Our Yearnings are Clues…

When you hear the term “yearning” what do you think about? 

You might think about something you consistently have thought about doing, achieving, or becoming but for whatever reason, it still hasn’t come to pass. 

And yet, no matter how much time passes, it remains present with you. 

You might be swatting the idea away, like a buzzing fly, and telling yourself those “dreams” or “feelings” are childish, impractical, not “being real”… 

And yet, I believe identifying and getting clear on those yearnings could be the key toward finding more fulfillment in life.

Recently, I heard “yearning” described as: 

The Tension that is created when your True Nature is in conflict with your resistance. 

And that made so much sense to me: in yearning lies the cause of much of our suffering, but it also holds the clues to our fulfillment. Yearning implies we are separated from something- and that something may be our True Nature. 

Other terms for True Nature are: your essential self, your spirit, your core, your purpose. It knows itself, and it is always pulling you towards what is meaningful to you. 

Your resistance could be your culture’s norms, your education, your wounding from past experiences… It is often well meaning and trying to protect you from what seems scary or dangerous… but most often, your resistance is not based on what is true. It tries to keep you safe, but often keeps you feeling small. 

So, this tug of war ensues between your true nature and your resistance and the result is tension, feeling stuck, anxiety, and even physical pain. 

As Gabor Mate says: “wherever there is tension - deserves Attention” 

So, pay attention to the tension, anxiety, stuckness, or pains that show up in your life. 

Clarify what is meaningful to you that is being expressed in those yearnings. 

Then, strategize and practice putting into place the body movements, mindsets, and lifestyles that align with what your True Nature is calling for… 

Because when you align to your true nature, you move freely with less tension and pain, and you live fully engaged in meaningful activities that bring you joy. And how fun is that?!