An Easy Fix For a Comparing Mind
This exercise has been a gift to me. Just this morning, I was in a yoga class where I found myself surrounded by lithe, fit, 20-something yoginis. My personal demon of criticism and self-judgment appeared on my left shoulder to yammer helpfully, “Why can’t you do a headstand like her? Look how effortlessly she moves. You’ve been at this for how many years and you still can’t get into crow pose. How is it humanly possibly that when she does a forward fold her tummy remains perfectly flat while yours connects into three happy little rolls.”
When I recognized what was happening, I said “Hello judgment, hello anxiety, hello comparing mind, nice to see you”. Just this little moment of acknowledgement was enough. I then shifted my attention to my own practice which became a delicious dance, sweaty, and satisfying and completely my own
In Dance Your Bliss workshops, sometimes comparing mind arises as one student looks across the room and sees another dancing wildly, beautiful, free, graceful dance that they wish to do. This is a great opportunity to dance with your beautiful bozo, to acknowledge your own trance of unworthiness and to break it. Because there's no escaping my shadow, I choose to dance with it, and I invite you to dance with me, and invite your shadow along to the party.
So many of are trying to hide the secret of our bozo-ness. As we hide our truths from one another, we do each other a grave disservice. Through movement, I have discovered the power in bringing together both body and spirit, wholeness and brokenness, in one glorious dance. By embracing my own bozo, and taking my shadow to tea, and I am able to offer cake and crumpets to you all. Only then can I help my clients access the infinite resources at the core of their nature. And only then can I laugh tenderly when I see my silly bozo self show up again and again.
Now I want you to try this. I want you to take your bozo to tea, and see who you find. You just may fall in love with that real and true flawed human looking back at you.
I wish you safe and lovely travels.
~Rachel.
