My Inner Champion
Hi everyone, Ash here
How often do you set yourself goals or intentions but find that it sometimes feels like we are at the bottom of a mountain, looking up with no idea how to climb it? It's so easy to become consumed with the end result that we often forget every goal and intention is the start of a journey, and that it takes patience and understanding to enjoy it.
At the beginning of January I set myself an intention to learn Spanish. I was never very good at learning languages in school, so this felt quite daunting, but we hope to start SMASH well-being retreats when we are able to and Spain is a destination that will likely become a popular choice for these. I want to be able to have basic conversations with locals who will help us source accommodation, plan well-being activities and perhaps join us as we build strength in body and mind in the sun! Because I know that learning languages is something that I don't feel I excel at, I started my intention journey by lowering the volume on the inner critic in my head telling me 'I can't do it, so what's the point?' and I allowed my inner champion to be louder - 'I can do this!'
Using tips from our intention setting workshop in January, I reminded myself to be kind and gentle with my learning. I wanted to make it as enjoyable as possible so I wrote down how I would best learn -
1. Commit to just 10 minutes a day. I know I can do this, it's how I began my meditation journey (something else my inner critic told me I couldn't do and now I'm on Day 1763 in a row of meditation!). It worked for me before, I can definitely make 10 minutes a day work for me again!
2. Don't put pressure on myself. I've spoken before about my need to be perfect but, thankfully, due to my mindfulness practise I have become much better at being kinder to myself. I will give myself the same advice I would a friend - take each day as it comes and remember that you don't have to be perfect, none of us are!
3. I'm giving it a good go but it doesn't matter if I give up. I'd got this far without knowing Spanish and it didn't mean I was a failure if I wasn't enjoying it or felt I just wasn't very good at it and needed to stop. The most important thing was I tried.
It's now February and I have been doing a little bit of practice every day and I'm enjoying it! I've found a time that works for me, to make it a habit because I know that helps me concentrate and stay focused. I've had fun as I was learning and I've laughed at myself when I got things wrong! I've even started watching a Spanish TV show (with subtitles) to submerge myself in the language but you should have seen my face when I would close my eyes occasionally and try to listen and understand - that was definitely too much, too soon! It's been one month and I don't think I've climbed very far up that Spanish mountain yet, but I'm looking up and I don't feel daunted. I might make the top, I might not. What I do know is that I'll enjoy the climb, motivate myself when I need a push and be kind to myself when I need a break. Perhaps I'll even head back down, who knows, I'm giving myself permission to respect this learning journey. Maybe one day I'll stand at the top of that mountain and shout "Lo hice!" (I had to google translate that so I hope it's right )
If you have any intentions that you have set yourself, I hope you enjoy the journey! Don't spend too long looking at the top of that mountain, you'll get neck ache, just look ahead, right in front of you, and smile. You're trying, and that is always enough.
Have a gorgeous day!
Sam and Ash
(She/Her and He/Him)