Tapas: The Heat of Transformation
Photo by Cullan Smith on Unsplash
I’m not talking about the delicious Spanish small bites version of Tapas – although I will talk about food later. The tapas I’m referring to comes from Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga. It is one of five niyamas, specifically, an internal observance.
The niyama tapas means inner fire, discipline, and committed effort. It is the heat required to transform oneself. It can also mean burning enthusiasm or having a fiery passion. It is the discipline of showing up.
How can our true potential and purpose manifest if we don't show up? If we don't put in balanced, committed effort? Tapas does not mean living the life of a lazy couch potato, scrolling endlessly. It also does not mean over-efforting, forcing, striving to the point of burnout.
If we consider a few things that are transformed by heat, our list would contain:
sand turning to glass
clay turning to ceramic
iron becoming malleable to shaping
All transformed by heat.
Popcorn is an accessible metaphor for tapas and transformation. In its raw form a popcorn kernel is inedible. Any attempt to chew a handful of unpopped kernels would yield a trip to the dentist. The kernel is hard, tightly bound. It's a morsel of potential, just waiting for its deliciousness to be released. A popcorn kernel needs assistance in transforming to put its potential out into the world for all to receive.
The assistance required is heat, tapas, and not just any heat. It needs to be the right amount of heat. Not enough and nothing happens. Too much and you know the outcome – burnt, smelly, terrible-tasting. Give it the right amount and it converts into an absolutely delicious snack.
With the help of a few friends, namely butter, salt – preferably truffle ;-) – and maybe a bit of Parmesan, it's sheer delight.
I love this metaphor for transformation because it contains parallels of our transformative process too. We are containers of pure potential, often tightly bound, each here for a divine reason and purpose. But we can't just sit around like a sack of couch potatoes hoping something will happen. Well maybe something will happen, we'll turn moldy and stinky. We have to move with intention, follow our path, put forth wise effort, discipline, practice, experience a few challenges, rough patches, aches, pains, and hurts, all of which provide the fires necessary for transformation.
We need our discipline and challenges dialed-in at the right doses. Not enough and we stay stagnant, too much and the potential for burn out rises. Either way our potential is unmet. However, when our discipline and challenges are dosed appropriately then the delicious gift that is uniquely ours to offer is available to share with the world.
There are more food + heat transformative metaphors. Think of that potato mentioned earlier. In its raw state it is hard and nasty tasting. It can even give you a bellyache. Cook it, it becomes soft. Whip it, it becomes creamy. Add a few friends into the mix: butter, salt, sour cream, and a feast is created.
Consider eggs. Raw, they are soft and runny. While some folks like ingesting them in that form, most prefer them cooked. Again, the heat of transformation, releasing the pure potential of the egg which is tastier firmed up a bit.
Heat offers the possibility of transformation. How we meet the heated moments matter. Pay attention. They may be your signal that a transformation is right around the corner.
In-joy the heat.