Everything Old Becomes New

Photo: Prasanth Photography

This post was Originally Published in -2004
This is a slightly modified & updated edition for 2013.

I have been in the process of re-editing and re-designing my web page, my programs my office and my schedule. This is a huge undertaking as I have been running programs for more than 10 years. There is so much stuff around me that I have accumulated. Where do I begin?

I have never been a good multi-tasker, but I do have excellent concentration skills. If I have one particular thing to zero-in on-a target, I can make awesome things happen.

When I work on several things at once, as we are sometimes forced to do when self-employed, I feel overwhelmed & as if I am not clear or effective. In order for me to balance these needs, and get anything done, I have had to learn to be more flexible, and it seems as if just when I think I can’t be any more flexible, something makes me push those boundaries of flexibility back even further. Its been a good exercise, which has also helped me learn to see what is really important, in my inner and outer words, as well as when to stand my ground, when to push back and when to walk away.

In Yoga we often refer to flexibility often-being or becoming more flexible. This idea applies not only to the body but to the mind as well. It not only applies to adults, but to kids; not only the elite, but also to the ordinary; not only to the physically fit, but to the physically challenged. Flexibility applies to everyone. Some of us learn easily, and others have to learn the hard way.

Being rigid, stiff and inflexible is associated with stress, frustration & old age - hence the expressions: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" or "I'm too old and set in my ways." Flexibility, energy and creativity are and have always been, associated with youth. This is no coincidence. Watch kids playing sometime and you will see.

While a certain amount of routine can be good for some, when we attach ourselves (our bodies, minds and emotions) to certain foods, routines, habits, people, outcomes, ideas, beliefs, our past, our pain, our wants & our possessions we become physically rigid, strained & stressed. We get bored, we stagnate, and we get sick and actually age. In our minds we believe that these things represent safety & security, but in our hearts we know that they really do not.

By being willing to let go & move on from past & present experiences, relationships, work, outdated ideas, things and people who do not serve us any more, we begin to realize that the only true security lies within us - by cultivating an attitude of curiosity, acceptance, self-reliance and flexibility.

If we improve on something we already have, that is innovation, and that is a start, but true creativity is the process of taking an experience, information or materials and transforming it into something that has never been in existence before. This is the most energizing thing we can do for ourselves and for our kids.

There is documented evidence that by learning to be more creative & more flexible, (in both Mind and Body) we can biologically renew ourselves and can actually influence the stress response & ultimately reverse the aging process. We often forget that both, flexibility and creativity are learned behaviors that come from practice. They come from being willing to let go and find new options, experiences and solutions to problems that really support us and work for us, rather than against us.  Flexibility and creativity foster acceptance & allows us to embrace the unknown, detach from a particular outcome, reduce stress & reverse physical and mental aging.

The creative process requires focus and awareness. When we are focused & aware, we can reawaken our creative response & recapture the energy and enthusiasm of Youth. When we learn & live this, we can begin to teach this to our children, through example and through actively assisting them with the many challenges of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.

Without flexibility, there can never be creativity. We have unlimited creative potential that can be used to solve any problem we are facing!  Our kids need to learn this and understand it, but first we must understand it.

The first step is to let go. As we begin to let go of old attachments, things, beliefs and habits, we will feel renewed, refreshed & effective in our communication, relationships and in our work.

As this New Year begins, consciously aim to let go regularly, & search for new ideas to express & new experiences to create. Teach your children to do the same. A new idea, belief, activity or experience, project, friendship, clothing style, exercise, food or music will go a long way to engage & energize your body, mind and soul and may infinitely make the old become new.


Contact: barbara@bodylogique.com 




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