Ways to summon yin’s tranquility and power

To bring yin’s gifts into our lives, we can take these actions:

• Pay attention to the whispering voices from within. What are you attracted to do (not what “should” you do)? You may be attracted to a class in meditation, dance, yoga, or painting. Or simply writing in a journal, lying in a hammock, sitting near running water.
• Next time you feel uneasy, tight, nervous or angry, take time to sit with yourself and trace the source. If you find yourself to be part of the problem, bring a loving-kindness and acceptance to your heart. Then you can decide what action to take.
• Set your intention to take small steps toward a goal. Both intention and small steps are powerful. They can initiate powerful changes. For example, resolve to spend ten minutes in silence each day. Through the bold (though small) step of meditating even a few minutes in a busy day, we can gather awareness and center ourselves.
• Be persistent and patient with yourself. If your goal is to spend time in silence, don’t give up your daily practice just because it’s difficult to become quiet, or because you missed a day. We come home to ourselves as we develop patience and perseverance for the journey.

Read the complete article by Margie Kolchin, originally published in Meridians, Winter 2001.