I’ve noticed recently that there are two very distinct ways of looking at life:
1. Seeing an obstacle, deciding to view it as a challenge, hunkering down and bull-dozing your way through it or,
2. Seeing an obstacle, backing off, observing it from a distance, and coming at it another way.
I generally choose the latter, being somewhat challenged by any form of confrontation, especially one that involves me pretending to be a bulldozer.
This little life lesson was brought to me as many are, through my (now) daily practice of yoga.
I was always told by my teacher that the moment you begin to lose the integrity of the pose e.g. you start cutting corners, getting sloppy or lazy or collapsing in on yourself, come out of it with grace, come back to the breath, and try again later, or tomorrow, or learn a different variation of the pose to prepare you better for it.
Not only does losing the integrity of the pose vastly increase your risk of injury, but it puts you straight into an ego mindset. Immediately, the pose stops being about the breath and oneness between your body, mind and the Universe, and starts becoming a battle of wills between your mind and your body (and possibly whoever is in the front of the class doing a kick-ass arm balance).
I see massive similarities here between my practice and my life. So often when we lose the integrity of our practice in the course of day to day life. We forget our sense of self, what makes us joyful, what makes us kind to ourselves and others and ultimately, our ‘Why’.
Instead we get caught up in the ego. We slip into the mindset of pushing through, making it over the hurdle, ‘weathering the storm’ and persevering.
There is a fine line between facing our fears with grace and integrity and bulldozing our way through them. The latter avoids them just as effectively as completely sticking our heads in the stand.
Go slow; look at your fears and challenges from all angles. Acknowledge where your body and mind is today. Be honest if you’re desperate to push through because you can’t bear to sit with the uncomfortableness a moment longer.
Pause.
Come back to the breath.
The problem will be there tomorrow.
Take your steps forward carefully, deliberately and with integrity – for yourself and those around you. Face your fears with grace, and the path will be made accessible for you.
