The Feedback Loop: Practicing the Opposite

Yoga Sūtra 2.33 – vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam
“When disturbed by negative thoughts, cultivate their opposites.”

There’s something strange about the times we’re living in.

Somewhere along the way, we began to believe that every fleeting emotion deserves an audience. That every thought must be spoken. That every discomfort demands a reaction—and ideally, a broadcasted one. If we don’t comment, critique, or offer “feedback,” are we even paying attention?

We’ve become trapped in a loop.
A loop of commentary.
Of constant judgment.
Of reacting, scrolling, comparing, posting—on repeat.

As if the sacred act of simply being isn’t enough.

The Chatter of the Mind

In yogic philosophy, this inner turbulence is known as chitta—the restless, commentating mind. It’s the part of us that builds mental arguments, judges silently, scrolls endlessly, and subtly feeds our suffering.

Patañjali, in his distilled brilliance, names this mental agitation as vitarka—destructive, disturbing thoughts. And in Sūtra 2.33, he gives us a powerful remedy:

“vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam”
When disturbed by negative thoughts, think the opposite.

Simple? Yes.
Easy? Not exactly.

Choosing the Opposite

To practice pratipakṣa-bhāvanam is to interrupt the cycle.
To pause.
To witness the reaction forming—and choose a different way.

It looks like:

• Replacing complaint with curiosity.

• Swapping judgment for compassion.

• Meeting opinion with observation.

• Choosing silence over noise.

• Turning reaction into response.
  

This isn’t spiritual bypassing. It’s spiritual bravery.
It doesn’t mean ignoring injustice or silencing truth.
It means asking: am I contributing to the noise, or to the healing?

Yoga Is Not a Feedback Form

Yoga isn’t about ratings. It’s not an app, a review, or a comment section.
It’s a practice of presence.

Of response-ability—the ability to respond with awareness rather than ego.

Sometimes, the most powerful response is sacred silence.

So the next time you feel the urge to react—to roll your eyes, hit send, or share that sharp comment disguised as “just being honest”—pause.

Take a breath.

Let the moment pass through you, rather than from you.

Let the Practice Be Enough

Yoga Sūtra 2.33 invites us to build something radical: peace—as a practice, not a personality trait.

Each time we choose the opposite of agitation, each time we lean into stillness instead of noise, we’re brushing dust from the temple floor.

We’re tending the flame rather than fanning the fire.

We’re building something quietly holy.

So today, let’s practice pratipakṣa-bhāvanam:

Let your breath be your feedback.
Let your mat be your offering.
Let your silence speak volumes.

Let’s begin.

Inspiration:

Listen: The Mel Robbins Podcast - The Power of a Pause (7 Minute Episode)

Read: The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle