My Interpretation of Ahimsa (Non-Violence and Non-Harm)
Yoga philosophy teaches us to live a life of non-violence. This ethical principle (called Ahimsa) generally means to refrain from harm or injury towards all beings. As we may know, inflicting injury is not limited to causing physical harm. We can also use words, attitudes, tones, behaviours, and even thoughts destructively.
When I first learned about this principle, I interpreted it as non-violence and non-harm towards other people and other living beings. Interestingly and most often, we ourselves are the recipients of our own worst harm (in the form of criticism, pressure, and negative thoughts). And so, we can equally apply this concept of “living non-violently” to how we see, treat, and speak about ourselves.
In my view, each of us is out here doing our best at life and trying to find purpose in our own unique ways. This requires energy, introspection, trial and error, and hard work. Don’t we deserve a little more compassion from ourselves as we navigate our individual journeys?
Below are some ways I’ve embodied “non-violence” towards myself in my day-to-day living. These practices helped (and still help) me be more gentle with myself and build confidence. I’m sharing them in hopes that they also work for others:
Working out and exercising to honour and praise my body’s capabilities instead of as punishment for enjoying food.
No longer beating myself down for making a mistake. Instead, reflecting on and journaling why I considered something to be a mistake in the first place. Then, reflecting on and journaling what I learned from the experience and how I can use it as an opportunity to improve. This is sometimes easier said than done, but when I’m able to view my “mistakes” positively, I feel so much lighter and even inspired.
Picking one thing about my appearance that I like and why (as often as I need to). This helped me change the negative narrative about my body image into a positive one.
Picking one non-physical characteristic that I like about myself and why. This helped me appreciate a) that appearance isn’t everything, and b) the significance of my character and who I am as a person.
Learning to genuinely enjoy the time it takes to reach somewhere, whether the destination is a place, a goal, or frame of mind. When we are too concerned with the destination, we can be hard on ourselves for taking the scenic route. Actually, the journey to a destination has its own benefits, and I’ve learned that missing these is a disservice to me.
If you have other practices that help you embody “non-violence” in your day-to-day living, share them in the comments below or private message me!