Living Your Own Dharma

Published in the International Black Belt Academy Newsletter Dharma, as believed in Hinduism and Buddhism, is a belief—a way of living or ethical system—largely found within oneself through contemplation, rather than in the external world. There are times in our lives when we realize we have been living in someone else’s Dharma—living within other’s belief systems or contained by their “take” on life. As we get older, and begin to realize who we are instead of whom other’s think we are, we can oftentimes begin to see that we’ve been viewing the world through someone else’s glasses. Those glasses, however, were built from the materials of their past…not ours. We have our own set of glasses, comprised of materials from our own lives, our own perspectives, our own pasts. We are not our mothers. We are not our fathers. We are not who others thought (or still think) we are. Each of us is a unique human being with distinct personal experiences, beliefs and an ethical system upon we base our reactions to the world around us. Each of us has an inimitable Dharma. Certainly, our past is worthy of respect—it helped shape us into who we are today. But it doesn’t have to be who we are today. We are capable of making our own decisions, building our own experiences, and following through with our own wishes for the future. With most of us setting New Year’s resolutions–hoping for change, setting goals, desiring transformation—it has never been more appropriate to take a moment to appreciate your Dharma. It’s not hard to do—all that’s needed is ten minutes of stillness. It can be done in a car or a stairwell at work when home is teaming with the loud noises of family life. Just ten minutes of quiet breathing to show respect for your past–for the life experiences that made you who you are today. More importantly, ten minutes to allow yourself to let go of things you no longer have a need for in your life. You can let go of old behavior patterns…let go of old labels placed upon you years ago by those who wished to fit you into a box with a neatly wrapped bow. You can let go of old reactions to your surrounding world that are no longer who you want to be. Breathe in and give thanks to who you are in the current moment–a fabulous, unique and worthy human being with innumerable gifts to offer the present world.