Image credit Melanie Van Kuyk
I sat up straight, both legs straddling my yoga mat as the heat began to build in my hips and thighs.
Ever so slowly I began to ease forward as I allowed my breath to guide me.
I momentarily glanced at the girl beside me. She had her head on the floor.
A rush of competitiveness washed over me and I proceeded to force my head toward the floor.
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 my mat.
“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 didn’t matter.
I had made progress and that was my goal.
When we don’t have our own measurement of success we are at risk of comparing our life to the lives of others.
We can become caught up in the worry of how we compare, if we are doing it right and what people think of us.
Your journey is yours alone.
Measure your success against your own dreams, intentions, wishes and goals.
Continue to ease forward and celebrate your progress.
Remember what matters to you is what matters most.
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