What emerges when given the space to grow?
As you know by now, yoga is my unicorn space where my thoughts and ideas for these posts tend to take root. Lately, I’ve been trying to manage some back pain in yoga by focusing on my abs. During the familiar sequence of poses, I centre my attention on my abs rather than my back. At first, it felt like I couldn’t do some poses at all. But then I started to notice that the poses felt different. When I chose to shift my focus during a pose, the whole thing changed.
Then the other day during practice, I noticed some thoughts and ideas taking shape in my mind again. Toward the end of the practice, I tried to outline the ideas in my head, almost like listing them so I wouldn’t forget them when class finished. I found this near impossible, and realized that when I put my focus on the thoughts or ideas themselves, they disappear, much like a dream disappears when you try to remember it upon waking. Rather, the more ‘successful’ posts are the ones that emerge in my mind when I’m giving them space to grow - by practising yoga, going for a walk or run, taking a shower. Usually doing some sort of repetitive motion helps these ideas emerge, rise to the surface.
What emerges when given the space to grow?
I’ve just finished reading Gabor Maté’s book “Scattered Minds”. In his book, he offers powerful insight into the origins and healing of ADD. This is a topic near and dear to my heart as a mom of a neurodivergent kiddo. What I am walking away with above all else from this book is that there is no quick fix. The answers are not in the book. I also can’t even pay someone to fix my daughter’s ADD. In fact, there isn’t even a problem to be fixed! Where I need to focus my attention is on our relationship - continuing to give her unconditional love, care and attention without judgement. This means that my focus is not on what she is or isn’t doing, but rather on ME and how I am managing my reactions to what she is or isn’t doing. And gosh, is that ever empowering! I can’t control or fix anyone else, but I sure can continue to work on myself.
What can emerge from a space like that?
What if we took this approach to mothering ALL children?
If a yoga pose can change by shifting our attention, what else is possible by shifting our attention? My challenge for you this week is this: Rather than focusing on the problem, choose a different focus. This is much easier said than done, and exactly the sort of work that is done in coaching. Partnering with a coachee to see a different perspective is the name of the game!
