What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
What would you change in your life? Would you try something new? Would you start your own business? A non-profit to serve others? Would you change your career?
Some of my friends get a little annoyed at the yogi in me sometimes, striving to point out the positive, looking for a way to find an upbeat spin on a dreary situation. I am optimistic, about the world and about the future, and I have my yoga practice to thank for that shift in vision. Yoga in general, and Baron Baptiste in particular, have taught me that I am powerful, and that I can make my dreams come true. The practice of yoga has helped me remove the bricks, or obstacles, in my life and reach for the stars. By thinking bigger, my whole world is opening up, and the world is amazing.
The yoga community is good about bolstering each other, about holding each other up. If you don’t have a yoga community, find a community, a group of people who tell you that you CAN. If you are surrounded by people who tell you that you can’t – find a new group of people who will not hold you back. A rising tide lifts all ships if we do not tether ourselves to the dock. Loosen up, expand your horizons, and go for it.
Make a list of the things you want in life. Forget the mundane things like a new phone or a new car and think big. Ask yourself: “What do I want to manifest in my life?”
Now ask yourself what is stopping you. What are the limiting beliefs that are keeping you from pursuing your dreams? What blocks are in your way? Are you afraid to succeed or afraid to fail? Are you worried that others may resent you if you do succeed? A wise teacher once told me, “What other people think of you is none of your business.” (Thanks, Mark White!) Forget about what other people think and decide what matters to you.
So ask yourself again: “What do I want?” Write it down. Commit your dreams to the reality of black and white. Tell people what you want. Forget what you are supposed to do, and what other people expect you to do, and find something in your life that you want to do. Don’t rush the process. Expect a few scrapes and stumbles. Maybe even a few falls. But don’t quit. Get back up. Pursue your dreams. Shine. Shine like we are all meant to shine. Not only can you reach the stars, but you can be a star.
“Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address
