The Alchemy of Transformation and the Art of Vulnerability
Over the weekend I went to a workshop titled the ‘Alchemy of Transformation’ with Max Strom who pointed out that humans tend to do things we prefer to do versus what we need to do.
I see this a lot in my high-achieving clients who are on the go most of the time, and who end up choosing self-care activities that keep them in hustle mode. Most of them will laugh (some will even roll their eyes!) when I ask when was the last time they went for a slow walk, meditated, or did a low-impact ride on their peloton. They answered, “Why would I ever do that?”
In a world where strength and grind are the epitome of success, the quality of a workout can only be measured by the number of calories we burn, how much sweat is dripping off our body, and if we went balls to the wall for the entire workout.
It can feel unbelievably exposed to stepping outside of our comfort zone and plunge into a world of things we know nothing or very little about. This brings us to a discussion of balance and flows something that we all desperately need and even desire, but something that most of us shy away from.
Being abeginner makes most of us feel vulnerable, mainly because as high-performers, perfectionism runs through our veins.
So, how do vulnerability and starting that new yoga journey that has been haunting your daydreams for years now, intersect? Very often, the answer is fear. It is commonly the fear of getting it wrong or failing altogether. It’s the fear of falling on our asses in a studio full of younger and bendier yogis who have the whole breathing and contorting thing down-pat, that halts us on our mats.
If we can withstand the vulnerability and face up to failure to master being a beginner then we can start to put in the reps to become stronger and more capable of these tasks. Unfortunately, many of us are unwilling to get acquainted with being uncomfortable and start embracing the newbie status. Alas, we remain out of balance.
Failure is something we need to get very cozy with if we want to grow and being a beginner is all about growth, baby.
Now, I ask you, where are YOU out of balance? Where have you been unwilling to be a beginner even when you knew it would be good for you? Is it in being still? Being in your body? In nature? In spirituality?
Go there, even for a short time, embrace the vulnerability, embrace the beginners' mindset, and you will find yourself on this theoretical yoga mat in a completely balanced asana.
If you are ready to stop going from one thing to the next and missing out on the present moment, I invite you to schedule a connection call with me. Don’t let fears hold you back from reaching your goals!
Have a great weekend!
Melanie
