For a while last year we had this simple diagram on the YogaLife Facebook page. Its simplicity is deceptive though. Drawn as a target it illustrates something profound and vital – how to be free.

The ‘YOU’ part at the centre of the target is You. Or more accurately, Your Self. In Yoga we call it the Atman. That’s that part of you that knows who you are, where you are going and what you should be doing. Others call it, finding your voice, feeling right and natural or ‘Doing it your Own Way’… Sometimes its called ‘feeling centered’ which is why the target is a good visual analogy.  In other words it’s that part of you that is real, authentic and free from any misconceptions, belief systems or illusions. It’s a place of ‘Primary Reality where you will find liberation. When we commit to hitting the centre of the target we call it the practice of yoga.

The centre is where spontaneity , creativity and most importantly happiness resides. When you find the ‘Thereness’ at the target centre you will understand that you can’t ‘Be’ or become happy. You are happy. And it’s there. That explains the other part of the diagram,  the ‘somebody else’, which is where you land when you try too hard, ‘thinking’ you have to be like somebody else in order to get close to your own ‘bull’s-eye’. That perception or belief creates a secondary reality. Do that, and you miss the target, you don’t get to feel the freedom and happiness that is rightfully yours. Your aim is obscured, because you are living under an ‘Illusion’ of where your ‘centre’ really is.

The great thing though its pretty easy to hit the centre of your target. Because the YOU wants you to all the time. It wills you constantly to do the right thing. Because it is Primary Reality the YOU in you, wants to express itself in the world through you so it is constantly asking for your attention. Our problem is that we are so busy thinking we are somebody else, addicted to the picture of who your secondary reality we just don’t notice…and then we become overpowered and lost….ceasing to feel free. We literally miss the point!

So if you aim high  to  succeed, as we are constantly told you will definitely miss the target. We don’t need to be that somebody else we see in advertisements that tell us that to be happy we just need to consume, to be like that beautiful, happy woman or that handsome, decisive man (apologies for the stereotypes but that’s how it is). To find lasting, meaningful success all we have to do is aim true so that we join ourselves to our Selves. That is the very meaning yoga….to join together. To unify to focus in and hit Your centre. So how do we score a bulls-eye? It’s easy if you follow these steps

1. Watch and mange the breath. Be aware of the cycle of breathing its depth a, rhythm. Bring your attention to yourself and feel the physical and material level of yourself
2. Don’t try too hard or expect future success or reward. Stay present and be in the flow of the moment. Work without worrying about results.
3. Don’t worry, stress or wonder what might happen if you miss. Fear gets in the way, creates attachment to what we think might happen and brings agitation and desires. Stay absorbed in the moment and task.
4.  Focus and observe.  See the bigger picture and Watch yourself from distant and witness the action/moment. Non-attachment, or stillness in motion will mean you will remain centred, cool giving you the best chance to hit the target.
5. And finally all the above will help you find your still point. That place where you can be yourself.

If you want to know more about how to achieve your still point, your centre, then YogaLife is hosting a special workshop, Stillness in Motion’ 8th June 2013.

You can book a place here.

 So aim true and you will act in the world with success.