How to Prosper with a Purpose ~ here and now

Before you can prosper, you must acquire punya and overcome papa. This means gaining merits through good deeds while eliminating improper and harmful behavior. Although often confusing, the practice of yoga is not about living the austere life of a renunciate. Yoga fully acknowledges the realities of living in a material world. It actually makes a distinction between those who support a household and those who renounce all worldly possessions. Padmini Vidya encourages us to incorporate the four essential goals of soulful growth, meaningful work, pleasure, and wealth into our lives to achieve a fulfilling and meaningful existence. Striving to find meaning in life is the most powerful force that drives humans to ask, 'Why am I here?' What does it mean? And where am I going? We sometimes refer to this as searching to discover our purpose. When you have a sense of purpose, your brain chemistry begins to change. These biochemical changes affect everything from your ability to meet challenges and establish well-being to controlling your perception of difficulty and pain. Purpose and meaning put us on the soulful path. END: What is life all about? What does it mean, and how can we find our purpose? We all want to know, and when we don’t know, neuroscientists tell us that this uncertainty creates a negative impact on the brain. When confronted with a situation that contradicts our values, things can become uncertain, and this uncertainty can lead to a perception of a threat. The threat, of course, creates stress. However, our brains are hardwired to avoid threat and/or move toward reward. That is why we are the happiest when we have a purpose and can find meaning in our lives. Knowing your purpose, therefore, creates a positive impact on the body, the mind, and the soul. But it is not enough to find your purpose; you must learn to soul walk by expanding your consciousness to its highest potential. We do this by understanding the true nature of life – we are here on earth to remove vices and develop virtues. Live a virtuous life and you will prosper. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger. We lead a virtuous life by taking certain actions and detaching ourselves from others. But to do this, we need to harness the energy of the ego. The ego is the “I” that sits above the “me”. It is necessary for self-preservation, but it often confuses us into believing that the ego’s point of view is the final view of reality. When we master the power of the ego and begin to harness and redirect its energy, we remove papa—meaning the obstacles or negative actions blocking our pathway—and enhance punja, which refers to the positive merits that lead us to a virtuous life. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top of it. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. By enhancing our merits, our consciousness expands, and with this expansion of potential comes a greater ability to deal with the concerns of everyday life, which is necessary if we are to prosper. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn