and find that you are enough (as you are), and that there is happiness right where you are, then you can be okay with being alone. And be much more content alone, or with others.
Once you find this, then find people in a yoga class or a meditation group, and be interested in them. Because this wonder is inside of them too, if you allow yourself to look.
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
