Another Wednesday, another Wednesday Word! We will be linking up with Deb Runs for the fun and you can be part of the action, by checking out her page and linking up, too!
The word of the week is…
This word actually comes at a pretty opportune time.
You see, I am working (very hard) at being fearless.
I try to be confident in my life, but I do have fears. Clowns. Zombies. Confrontation. Talking to people on the phone. Chupacabras.
Failure.
As I get older, and hopefully wiser, I am realizing that existing with a fear of failure is no way to live. We all fail. It’s how we learn and how we grow. Messing up is part of what makes us human and it’s what we do with those failures that defines us.
So I’ve been trying to release the fears I have and face them head-on.
Sometimes, it’s hard to measure the progress of that. However, yesterday, I got a physical sign that my attempts at fearlessness are paying off:
For over a year, I have been trying to conquer the Crow pose. Sadly, it always seemed out of my reach. Part of the problem was my lack of upper body strength (after all, you have to have strong arms to support your body), but the bigger part was fear. I was terrified. Of failing. Of falling on my face. Of making a huge fool of myself.
A few weeks ago, I decided it didn’t matter. If I fell, then I fell. If I made a fool of myself or looked ridiculous, I would laugh with anyone who laughed at me. If I failed, then I would just try again.
I got stronger and more determined and less afraid and then yesterday? Bam.
Now that I know I can be fearless, where will it lead?
How do you try to overcome your fears to accomplish your goals?
OK, now I have to look up what a chupacabra is!
You’ll be sorry…. 😉
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Great job on that crow pose! Even tho I can do it, I’m still deathly afraid of falling on my face. My yoga studio floor is really hard and I can envision blood pouring out of my nose when I hit the floor…
Clowns are super creepy!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Lessons Learned: Big Sur Marathon
I’m going to roll up my towel for the next time I’m in the studio. I’m that much of a klutz.
Clowns are the worst. I read Stephen King’s “It” when I was about 10, and now I can’t be near clowns. Or sewers. Or small towns in Maine. I’m a mess.
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Crow pose is tough. I can hold it for a fleeting second, and that’s all she wrote. Then again, I don’t really work on it , either. Coincidence? 😉
Congrats on conquering the crow!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Fearless…A Long Time Coming
Very tough! I held it for exactly long enough for the photos (self timer with 10 shots) and then it was gone. If you keep working on it, you’ll totally get there!
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Learning to accept failure and realize that everyone fails has been huge for me. I still try to avoid it, but I’m not so scared of it now.
Ange // Cowgirl Runs recently posted…When (and why) Should You Downgrade Your Race
This is how we learn and grow. It’s ok to fail, as long as we learn from our mistakes.
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Amazing! I’m also terrified of falling on my face and that’s why I never attempted the crow pose. Maybe I’ll have to be fearless and go for it… 😉
Carmy recently posted…5 Underrated Running Spots in Toronto
Meh – what’s a little falling on your face? Go for it!
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Crow pose was the pose that made me feel like a “yogi.” I still feel like I can fly with it 😀
Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…Summer Running Prep + Coaches Corner (Giveaway!)
I’m not quite at the flying part, but I can feel it coming! I am on to sideways crow, now! Can’t stop, won’t stop!
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
So I always bail on the crow bc I think I am going to fall on my head. I know I have the strength to do it so silly isn’t it?!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…American Odyssey Relay-Gettysburg to DC
You might, indeed, fall on your head. But then again, so what? I know if I can do it, you can do it! You just have to let go!
Kudos to you for going after that crow pose. Its always hard to try again and not be fearless after we’ve already failed once. But life is about not giving up and continuing to try until we succeed.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…May 2016 Monthly Goals
Bingo! You hit the nail right on the head!
YOU DID IT!!!! Awesome awesome awesome! It’s hard to face fears, but once you nail ’em they’re gone for good!
Nicole Handler recently posted…THE TRIP Review: A New Way To Spin
I DID IT!!! I always try to play a game of “what’s the worst that can happen?” I admit, sometimes, my worst case scenario is really bad, but in the case of Crow, it was simply falling on my face and breaking my nose on the hard floor. So I did it on the carpet. Problem solved.
NICE!! I would love to be able to do that pose at some point. Yoga is so awesome. Great job!!!
Natalie Mitchell recently posted…Staying Safe On The Trails: 6 Tips For Trail Running
I started out not liking yoga, to tolerating it, to appreciating it, to really loving it. And now that I know I can do hard things, I like it even more!
Great crow girl!! One of the hardest ones for me to master!!
I think it’s hard for everyone. It just doesn’t make sense that the human body can balance like that.
runswithpugs recently posted…wednesday word: fearless
Nice Crow! I am still working on that one and often land on my nose. Way to push through the fear!
Sandra Laflamme recently posted…Lighten up your Cinco De Mayo picnic with Stonyfield Organic Yogurt
Great job with the crows pose. I am so afraid of that pose for the same reasons as everyone else. I also have no upper body strength. Way to tackle your fears. I need to try to do that more
I love your phrase “release the fear”. We are always taught to face our fears, but doesn’t that mean they are still there? I like your take on it much better. Let go of it! Look at you rocking that crow pose!
HoHo Runs recently posted…Coffee Talk (May)
Very nice on the crow pose! Congrats on meeting your fear head on and laughing in its face.
Thanks for linking up!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Running Dilemmas