January 2009: Commitments

Commitment is the ultimate assertion of human freedom.
It releases all the energy you possess and enables you to take quantum leaps in creativity. When you set a one-pointed intention and absolutely refuse to allow obstacles to dissipate the focused quality of your attention, you engage the infinite organizing power of the universe.
Keep Reading

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Where's Deepak

Jan 7–11 Carlsbad, CA
Jan 14 Istanbul, Turkey
Jan 26 Kauai, HI
Feb 3-7 Tampa, FL
Mar 8-14 New Orleans, LA

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Balancing Your Doshas

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) – also known as Amrit – is one of the most valued herbs in the Ayurvedic pharmacy. According to Vedic myth, when the ancient gods churned the primordial ocean, an ambrosial nectar was created that would confer immortality on any who imbibed it. Keep reading

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What We Are Eating

Delicious Whole Grain Pizza
Our recipe can be found here

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What We Are Reading

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Words of Wisdom

“Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

“We should not think of our past as definitely settled. . . . My past changes every minute according to the meaning given it now, in this moment.” ~ Czelaw Milosz

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Living Perfect Health

Conscious Communication

Emotional wellbeing flows from the ability to clearly communicate what you want in life. This isn’t an inherent gift but a skill you can learn. If you are not currently adept at expressing your needs, it is because you learned from people who were not proficient. Now is the time to improve your abilities, for conscious communication is the highest expression of personal love.

Keep Reading

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Chopra Center Spotlight

Sara Harvey, Director of Products and Sales
Read about Sara here

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What We Are Watching

Ambition to Meaning:
Finding Your Life's Purpose
Released on January 13

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Are you ready to make your 2009 commitment to a life of joy, wholeness, fulfillment, and abundance?

It is often said that we change who we are by changing our behavior; and we change our behavior by creating ritual. One of the reasons why ritual is so effective in effecting change is that it can lead to an innocent transformation – we are able to take small steps, make small shifts, in the smallest of increments, and very quickly our new world unfolds. The foundation of this change is commitment – our ability to amass our individual, collective, and universal intentions to truly create the life we desire.

Without personal commitment we bounce through life like a cork on a raging river, having very little say over our direction, speed, or location. However, when we make personal commitments, the process allows us to more readily align our personal truth with universal truth. More importantly, making personal commitments allows the universe and the Self to more easily merge into one.

This week at The Chopra Center, we are launching our commitment to make 2009 the most amazing year of our lives, beginning with our first event of the New Year – our SynchroDestiny self-empowerment workshop. Deepak and David will teach our 100 participants how to tap into our deepest potential to fulfill our desires and intentions – in essence . . . our destiny. Each of us does indeed make a profound difference in this world. And if we make a personal commitment to be the change we want to see, we can move from being "on-the-verge-of," to actually "witnessing" a golden era – one of peace, vitality, love, and purpose.

This Namasté celebrates commitment in our own actions, and whether you believe your commitment is for the self or the universe, selfish or altruistic, personal or global, simply taking the small step today to commit to one thing within your sphere of influence can change the world forever.

As you read this, think of just one commitment (not two, or three), just one that you would like to make to bring yourself closer to love or truth or peace or divine consciousness. Close your eyes right now and feel what your heart wants for you in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. Every yearning is significant. Maybe you want to commit to some aspect of your physical health, to having more fun, to becoming more loving to yourself and others. It’s important to be as specific as you can, so that it is clear what you are committing to. For example: I commit to going for a 20-minute walk after lunch three times a week or I commit to learning to meditate or I commit to going to bed before midnight or I commit to the practice of loving, conscious communication.

The next step is to write your commitment. The written word is a powerful tool, and the act of putting your commitment on paper (or computer) strengthens your intention and resolve. Another way to magnify the force of your commitment is to share it with others. We invite you to share your commitment with the Namasté community by clicking here.

Your commitment for 2009 will be listed on the special commitment page as we did last year. Each time someone visits the page, your commitment will become more tangible and powerful. You will be linking your commitments to millions of people around the world and transforming the world as you transform yourself.

After you’ve written your commitment online at chopra.com, dedicate this day to sharing that commitment with ten other people before you go to bed. You can forward them your commitment page, you can email or text them, you can call them up, or you can tell them in person. But most importantly, make it tangible by entering it on the page that can be your very first step to an amazing 2009.

This Namasté offers some great inspiration on making commitments and even greater motivation for living your life with grace and ease. We have included your favorite features, including a delicious Ayurvedic recipe, a meditation Q&A, and letters from Deepak and David. We invite you to take a few quiet moments for yourself . . . to read, reflect, and plant your seeds of intention for the New Year.

Namasté,
The Chopra Center staff

P.S. As always, we encourage you to share your insights, comments, and ideas at feedback@chopra.com.

Inside San Diego: David Simon and The 10 Commitments

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Meditation Q&A

Q: I can't seem to get myself to meditate twice every day as I learned in the Primordial Sound Meditation course. Sometimes I don’t even get in one meditation during the day! Something always comes up and pulls me in another direction. What do you suggest?

Read the answer here

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Namasté Reader Spotlight

Featuring Mónica Elejaide, Rick Dore, and Adrilia Pedersen

Read about Mónica here
Read about Rick here
Read about Adrilia here

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Words of Wisdom

“Yoga is a vehicle to put us in touch with the place in us that hasn't been touched by the circumstances of our lives." ~ Tim Miller

“God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches you by means of opposites, so that you will have two wings to fly – not one.” ~ Rumi

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How We Are Stretching

Five-Pointed Star/ Half Triangle is an energizing pose that strengthens the shoulders and arms and promotes the flow of prana – the vital life energy – throughout the body. Enjoy the sequence and allow yourself the freedom to move your body in any way it needs. Keep Reading

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Teacher Feature

Martine O'Neill,
El Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz), Spain
Vedic Master.
Read about Martine here

Find a teacher in your hometown

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We Support

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Seduction of Spirit
March 8-14, New Orleans, LA
60-day special ends Jan 8

August 23-29, Whistler, BC
6-mo special ends Feb 23

SynchroDestiny
April 29–May 3, Sedona, AZ
90-day special ends Jan 29

Journey into Healing
May 28–31, Chicago, IL
90-day special ends Feb 28

Our Six-Day Wellness Program
Perfect Health
Feb 16-21, Carlsbad, CA
30-day special ends Jan 16

March 2–7, Carlsbad, CA
30-day special ends Feb 2

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Words of Wisdom

“I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” ~ Arthur Golden

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What's in Store

Commit to Your Health in 2009
The Chopra Center's signature  Ayurvedic supplements can help you experience greater physical and emotional wellbeing. Enter coupon code: HEALTHY09 at checkout and receive 10% off all supplements and herbs.
Order yours here. Offer expires 1/23