where is truth waiting for you?
aligned motive #1
Hey Team,
Aligned Motive #2 is going to get a bit hairy. This antidote asks you to examine what feels good and discern if it’s truly-good or more familiarity.
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading things I see at the gym and where is the goodnessbefore diving into Misaligned Motive #2: practicing to feel good.
Yep, you read that right. A sure fire way to encounter a dead-end is practicing to feel good. The knee jerk reaction is a record-scratching: Whaaaaaaaaaat? What’s wrong with feeling good?
And the answer is nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong with feeling good. But if you set your compass for “feeling good”, you’re likely to avoid the friction, frustration and challenge required for growth. Because when “feeling good” is the standard, it’s easy to label the uncomfortable and unfamiliar as “not right” or flat out wrong.
The antidote is that the desire to feel good becomes enlightened to a hunger for truth. When you’re hungry for truth, you’re willing to endure discomfort, rub up against the unfamiliar, and embrace challenge.
Now, uncomfortable does not equal pain. And unfamiliar does not mean irrational or haphazard. Instead, this Aligned Motive asks for openness and willingness, especially when encountering new and different.
Here’s an on-the-mat example: Years ago, in a class with one of my mentors, she had us doing upper back openers on a chair. About 20 minutes into it, my mind started going bananas. What are we doing? (this is different and I’m not sure I like it…) Why aren’t we moving more? (doing what I’m familiar with…) I’ve got places to go! (I’m not sure where my ego needed to go, but this was a distinct, memorable, and really silly thought).
As the volume in my mind continued to escalate. My focus in practice continued to dwindle. Then my teacher said, “okay, scorpion at the wall.” Whaaaaaaaat?!? Now?!?! We haven’t done anything! We’ve been laying over chairs! And I was barely present because there is a war inside of my head! I’m not reaaaddddddyyyyyyy!”
I dragged my mat to the wall. Frustrated. Irritated. Certain it was going to be a disaster (which created another avalanche of stories…). It was not. It was incredible. My body was open and strong. Not fatigued from active practice. Receptive and ready. Perfectly primed for the big pose.
My ego said, “huh.”
Practicing that way was unfamiliar. And it generated a lot of internal turmoil. My desire to feel good/do-what-was-familiar almost kept me from a new, rich, and rewarding experience.
Here’s an off-the-mat example: a health coach once asked what I do for rest. Before I could spit out “sleep”. She quickly qualified other than sleep. I was stumped. I wanted to say walking but I was pretty sure that proved her point that rest was not a priority. I soon learned that not only was it not a priority, it was uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that I would quickly spring back into action. Because what “feels good” is productivity, intensity, accomplishment. Even when I’m tired. (Especially when I’m tired?!?) Yikes.
In both examples, truth was waiting just outside my comfort zone. Truth that releasing practice could be just as powerful as active practice. Truth that rest was resisted and the medicine I most needed.
Both examples have a similar flavor: action, achievement, movement, drive feels good to me. This isn’t bad, but it isn’t the whole truth. I need rest, restoration and release too. But these don’t always feel good, especially at first, there is an itchy vulnerability that’s easy to label “wrong”.
But. If I set my compass to Truth, I’m open to guidance, willing to endure the friction of the new, and brave enough to explore uncharted territory.
How about you?
What truths are waiting just outside your comfort zone?
If you have a 20 Minute Miracles Toolkit subscription, The Truth of Your Being corresponds to Aligned Motive #2. It strengthens your back-body, which is the side of wholeness and oneness, but also the unseen and unknown. During this practice, you find strength in unfamiliar places.
With the Make Practice Miraculous Challenge, you have the support of a group to explore uncharted territory in your body, breath, and being. Take a tour of the Challenge here.
May your practice take you to the truth of your being,
Alison
