I learned this phrase recently and it took me back to my childhood. We use to go to church every Sunday. We would put on our Sunday finest and go sit with Jesus for one hour each week. One time I wore my James Bond gun and holster under my blue blazer, but I digress. I remember studying many of the community leaders that attended church. I compared how they acted in church with how they acted the rest of the week. I didn’t know the word hypocrite, but I was familiar with the concept. They were “playing church”. I can imagine the preacher saying that’s better than nothing, but is it? Playing church isn’t reserved for just the Christians, it can apply equally well to some in every spiritual or religious practice, yoga included.
There are those that try a particular belief on to see how it feels. As they become more familiar with the practice, they either deepen their beliefs and alter their behaviors to match or they move on. They are not “playing” anything, they are shopping for the best fit. Good for them.
But then there are those that are pretending to be something they are not. Let me first say that there is nothing wrong with being who they are, whatever that might be. There is room and need for all beliefs and points of view. Maybe they are not sure what to believe and want to keep a toe in the water just in case they are wrong. Whether they are pretending or simply indecisive, they are doing themselves and everyone else a huge disservice.
A farmer cannot be a banker any more than a dog can be a cat. It just doesn’t work. Yet both farmers and bankers are needed in our diverse reality. Trying to be something that you are not does nothing but create anxiety, depression and anger.
When you live who you are, you are filled with warmth, security and confidence. Don’t let anyone take that away from you. Being still, meditating, being only in the present allows you to quiet your mind so that the truth of who you are can rise into your consciousness. Embrace that truth with the Love and Light that is you.
Stop playing church, career, mature adult or anything else that does not fit with who you are. Instead of playing someone else’s truth for a few hours each week, practice your truth 24 hours each day. Live breath and radiate your truth, come what may.
You are here to live life to the fullest, experience everything that you are called to experience. To do that, you must first be comfortable with who you are. Embrace and love who you are as an eternal being of Creation. Let go of what others think. Let go of what others tell you to be. Let go of the restraints that society puts on you. Live your life as only you can, 24/7. Be true to yourself as a child of the Universe as you allow others to do the same.
Now we are doing yoga….
Namaste
Blair is the co-owner of Yoga Daily in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He is a certified yoga instructor, recovering lawyer and a spiritual student. The content of this blog is what Blair considers to be universal truths that span all dogma and religion and it is offered to you in Love and Light. Check out Yoga Dude for additional blog entries. You can contact Blair at blair@yogadailymountpleasant.com. Yoga is but one path to the knowing that we are all One. Please take what resonates with you and leave the rest without judgment or offense.