As we headed into October last weekend, I found myself wondering (as I do at the beginning of each month) what to write about in this month’s newsletter; however, nothing was coming to me. When that happens, my first instinct is to get anxious about getting something out – “I’ve got to get something out there… everyone else already has their newsletters/blog posts out this month?!” That’s one of MY samskara – a conditioned pattern of thought and/or action based on my past experiences – that I am continually working to re-program. Luckily, the yogi in me recognizes this pretty quickly, and so I PAUSE… and then I BREATHE deeply… several times… and I realize the futility of my anxiousness. So I let it go.
I then wait until I stumble upon some words of wisdom or thought-provoking topic that I feel compelled to share rather than simply writing something for the sake of a “deadline”. Well yesterday morning, I found that inspirational spark…
I was reading an article in the November Yoga Journal called “Stay Connected” which discussed how leaders in the Tech industry marry their love for technology and yoga to balance their lives (I recommend the article, especially if you are a ‘techy’.) There was a mention of the late Steve Jobs in this article and suddenly an old memory came to me regarding him.
While his technological brilliance is well known, some may not be aware of the wisdom and light he also shared throughout his life. I myself only recently learned that he was a self-proclaimed Buddhist who had visited India in the seventies looking for spiritual enlightenment. And the more I learn about him, I feel he was in his own way, a modern-day yogi.
I have my own story about how Steve Jobs inspired me… As most of you know, I worked in the corporate world for over 15 years prior to my quitting in the summer of 2006. While deep down in my heart, I knew this leap of faith – relinquishing the comfort and security of a steady job to pursue my passion to teach yoga and provide healing massage therapy – was the right thing to do, I certainly had bouts of fear and doubt!
A few months after I had quit my job, a friend of mine emailed me a copy of the 2005 Stanford commencement speech given by Steve Jobs. WOW… I was blown away. I felt as if Steve was talking directly to me! I remember now how it had inspired me to hear his words of validation and wisdom, which so closely resembled many of the lessons I’d learned throughout my yoga training & education.
Things like:
– Relinquishing attachment to material results (vairagya)
– Finding your truth (dharma) and taking action toward it regardless of others thoughts
– Trusting your Intuition, your “heart-mind” (citta)
– Self-Surrender
… just to name a few.
So below, I share a video of that speech with you in hopes that you too are inspired as I was 5 years ago and have been once again today.