I Wish . . .

I hear and read these words often. In fact, until I was conscious about it, I used to say them as well. I wish: I could do what she does, I had her legs, I could do that pose, etc. Somewhere in the last year I read some thoughts on this that resonated. The main concept that I took from it is this: when we wish for what others have, or do, we discount what we have and what we are doing.

I no longer wish for another person’s practice, or attributes about them. Instead, I am working on creating goals for myself and working with what my body wants and needs. My focus has shifted where I am grateful for all that my body does, and for what I do well overall. Switching to gratitude from envy has made a difference in my life. That doesn’t mean that I am not working on progress. It just means that I’m tailoring it for my life, and improving where I can and truly want to.

What do I want to change? In my practice I have two big goals I am aware of as I practice. I would like to do the splits, or deepen my flexibility in that area, and I want to have more stability in my handstands and headstands. Since I don’t have unlimited time each day, and I don’t think it would be healthy for my body, I don’t focus all my practice on these two goals. I actively work on them, but I also work on all my foundational poses. I pay attention to smaller movements instead of trying to do the pose “big” each time. Am I activating the muscles I should? Am I releasing and allowing other places to open up? Am I actively breathing?

I celebrate what I do well each day. When I celebrate what I do well I am recognizing what went right. It doesn’t mean that I’m not conscious of where I need to improve, but I respond better when I have some positive feedback. Do you celebrate your accomplishments, or do you berate yourself for where you fell short?

Am I working with my body or against it? I rarely find true progress come when I try to force my body into a pose. In fact, that is usually when it kicks back and I sustain a small, or large, injury. Thankfully I am getting better about listening. When I listen to what is working well that day, or that session, it usually responds so much better. I have found that I progress so much quicker this way as well.

Are my goals realistic? This has become a big question in my practice, but also in my life. What I keep coming back to is am I willing to put the work in to reach that goal? When I am honest with myself at least a third of the time the answer is no. I am able to adjust my goal at that point to one that I am willing to put the work in for, and I reach those goals.

I am so grateful for how my body moves and functions. Even when something isn’t working as well as I would like there are a myriad of things that are still functioning or moving amazingly well. When I really want something instead of wistfully uttering “I wish . . .” I am making the goal and doing the work to make it a reality in my practice and life. Along the journey I am grateful for everything about how my body and life are functioning. I continue to celebrate what I do well. What will you do? Will you wish, or will you do?

Smiles and light,

Susan

Photo by: Cynthia Fuller

‹ From Self-Destruction to Self-Discovery, My Journey to Finding the Mat

Tagged with: beginning yoga, celebrate, change, daily yoga, do, goals, gratitude, lessons, living yoga, wish, yoga every damn day, yoga on and off the mat, yoga practice
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