Finding Inner Clarity in a Storm of Negative Thoughts
The yoga philosophy of saucha, translated as cleanliness, clearness, or purity, is the first of the five niyamas. It’s important to realize that saucha does not suggest we as humans are the opposite of “clean” and need to be “fixed” or “cleaned.” Rather, as Deborah Adele so beautifully explains, “Purity is not our attempt to make something different than it is; rather it is to be pure in our relationship with it, as it is in the moment.”
Saucha can relate to keeping our environments orderly, for our outer world often reflects our inner world and vice versa. But it can also be thought of as inner clarity and being free from overwhelm, what-ifs, and worry. Purifying our minds includes cleansing them of anger, hate, greed, pride, fear, and negative self-talk.
Practicing saucha brings us back to the present, and allows us to find peace and confidence. It asks us to consider the thoughts and behaviors that affect our physical, mental, and emotional balance.
When we are struggling with an eating disorder, cleanliness or purity can mistakenly fuel the idea that the body is imperfect. It can cause us to compare ourselves to others which leads to disconnection and harmful behaviors. This way of thinking robs us of our time and happiness.
Inner dialogues fixated on what we don’t like about our bodies are harmful, as they breed guilt, shame, and comparison to others, making it nearly impossible to feel peaceful, confident, and present. We become distracted and agitated. A single body comparing thought can instantly multiply into 100s, and before we know it, we have lost 30 minutes of our lives, missing out on opportunities to connect, experience, and appreciate ourselves, others, and our surroundings.
Practicing saucha, however, means revising and even disengaging from critical, toxic thoughts. It’s the conscious choice to shift from negative to neutral (or positive) thinking over and over again.
Reflect on Saucha in Your Recovery
I invite you to reflect on these questions to explore saucha in your own life. The power in gaining awareness around these questions helps us to notice trends in ourselves that take us away from inner clarity.
How does the quality of your thoughts affect your mood?
How is your energy level affected by the quality of your thoughts?
How does the quality of your thoughts affect your self-perception?
How are your relationships affected by the quality of your thoughts?
What did you learn about how the quality of your thoughts impact these areas of your life? How might your talk back to some of those thoughts with kindness and remind yourself of why they are unhelpful to you and your recovery?
A Guided Meditation for Practicing Inner Clarity
I invite you to follow a short meditation on self-compassion to disengage from critical, toxic thoughts. All you need is a few moments of quiet and the willingness to check in with yourself.
I’d love to hear how you focus on inner clarity in your recovery. Please feel free to share in the comments. And if you are looking for support on your recovery journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.