Maintaining Our Goals While Adjusting How We Get There

Each morning as part of my morning practice I write affirmations. Not the “good vibes” or “everything will work out as it should” type of affirmations. They’re more long range goals and dreams written from the present perspective. So, for instance, if your goal was to own your own xyz company, it would be written as something like “I own and operate a successful xyz company” or if it was to complete a marathon, it would be written as “I completed a marathon” or “I am a marathon runner,” or something of the like.

These past couple of weeks, I’ve come to an interesting realization - despite being an introvert with social anxiety, the majority of my affirmations center around interacting or working with other people and being out in the world. As a yoga teacher, I have affirmations around goals like leading retreats and raising a certain amount of money for charity with my yoga benefit programs. I have an affirmation regarding the Spread Hope Project road trip, an idea that I’ve been developing for some time in my head, and posted about a while back on my Spread Hope Project website. While I won’t reiterate the whole thing here, it involves combining travel, yoga, and raising money for mental health related organizations across the country (I have big dreams, what can I say), all of which rely on interactions with others. I even have affirmations regarding spending more time with friends which, despite having amazing friends, I tend to have to encourage myself to do due to my natural introverted tendencies, as well as chronic illness flareups.

And so, as we move through our second week of being more or less home all the time, with the exception of grocery store runs and walking the dog, I’m having to adjust, as so many of us are. At first, as I wrote out my affirmations each morning, they felt like they were all a bit on hold. How can I work on my goal of my Spread Hope Project road trip, of reaching people in all 48 contiguous states with yoga charity benefits, if I am barely allowed to leave my house? How do I grown my yoga business toward the level of offering retreats if we can’t gather together, can’t travel? How can I see my friends if I can’t see my friends? But as I move into this third week, I’m beginning to explore new ways of approaching these goals for the time being.

Despite hating the idea of videoing myself and being on video in my living room (I just don’t really like to see or hear video of myself), I’ve been working on a few yoga videos - some more class like, some simply tutorials or videos of one pose. They’re by no means professional-looking (note: please DO NOT comment trying to sell me professional video services/equipment etc). I still don’t love seeing or hearing myself on video, and honestly, I have always felt weird promoting myself probably because I’m my own worst critic. But I’m doing this nonetheless. This week, I’m attempting to hold my first Zoom yoga class for my weekly Tuesday Benefit Class. It might be far from perfect and my dog might wander in the background, but I’m doing it nonetheless. I know that right now people are stressed out and not able to move as much and they miss their weekly class, so I’m offering them this service, flaws and possible dog walking in the background of the video and all. I know so many others doing similar across so many industries. We’re readjusting how we do things in our day to day lives while still not losing site of the end goals or affirmations or dreams or whatever they are to you.

On a the friends and family note, we’re finding new ways to connect with friends and loved ones. We’re doing virtual happy hours and coffee gatherings. We’re reaching out to connect with each other. We’re finding innovative ways to be together while apart.

At the same times, there are times that it’s hard to focus. There are times when we have to step back from that goal and focus on ourselves and our health, both physical and mental. There are times we need to step away from email or that call to make sure kids or family members are OK, because everyone a little chaotic right now. There are evenings you need to zone out, turn off the news updates for a bit and play MarioKart (totally hypothetical, of course….). And that’s all fine too. We’re adjusting to this new way of existing and coexisting, of keeping our goals in sight while also allowing for the leeway we all need as we navigate this. It’s a balancing act, and it’s one that’s going to continue to evolve as we move through this.

As always, my texts, emails, and DMs are open if you’re in need of a chat, a vent, or are struggling during this time. They’re also open if you’re in need of brainstorming new ways to approach goals, or just tossing around ideas in general. I’m around for virtual coffee gatherings or virtual happy hours. Basically, I’m here if you need and if you think I can help. Stay safe, stay at home if you can, and we’ll get through this together at a physical distance.