There’s an ancient Yoga sutra that goes: “When disturbed by negative thoughts, cultivate the opposite mental attitude.”
This works for opposite energy (and actions) too.
This practice is called Pratipaksha bhavanam—Cultivate the opposite.
Good advice for so many situations in life in which we are seeking balance.
When you’re feeling stagnant, stuck, blocked. Do the opposite. Get moving. Walk, dance, or run. Your energy will shift into a flow mode. Ushering in action, intuition, and creativity.
When people around you are hyper-focused on the negative it can be contagious. Cultivate the opposite. Be exceptionally and “impartially” grateful. Surround yourself with positive empowering input. Think about what/who you’re surrounding yourself with. Is it supporting or draining your energy?
When the world feels chaotic, crazy, uncertain, do the opposite. Go somewhere that offers you the grounded energy you crave—the park, the library, the gym, etc.
As Hiro Boga so eloquently said…”Immerse yourself in the energy of what you desire.“
When you feel scattered, all over the place, overwhelmed. Experience the opposite. Organize something, anything. It doesn’t have to be huge. Shine your kitchen sink, clean out your car, reorganize your desk drawer. Simply sweeping the floors can be just enough to clear space and invite calm.
When your shoulders feel tight and your upper back is aching, cultivate the opposite. Literally. Move in the opposite direction. Lay face up on the ground, place a rolled pillow or towel along the length of your spine. Make a T with your arms. Gently feel your chest, neck, and shoulder muscles open and relax. Melt into the floor. Let any tension dissolve.
In Nature, the foundational synergy that supports health, harmony, and peaceful productivity in all of life…is a dance of opposites.
The narrative of in and out, ebb and flow, light and dark, growth and harvest… is the oldest story in the Universe.
“Cultivate the opposite” is good ‘ol fashion medicine. And It works. It’s the ultimate life hack for restoring harmony, feeling clear and connected, cultivating your creative power, and getting shit done!
So when you feel off-kilter, remember, do the opposite. Flip it around. Dark into light. Loss into gain.
The world needs people like you to recognize imbalance and do the opposite.
Kenzie’s Desk 