RAMAKRISHNA ANANDA

What Drives You?

How do we satisfy the five drives which propel us?

We humans have five powerful drives which motivate our behavior. We need to fulfill each of these drives in order to experience lasting fulfillment. As we become more aware of them in ourself and others, we enjoy healthier, happier relationships. Explore yoga practices which lead to attuning with these five drives and living a more successful, fulfilled life.

All Yogas

The Drive to Control

We have a drive within us to control, a natural instinct to dominate what others think, feel and do. If given free reign, we can get into trouble because other people also seek to dominate. This causes resentments, arguments, and an end to relationships.

When you become aware of the drive to dominate others, dominate yourself instead. Allow this drive to become a drive for self-discipline, a drive to be a better person, a drive to achieve. Use it as a powerful motivator to better yourself, your life and the way you treat others. This problem drive can become a great asset when you direct it toward yourself.

To be continuous: we want to go on and on; we don’t want to be stopped
To know for yourself: we want to know and experience things for ourselves
Unalloyed joy: we want joy that is clear, pure and free, a joy with no sting

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Independence: we want to feel free, without bounds or obligations to anyone
To dominate others: we often wish to control people, situations and results. (Yogis seek to turn this problematic drive inward, into self-discipline and service.)

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