07.21.10
Are You A Keeper?
- Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Yesterday at our yoga class we learned about Santosha. No, not the rock guitarist Santana. This is contentment. An allowing of yourself to just be, accepting yourself. Whether it’s in a difficult yoga pose, or in a difficult situation at work. Just be accepting of, and content with, where and what you are here and now.
The more I thought about Santosha, the more I realized that is where good humor has to start. Sure, bad humor can start anywhere. Negative emotions are great for crafting sarcasm. Negative intentions are necessary for creating blue humor. But I’m talking about good humor. The kind that is not only funny, but uplifting, insightful, and creative.
Because if we don’t have contentment with ourselves, we can’t tap into our innate humor resources.
So how do we cultivate this Santosha?
By going to the gym. That’s where I got a great idea from a guy whose t-shirt read, “I’m a keeper.” At first I thought, “What an egotistical twenty-something jack-ass!” But the more I thought about him in his bragadoccio and obliviousness-inducing i-pod, the more insightful I became.
What if we could ALL wear that t-shirt in our minds. Every day. Knowing that we are “a keeper.” That our ideas are valid, our sense of humor unique, honest and effective. Realizing that we have all we need to accomplish the next step in our life journey. Without worrying or comparing, without scheming or self-sabotage.
I think I achieved Santosha the very next day while I was cancelling my anti-virus subscription. The process was tedious. I had two e-mail accounts going. Couldn’t find my ID code. I was very de-motivated about the entire drama.
Yet as I found the right place on the website to cancel my order, I felt clear. Unworried. Almost at peace. As a chatted online with customer service I was unworried that the task would be taken care of. And as the customer service person signed on, I knew I was on-cue.
His name? Santosh.
He’s a keeper.
I am too.
Are you?
