Santosha

Grey, cozy January is a good time to reflect about one’s own contentment. Are you happy with what you have? All summer long we long for more. We want to create and build and achieve. During winter we can retreat and reflect about our contentment. What do you have enough of? What can you be grateful for?

Patanjali says, that Santosha – contentment – is the key to happiness (2.42).

संतोषातनुत्तमस्सुखलाभः ॥४२॥
saṁtoṣāt-anuttamas-sukhalābhaḥ ||42||
From an attitude of contentment (santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy, and satisfaction is obtained. ||42||

When you always long for more, you become a slave to your desires. Only those, who are content with what they have, can truly be happy.

This does not mean that we can’t strive for more and should not have wishes at all. By all means – go for gold. But don’t be fooled that you have any entitlement to achievements or that you will find everlasting contentment in them. It’s once again in the balance of approaching life.

Our dreams and wishes are somewhere in the future. Contentment is in the here and now. It is the rare jewel to fully appreciate the present situation and accept it gratefully. It is the rare moment in which we walk into life without asking for more.

Everyone is responsible for his own happiness. When what you have is enough for you, no-one can take this contentment away from you. Just see that there is this gold dust right in your own hands.

Ski & Yoga

Don’t forget the Ski & Yoga week from February 22-28: Until January 18th you can book special offers at Hotel Miramonte. These are great offers and my yoga classes are included!
See you in Bad Gastein!