The 3 Things I Learned from Failing at a 30 Day Yoga Challenge

In my first Year of Liz update post, I briefly mentioned that one thing I might try regarding my health goal is yoga. I started by doing my usual multi-step process before beginning any goal: I did research, talked with a friend who is an expert, reflected on it, thought about the pros and cons, and yadda yadda yadda, I began a 30 day yoga challenge.

*Side note – perhaps I overthink these things…but then again, I do love my thought experiments…*

This goal hit all of the points that have led me to success before: it was something new, it had a specific deadline, and best of all, it was convenient. I could do it in the comfort of my own living room, in my pajamas no less. And sure enough, the first 6 days were AWESOME.

Then…

You might have guessed it…

I stopped.

But even though I only did 6 out of the 30 days, you better believe I learned a few things from the process.

So without further ado, here are the 3 things I learned from failing at a 30 day yoga challenge:

#1: The goal should be about you – not the exercise.

I really enjoyed the first few days because each lesson was about me, and the yoga was just the way to explore the topic of the day. For example, the first day was all about motivation. So with each move – some more tortuous than others – the common thread was the encouragement of the instructor to consider your motivations for all that you do. Another day was about mental strength, another about taking risks, and so on.

Maybe that’s what’s wrong with our fitness goals in particular. We focus too much on the activity or the end result and not enough on ourselves, and how we may need to change the way we think in order to achieve success.

#2: My usual steps to success are not always enough.

Like I said, this goal had all of the right stuff for me. It was convenient, had a specific deadline, and it was something new. But alas, here I am, writing this post as a failure to complete my mission.

So what was missing?

I spent some time contemplating this, and it’s obvious to me that it has everything to do with motivation, or lack thereof. Which brings me to my next point.

#3: I’m not upset that I didn’t finish – and that’s ok.

When day 7 came and I didn’t do it, I felt the slightest twinge of guilt. But then, as quick as that twinge came, it left. Day 8 passed and I still felt nothing. Then day 9, and so on.

So I did something I have rarely done before when it comes to my goals. I decided to stop…and not feel guilty about it.

If you recall from my least favorite goal ever post, I decided recently that especially when it came to health and fitness goals, I would only work on ones that I was truly motivated to do, and that I would try to enjoy the process instead of just focusing on the end result.

Well in the case of 30 day yoga, I realized around day 5 that I really disliked the process. A lot. After that “newness” feeling wore off in a few days, I kind of dreaded pulling my mat out each evening. So when I skipped a couple of days I asked myself, if I dislike this so much, then why in the world am I doing it?

Does it mean that I am giving up on having any fitness goals ever?

Nope.

It just means that I am still looking for ones in which I can at the very least tolerate the process, and ideally enjoy it. And in the meantime I will get fitness in other ways – just not in a formal goal format.

So with that being said, here is your thought experiment for the day:

Reflect on a the last goal you failed to achieve. What can you learn from that experience?