Brahmacharya: The Yama of December

For the month of December, the fourth yama of yoga, Brahmacharya, will be explored. Brahmacharya reminds us to regain control over our impulses and desire for excess so that we may instead lead lives of moderation. A fitting moral testament for the holiday season of over-eating, over-buying, and over-indulging, brahmacharya encourages us to break any bonds that attach us to our need for abundance and rather, to use our inner strength and will to find balance in our wants and needs.

Accepting moderation (brahmacharya) in each aspect of our lives can be a bit more difficult than we might presume. There is this seemingly innate human quality to constantly desire more: more money, more space, more possessions, more personal freedom, more control over life, more abundance, more appreciation from others; the list goes on. However, this drive to accomplish, possess and acquire more only pulls us away from the gratitude we can be experiencing for the abundance we already possess. Even further, we might realize, upon reflection, that the acquisition of ‘more’ never seems to make us as happy as we thought. Because once we receive what we want, we immediately start planning and desiring the next thing.
This places us in a never ending pursuit of happiness—because we are attaching our happiness to something outside of ourselves.

When we recognize this innate pursuit, we take control back over our lives and our happiness. We begin to understand that this desire for excess is only crippling our ability to enjoy life in the present moment.

And instead, we aim for moderation. We begin looking within; we begin to understand that self-growth, self-reflection, relationships and gratitude are more tied to happiness and true life abundance than any of the things we had been chasing before. We seek more opportunities to expose ourselves to these things and spend less time worrying about the things that occupied so much of our mental space previously.

So, this holiday season, be reflective of the areas in your life where you are always striving for, or desiring, more. Pay attention to how this relentless pursuit of excess impacts your life. Notice if the acquisition of what you’re chasing brings you lasting happiness.

Do any of us feel good after over-eating? Do we feel fulfilled and enlightened after buying a new gadget or object? Are we better people after binge watching 10 episodes of a show on Netflix? Does that promotion bring us the appreciation and happiness we were searching for?
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Once you find your answer, begin to think about how moderation might better serve you. Exercise your will power and inner strength to turn down the desire for excess and to turn your attention inward instead.