What’s in a Word?
{Photo via Pinterest}
By Sharon Aluma
Recently a friend of mine found herself in the midst of a major life shift around the word gratitude.
The word, or rather what the word means to her, has impacted her so deeply that she is currently writing a book on the very topic.
Through her story, I was able to feel the magnitude of her experience, and it caused me to look within. Though I found that the word gratitude does not strike the same chord in me, it got me thinking about what the word does.
Sure I am grateful, but the word does not empower me as it does her.
I wondered, am I a bad person because the word grateful does not make my body tingle in any way? Should I practice being grateful? Am I ungrateful, wrong, or even inhumane? A voice in my head declared the answer loud and clear: No.
While I pondered this, one of my favorite Bob Dylan quotes appeared in my mind’s eye:
“The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What else can you do? What else can you do for anyone but to inspire them?”
This quote struck a chord in me, lighting up my heart the day I first read it.
It was then that I realized, the word inspire is the word that makes my body tingle. I am inspired to live and lead through unconditional love.
I can use this word to my benefit in so many different aspects of my life. When I have a hard time with someone, or find myself in a difficult situation, I can call on inspiration to give unconditionally and ultimately move through that situation with ease. Inspiration is my calling.
The pain that might have been associated with the situation dissipates because I tap into my higher self through my word.
I quickly realized that not everyone will radiate love beams when they hear the word inspire or grateful.
Everyone has a word that resonates with him or her.
It may be this week, it may be this lifetime, but these words can be utilized as tools to achieve love.
It dawned on me then, that words are art, and just like Bob Dylan so eloquently stated, they each inspire. Just like a painting, while one might be meaningless to someone, it may change the life of another.
So today I challenged my students, as I challenge you, to dig through your personal thesaurus and find the word that makes your heart sing. Is it respect, balance, truth, grace, peace, beauty, acceptance, passion, magic or something else?
What word do you hear that will bring you right back to your core?
*****
Sharon Aluma, a lead teacher in South Florida, incorporates her formal training in the fine arts into her Yoga teachings. Inspired by her intuitive sense of composition and form, Sharon instinctively created Organic Vinyasa Yoga. With refined alignment and intelligent sequencing, she guides you into a lifelong sustainable practice. Within the practice, her stories and humor guide you though life. Through her own Yoga journey, which spans more than a decade, Sharon adopted a philosophy that enlightens all of her teachings: simply put, it’s to be ‘in flow of life’. For more inspiration, visit Sharon at Organic Vinyasa Yoga, or find her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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