Pieces of the Puzzle

Life is like a puzzle in many ways. As we move through life we find bits and pieces of the puzzle along our path. Some of the pieces fit together easily. Other pieces seem unconnected. And sometimes we may find ourselves looking for a missing piece.

At times we may feel clear about the "big picture" but at other times we may wonder what life is really about. Why are we here? What is our unique mission or gift that we have to give?

Puzzles give a picture of the final form but there can be hundreds of little pieces that need to fit together or many, many ways of working the pieces into the final form. Working on the puzzle can be frustrating, challenging and rewarding.

Have you ever found a piece of a puzzle that almost fit but not quite; yet because it seemed so close you kept trying to get it to fit over and over? Maybe you repeat a pattern or behavior in life because it seems to fit the situation but the results are never really satisfying. This is when we need to take a break and come back with a fresh perspective. Try letting go of the idea of making something fit that does not quite work.

What about the times when you are looking for that special piece of the puzzle but no matter how hard you try you cannot seem to find it. The harder you look the more elusive and frustrating it becomes. Again, this is the moment to step back and take a break. Sometimes when we get away from what we are over-focused on, we may come back and find it easily just because we are more relaxed.

When practicing yoga you may often gain new insights about a pose that is challenging or even about a pose you have been doing for a long time. It is like new pieces of the puzzle are always being discovered or sometimes the old pieces finally fit into place. Even some of the most basic things like muscular energy may take on a whole new dimension when you rediscover them in a way that makes a difficult pose easier.

When you feel a deeper connection to your core and a fuller outward expansion, the puzzle is closer to completion. Perhaps in life the puzzle will never be really complete. There will always be something new to discover and learn. The pieces may come together in new unexpected ways. The puzzle may keep morphing and expanding. But if we keep appreciating each piece of the puzzle, each moment when the pieces fit together and more of the picture or shape is revealed, life will continue to expand beyond our wildest expectations.