A “UFO” & Beginning Again

This big black quilt has been folded in a tight square with my sewing projects for about twenty years. In crafter speak, these kinds of projects are called “UFOs” - UnFinished Objects.

It’s pretty good for a first quilt, but it’s not done yet.  In my zeal to make it I got pretty ambitious with the quilting design.  Unfortunately, as a first-time quilter, my skill then wasn’t up to the task. Soon inspiration ran out and I never got back to it.  So it’s been sitting all this time.  

Two weeks ago I pulled it out and took a look.  Then I went to the quilt store and got navy quilting thread and white marking chalk.  I spread it on the floor and went back to work marking the lines where I’ll quilt the top, batting, and bottom together. I got re-started, but then my machine started acting up and I quit for the day.

Practice impacts Life

This week one of my coaching clients asked me if my time on my yoga mat impacts how I am off the mat.  “Do you see that the way you are when you do yoga changes how you are in other areas of your life?”

My answer to this question is always 1000% YES!!!

Resurrecting this quilt project is a great example.  Through hundreds of hours doing all sorts of practices I’ve learned that it’s ok to step away and come back.  It’s ok to stop what you’re doing and pick it back up later.  I’ve learned that no matter how long it’s been or how far away you’ve gone, you can always come back and start over.

We can Begin Again.

Begin Again

I’ve written about beginning again before.  But I bring it back because it’s such an important practice for anyone on a spiritual path.   Without this practice, your spiritual journey won’t last long.

Beginning again means exactly what it sounds like.  It means starting over:

When you yell at your kids for no reason, begin again.  

When you catch your mind wandering in meditation, begin again

When you’re judging yourself harshly, begin again.

When you miss an important deadline, begin again.

When things don’t go your way, begin again.

When you fall out of a yoga pose, begin again.

When you get off track from your goals, begin again.

When you’re not living the way you want to be living, begin again.

When you’ve lost a passion and want to bring it back, begin again.

Hope & Challenge

What strikes me about beginning again is that it’s hopeful.  No matter how many mistakes you make, or how many times you mess up, you can always try again.  It means there’s always a possibility of moving with more consciousness and less judgement.

The challenge with beginning again could also be about making mistakes and starting over.  It could be very easy to fall into perfectionism.  You might start over more times than really necessary in the hunt for a perfect life.   You could easily judge yourself too harshly and begin again if you find yourself not measuring up.  This isn’t really beginning again, it’s just beating yourself up.

Truly beginning again comes from a place of kindness and compassion towards yourself.  It comes from the HEART’S desired to live with more freedom and consciousness.  It doesn’t come from the ego’s need to be right, or perfect.  It’s an important distinction and one that you can’t just think about.  You’ll have to feel it for yourself.

Learn in your Practice

Our formal practices of yoga or meditation are the easy button when it comes to beginning again.  How many times does your mind wander in meditation?  Mine wanders millions of times in a single sitting.  Simply bringing your mind back to the moment is beginning again. 

How many times do you struggle in yoga (physically, mentally, and/or emotionally?)  I struggle all the time with one thing or another.  Beginning again means practicing each pose like you’ve never done it before, even if it’s a pose you’ve always hated. 

When you begin again in yoga and meditation you have a richer, more present experience in your body, mind, heart, and spirit.  But not only that, you also build the skill of beginning again into how you live.  And that makes you a more resilient, and present person.  

Dare to Begin Again

When I first saw the old quilt I felt a tiny ping of guilt and overwhelm.  I should’ve finished it years ago, I thought.  But that judgment softened right away and all those hours on my yoga mat starting over kicked in. 

Now, I’m not daunted by this unfinished quilt that’s been waiting 20 years.  I completely trust that I can finish it.  I trust that I can start and stop as many more times as I want.  For me this project is a small outward expression of the deeper trust and hope we all learn every time we dare to begin again. 

May these words be a nudge to you too. Whatever it is you want to bring forward (whether it’s a handstand or a loving relationship) don’t be afraid to start over as many times as needed.

You can always Begin Again.