A BAG OF POSSIBILITIES

OR THE ART OF LETTING GO

I have been carrying my bag of possibilities for a quite some years. Living an

urban life where I don’t need a car, this bag accompanies me on all my outings. I

guess this habit started when I was living in HongKong. From the day I landed I

made it a point to explore this new territory daily; I would leave the apartment in

the morning to go out and discover the richness of this city. In my bag one could

find a book, a notebook, a camera, some pens, headphones, sunscreen, a bottle

of water, and a few other essential trinkets. During my excursions I had all I

needed to either sit in a cafe and read a book, walk in nature and make photos,

relax, listen to a podcast, enjoy the beautiful vistas…

Over the past ten years my bag of possibilities has been my faithful companion,

always ready when inspiration strikes. On the one hand it is very convenient, on

the other hand the bag has grown exponentially…

I have a hard time choosing:

which book to take: fiction, yoga philosophy, biography, poetry…

which notebook: the one for inspiration, the other to plan my classes…

which pen: a pencil or one of the myriads of coloured pens I have…

Sometimes I take it all with me, just in case, because you never know !

This all adds up and the “just in case”gets pretty heavy. And off course I only use

a fraction of the treasures I schlepp around.

Beyond the physical strain on my shoulders, back, and posture (something my

osteopath would certainly agree with) the question I am asking myself today is

why I carry this bag of possibilities: Why do I choose to carry around so much?

Why can’t I bring less? Is it based on fear? The fear of lack, the anxiety of missing

out? The need to stay in control and be ready for all the things that could come

my way? I wonder.

I feel an urge to simplify, get lighter, trust and let go.

What if I only took one pen & one notebook, or just a book?

What if I went light and trusted that what I needed would be provided when I

needed it? Maybe this felt limitation would actually unleash my creativity and

empower me.

Sometimes having too much choice can be paralysing; instead of reassuring me,it becomes overwhelming—too much to carry around, both symbolically and

literally.

So today I decided to go light: I only took a little notebook and one pen and told

myself that I had enough, that I AM enough, that I am supported and don’t need

to overload myself. And guess what? I was perfectly fine. I found a great place to

sit and enjoy a tea while writing this text, just like that!

SIMPLIFY is my word for today, and I am starting to implement it more into my life:

Simplify to amplify!

Looking at it from a yogic perspective, simplifying and letting go can help us

deepen our connection to ourselves and our practice.

Simplifying involves removing the unnecessary to focus on what truly matters—

both physically and mentally. It means to create space in order to cultivate

clarity. In our practice, this might mean going back to the basics and choosing a

sequence with fewer postures, going deeper with our intent and presence.

Letting go or aparigraha (one of the yamas in the Eight Limbs of Yoga) teaches us

to release attachments and expectations. We are invited to trust the present

moment and to surrender our need for control. By letting go of possessions, rigid

routines, and even preconceived notions of our practice, we make room for

growth, spontaneity, and authentic experiences. We give ourselves more

possibilities by letting go.

Together, these principles guide us towards a more mindful and intentional way

of living. By embracing simplicity, we reduce distractions and enhance our ability

to focus on the present. Letting go allows us to release burdens that weigh us

down, and inviting more freedom and lightness. In both our yoga practice and

daily life, simplifying and letting go empower us to live more fully and

authentically, in harmony with ourselves and the world around us.