Is Your Growth Potential Fixed or Endless?

When you first tried yoga, what was your first thought -- "I can't do this" or something closer to "this is tough but I'm sure it'll get easier." Your answer says a lot about how you approach life.I read a great NY Times article today that, although it was in the Business section, relates to life overall. The main thrust is this:

Those who believe they were born with all the smarts and gifts they’re ever going to have approach life with what she calls a “fixed mind-set.” Those who believe that their own abilities can expand over time, however, live with a “growth mind-set.”

When I was in one of my yoga therapy trainings, there was a lot of talk about "pushing your edge." Just as in life and yoga, you often get to a place where you feel something intensely. This something feels uncomfortable without being downright painful. Throughout the training going to this uncomfortable place was termed "pushing your edge," the edge being that thin line between not enough and too much.Throughout this training, I watched myself and my colleagues deal with edges. It quickly became clear who was at a fixed point and who was more open to growth.

I see this manifest physically and emotionally in my clients on a regular basis. The person who doesn't even attempt Tree Pose because she "knows" she'll fall down. Or the person who claims he's not flexible but is open to trying yoga regardless of the common belief that you have to be flexible to practice yoga. Or the person who wants to execute a headstand but doesn't try because she is fearful of what will happen if she loses her balance and falls. Each of these examples shows how one's belief and mindset affects their yoga practice. I'll bet that other areas of these people's lives are also affected.

I was particularly intrigued when I met someone who had a stubbornly fixed mind-set. She had made up her mind about herself (she didn't like living a certain way) and her life (it's "safe" and "comfortable" to not push things/yourself) and she wasn't going to change it. Even though she had an experience that showed her that your fixed beliefs might not be accurate, she continued to remain fixed. She told me that she was very cognizant of her limits and that she always lived within those limits. She claimed that living inside her limits was comfortable and "safe." She wasn't asking for advice from me, so I didn't say anything to her at the time. Yet I do remember feeling sad for her. I just couldn't fathom how living a life like that could be very full. Of course it's not for me to judge. The truth is -- this woman seemed happy.

Around the time I took the training I just mentioned, I found myself looking closely at my yoga practice. I got really curious about how deep I went into postures (did I ease in or go full out right off the bat), what sensation meant to me (pain or simply a feeling of being slightly challenged), etc. I became -- and still am -- very interested in how I approached my edge during practice. (How did I react when I was physically and/or emotionally uncomfortable during my asana practice?) Sure enough, I found some pretty big parallels in my life off the mat. My approach to asana mirrored my approach to life. Funny how yoga works, isn't it?

I encourage anyone who practices yoga to let their yoga practice be their teacher. Learn from yourself on the mat and see how those lessons apply to your life. And after you read the NY Times article I mentioned above ask yourself whether you have a fixed mind-set or a growth mind-set. If you don't like your answer, you can always change.

Namaste!