What I Teach
Put Yourself First — Oxygen Masks and Cups
We know that it is imperative to put our own oxygen mask on first and then help others do the same. It is not only in times of emergencies, but in our daily life, that we must pay attention to taking care of ourselves even as we take care of others. This is not narcissistic. It is altruistic. We can’t continue to give from an empty cup.
Too often we have our list of chores, or “to-do’s, or business which we rush to fulfill, planning to rest after it’s all done. But it is never “all done.” There is always more to do, and if we keep putting off our “rest” until we are “finished,” then we never rest because there are a never-ending series of things we have to do.
We need to find ways to nurture ourselves, rest, and rejuvenate throughout the day.
To illustrate, please read the following out loud:
(1) That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is.
Confusing, right? Now read the same words again:
(2) That, that is, is. That, that is not, is not. Is that it? It is.
Which makes more sense? The second reading, right?
What’s the difference between them? Punctuation. Commas and periods. What is punctuation?
PAUSES AND STOPS THAT HELP US MAKE SENSE OF THE WORDS.
We need to make our own pauses and stops in our days in order to make sense of our lives.
Meditation allows us to take those pauses. It helps stop the incessant chatter of our egoic monkey mind, and to tune into the messages from our Soul, our heart, our true unconditioned Self – free of limiting beliefs and reactive emotions.
Meditation and yoga provide an oasis from which we can take the sacred waters of peace back to the arid places in our day. We owe it to ourselves and everyone we love, to make and take the time to care for ourselves.
That way, as SARK says, we are a full cup of love sharing our overflow with the world.