Skip to main content

Motivation- Useful & Useless At The Same Time

Thursday, October 22, 2020 (Part I)

Woke at 4:30am this morning, a little later than normal, and I'm on my mat at a shockingly late 6:00am.  Far too much time dawdling, and watching re-runs of Great British Baking Show on Netflix (#maryberry4lyfe). 

Today is the third morning of practice this week.  For whatever reason, I've felt decreasing amounts of enthusiasm for my practice as the week's progressed (shouldn't I be feeling more enthusiastic as the week goes by, and my flexibility and strength grow?).  

One of the tenants/rules/principles that I've learned through my practice is that discipline beats motivation.  In other words, forcing yourself to do something you're not motivated to accomplish is an exercise in good mental health, as your "feelings" and "motivation" will fluctuate with the wind.

Time to begin...

Thursday, October 22, 2020 (Part II), 

No mojo in this morning's practice,....and that's ok.  

Prayer, meditation, Asanas, and closing sequence all were fine, but not great....and that's ok. 

Feeling a bit unfocused....and that's ok. 

Tomorrow will (and always shall be) different. 


Namaste

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Asana

Monday, March 30, 2020 After no physical practice/Asanas on Friday, and no yoga over the weekend, I notice that it's difficult to stay motivated and dedicated to my practice at times.  Additionally, I ran a solo-10K this weekend (the St. Louis GO! Marathon/Half-Marthon/10K was cancelled, like most public events), and the additional tenderness in my feet, legs, etc. definitely told me not to get on my mat. Monday blues/malaise, essentially.....a "negative mind"... When I'm on my mat, feeling like it's pointless, and that the day ahead is pointless, and that the efforts I'll expend to make things better are pointless, I can go back to the foundations of my life.  First, what do I live for?  I live for God.  That is my attempted mantra every day. It is not for me/you to understand the purpose of anything.  Pulling yourself out of an equation is very liberating in that you're no longer attached to the result. It's 5:27AM as I type this, and it...
Post a Comment
Read more

Re-Building + Persistence

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Re-building a routine is hard. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning and did not want to get out of my bed. I'm on my mat as I write this, however, and will be beginning my practice shortly.  I've found that, like most habit changes, the 3rd day "hump" is usually the most difficult; get past that, and you're golden. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. As always when we push ourselves through something we don't want to do, it feels good when it's done and over with.  I'm feeling wonderful, connected, and ready to address the challenges the day might throw at me. Namaste
Post a Comment
Read more

Come As You Are

 Monday, June 23, 2025,  "Come As You Are" has been used by me as a post title before.  While I can't remember the specifics of why I may have posted with this title before, I would bet that I used the phrase "Come As You Are" due to feelings of being inadequate, ugly, not worthwhile, or generally indifferent to myself and my practice.  If you're feeling any of these things, practice anyway.   Time to begin today's practice... Part II: Having just come out of Savasana after a vert gentle "Yin" style practice, I'll say that, when one is feeling ugly, unlovable, inadequate, etc., all the more reason to hit your mat.  You'll come out of your prayer, meditation, and practice knowing that you are none of those things.  Time to bring this version of myself out into the world.  Namaste
Post a Comment
Read more