I sat up straight, both legs now straddling my yoga mat, the heat building in my hips and thighs.
Ever so slowly I began to reach forward.
I noticed the girl beside me had her head on the floor. I was disappointed with my effort.
Just as I began surging forward I heard these magical words.
“Don’t force it, you will go further if you release into it”.
Could my teacher see I was about to ram my chest toward the mat with force.
“Let go of any attachment to getting your head on the floor.”
I wanted my head on the floor, does she read minds??
“Breathe into it”.
Oh wow, I am gasping, what happened to my slow controlled breath?
I closed my eyes, returning to my journey, to my mat, while booting my ego out the back door.
I focussed on my breath, feeling the searing pain and releasing myself gradually into the discomfort.
I reached further than ever before.
Was my head on the mat? No, and it did not matter. I had gone beyond where I had been before.
We are at our most effective in life when we focus on ourselves, avoiding the temptation to compare another persons journey to our own.
Stretching gently and firmly as we ease through our discomfort to places we have never been before.
Are you stretching beyond your own boundaries or caught comparing yourself with the achievements of those around you?
This is your one great life, Live it Fabulously.
So wonderful I can’t even find the words.
I needed this, ya know? To apply to so many aspects of my life.
Tamara, I love that you needed it and found it. You are amazing, I do hope ya know.
Oh, do I ever know that comparison whisper, the one that urges me past the point of my own health or even in a direction that I don’t want to travel. Just yesterday in yoga class, I found myself doing this, comparing my own abilities with someone who has decades more experience than I do. The funny thing is that someone else in class commented about one of my poses, as though she were comparing herself to me! How funny that it all comes full circle. Now, perhaps I’ll just bow out of that circle dance and do my own thing.
Harmony I am out of the dance too, happy to say my journey was all my own again yesterday. Now to maintain the same discipline in other areas of my life.
“I had gone beyond where I had been before”….love that….and knowing that it doesn’t matter how MUCH further I have gone, just that I have. PRICELESS!
Thanks Debbie. That’s what it is all about stretching ourselves not beating the masses.
Why haven’t I been popping by to visit lately? Or have I? Seems like a long time. Anywho, I found myself comparing my self just yesterday to a gal at Zumba. She is so fluid with her movements. That got me uptight and more rigid. Silly, silly, silly. Thanks Karen.
Kelly I so love that you do Zumba, and I have missed out visits lately. Welcome my dear friend.
I’ve found that the comparison monster has a way to sneak up on me when I least expect it. Half of the time, I find myself putting myself in a situation that makes me compare my journey with others.
It’s so hard to stay focused, but when I feel that monster creeping up on me, I disconnect to refocus.
Much like what you did when you closed your eyes to focus on your own journey.
Kalley, closing my eyes made all the difference. I found myself deep within and rejoiced as I felt my body shift that teensy bit further. Closing my eyes when the comparison monster sneaks in does tend to short circuit the comparison trap.
Wonderful lesson. Thank you for sharing it. I need to have surgery soon, but after that I was thinking of taking up yoga. Now you’ve got me definitely leaning that way.
Love this line: “This is your one great life, Live it Fabulously.” I’m going to try to remember that.
Happy Sharefest. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
I hope your surgery goes well and I would listen to that little voice nudging you toward yoga. It is a wonderful practice and offers insights beyond the physical.
I love this post! SO happy I found it through the SITS Saturday Sharefest. This is an important lesson to learn: “We are at our most effective in life when we focus on ourselves, avoiding the temptation to compare another persons journey to our own,” yet the lesson sinks in so much more with the practical example accompanying it. I absolutely love it when people can take an everyday experience and draw a life lesson from it (perhaps I appreciate this so much because it’s something I struggle to do on my own). So thank you for sharing your experience and the lesson learned!
Ashleigh I truly love to share the little insights I discover threaded in to my day. I love even more when my words are useful to others who share my struggles. Thrilled you found me too.
I love this post because it is so true. When you’re focused on what others are accomplishing, we try to “keep up” rather than enjoying our own progress and being proud of ourselves for exploring our own boundaries. I find this so true when I do slow YIN yoga. The poses are excruciatingly uncomfortable but it also teaches you to breathe into the pose and center yourself. I love your post!
Lizzie, how good is that feeling in the middle of a post when despite the pain you feel, you find yourself easing down into it. So applicable to life as well.
Fabulous post! Stretching ourselves and growing is the best feeling ever. You will go places you’ve never imagined.
Stopping by from SITS.
Oh Julie your comment has my heart all a flutter. Thank you
This is so true. But I can relate. Often my brain is silently comparing, and then I am discouraged and down on myself. I need to focus on my own progress and not care or compare to anyone else’s. Such an easy thing to say, yet so much harder to do! Thanks for a great post! I love the literary feel of it: a simple short story that connects.
Elizabeth I have been using a little mantra this week, “Stay on your own mat” whenever I find myself doing the comparison thing. It reminds me of this moment and the journey that is all my own. I would love you to share my mantra if it helps.
“Don’t force it, you will go further if you release into it”.
Your words speak to me on so many different levels. Thank you!
Visiting from SITS
Barbara force may take us forward quickly, it is through ease and release that we will truly reach our full potential. Thrilled you enjoyed it.
Hi! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading your blog posts. Can you recommend any other Fashion Write For Us blogs that go over the same topics? Thanks a ton!