A few
days ago a friend of mine showed me a video clip that she found inspiring. It was about being interested in your goals vs. being committed to your goals. The video was a montage of footage of a man talking about the pursuit of his goals and a people busy in physical pursuits. As this man speaks about commitment we see a boxer practicing. As he speaks of doing whatever it takes to achieve your goals, we see someone surveying the terrain, presumably to run through it. As he talks about upgrading your knowledge, we see a someone running through the snow.
When the video finished I said that it’s quite interesting that they’ve used fitness to illustrate the main idea of the video. There are many ways to depict smashing and achieving goals. We can show people in a boardroom bagging a successful deal. We can show an actor executing a scene perfectly. We can also show a student getting an acceptance to a prestigious university. So why is fitness the preferred approach to depict motivation and dedication?
Associating fitness with achievements in other aspects of life is not a coincidence. Think about it, when you think of that friend of yours who works out regularly, is on track with the diet and exudes a sense of wellness, don’t you get a sense of awe? If you’re not on the path yourself don’t you feel a tinge of jealousy or pride (depending on your relationship with said friend and the kind of person you are)?
A healthier lifestyle, a fitter body, a cleaner diet, more strength, more stamina, more flexibility, glowing skin, luscious hair, clear eyes – all these are more than skin deep. These don’t translate only to a physically well-proportioned human being. These translate to a human with a confident gait and an easy smile. A person who wears their clothes and skin well. A person who is involved daily in self improvement more than in passing judgment on others.
A person who works out daily depicts the wholesome personality that we all aspire to. A person who is dedicated to making things happen. A person who creates life, rather than one who responds to it. A person who doesn’t sit in a corner crying about a missed opportunity, but someone who moves confidently towards the next challenge. After all, you win some and you lose some. Someone who lives rather than exists.
And taking care of your physical and mental health is the first step to demonstrating that you care. That you can commit to changing yourself before you change an empire. That you can first bring a revolution within yourself, before you revolutionize the world. If you can commit to yourself, then you can commit to anything. If you can change yourself, then you can change anything.
It starts with you.
And below is the video that got me thinking.
The Vrkshasana/Tree Pose is perhaps the first balancing posture that we learn in yoga class. Over the years I’ve heard a lot about the symbolism associated with this pose. The more common ones are to be rooted and strong and to find balance despite what is happening around you. But today Devki said be like a tree and provide shade and protection to all that come to you. A tree doesn’t judge a good person or bad, an animal or a human. It provides shade, protection and relief to one and all.