In the East, the term ‘yoga’ includes not just physical exercises but exercises for the mind, heart and spirit. In her latest work, Higher Self Yoga: A Practical Guide, Nanette V. Hucknall provides a framework for students to understand the yoga of the Higher Self.  The yoga of the Higher Self is rooted in a process of self-realization that is essential for spiritual growth. 

In her most practical book to date, Nanette presents a guide for a journey of personal discovery that will bring you face to face with unknown potential, unexamined desires and exhilarating new possibilities. Here is an early excerpt from Nanette’s work outlining how we can apply our connection with the Higher Self to the process of understanding negative behavioral patterns within relationships. Consider having a journal ready as you embark on this reading experience!

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Many people feel the Higher Self is meant to be used only spiritually. This belief is likely from the knowledge that the Higher Self is inherently the part within you that is seeking God Consciousness, but it is also the part in you that can help in very practical, grounded ways.

It is true that the main purpose is to help you grow spiritually, but in order for us to progress on the spiritual path, we must first know ourselves. Self-awareness is important for every yogi, only when someone truly understands themselves can that person go through transformation and spiritual growth. 

What does it mean to know oneself? Taking an inventory of the personal characteristics that are most influential in our lives can be a powerful start. 

Because the Higher Self is the part of you that contains your higher characteristics you will need to embrace the Higher Self in order to activate these strong qualities. Simultaneously, you will need to understand and heal inner wounds that may be contributing to the presence of your negative characteristics. This can be a very psychological process.  When we engage the Higher Self through dialogue, exercises, and thoughtful questions we practice honesty and transparency that allows us to move forward with a clear vision of who we are – so that we are more empowered to meet the challenges of our lives with our best self-present. 

What does this look like in a practical, real-life application? Let’s consider a major aspect of our daily life – our relationships. Specifically, consider a relationship that you would consider negative. Obviously, if you are in a negative relationship, meaning this relationship is causing you stress, draining your energy, and creating challenges in your day-to-day life, that will affect your spiritual path. It will also make you prone to attracting negative energy around you. This can cause you to become negative yourself, which will affect your actions and can cause you to have negative karma as a consequence. 

Consider a relationship that tends to be negative. Connect with your Higher Self, and ask it the following questions:

1. How can I best deal with this person?
2. Is there any bad karma between us? 

• If the answer is yes, ask to know more about it.

1. When we have a negative interaction, how can I best change the energy?
2. If I can’t change it, what is the best way for me to deal with it?
3. If I become negative, what is the best process for me to use to rid myself of this energy?
4. If I need a break from this person, what is the best way for me to do this?
5. If I can’t take a break from this person, what is the best way for me to deal with them so that the energy isn’t negative? How can I change my negative feelings toward this person?

Negative relationships usually come from negative past lives. It’s always good to resolve the karma in the present life, so you no longer have to return with the person again. This is sometimes difficult to do, but the Higher Self can help you. 

Once again, consider a relationship that tends to be negative. Connect with your Higher Self, and ask it the following questions:

• Is it possible for me to resolve this karma in this lifetime?
• If the answer is yes, ask: What is the best way for me to do this?
• If the answer is no, ask: Why can’t I resolve it in this life time?

1. Take that answer and ask: Is there anything I can do that will lessen the karma?

Sometimes the karma is very difficult to resolve, but there is always a way to lessen it, which would be beneficial in case you have to return in another life with the person. Always try to do this for resolution, but never let yourself become a victim in the situation. That only creates more karma to be made that has to eventually has to be worked out. 

Remember that karma is often very subtle, and your lower nature may undermine you when you go to resolve it because you may be attached to something about this situation.  Watch out for this when you do this work and be gentle and compassionate with yourself when you correct your behavior. 

Negative energy is a part of your community, your town, your state, and your country. Try to be aware if there is someone creating negative energy and is causing the harmony to be disrupted. In such a situation, the only thing you can do is to ask your Higher Self to help you send positive energy coming from your heart, around the room, or at any large gathering.  

Do your best to send good energy around those people nearest you.  Stay calm and linked with your Higher Self in any difficult situations. It gives you the ability to know the proper action to take. 

Relationships need to be positive,  otherwise, you live a life that is stressful and harmful. Do your best to surround yourself with people whom you love and who love you. Take care of yourself in all your surroundings. That will help you move forward spiritually.

This has been an excerpt from Nanette’s latest work – Higher Self Yoga: A Practical Guide. Read more about this exciting release here.