
By Claire Diab and Dennis Boyle
The Law of Detachment is also known as the principle of Freedom. It is very freeing to know that you don’t have to be rigidly attached to how you are supposed to be. There is so much power in allowing people around you to be natural as they are and to find what is most natural for you. When you are being natural, you are very attractive. If you find yourself studying to be an accountant because that is what you thought you had to be, yet your true calling is that of a teacher, things will become rigid. It is important to notice what lights you up. Begin one step at a time by finding what feels natural for you. There is a lot of power in the words “I am free to be me.” Not only is the principle of Detachment about Freedom, it is understanding and accepting uncertainty. We can definitely have goals and ideas of how we want our future to be, yet it is important to be open to the infinite possibilities that are out there. And know that when things don’t seem to go our way (we all have examples of this), there is something much bigger and better awaiting us. Your life will be full of adventure, magic, and mystery.
Practicing the Law of Detachment:
- Practice detachment. Detachment and flexibility go hand in hand. Attachment breeds rigidity. Commit to not rigidly impose your ideas of how things should be. Allow yourself and those around you the freedom to be natural. Notice that when you force solutions on problems, you often create new problems that did not previously exist. Remind yourself to engage in everything with detached involvement.
- Embrace uncertainty as an essential ingredient of your experience and watch how creative solutions to problems emerge out of chaos. Cultivate an attitude of curiosity and innocence as you live your life and notice how a deep inner security develops within you, independent of things around you.
- Surrender to the field of pure potentiality. Combine your focused intention with detachment from outcome and observe how easily you are able to fulfill your desires while maintaining your center, even in the midst of confusion and turbulence.
ENJOY!
Claire Diab is an internationally recognized Yoga therapist. She is the director of the Yoga Program for the Chopra Center founded by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon. She is an adjunct professor of Asian Studies at Seton Hall University. She is the author of several books and DVDs on Yoga including “Yoga For Firefighters.”
Dennis Boyle is a retired fire director and acting chief with the West Orange (NJ) Fire Department. He was the recipient of the 1999 New Jersey Deputy Fire Chiefs “Fire Officer of the Year” award.