06/11/2024
Wise words.
The Downside of Being Self-Conscious
If you've been following my last post on what promotes (or inhibits) people's ability to engage in lifelong learning, there's one characteristic that stands out above all others as a crippling inhibitor for learning and that's self-consciousness. We used to refer to this as being shy, and while this may well be true for some folks, genuine self-consciousness is the belief that someone is watching and making harsh judgements about our efforts. Years ago, a wise mentor put it to me that self-consciousness is really a reverse form of egotism. The very idea that people are interested in what we're doing (or not doing), and disparaging us, is a fantasy of our own making that elevates us into center stage position. When in truth, most people are just going about their lives minding their own business.
The early stages of learning a new skill (or reawakening an old one), can be awkward, clumsy, and uncoordinated. Freeing ourselves from self-consciousness means we no longer care if we look silly or if our efforts are less than polished and perfect. Some of us have such a strong fear of other's judgment that we give up before we've even started.
This is one of the reasons why it's so important that the yoga space not only be a safe space, but also a brave space. One where it's okay to ask questions, share observations and even challenge teachings. In a safe space, we can lose our balance and fall and be rewarded for daring to reach beyond what we know. In a brave space, no question is a stupid question. In a safe and brave space, people are more committed to their growth and authenticity than they are to their self image. It's worth considering.
What other attributes have contributed to your ability to be a lifelong learner?
