I fell attempting a new pose this week. I actually didn’t just fall, I fell on my face. In a crowded gym. In front of people I was convinced were paying attention.
I have always struggled with struggling. I want to be good at whatever I attempt, immediately. It doesn’t matter if it’s something I’ve never tried before, I just expect myself to be good at it. Sometimes when I’m not, it’s really tough not to just write it off as I can’t do such-and-such and leave it at that. Not an expert immediately? It’s dead to me.
But I know there is growth in the process, and for most things, I can improve, even if I never get to expert level. (Boo.) So I try new things. I attempt a new recipe. I agree to give a public presentation. I go for a new yoga pose in a gym full people.
And I fall.
Sure, it hurt my face, but it bruised my ego more. I tried to do that thing adults do when they’ve hurt themselves and they want to pretend it’s all fine and probably won’t even leave a mark and yes you do like Jessica’s leggings and you too wonder where she got them. I got up and did a couple sun salutations and got into a modification of the pose I was attempting. I set my gaze and focused on my breath. And as I was holding baby grasshopper instead of the full-on grasshopper, one of the gym-goers walked by and said, “I wish I could do that!”
Progress not perfection. Don’t be so afraid to fall, that you don’t even try. Bruises are cool and modifications are awesome and strangers can be encouraging. Aim for the jump you don’t know if you’ll land. Falling isn’t the end; it’s just part of the journey.
Sometimes you learn more from the fall than you would have ever learned without it. As you have just demonstrated. Now perfect that pose.
thanks – I’m not giving up on it!
Perfect is good enough, that is the phrase I was raised on and it does tend to lead to a lot of perfection. It does not, however, lead to trying new things until you do deem yourself an expert or close to it. I know that kind of thinking has prevented me from trying many a thing many times! I may still be working at it, but I love the article. It says what I believe, and try to follow, and still have to remember to try even if it is uncomfortable. Thanks
Love the comment, thanks!