Appreciating the journey

One thing I've realised following Assessment, is that the journey is far more important than the destination. I know it's not exactly a brand new revelation, but it's become so much clearer for me recently.

When we set a goal, we don't always know what the journey will involve and can quickly become fixated on the end result or final achievement. We then forget to savour or even notice all of the precious little moments, experiences and learnings we uncover along the way. 

When I reflect on all the stress and anxiety we attach to Assessment - which in reality is about 5 - 6 hours over a three-day period - and then the countless days, weeks, years and even decades of practice, training and teaching that lead up to it - something doesn't quite add up...

Thinking about it in this way - sitting for Assessment becomes less about the outcome and more about what happens before-hand - it's the challenges and opportunities we encounter and how we deal with and move forward with them. 

I'm not saying it's not important and we shouldn't worry about it at all, but the Assessment itself is over so quickly (almost like a dream...) - it's really the culmination of countless hours of ongoing work, learnings and progress and that's what is important and stays with us most. 

Passing Assessment and observing how very little actually changes as a result, I can now value and appreciate the whole process and not just the shiny new job title or the piece of paper at the end.

Do you break down goals into small steps or keep your eyes fixed firmly on the prize? What would happen if you set out to enjoy each moment of the journey - instead of just the end result? 

I think this realisation is particularly true and may be helpful to remember when we do encounter those inevitable obstacles or set-backs. Some journey's may be smooth sailing, but others will have hurdles and speed bumps along the way. 

There's so much opportunity for learning and progress waiting for us in these trying times, but if we're so attached or focussed on reaching the end, it can seem too hard or impossible and we can easily be tempted to walk away entirely.

I think that I learned the most about myself, and my yoga practice progressed more, as a result of failing and throughout those two years before I felt ready enough to sit for Assessment again.

While failing was highly emotional and difficult to deal with and I struggled to keep moving forward, I'm grateful to have been able to find the strength and determination to persevere - and most importantly; I would never take back or change anything now.

In the PR and Marketing world we meticulously plan and break down big campaigns or projects into stages and manageable chunks, and I can see how it's kind of the same thing. Without all those milestones and details keeping us on track along the way, the big stuff just doesn't happen! 

'Rome wasn't built in a day' and we can't expect to go from 0 - 100 in one swift move or single moment. So, what would happen if we slowed and started to notice and appreciate all of our little steps, lessons and achievements each and every day?

Yoga and life is a journey not a destination - join me on the mat as we unfold, explore and enjoy it one asana/ yoga pose at a time! 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost,

The Road Not Taken