Life gets messy (guest post).

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There are many challenges that we invite into our lives like: intentionally putting an extra 10 pounds on the leg press, deciding to run another mile, or holding back your sarcastic comments when Aunt Deidre comes for a visit.

Then there are the challenges that pop up as unexpected road bumps.  A disagreement with a friend, a failing grade from your son’s math teacher, or a flat tire on the highway are not something we exactly welcome in with open arms.

As we face, and overcome, each of these challenges we learn about our ability to move forward.

With each step forward we gain increased confidence in our capabilities.   However, at other times, the challenges are more complex and we can’t see the path that will move us ahead.  In the midst of divorce, bankruptcy, health problems, unemployment, or a major loss we can’t just face down the problem with determination alone.

It’s in these times that life gets messy.

When you’re being squeezed, wrung out, banged on the head and knocked down – do you claw your way back up, or play possum?

There is no growth without mess.

If everything stayed neat, clean and in stasis we wouldn’t have opportunities to improve or gain strength.  The necessity of mess to create progress is an inescapable law of the universe.  The same rules apply throughout nature.  For a plant to grow it needs to struggle against the elements and the earth.  If a butterfly doesn’t build strength in its wings by battling through its cocoon, it won’t be able to fly.

When we’re toddlers we fall, get scraped up, bleed, cry and generally make a mess.  But, with tears streaking dirt down our cheeks, we learn how to walk – and then to run.

As we mature, we develop a fear of making mistakes.

We fight against being taken off plan and generally being in a mess.  Unfortunately, there are no options.  I can guarantee you, at some point, your life will get messy.  There are very few unconditional guarantees in life.  If you choose to embrace this one, and you can continue on anyway, you will also be guaranteed increased physical, mental and emotional strength.

Growth is the blessing of getting messy.

 

 

Kim Shand is the founder of Rethink Yoga. She travels nationally on a mission to inspire people to take control of their health, how they think, and how they age, through yoga. She motivates her students to find their power, their joy and to be “All In. All the Time.”  You can find Kim on Facebook, on Twitter, and on YouTube.

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Comments

  1. So true. Failure, or just messiness, is what teaches us how to improve. If we never made any mistakes, we’d never learn. People who go out of their way to avoid all failures lives very sheltered and uninspired lives. I try to get all my students to stop being afraid of making mistakes, but it’s an uphill battle.

    • Khaled – I was just in a conversation about the need to let go of fear surrounding the possibility of making mistakes. The bottom line is you have to be in the game. Fear of mistakes will keep you at the sidelines. God luck with your students!

  5. I wonder if I am resisting yoga because I am afraid of the growth and change.

    I love running too much, too.

    • It is hard, Lisa. And it’s an ongoing practice. I don’t think any of us get it perfect and then we can just stay in that place!

  11. LOVE the messiness of working with preschoolers and special needs kids and trying to fit in my own play times during a busy week- dishes in the sink and the top of my fridge is dusty! messy messy! who cares? It will wait but jumping into life full force won’t and is way more fun!

    • HAHA I love your attitude. And I can relate to the dusty-ness of the top of your fridge!! But just take 10 seconds to dust it off. Your air will be cleaner and you will be EVEN HAPPIER!! Or better yet….get a cleaning lady!

  12. Great post today! We all need this message. Sometimes it’s hard, but always for the better everything we get through. Growth is such a gift and the process of earning it can be too!

    • Every time we can drop a way of thinking that is no longer serving us, we get a little lighter and a little brighter. Keep shining Tami!

  18. Ok, I do function well when things are messy in many aspects of my life; I believe what I’ve learned here is I need to add my desire for better wellness into that mess and not try and set it off to the side in some pristine place to visit from time to time.

  19. Ah this is so true. Sometimes the best things come out of the messiest situations. And you’re right you can’t control what will happen in your life. You just have to wade through things sometimes in order to grow!

  20. A great positive spin on getting through the mess and on to the other side……………..Thank you!!

  21. I JUST BROKE MY RIGHT ARM YESTERDAY. YES, LIFE IS KIND OF MESSY NOW BUT BREATHING AND INNER PEACE IS CLEANING UP THE “MESS”. KIM, YOUR TIMING IS UNCANNY. THANK YOU

  22. Thanks for this. It came at the perfect time for me today. I had a “mess” of my own to deal w/ this morning. this was a perfect reflection. Thank you, Kim. (miss you!)

  24. Life does get messy but it does make you take a look at all the blessings you do have and realize that playing with the cards you are dealt makes you stonger. Every hand is not always a good one but learning to play with the good and the bad makes you a better player.

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