The other day, I put on some socks. Lo and behold, it was uncomfortable to walk because there was a pebble in one of the socks. I sat down, took off the sock, shook out the pebble and went about my day.
We all have things in our lives that make us uncomfortable. This should come as no surprise; it’s the cost of doing business in the world as a human being. If we want to remedy our discomfort before it becomes problematic, and live near our highest degree of well-being and gracefulness, it’s valuable to undertake a process that actually provides a remedy.
First, we need the wisdom to accurately identify the nature of the problem. In yoga, this is called “jnana,” literally, wisdom, and it is essentially the insight to recognize the problem where it lies. The pebble is causing the irritation, nothing else. It’s not indicative of a personal fatal flaw, of the world being unfair, of sin or guilt or malevolence; it’s simply a little stone. It is not helpful to go on a mental trip about the nature of pebbles, or the karma of socks, or develop a paradigm of any sorts — religious, political, psychological, material — to explain why folks get stuff in their stockings. All we really need to know is there’s something unpleasant that we want to remedy.
Second, we need the sense of the validity of self-care; that it is proper and good to take the time to shake out rocks from our socks. This devotion is called “bhakti,” in yoga. Often defined as devotion to deity, bhakti can be appreciated as a wholistic devotion and dedication to alleviating suffering in all sentient beings, including oneself.
This compassion is a very high level of love. It is not as difficult or complex as it might sound on first hearing. Love is accessible to all: to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Love is not something that can be developed, per se; it is to be realized when obstructions are removed. The sun of love is inherent in our souls, but we must remove the mental clouds if it is to be received and perceived.
Third, we need the capability, as little as it might be, to shake that darn annoyance out of our lives. This requires some measure of physical ability and dexterity. This is where yoga asana, the physical practices, come into play. We need some degree of physical health if we hope to enjoy life. When we are suffering, it is very difficult to have a good time. We may even become insensitive to stuff under our feet that hurts, or convince ourselves that is just the way of things.
It is not necessary to be able to twist yourself into a pretzel or put your legs behind your head to enjoy the benefits of yoga. Believe me, I’ve done these things and still managed to be obnoxious at times. It is quite helpful, however, to adopt a few basic habits: practice yoga, spend time in Nature, eat a good diet. It’s not rocket science, but it’s not nothing, either. It’s hard to care for others when we are in pain, and it’s hard to have passion for life when we don’t feel well. No one can really dance when they’ve got a pebble in their sock.
Fourth, finally, we need to have the right attitude and commitment. This is “karma yoga,” the yoga of activity. While it doesn’t take much to shake out a pebble, it does require a little willingness. It’s not enough to be bugged by the situation, we need to do something about it.
In life, it’s not fulfilling to stand on the sidelines and cheer, or whine. We’ve got to get in the game. This means different things for different people as everyone had their own, unique calling. It’s also valuable to have an attitude of happy participation. There’s something cloying about do-gooders who are dour or exhibit signs of virtue-signaling and moral superiority.
Go about helping others cheerfully. When you do, you may be surprised at how magical the results can be. Joy is contagious and magnetic. You’ll find resources coming to you that you could not have planned. Happiness is not something that should be faked, but if you are not having a good time it may be a worthwhile to examine your motives.
It’s also healthy to challenge ourselves with one important yoga principle. That is, many times our unhappiness is not due to little rocks in the world, rather, it’s our attitude. All too often, we look for uncomfortable terrain to walk. This can be difficult to own, at first, but it’s a priceless teaching if you can stay with it. There’s a lot here to unpack.
We identify problems in the world and complain. However, as you may have noticed, yesterday one thing was bugging you, today it’s something different and, quite likely, tomorrow it will be something else. It’s always something, right? Unhappiness is a floating craps game; the location is always changing.
Yoga asks us to differentiate between excuses and reasons. In meditation, we burrow deeply into ourselves and uncover the self-sabotage by which we struggle against our own peace and happiness. We say we want contentment and fulfillment, but we actively pursue drama. In the context of this essay, we look for stones to put in our socks and then blame others.
One more thing. Full disclosure: after I shook out the pebble from my sock, I put on my boots and walked outside. That’s when I realized — the pebble was still in there! I had to sit back down and go at its removal again. I did finally get rid of that darn thing, but it took repeated application. In yoga, this is understood and appreciated. These things take time and practice.
So, shake your socks regularly and with full enthusiasm. There is a soft, ground of love, harmony and beauty to walk upon. This is the spiritual path, and it is available to you right now. Perfection is not a pre-requisite, stride onward with all your messiness and folly. Just try your best to identify the problem correctly, develop the skill sets to eradicate it, and appreciate the value of putting your time and effort into your own healing and growth.
