“You drown not by falling into water, but by staying submerged.” – Paulo Coelho
In life, as in yoga, the greatest challenges often come not from the obstacles themselves, but from how we handle them. Consider the emotional and mental chaos that sets in when you, for example, learn there will be layoffs at the office. Our brain instantly turns into a beehive of FEAR!
Here's a perfect example. My chihuahua is old. I'm not sure how old, exactly, but old. She's probably the cousin of an original Tibetan guard that did security detail for Tibetan palaces 1,000 years ago. She's that old. Well, the other night she fell off the bed, again. My sweet little bean weighs less than two pounds and is as fragile as a snowflake. In the time it took me to fly out of bed and run to her rescue (easily two or three seconds, given that it's my side of the bed she was sleeping on, as was I), my mind told me she'd broken her hip and probably a few ribs. My brain warned that I'll have to call the EMERGENCY VET [💲💲💲💲] for help, which will be insanely expensive, especially for a dog who's probably 80 years old. Plus, how will I even pick her up and put her in the car! But, if I wait until morning, she'll be in agony and the situation will be even worse. Crap! did I get that VISA issue sorted out, yet? I'm going to need it. How much is mobile euthanasia, anyway, cause that's something I'll have to start "coping with" before it even happens.
That's a lot of mileage to cover in 2 or 3 seconds. Maybe it's just me and I'm oversharing on the lunacy of my brain at times. Somehow, I don't think so.
Paulo Coelho’s insightful quote reminds us that it’s not the initial setbacks that hinder our progress, but rather the CHOICE to remain stuck, to wallow.
In yoga practice, we encounter various poses that challenge our body's routine movements. Postures may seem intimidating or difficult, or maybe it's a pose we did years ago but that's not in the cards these days. It’s easy to get frustrated when we fall out of Tree Pose, after countless years of practise! But the real growth happens not in the fall, but in how we stand up. Can you lose your balance and laugh at yourself, or do you take most things too seriously? If we allow ourselves to get discouraged and give up, we remain stagnant. But, if we choose to reset, take a breath, adjust, and try again, we rise above our initial challenges and become stronger than we were before.
This philosophy applies to every facet of our life. When we face personal or professional difficulties, it's crucial to remember that feeling overwhelmed is natural, but staying in that place of struggle is what limits us. Just like in yoga, where persistence and adaptation help us advance, facing life’s hurdles with resilience and a positive mindset allows us to overcome them and grow stronger.
If you find yourself submerged by challenges, take a moment to pause and reflect. Breathe deeply, reassess, and choose to move forward. Just as every yoga practice is a step towards better balance and strength, every effort you make to rise above your difficulties brings you closer to your true potential.
Embrace your struggles as opportunities for growth. Remember, it’s not the falling that keeps us from moving forward, but the DECISION to remain stuck. So, keep stepping on your mat, keep sitting for moments of stillness, keep breathing deep, keep moving often. Keep practising. Let every challenge be a stepping stone towards your stronger, more confident self and the inevitably brighter future.
Stay inspired and resilient,
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