What is this crazy idea of “oneness” that lies at the heart of each yoga class and is prescribed by every piece of yoga literature out there? How the heck are you supposed to experience wholeness, balance, “oneness” (insert your own adjective here) if some aspect of your life is always out of whack? All right, so maybe you’ve nurtured your personal relationships with utmost diligence and finally your personal and social life is falling into place. Nonetheless, and similar to a game of Jenga, the moment a single puzzle piece actually fits nicely into the manifold of bullshit we call life another piece slips out propelling us into yet another hot mess. Whether you are dealing with professional purgatory in our weak-sauce economy or social isolation because your last beau was a badass, and not the sexy kind. When one door slams in your face another one will open. I hope. It is impossible to control or to foresee the little games life plays with us, or shall I say on us.

Managing our actions and interactions with the rest of the world and also with ourselves is all we can control. Mother always told me “Be nice to people and people will be nice to you…” and I found this to be partially true. Yes, people are much more likely to respond positively if you treat them with the respect they deserve. Unfortunately, there is an abundance of those who I refer to as “bad eggs.” Please excuse me for momentarily breaking one of yoga’s commandments, i.e. non-judgment but I am only human. These individuals, no matter how nice you are to them, will never treat others with respect because of their own perceived shortcomings and insecurities. Do not, I REPEAT, DO NOT blame yourself for someone else’s inability to successfully interact and build relationships with others. This tenet is cornerstone to my personal philosophy… in some ways it is now a mantra.The ego is responsible for all insecurities. A bruised ego eats away at True Self. Instead of conceding to the ego these “bad eggs” project their inner demons out into the world through their daily interactions. If you want to put it in “yogic” terms, these people need to check their yamas and niyamas.

Studying the self through close observation is the antidote for extending the expiration date of these “bad eggs.” Only a genuine self-study and an acceptance of whatever that study reveals will bring about the desired results. Nothing “out there” actually changes, only your approach and perspective on life. Controlling our external environment and those inhabiting it is futile. However, recognizing and simply being with our deepest and most personal demons as they make their way to the surface, even if it’s for just five minutes, is the first step towards uplifting and elevating everyone you come into contact with.