In January, when we were all praying this year would be better, I committed to practicing yoga at least three times a week. I needed a physical way to release all the stress my body was carrying—but also, I was out of shape. And rather than begin with an intense exercise regimen that may be hard to maintain, I decided to slowly build back the strength I had lost in 2020.
Soon, yoga became a morning routine I looked forward to. It helped me start my days with purpose. Emotionally, I was calmer. And the more I practiced, the stronger I felt in each pose.
Fast forward to this past week. I woke up one morning, turned on a yoga workout I’ve done numerous times, and got on my mat. Throughout the entire workout, I felt incredibly weak. Not only that, but my body felt sore everywhere.
It was the first time I’d done yoga in six months.
In early spring, I slipped and fell on a wet floor. I hurt my shoulder and found myself in physical therapy for eight weeks. Then, as it happens for so many of us, life happened. Summer came, and though I went on walks when I could, it felt difficult to return to any purposeful exercise practice. Until now, when summer is ending and a new season is upon us.
With fall beginning, it feels like getting a chance to start over. Only, it can also serve as a reminder that we aren’t where we thought we’d be, when this year began.
For me, September has always felt like a month of promise. Perhaps it is because as kids, each school year began around Labor Day. With fall beginning, it feels like getting a chance to start over. Only, it can also serve as a reminder that we aren’t where we thought we’d be, when this year began. Not only that, but it’s three weeks into our new fall routine, and many of us are already feeling behind on the plans we made a month ago.
Not being able to keep up with life at the pace we think we should be keeping, can be overwhelming. Not being where we want to be—or think we should be—physically, emotionally, in our relationships, or in our jobs, is deeply discouraging. The worst part of it all, is not that we are failing, it’s that we believe we are failing. When in reality, the only part of our life we’re not fulfilling is our own expectations.
The worst part of it all, is not that we are failing, it’s that we believe we are failing. When in reality, the only part of our life we’re not fulfilling is our own expectations.
Whenever we feel behind in life, it’s often because we’re using a faulty timeline. We make plans, but rarely do we make room for contingencies in those plans. We set a timeline, then real life happens. Like my plans to do yoga three times a week, then hurting my shoulder. None of us plan for injuries, traffic jams, scheduling conflicts, family emergencies, or emotional wounds that affect our mental health and require our attention before we can move forward in life.
Our plans are just that—plans.
They are not set in stone. Many of them are built more on our desires than on our reality. And the beauty of this life is that our plans can be changed. They can even be broken, and our lives can be just as meaningful, purposeful, and valuable. Changing our plans is not a problem, believing we have to stick to them without wavering, is.
The beauty of this life is that our plans can be changed. They can even be broken, and our lives can be just as meaningful, purposeful, and valuable.
So, if in some area of your life, you feel like I did on my yoga mat last week—so far from where we want to be—I want to invite us to take a deep breath. We won’t get anywhere by feeling badly about where we wish were. Finding acceptance right here, right now, will help us move toward the places it may take a little longer for us to reach. Or, will help us find places that are far better.
It all begins with acceptance.
Where are you feeling behind this week?
How can you give yourself grace in this moment?
Friends, next week I am bringing back one of my favorite posts about routines. Then this season, we’re going to spend some time talking about contentment. What it means to embrace our lives as is, how to tell if our discontentment is helping or hurting us, and so much more. And as always, there will be bonus content on this that I only share with my email subscribers. If you haven’t signed up yet, sign up here!
