My beautiful mother has a French saying that she (probably) got from her mom: “C’est pas bon les habitudes.” Translation? Habits aren’t good.
When we develop habits (good or bad) we get comfortable. We come to rely on those habits as we go about our day. They are there when we need them, when we’ve had a rotten day and need something to fall back on.
I realized last weekend that I feel at home in the Body Balance studio. Familiar faces, inviting, comforting natural lighting, even my favorite parking space bring me comfort. Just as when I settle into my first downward facing dog of the day, I feel safe, grounded, home.
I flow through the practice, knowing exactly what comes next, as I’ve taken the same night classes with the same instructors for more than a year.
My body cues to the instructor’s inflection, naturally moving in and out of the poses without thinking.
I finish my practice the same way each time, roll up my mat, get into my car, roll the window down and take the same road home each night.
When I go to another studio and lay my mat down on its unfamiliar floor, I crave the familiarity of Body Balance, the comfort of my routine.
But there’s a tricky balance between finding comfort in what you know and being able to step out of your comfort zone.
A quote by Neale Donald Walsche that a good friend of friend of mine swears by (check out the t-shirts she designed using the quote, and find out why here) is “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
Comfort is safe. It’s predicable. It’s a place to catch our breath, to find stillness, in life and on the yoga mat.
But it’s also the place you can get stuck. You may be turning down requests, invitations, opportunities because you’re comfortable doing your thing and you’re scared of what may happen if you leave it, even for a moment.
But when we let go of that fear, when we detach ourselves from any undertakings, we are free to pursue what we love, what we are curious about. This allows ourselves to live our lives more fully, moving forward with confidence, vulnerability, acceptance, courage and peace.
“Detachment is freedom. Care deeply, but accept through and through. Celebrate successes, learn from failures, remain kind and humble; the acceptance you give yourself will set a barometer for happiness you’ll no longer sink below. Detachment allows you to float on.”