The Art of Pushing Back: Embracing Life’s Ceremony

In our contemporary society, the relentless pursuit of success and self-improvement has become an unspoken mantra. We are encouraged to push ourselves, to strive harder, get better and to elevate our existence to seemingly unattainable heights.

The modern narrative often emphasises hard work and perseverance, leading many to believe that pushing for results is a badge of honour. However, this mindset perpetuates a cycle of mental and physical inertia, where even the simplest of tasks can feel insurmountable. As we engage in the daily grind, we may find ourselves caught in a web of endless scrolling or compulsively checking emails, hoping for a spark of relief, a hack or inspiration to get out of the pit of procrastination. This incessant need for distraction and fixing can amplify feelings of disenchantment.

Many individuals fall into the path of self-healing and therapy, mistaking it for another chore that demands relentless effort. The belief that they must fix their emotional or mental state leads to a paradox: the harder they push for healing, the more elusive it becomes. This relentless cycle of self-improvement can create an overwhelming sense of failure, as if one’s worth is tied to the ability to conquer every internal struggle. I hear it often “I need to fix this’, ‘if I can let this go, I will be able to move forward’. I witness people trying hard to achieve the perfect breath practice or pushing for a release, frustrated if they didn’t feel anything and thinking they must be somehow failing.

There is an unlearning process that often is the starting point in my breathwork classes. Establishing safety first, regulating the nervous system and being present with breath. This can feel hard, as simple as it may seems because it can feel slow and laborious. But boredom is another distraction and a red flag our nervous system is not in ventral state. To trust and simply be with the inhale and the exhale and allowing yourself time and space to listen to your body and the language of your nervous system is an art that develops and evolves over time. There can be an impatience, a frustration in the very mundaneness of something that is so sacred and transformative.

When we release the need to tackle and heal every issue, we open ourselves to a profound shift. In surrendering to the chaos of life, we may discover a newfound ease that allows some troubles to dissolve naturally. Others may retreat into silence, waiting for a time when we are ready to address them. This gentle acceptance of our current state can lead to transformative experiences, as we learn to embrace who we are without the burden of unrealistic expectations.

By releasing the relentless pursuit of perfection and embracing acceptance, we can alleviate the weight of expectation. Life becomes a beautiful tapestry woven with both challenges and triumphs, where we learn to honour our experiences as part of a shared human journey. In this embrace of self-acceptance, we find the space to heal, to grow, and ultimately, to thrive together in the richness of our existence.