The Difficulty of Small Things

OK I’ll admit it: I am a slave to my watch. Friends of mine are well aware that I never, EVER take it off. I wear it all day long including at the gym, in the shower and in bed. My watch is an extension of my wrist. This does not cause me serious issues in my life but it does cause me to feel the pressure of time in every situation. I am always aware of the time. I constantly check my watch in order to maximize every minute of the day. Being unaware of time is pretty scary to me. Lately I have felt that I need to throw myself off a bit by provoking that notion. So, in yoga tonight, I made the decision to remove my watch and place it in my purse, far from where I could reach it. This means that I was watch-less for a full 2 hours of conscious time.

Now I don’t expect you all to pat me on the back for a grandiose gesture that I made. This was a very small move and I recognize that. However, the subtle change of having no access to the time made quite a difference. Though I normally only check the time once throughout the practice, the mere fact that time was out of my control actually made me relaxed and made class more enjoyable.

As we moved through the poses I thought about how this small decision to let go of time improved my state of mind. I also thought about how the concept applied to the practice itself. The simpler poses were sometimes causing me more trouble than the harder ones. I would move through an Ardha Chandrasana with ease but then my limbs would shake and I’d hobble over in a tree pose. It was the smaller, simpler elements of class which were making a difference and causing me difficulty.

Edward (my instructor) often talks about how minor problems can have major effects. Making a decision to let go of small issues can have a large impact by bringing peace. Letting go often sounds like the simplest of things but is actually quite difficult. People frequently talk about things they should be doing, rather than not doing in their life. But perhaps it is letting go and choosing to not do that is most important. The longer one dwells on a negative situation, the longer that situation will have a negative impact. This concept may not be novel, but recognizing how it applies to one’s own life can lend it new meaning-as I let go of my watch dependence.

In class tonight, Edward read from a book called “The Lives of Billionaires” (He certainly seems to love his money, see “Happiness or Neutrality”) and he discussed how a common characteristic of billionaires is that they enjoy the struggle and the steps that take them along the way to success. They let go of failures and recognize them as small in terms of the bigger picture and this is what makes them great.
“Success is moving from failure to failure with un-diminishing enthusiasm” – Winston Churchill

How can this concept be applied to your own life? What kind of small changes could you make and what could you let go of? Something as small as removing a watch for 2 hours can generate a whole new state of mind. Imagine the possibilities.

Filed under Self Absorption, Yoga |