Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes

Tree or deer: which do you see?

Re-entering the World with Fresh Eyes

Sometimes things aren't exactly as they appear. We couldn’t wait for the pandemic to slow so we could return to life as we knew it, right? But now that the virus is (hopefully) receding, how do we re-enter our world? What do we add back into our schedule? Perhaps more importantly, what don’t we bring back? Can we make small talk after a year without any? Who do we want to be as we return to a more outwardly-oriented life?

The balance of the inner and outer worlds is a constant focus in our yogic journey. Yoga always and forever invites us to travel into ourselves and very specifically so with the breath. We draw the breath in and we notice ourselves in that moment; we follow the breath out as it leaves our bodies and the cycle continues.

As we re-enter our world, I for one am hoping to maintain some of my new habits. Long walks in the woods, regular restorative yoga practice, regular movement/asana sessions, meditation and lots and lots of writing. For those of us who have had the privilege of being able to stay home during the pandemic, the time has been an opportunity for exploration. While not always pleasant, hopefully this block of time has created a shift in our awareness so that we can see our world with fresh eyes.

As we take ourselves back out, let’s bring with us some of the clarity that we’ve garnered during this difficult time. Let’s look at what we see with more curiosity and neutrality. Because if we can let go of at least some of our assumptions, we might just find opportunities both individually and collectively that at first glance appeared impossible.

Bonus Tidbit: Join former monk Andy Puddicombe on his podcast Radio Headspace, where current episodes feature ideas for navigating through post-pandemic daily life.

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