Spring Cleaning: it's for more than just closets and pantries this year. It's a chance to clear out some of the mind's clutter that's been standing between you and your most beautiful, happy and peaceful Self. So take a seat, buckle up and join me on a ride through the winding road of your mind.

 

Buddhists follow what is called the "Noble Eightfold Path." They believe that those who adhere to this path can reach an end to the eternal drama of human suffering. One part of the path is "right intention", a focus on giving, rather than getting things in life, and self-inquiry and meditation on intention are also a central part of Yoga philosophy. So what's so great about intention-checking that makes it worth landing a spot on the Buddha's top eight? Eastern philosophy also focuses on the concept of "karma", or basically, the idea that we create the good and bad in our life, based on our thoughts and actions. It is believed that when you give without expectation, the universe will conspire to return the favor.

 

A friend of mine parks his car at the DART Station every day, and then hops the rail to his job in Downtown Dallas. The other day, I was driving back from court (I'm a criminal defense lawyer by day, yoga instructor by night) and knew that I'd be passing through downtown about the same time that he'd be getting off work. It used to be a regular practice of mine on to shoot him a text, in case he wanted a lift to the train station. However, I hadn't done so in probably about six months. On this particular day, I decided to send him a text to see if he'd like to have a ride and catch up. He accepted my offer, and it turns out that hours earlier, on that very same day, he'd given his DART pass to a man that he ran into who had just gotten out of jail (electronic ankle monitor in tow), who didn't have a dollar to his name, and needed to get where he needed to go. Indeed, the universe really does conspire to take care of us when we act with the "right intention" and give without expectation.

 

At the end of the day, we're really all after the same thing – a giant helping of happiness, with a huge portion of peace of mind on the side. When you give without expectation, the universe will conspire to take care of and protect you. Lennon called the phenomenon "Instant Karma".

 

 

– Identify an area you deem problematic or curious in your life. Examples could include, but certainly aren't limited to, the way you date, relate, work, shop, eat, drink, play, etc.

 

– Think about the reasons for your behavior. It's about what you can give, or are secretly concerned with what you'll get (or avoid getting?) Does the behavior make you and the world at large feel positive and enriched in some way, or is there negativity of some type associated with it? For instance, do you struggle with your weight? Are you eating because you're hungry, or is there maybe another reason that's looming beneath the surface?

 

– If you realize that a thought pattern or behavior no longer suits you, be willing and able to go through the effort to let it go. If you realize that you're eating (or whatever the case may be) to fill an emotional void, stop avoiding and start dealing with it. Buy into the belief that you are capable and deserving of peace and happiness. There are lots of resources to help you get through whatever you need to get through. You're not alone. Talk about it. Google it. Rest assured, someone else is working on it too.

 

The result of all this inquiry is a purification of intentions. You'll naturally begin to operate from a place of your own highest truth. People won't be able to put their finger on it, but they'll take notice. The quality of your interactions with people will change. Instead of thinking of what you'll get in in any given situation, you'll begin to think of what you can give. And in doing so, you might just realize that you already have everything you'll ever need.