After six months, do you still remember your 2021 New Year’s resolution?
One of my 2021 New Year’s resolutions was to sit in a Lotus Posture. Since the onset of this year, I hung this resolution on the “Wall of Goals” in our office and after six months, my determination to sit in the lotus posture is stronger than ever before.
To keep my goal alive, I decided to have an accountability partner – my Yoga Instructor, Veronika.
I have never done Yoga in my life. My body is rigid like a rock; it is not an exaggeration. I cannot bend to touch my feet. I cannot sit in a cross-legged-straight-back or even on hunchback. When I try, I lose my balance and I fall backwards.
When we started, I asked Veronika if she thinks that I would be able to meet my target to sit down in a lotus posture before the end of the year. She looked at me and did not answer. It then became clear to me that it was a difficult mission. I understood and respected her nonresponse as she was observing my high rigidity level and not seeing my high determination to achieve this goal.
Veronika is a highly punctual, strict, and infinitely patient instructor. She has zero-tolerance for her yoga postures and counts as they must be achieved perfectly, always with a smile and sarcastic fun. Veronika insists on deleting the words impossible and difficult during her session but instead, replacing them with challenging and inspiring.
After practicing an infinite variety of postures for six consecutive months, I managed to sit down in a cross-legged position without falling backwards. For many, it is a natural posture, but for me – it is as if I was becoming supernatural. It was a significant achievement! I trust that I will keep on going for another six months, or whatever it takes to reach my target. I have had many resolutions and goals in the past that I did not pursue, and abandoned.
What made me achieve it this far, and how can I trust that I will meet my target on this particular goal?
I realized that what keeps me going, is that I have said a wholehearted and whole-body Yes! to my goal. This Goal has a physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimension for me, and when I said yes, I said it for and from these four dimensions…
Physical
Sitting in a lotus posture will help me straighten my back, which will reduce stress, resulting in lesser back pain and a healthier body.
Emotional
Joy and excitement are connected with this goal as I will be breaking through a limitation that I have created for myself.
Intellectual
My goal is self-determined. No one ever told me that I should sit in a lotus posture. I am learning to understand my body’s limitation and potential.
Spiritual
This goal helped me to slow down, and while sitting back in a cross-legged position, my spine straightens, and I could achieve a more profound connection in my prayers and meditation.
As this Goal is benefiting my four intelligence centers, and at the same time my body, mind, emotion, and spiritual beings are engaged in the process and the journey – I sensed certainty to pursue my Goal.
Beliefs that could prevent me from accomplishing this Goal and how to address them.
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I do not have a flexible body; Yoga is not for me. |
Say Yes, to the Yoga of Nadim
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Yoga is not a priority. |
Yoga makes me more engaged with my Priorities. |
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I cannot fix an inherited hunch back. |
Elevating the four centers of intelligence can elevate and straighten my back. |
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Lotus Posture is Impossible. |
Lotus Posture is an exciting challenge.
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Pray and meditate on a comfortable chair. |
Pray and meditate unconditionally. |
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I cannot depend only on my instructor. |
Veronika is sent for me to complete this mission.
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When I said a wholehearted and whole-body Yes! to my goal, I was not only pursuing my ultimate target, but I became more engaged and appreciative of the little progresses and developments in my four centers of intelligence. I also felt that I am doing it for myself, and by being more active and of service, everyone else is benefiting.
I sensed that my Yes is including the whole. It is for me and for everybody – as if I am saying Yes on behalf of everyone. It is a wholeness Yes!
What makes you certain that you will pursue your Goal/s?
What makes you uncertain that you will pursue your Goal/s?