Years ago, when I began to read about the ancient African science of yoga and study Buddhism, there were exercises I practiced to silence my inner chatter. I remember two of these exercises specifically. One being to smile at everyone I come in contact with and the other was to give compliments. I remember being hesitant on doing these because I didn’t want to be looked at as ‘weird’ and because up until that point I felt like people needed to earn my trust or friendly demeanor. My inner chatter told me that I have to put someone through the fire to share in my happiness and I had to struggle with them on almost every emotional realm before I could enjoy them. Wow! What was I thinking?
At the time, I was working at a bank in downtown Los Angeles. On a daily basis, I came in contact with high profile persons with only a short amount of time to do business. They were usually very canalized with stern body language and no eye contact. No matter how good of a work out at the gym I had the day before or the healthy meal I cooked the night before, after eight hours of discourteous interaction, I would behave the same way. I would initiate road rage! I created stress as soon as I left the office! I would run to the elevator and stand by the control panel to be the first one out so I could beat the traffic coming out of the parking garage. When I finally calmed down in the evening to write or bring out my creative side, it was time for me to go to bed and start the madness all over again.
Nikki Skies 