Perfection is NOT an Option
“I almost hurt myself trying to do what I saw someone else do” ~KeKe
There is a level of appreciation for my own journey that I almost missed while being busy paying attention to others. I started documenting my yoga journey via Instagram in 2017. It was a turning point in my life and I have always been a pretty transparent person so I decided I would share this moment on social media as I wasn’t going to share all the other stuff happening around me.
I set up my account and I began to post. I didn’t think much about what I posted early on, just whatever I was doing that made me feel good, pretty, sexy. There is such a different culture and vibe on IG versus Facebook; I felt welcomed to be myself and show apart of me that I hid from everyone, even myself. I posted photos of me with panties and a t shirt with my booty cheeks all in the air. I posted pictures of the kids and I doing yoga. I posted of my trials and errors, and I even posted a few barely nudes.
Then I started to scroll and I found an online community of other IG yogis and what was even more impressive was that there were so many that were black! I began to get excited because I really needed a community. Heck I was drowning in depression and looking for any reason to hold on to life. This sounds bad but the truth was, I was even beginning to think life wasn’t living, not even for my children. That is how loud the negative mind chatter was, that it would have me believe that my children didn’t need their mother.
I was elated to have discovered this whole new online world of yogis and I watched and admired them all. I was inspired, fired up and ready to get on my mat. After viewing another yogi do a variation of fallen angel I headed straight to my mat and said alright I am going to do that pose. Now what I didn’t tell you earlier was that when I first stated yoga it was because I wanted to learn how to do a handstand(yes I know, random)my research led me to yoga. The very first day I attempted to do a handstand, I just assumed that I would be able to do it with no problem. I was WRONG! I almost hurt myself trying to do something I saw someone else do.
So here I was staring at my mat determined to get into fallen angel when I could barely do a supported headstand. Nevertheless, I tried and once again I fell big time. I didn’t laugh about it like I do now when I fall (happens often, too). I was so upset and disappointed with myself that I couldn’t do something I’ve never done before. How?
PERFFECTION & COMPARISON
I have this unrealistic expectation of myself that I am perfect and that I will be perfect at all times. Yes, I am a Libra…AND. I am actively working through this and I have gotten so much better but I have to take mindful moments to remind myself that the goal is not perfection and there is beauty in this imperfect process. I have not arrived at this philosophy by any means. As a matter of fact, I struggle in this area the most as I have started my business and feel that everything including myself, must be in good and perfect order for my success.
I am trying to figure out who the hell came up with the idea of perfection because there is no such thing at least not in human form. We are not perfect people.
Let go of the idea of doing yoga so that you can get better at the poses. Start believing in the practice and philosophy of yoga and how it translate into your life and what you will find is that naturally the poses will come to you. Be confident and secure in where you are in your journey, your yoga practice will be authentic…it will be yours.
