The Gifts of Contrast Part III
Last week I wrote that “It is in the contrast of life that we can appreciate the joy. Even if you could set every day up to be exactly what you wanted, why would you want that?”
Yesterday I went to a yoga class that was more intense than I had hoped it would be when I picked the class I went to. The teacher is really focused on alignment and moving the muscles and bones in a way to really build the most strength, flexibility and alignment. What seems like easy poses leave me with a “good" kind of tired! I will admit, there are times that I want to bow out and quit, because the pose is more intense than my mind wants to handle, but I breathe into the poses and remind myself that I am building mental fitness, physical strength, and flexibility for life. Also, the final resting posture, savasana, is even sweeter and more relaxing because of the work that I put in during the class. Does that make any sense?
I will leave you with this. When you resist the hardships of life, the disappointments, losses or failures, we lose the benefits that they can bring. Life makes decisions for us. In the last 5 years I have lost both of my parents, my marriage and my dog. I have every reason to be pissed, lonely and wronged. I CHOOSE not to. I encourage you to do the same. Lean into the discomforts of life, the strains in your marriage, the life changes you want but haven’t succeeded at yet, your students being exactly who they are… Remember, growing pains mean that YOU ARE GROWING! The hardships in my life have allowed me to lean into my faith unapologetically. I am where I am supposed to be, and I will be different when I am supposed to be different. That doesn’t mean that I don’t point my compass in the direction that I want to go, it means that I strive, put forth effort, and when things don’t go my way, I remind myself in due time.
If you're not experiencing positive outcomes or witnessing extraordinary events in your life, it could be beneficial for you to intentionally find ways to bring more joy into your life. I have a friend who has a special pin that she wears, even if it does not match her outfit, because it reminds her of her mom, and she can hear her mom in her head questioning why it doesn’t match:) I have a special song that I listen to on the drive in, on mornings that I am not feeling it. It's important to cultivate a more optimistic mindset, shift your attention to positive aspects, and reinterpret the significance of the situations surrounding you. You have every right to crab and complain when you don’t like a student, policy or procedure, but is it serving you?
I am not saying it is easy, but I am saying you have a choice. Maybe you didn’t get a choice in the event that happened, but you do get a choice everyday to focus on what serves you or not. You get to choose your hard. It is hard to grieve, change and grow. It is also hard to stay in the negative, to be stagnant, and stuck. Intentionally focusing on what you are doing well, what you enjoy, and what is joyful will get you more of what you desire, and choosing to spend time and energy on things that don’t serve you will keep you stuck, dissatisfied and unhappy. What do you choose?
