What are you waiting for? There is no time like the present!
“Now begins the practice of yoga!” There are many translations of yoga sutra 1.1, but I first heard it explained this way and it resonates with me to this day. Patanjali’s ancient text starts off with a call to action. I recall a brief talk given a few years ago by my teacher, Mike Matsumura. Mike explained it by emphasizing the word “now.” You could easily imagine the ancient scholar calling his pupils to attention as Mike did that day, affectionately telling them to stop the chitchat and get on the mat. Yoga begins now.
It can be practiced any time or place, since yoga is WAY more than just the physical practice we tend to think of as Westerners on a quest for bikini-ready abs. Certainly, the physical piece is important, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg; yoga is a way of being that involves learning to calm our minds, respect and take care of our own bodies, honor our connection to others and ourselves, and work hard without obsessing over the end result. The list goes on and on, and I will probably go to my grave without a clear understanding of all that yoga entails.
The point is that we must set aside our excuses and get rolling— every day.
Uh huh… even on the days when we are out of coffee and have too many meetings to go to! Yoga doesn't begin later on, when we lose enough weight to feel comfortable sporting stretchy pants in public. It really shouldn’t be put off until the next time the gym offers another Groupon, or until we feel like we have the time. The first sutra in the ancient text can be interpreted as a call to get off of your gluteus maximus and get a move on!
AUTHENTICITY NEWS FLASH: I put off my practice yesterday and fell into bed exhausted without hitting the mat, myself. There is no pedestal for me to stand on and preach here! I am a work in progress, just as we all are. Maybe it’s part of the human condition.
…After all, it appears that procrastination has been an issue since at least 400 CE!
Along the same lines, Ze Frank has a lovely quote in his inspiring Invocation for Beginnings . He says, “There is no need to sharpen my pencils. My pencils are sharp enough. Even the dull ones will make a mark.”
In business, we would do well to remember this, particularly when faced with large, daunting projects. It can be helpful to focus on those tasks where we can clearly see and document progress, check a block quickly, and call something (ANYTHING) complete. We break the big task up into small, achievable chunks so that we can declare victory more than once. Otherwise, the delayed gratification becomes too much to wait for. We need little celebrations, as my career coach, Dr. Phil Brown, likes to remind me.
The trick is to start somewhere and not think so much about the outcome that we become overwhelmed — another thing we learn on the yoga mat!
There is wisdom in the old adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” As we near completion of a book project I am working on with David Boje, I have to keep this in mind. A book is a very big project. It’s intimidating. It is scary. It is what some people call a “big, fat, hairy deal!” Yet it is achievable and nearing completion too!
How do we do this? How do we “eat the whole elephant” so that one day we can smile with satisfaction and say… “Been there. Done that. Got that tee shirt!”? The answer lies in yoga sutra 1.1. NOW begins the practice of writing the book. We have to say that every day, and…
Here’s the hard part!
Drumroll, please… DO IT.
It’s kind of like the gradual process of getting your foot to reach behind your head. I know my form is not beautiful in this picture, as I work my way toward a posture called seated compass. I think that it will be eventually, though— perhaps when I am an old woman— but I’ll get there. I am sharing it to remind you (and myself) that this kind of progress comes in teeny tiny increments. In the meantime, the beauty of authentic striving with an open heart will continue to provide some satisfaction— and that’s nothing to sneeze at!
I like to remind my yoga students that progress on the mat comes one centimeter at a time. Likewise, writing a book comes one word at a time. Completing an aerospace systems integration project, implementing a new change control process, preparing for an inspection… Most difficult undertakings require tiny steps of incremental progress. Lao Tzu famously said, “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.”
So lace up those boots and start walking!
Point yourself in the direction of your dreams; ground yourself; gain your footing!
… And for goodness’ sake, GO!
Are you ready? … Me neither! Let’s do it anyway! There is no time like the present. Patanjali said so!
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