In 2005 I travelled to Nepal with a friend who was a Doctor of Acupuncture. She had had her own practice for almost two decades and had a rich body of knowledge. She wanted to travel to Katmandu to stay with a friend there, a Buddhist monk. She was going to practice on monks at Monasteries in the region. I was her ‘assistant’, and mainly I was to help her in any way I could. I knew it was going to be a huge spiritual awakening for me, and it was, but not in the ways one might think. The monk we stayed with, as generous as he was, was unkind to the people who supported him. He was filled with anger and uncontrolled rage that seeped out of him daily.
It was a difficult trip for several reasons; however, on it I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: Just because someone is bequeathed a title, whether earned or self-appointed, it doesn’t make them an authority. I learned not to give authority to others who have more training or experience than myself just because I feel insecure in my own education or background. I’ve had to self-check myself in the ways I have felt (and still feel) like I know what’s best for someone else.
At the time, I was learning about the spiritual practices that had revolutionized my world. I’d hoped they would make me more enlightened and better than those who hadn’t yet embarked on the same journey. A couple of decades have passed and life has often slapped my face. I’ve experienced my ignorance and have been ashamed to admit the judgements I’d made of other people. I’ve sat high on my thrown and attempted to bestow my ‘wisdoms’ on others.
More recently, after opening a yoga studio and fumbling my way through business and my insecurities, I’ve landed on the other end with perspective.
What I’ve learned is that we – the collective human ‘we’ – tend to give authority to those who’ve done spiritual, scientific, medical, and higher education training and practices. Many have told me they believe yoga teachers must have it all sorted out and that they’ve earned some kind of all-knowing status (through a course that takes about three weeks to get initially certified!). I’m not undervaluing the deep inner work that happens through trainings, but I can assure you – no one is enlightened after these trainings. I can tell you that’s baloney. Yoga teachers are like any other humans. Fumbling, stumbling, learning, finding success and failing miserably. Whether you’re a scientist, doctor, monk, social rights activist or on your path of self-discovery and self-evolution, you maybe bestowed ‘the omnipotent one’; however, anyone who’s spent time in human form knows that no one is ‘all-knowing’.
There are so many people online these days, streaming their wisdoms and insights, and I include myself in this. I’ve been asked about various people online who are selling, talking, sharing and experimenting with various products, services or wisdom. Namely wondering about their authenticity. My only response is, how does it make you feel? When you watch it, does it feel like a kind of car wreck, or do you feel drawn to what they’re offering? Are you learning something from them?
I struggle with those that make radical claims about financial freedom. Or, upon leaving a job, those that claim “It no longer aligns with me” or some kind of BS that indicates “I’m now above this” instead of saying, “Hey, I couldn’t be where I am without everyone who gave me a chance and helped me on my journey”. – There’s a sense of righteousness and superiority when they claim they’ve made it. Anything that leaves you feeling like you’re missing out because you’re not doing, consuming, posting or selling what others claim has made them ‘successful’ should have you running the other direction (or unfollow and stop watching).
There’s lots of people doing really great work in the world. It’s inspiring. There’s also lots of people who are trying to sell you on who they want you to think they are, but it’s just an image, not truth.
Use your own wisdom, intuition or gut feelings to help navigate this. Be very careful who you’re getting your information from. Just because someone has an acronym beside their name doesn’t make them right. No matter what information we take in, it’s healthy to look at all sides, get diversified perspectives and make well-informed and educated opinions, spiritual or otherwise.
with love
Noelle