What you focus on, you get more of.

The human brain is routinely inundated with self-imposed pressure, criticism, and doubt.  It is amazing how your mind can have you completely convinced of a shortcoming or an obstacle, without any real evidence for the claim.

Our minds have a creative way of convincing us of limitations by pairing them with “intelligent” pretexts.  “I will never be a runner, I just wasn’t built that way....Church is good for you, but it’s not good for me at this point in my life….I can’t speak in public,  I’m quiet…..I can’t do yoga, are you kidding me, I’m not flexible enough.” 

If you are human, there are things you have limited yourself to simply because it didn’t seem to fit on you. Out of 1,000 positive “I can's”  we all experience one “can’t, won’t, or probably never…” 

This week as I was recovering from an emergency surgery on my tummy, my mind tried engaging in that self-criticizing monologue.  “What! How long until I'll be able to get back to teaching yoga and pilates. Yikes, I’m going to lose the strength and stability in my core from this procedure, it hurts to tie my shoe.. blah blahty blah!"  Thankfully, a beautiful friend and kindred spirit reminded me of the beauty in adaptation and this monologue wasn't entertained for longer than a few breaths.

Leaving the business of self-loathing and embracing healing, I found some simple pleasure in sitting still. During this week, I pondered how persistent our mind can be. Man- the mind is powerful.  I reflected with great humor on a few things in my life where the initial line of thinking was "Psh! I can't do that." Witnessing the myth of these “never” statements was totally amusing.

A few of these erroneous thoughts were disproved at an unconscious level; others, I consciously focused on disproving, to spite the idealism in my head that tried saying  "it isn't for me.” 

We've all been there. The gift is now celebrating your transformations. I share these with a kind reminder that, your kindergarten teacher was right, "can't," really does not exist.           

I won't be able to headstand like the yogi in the corner.

 

I will never win the lotto. 

I don't fly alone.

Eh, I don't cook. 

Handstand, UNsupported? Yikes. 

I am not a runner.

^4 miles....7/25/12 

I can't survive.

 

much less, laugh again...

 

Own a business? Nah.

 

You must do the thing, you think you cannot do. :)