BeYOUtiful: Stop Competing and Start Loving
/"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." - Dr Seuss
I have always been a shy person, so I was quite nervous when it came time to teach my first 'trial class' during my YTT. As a kid, I would turn bright red and sweat profusely during school presentations. However, surprisingly, this nervousness didn't occur while teaching. My desire to teach and help others trumped my discomfort, and I discovered a confidence in myself I never knew I had.
Maintaining this confidence as a teacher isn't always easy. Of course, there is self doubt: Are my classes boring? Do I know enough anatomy? Are students judging my appearance? And then there is the sense of competition between teachers: Who teaches the most classes? Who teaches at the busiest studios? Who has the greatest attendance in class? Who has the largest social media following?
But is it really a competition between yoga teachers? Or is it simply a need to market oneself?
Competition or no competition, I've learned to focus on what I can bring to class, instead of wondering how I compare to other teachers. How I can remain authentic and positive for the students. How I can continue to learn and share my knowledge with others.
In everything we do, our greatest strength is being ourselves.
Meditate. Journal. Discover your true Self. Love yourself. And you will always shine bright.
To close, I leave you with a quote from the beautifully eye opening 'Sunscreen Song':
"Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself." - Baz Luhrmann
xx