If you’ve taken a yoga class at Breathe Together Yoga before, chances are you have listened to the teacher sharing their personal stories of truth, or their dharma talk. I love it when yoga teachers show authenticity and vulnerability. If a wise, thoughtful yogi divulges their concerns or frustrations in day-to-day life, just like I have experienced, I am all ears to learn how they navigated those feelings. 

After listening to one of the teachers here at Breathe Together Yoga share the mantra “Do I want to be right, or do I want to be free?,” I had no idea how beneficial this would be to me.

Have you experienced a situation that left you second-guessing your response or reaction? How about an event that continues to loop in your mind, leading you to plan further action even though the encounter concluded? Maybe an imaginary, one-sided debate starts repeating and preoccupying your thoughts. Some events take up so much space in your mind, that you keep pouring mental energy into the situation because you wonder how to make it “right.” 

I had a very uncomfortable experience with a business regarding a service for a family member. During the interaction, I felt very unheard and dismissed. I mindfully chose not to inflame the situation by saying something from a place of anger. I carried this interaction with me all day. I kept mulling over what I said and if I should do more to escalate the matter. I was upset and felt that I was wronged. When I saw my spouse at the end of the day, he listened patiently and reflected back my thoughts and feelings. Knowing my spouse supported me, I continued to mull over this situation and what I should do about it. This was in the front of my thoughts all evening and into the next day. I was feeling very heavy and distracted because of it. 

Suddenly, the dharma talk popped up in my mind. I thought, “Do I want to be right, or do I want to be free?”

At that moment, it all clicked for me.

I asked myself, “How far was I willing to go to prove I felt correct? How much of my time and energy was I willing to invest into finding an outcome that was more favorable to me?” I realized I had already given too much of my peace to this encounter. I was done. The situation was no longer allowed to occupy my feelings, energy, and time. I felt light again. I was free. 

This one class planted a seed within me, later to be discovered as a valuable tool on my growth journey. May you also recognize when your peace is worth more than an outcome.