"Do one thing every day that scares you" ...they say
When Eleanor Roosevelt said these words she didn't mean for you to literally jump off a cliff but rather to jump out of your comfort zone.
I believe one of the biggest fears for humans is rejection, its not only uncomfortable but a real cliff for many of us.
Have you ever refrained from doing or asking for something fearing rejection? Or worse getting mad at the thought of the rejection when it hasn’t even happened?
When you have been rejected or told you don’t fit and you’re feelings have been hurt is easier to hold resentment than to forgive, but when you chose resentment a piece of you dies every minute, it becomes that cliff. For the longest time, poisoned by grief and ego, I refrained from doing or asking for something I wanted fearing rejection, worse fearing my overreaction to the rejection ... anger can lead more to closing doors than open windows as you know.
Here is the thing, I’ve been super injured since August. I haven’t been able to run since Chicago marathon in October, my beloved yoga practice has weakened due to this and as much as I know a yoga teacher is more than asana (poses) skills, I’ve been doubting my teaching as well... I’ve been doubting everything about myself in all honesty, feeling I’ve lost my badassness. I’ve been hiding, dwelling and drowning behind my lamest excuses and victimizations making my days somehow miserable and feeling small.
Somehow, I finally got tired of the funk and I decided to regain my courage, despite my ego, pride and still feeling small. I forced myself to put my guard down, jump off that cliff, and ask for that something I wanted or thought would be good for me, even though I already knew the answer. I promised to accept the outcome in the understanding that it would be universe’s sign that it wasn’t best for me and ultimately that it wouldn’t have anything to do with me but with them.
Indeed the answer to my request was no, either because I predisposed it or because it truly wasn’t best for me, but that truly wasn’t the important thing rather the fact I accepted it with non-attachment non-reaction and surprisingly with even more courage to prove myself that do still have my badassness intact... I exhaled a big F- it and moved on.
That night I went to yoga and had one of my strongest practices in weeks, I felt my confidence slowly coming back in every drop of sweat, it was a very interesting transformation. And I’m very proud of my self for taking little steps towards larger transformation, proud from jumping off my cliff. Proud for accepting that most things truly are as they should be, happening in our lives for some reason that we may not need to understand at the time.
We become victims of our own thoughts, we create our own limits and insecurities and feeling/playing small doesn’t take us anywhere. There’s no need to understand reasons rather there’s need in accepting them, not conforming with, just accepting them. There’s need to transform if you don’t feel comfortable rather than bitching when you’re uncomfortable, we have that power.
You are powerful! You are badass! You’re beautiful and strong! Walk this life proud and own who you are, face your challenges with head held high and tell yourself #BringItOm to anything that life throws at you. You got this!