My Top 3 Lost my Yoga, Want it Back Scenarios
1. moments with my family
love ’em–but they do know how to push those buttons–and I’m super sensitive
2. when I realized I’m head over heels
does he feel the same? am I risking too much?
3. hosting dinner at my apartment
the food is bland, I forgot the napkins, and everyone can see the mess in the kitchen
Do you have these moments? The times when all your knowledge, all your intention, and all your intuitive truth seems to fly away? One moment I’m calm and strong, powerful and peaceful–and the next I’m so far from grounded I may as well be a satellite.
In these times, it’s like my mind goes haywire. The worry/planning/thought train has left the station and is forging full steam ahead, captain. Only there is no captain. There’s just me, clinging on and trying to apply the brakes.
Yes. I know a million and one techniques for dropping out of your head (my Joy Yoga Stress Busters workshops are full of them). I know the mind is a tool and thoughts are just that–just thoughts. But sometimes I just can’t do it. I can’t get back into my heart centre. I can’t get back into my yoga: My space of union with my essential self. Sometimes, I can’t apply the brakes.
Here’s the biggest challenge in these moments: Self acceptance. Insecurity towers overhead. My mind hangs onto statements like, “Maybe I really should wear my hair up more often.” “Oh no, I’ve just left my heart on my sleeve, and I don’t know if he’s going to do the same.” “I suck as a hostess, and everyone can tell.”
Here’s what I’ve learned from writing about all of this: Accepting that sometimes we lose our self-acceptance is part of the practice. Self-doubt is gonna happen. It’s gonna suck. Feel it. Don’t fight it. Let it rise up and be heard. And then, it’ll probably be a whole lot easier to send it on it’s way.
1. moments with my family
love ’em–but they do know how to push those buttons–and I’m super sensitive
2. when I realized I’m head over heels
does he feel the same? am I risking too much?
3. hosting dinner at my apartment
the food is bland, I forgot the napkins, and everyone can see the mess in the kitchen
Do you have these moments? The times when all your knowledge, all your intention, and all your intuitive truth seems to fly away? One moment I’m calm and strong, powerful and peaceful–and the next I’m so far from grounded I may as well be a satellite.
In these times, it’s like my mind goes haywire. The worry/planning/thought train has left the station and is forging full steam ahead, captain. Only there is no captain. There’s just me, clinging on and trying to apply the brakes.
Yes. I know a million and one techniques for dropping out of your head (my Joy Yoga Stress Busters workshops are full of them). I know the mind is a tool and thoughts are just that–just thoughts. But sometimes I just can’t do it. I can’t get back into my heart centre. I can’t get back into my yoga: My space of union with my essential self. Sometimes, I can’t apply the brakes.
Here’s the biggest challenge in these moments: Self acceptance. Insecurity towers overhead. My mind hangs onto statements like, “Maybe I really should wear my hair up more often.” “Oh no, I’ve just left my heart on my sleeve, and I don’t know if he’s going to do the same.” “I suck as a hostess, and everyone can tell.”
Here’s what I’ve learned from writing about all of this: Accepting that sometimes we lose our self-acceptance is part of the practice. Self-doubt is gonna happen. It’s gonna suck. Feel it. Don’t fight it. Let it rise up and be heard. And then, it’ll probably be a whole lot easier to send it on it’s way.
2 Comments
Yes, this sounds familiar. When I feel this way, I just try to follow the advice of the ancient Yoga sages and just calmly step outside and become a non-judgmental "Witness" to whatever's going on in my head. This actually seems to work better and better the more one practices it. You're still feeling all the pain or discomfort or whatever, but at the same time, you're rising above it, like you've turned into your very best non-judgmental friend calmly looking in from the outside.Bob Weisenberg
Lindsey, great post and nice reminder.