Fear of Failure

DHARMA TALK - NOVEMBER 28 / December 3, 2017 VERONA YOGA STUDIO / I heart yoga nj

Let me get this straight and tell you, in yoga - you will fall, you will bruise, you will lose balance, and yes, you will face plant and you will embarrass yourself. Now, this is something you might not want to hear in the beginning of a yoga class but let me enlighten you by asking ... how many times do you think did that yogi fall out of crow before finding balance?   How many times do you think did that yogi fall out of a headstand before holding it?  How many times have I, yours truly face-planted in side crow or any arm balance?  Many, many times.  To this day, I always fall out of a pose I'm working on ... handstand for instance.  When
I practice it, I know I will fall one way or another.  But success can't be attained without failing.  My teacher told me if I'm falling, that just means I'm trying.  And I believe one day I will get there as long as I keep trying.  

No one has ever achieved success on a first try, no one.  More so, no one has ever achieved success if they don't try.  No one.  A fall just means you're a step closer to your goal.  Fall down 7 times, get up 8.  Fall down a hundred, get up a hundred and one.

So for today, I invite you to embrace your fear of failure, whether its falling, stumbling, losing balance or just ending up feeling awkward and embarrassed.  But never quit, if you stumble, get back up. You will get there, if not today, maybe another day.  Failure is not about falling down, its about refusing to get up.