Fearless

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This week's yoga class was about being fearless. In particular, about being fearless when doing a handstand. Please note, I have never done a handstand before in my life. Talk about fear!

I'm not sure which fear was greater. The fear of:

1. Being upside down
2. My clothes staying in place while I was upside down
3. The pain of stressing my neck and shoulders
4. Speaking up about my concern of stressing my neck and shoulders
5.  My arms potentially not being strong enough to support me
6. Having to depend on a relative stranger to support me while I was trying to be upside down

I made it into a handstand on my second attempt. I was terrified, but I did it anyway. My clothes cooperated, my arms did not give out, and my partner was steady and reliable -I certainly couldn't have done it without her!

I did not say anything about my concerns. Mostly, I was too chicken to speak up. But part of me just wanted to see how far I could push myself. I did not want to give pain the power to dictate what I could and could not do. So I kept my mouth shut, did the handstand, then went home and put on a heating pad. I may regret the decision in the morning, but somehow I think not.

And speaking of fearlessness, have you purchased your copy of Daring Greatly yet?