The Power in the Word “Yet”
Yoga has taught me so much about myself. I have accomplished things that I never dreamed possible. And it has shown me that I am damn strong – physically and mentally. But as strong as it has made me, I am just as fallible to comparison and insecurity. Seeing a beautiful, deep Scorpion pose makes me yearn for the day that I can one day accomplish such a feat with ease and grace. And a tiny voice in my head (which I am sure we are all familiar with at times) says: “I wish I could do that”, “I wish I was that strong”, “I wish I looked like that”.
You simply haven’t done it yet.
But instead of accepting defeat, I encourage you to change your perspective. Whenever you feel small and unable, whenever you are feeling down on yourself, remind yourself how far you’ve come. Remind yourself of the sweet, rewarding journey ahead. Remind yourself that you simply can’t do it yet.
Yet is a small, powerful word (just like me!). It encompasses the blood, sweat, and tears to come. The incremental steps of progress to eventually reaching your goal. And the steps that come ever afterward. The journey never ends. And nor should it!
“Acknowledging your goal and the progress ahead is one thing. But to make it a reality you must put forth a plan of action.”
How are you going to do it?
Acknowledging your goal and the progress ahead is one thing. But to make it a reality you must put forth a plan of action. How are you going to get there? This applies to anything from it’s getting into an advanced asana or reaching a certain career goal.
Let’s take the example of getting into scorpion pose. You would start by building up strength and mobility in the targeted muscle groups of the pose. Then move onto related poses like forearm stand, handstand, etc. Make use of props to aid you such as blocks and a wall. And then when all those steps are in place, you would try your hand at Scorpion. You might not get it on the first try, or the second, or even the third, but with time, effort, and a whole lot of patience one day you’ll surprise yourself and come into that beautiful Scorpion you’d been working so hard for.
What comes after?
Once you’ve made it your yet, then what? As yoga practitioners we know that there is always something else to learn, to push for, to meditate on. Changing your outlook is integral to growth, and this belief in yourself and you capability will translate into tangible results.
So wherever you are in your journey, savor it and give yourself lots of love. It took guts and dedication to make it there, and it will take more guts and dedication to wear you want to go. And the next time you find doubts creeping in, stop and remind yourself that you will continue to put one foot in front of the other. That momentum will build and keep building, faster and faster, until you are unstoppable.
