Emily Garrett Yoga

I make a lot of mistakes.  At the moment in which I recognize that I have made a mistake, I can respond in two ways.  The first is to condemn and criticize myself with thoughts like, “You should have known better.  I can’t believe you did that .  What were you thinking?”  This way is deeply attached to the desire to fix the mistake immediately.  The second way is to pause, connect with the feeling in my body, and open to an opportunity for growth.  In this way, rather than immediately trying to fix the mistake I sit with it’s feeling.  Sometimes the two ways weave together.  First the criticism, then the realization of the criticism and then the opening.

There is value in looking at mistakes and asking, “Was my action aligned with my intention?” and then to recognize what a more appropriate action would have been.  And I am all for amending my mistakes.  However, this approach must be balanced with self empathy, with the understanding that mistakes are part of the growing process and although I am imperfect, I am lovable just the same.

I have some amazing people in my life.  My closest relationships are with people who have felt pain as a result of my actions and have chosen to work through it and love me anyway.  They forgave me, let go, and allowed us to begin again.  I did the same for them.  These relationships strengthen my courage and my capacity to love.

My students, yes you, do this for me every time you show up for class.  There are weeks where I have been off in my teaching, distracted or just not feeling completely together.  You have come to class and then you have returned the next week, loving me anyway.  Some of my happiest moments are in the yoga studio, teaching.  You provide me with a space to explore who I am and what’s important to me, not just as a teacher but also as a human.

This path is difficult.  It requires hard work and discipline.  Let us support each other in being ourselves, in making mistakes and opening our hearts to those mistakes, all in the process of growth.  After all, as I was told by one of my teachers, once you reach enlightenment there are no more mistakes to be made.