There’s a misconception that stealing refers to taking only material things (or opportunities that may lead to material success)—i.e. taking things like money, objects, and other possessions that don’t belong to you. This leads us into our discussion on Asteya, which is the third Yama (ethical restraint) presented in the eightfold path of yoga (as described by Patanjali’s Yoga sutras). In this philosophy, Asteya challenges us to expand our understanding of what it actually means to steal.

We can steal in more subtle ways. We steal time—from ourselves and others—by overcommitting (saying yes when we really mean no), by rushing (taking more than our time allows), by endlessly scrolling through our phones (stealing our minds away from the present moment), grasping for distraction. We steal energy when we take without giving, when we drain relationships, when we don’t set boundaries and let the world pull us in one thousand different directions. And perhaps what is the most painful, we steal from ourselves—from our own well-being, from our sense of peace, and from our ability to enjoy the present moment for what it is.

And when we act in this way towards ourselves, inevitably we are treating others the same, expecting everyone to operate from a space of lacking, striving, competing, and always wanting more…

The Subtle Ways We Steal

I’ve noticed (recently and over the past several years) how I steal from myself in some of the seemingly simplest ways.

Whenever I decide to reach for my phone in the morning to click mindlessly, I take something precious: my time and my presence. It’s not just about the minutes lost, but the quality of those moments. How I begin my day sets the tone for everything that follows. And when I’m more conscious and instead choose to GIVE to myself, rather than steal, I feel the vibration of the day already operating on a higher level.

What about rest? That is never a waste of time. But how often do we steal from ourselves by denying rest? By believing that productivity is the only measure of our worth? I used to think I needed to do something extraordinary to justify my existence. To be worthy of telling a story. But that belief only led me further from myself and from the life unfolding right in front of me. It led me to make decisions I otherwise would not have. It led to seeking validation from others rather than true purpose. And ultimately, it had led me to spending years running toward a life of exhaustion, burning the candle from both ends.

Even in my own home, I see how I rob myself of comfort and joy. When I get in cycles of neglecting small acts of care—letting the dishes pile up, putting off tidying, ignoring what would bring me ease. And yet, when I dust, when I clear space, when I mop the bathroom floors, when I light an incense and simply sit on the floor with my pets, enjoying my surroundings, I realize: there is nowhere else I’d rather be.

The Root of Stealing: A Scarcity Mindset

At the core of stealing is the belief that we don’t have enough. Or worse, that we aren’t enough.

Consumer culture, hustle culture, media—it all tells us to grasp for more. More things, more achievements, more validation. We are being overstimulated and conditioned to chase the next thing, forever reaching our arms out—fingers wide—trying to get a hold of what we think is the ultimate finish line of desire, yet never feeling fully satisfied. But what happens when we step off this track? What happens when we decide that what we have (and who we are) is already enough? We can soften our arms, relax our hands, take a deep sigh out and finally just breathe.

For me, slowing down and embracing simplicity have been powerful ways to break this cycle. There was a time when I felt like I had to live an exciting, chaotic, “wild” life just to be interesting. I stole from my own stability in pursuit of stories worth telling. And for what? To be seen? To be validated?

Life is not about proving anything. Life is about being present for what already is and aligning our actions with a deeper purpose—beyond needing more and more about already having all we need to achieve whatever each of our unique, individual purposes may be.

Practicing Asteya in Daily Life

So how can we practice Asteya—non-stealing—in our everyday lives?

Be Present: Every time we multitask, zone out, or distract ourselves, we steal from the moment. What would happen if we truly paid attention to where we are?
Honor Rest: Stop stealing from your own well-being. Rest is not indulgent. It is necessary.
Practice Gratitude: The opposite of stealing is receiving. What would shift if we focused on what we already have rather than what we lack?
Mindful Movement & Breath: Yoga and meditation remind us to take only what we need—to breathe in fully, to exhale fully, to trust that this moment is enough.

Reflection: A Journal Prompt for You

Take some time to reflect on this question (journalling on this for 15 or so minutes is what blossomed into this blog post):

In what ways do I steal from myself? From my time, my energy, my well-being?

Notice whatever comes up. Not with judgment, but with curiosity. Awareness is the first step towards change.

Closing Thoughts

Asteya is a practice, just like anything else (in life and in yoga). It’s a daily invitation to step away from scarcity and grasping into abundance and sufficiency. It asks us to trust that we are enough, that this moment is enough, that we don’t need to take more than what is already freely given.

Open yourself up to receiving the moment as it is.

Open yourself up to each deep breath in.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to take the time to practice the following meditation:

Meditation: Acceptance, Contentment & Breath Awareness

p.s. If you haven’t already, check out my previous posts on Satya (Truthfulness) and Ahimsa (Non-Harming)—two other powerful Yamas that weave beautifully into this practice of Asteya.

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