Who would have thought that the Orange County Fair would be the source of a rich life lesson? Anyone who has ever been to a county fair knows they make for a wonderful sociological character study, so why not a life lesson?

My visit to the OC Fair did have its moments. Mostly, though, I was in overwhelm. I spend the majority of my time teaching yoga, which, for the most part, is in a mellow environment. The Fair is a 180 degrees apart for my norm. It was as if someone had turned all the sensory dials up to 100. I had difficulty thinking straight and getting my bearings.

We're infatuated with the senses, and the Fair is a feast for them all: the crowds, loud music, screaming people, fat and sugar filled fair food, flashing lights, bright colors, topped by tons of BBQ smoke. Every sort of distraction was available. Since we love our senses so much, we tend to treat them like spoiled children, giving them whatever they want. Keep in mind, however, that what might be pleasurable to the senses may not be pleasurable to the body. Take too much fair food for example; your body will at some point rebel. Just watching the rides made me dizzy.  

Life is like the fair. It can be fun at times, and overwhelming at others. With a plethora of sensory input, life, too, has the ability to distract us from our spiritual purpose, and leave us feeling off kilter. It's hard to see things objectively when in the midst of life situations. Learning to dial down the stimulation level makes it a lot easier to handle these situations when they arise. 

One way is by becoming the Observer. Being the Observer allows us to step outside of our lives for a moment in order to gain perspective, like walking around the outskirts of the fair. By decreasing external sensory input, we increase our inner guidance system. Our travels through life are then much smoother and easier.

Suggestions for when you're in overwhelm:

1. Remove yourself from the situation, if possible.
2. If not, learn to go within. Find a quiet spot, shut out as much external stimulation as possible: sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch.  
3. Can you notice a difference in your energy when in the midst of a situation, and when you step outside it? What perspective do you gain?
4. If you're in the experience of overwhelm, rather than resist it, can you do the opposite and experience it fully? Can you slow down and take it all in, and then allow it to pass through you?
5. Can you remain the Observer attached to no specific outcome?

A county fair can be a fun time to indulge the senses and give us a different perspective on life. Just keep in mind that it's good to step outside of all the activity at times to gain perspective.  By learning to become the Observer of your life, you'll be able to step outside and look within.