Over the last 4 years of teaching, I’ve talked to several people starting their yoga journey or maybe trying to get back into a regular practice. I see the excitement, the expectations, the hope. I see the good intentions, but then I often see it all slip quickly. Those expectations are thrown out the window and self sabotage begins. I’ve had conversations with people who were working on bettering themselves and their health and it’s made me sad to see them give up so quickly. Here are a few things I’ve noticed that have held them back, things I’m also guilty of. These things apply to ANY goal you set for yourself, not just in yoga or health.
- Thinking TOO BIG and taking on TOO MUCH at one time. It’s easy to become overwhelmed quickly when setting a goal and looking at the big picture. That leads to giving up, often before you really got started. I suggest breaking a goal down into small, achievable steps and only focusing on one step at a time. Take it one day at a time. All you’ve gotta do is put one foot in front of the other and eventually you will reach your destination!
- Using the same old tactics. As Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” If you hit a roadblock in your path toward a goal, take a good, hard look at what’s wrong or not working with your tactic. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF! Then make the necessary changes. And don’t be afraid to try something totally new!
- Not being prepared to get outside your comfort zone. Any good goal you set is going to cause personal growth and the only real way to grow is to step outside your limits. Doing things that are different from your norm, require a new skill set, or cause you to be vulnerable are all things you’re needing to experience in order to reach your goals.
And, you can be sure, the path to your goals will be littered with scrutiny, criticism, insecurity, and self doubt. There will be hills and valleys, but eventually the hard work pays off. You will look back with pride at your accomplishments, and it’s a great feeling to see how far you’ve come and how much you’ve grown! Be patient with the process.
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