Sunday, November 21, 2010

Liar, liar!

Lately I've been thinking about what it means to be honest. I mean, really honest. Some of us have a habit of telling white lies. Some of us construct elaborate scenarios about our pasts or future in order to get us what we want. We can lie to ourselves about who we really are--we can say we're stupid, no good, and undeserving of anything good that comes our way, when really the opposite is true. And then, there are other kinds of lies that we tell ourselves. 

I am not a chronic liar. Nor do I enjoy telling white lies. But one of the few concrete memories I have of being a little kid involves a lie. When I was about three years old, I sat with my brother, staring at a tiny nick in my bedroom's rainbow wallpaper. I looked at my brother with what was probably a devilish grin and grabbed at the nick, pulling off big chunks. My brother, who was less than two years old and didn't really talk yet, sat and watched.

Of course, all good things must come to an end, and my mother walked in after my brother and I were admiring my handiwork. "Who did this?!" she shouted. Fear filled my gut, and I pointed my finger at my brother and spoke ever-so-convincingly, "He did!"

My poor brother, who was too young to talk and defend himself, knew before the shit hit the fan what my false accusation meant. He started crying immediately, one of the few expressions his little toddler vocabulary allowed for. My mother, who was always the most restrained, loving, and gentle woman, must have reached her wits' end. We were never spanked, but my brother got one that day. 

I remember four-year-old me listening to him cry and feeling this strange emotion come up in me. I sat on that story for a good long time. Not until I was a teenager did my brother, mom and I talk about that day. My mother was shocked to learn the "real" story. My brother also remembers the incident and still feels just the tiniest bit pissed off about it. Thankfully, we can laugh about it now. It felt good, even as a teenager, to talk about it.

I don't think I tell such bald-faced lies anymore. But maybe I've just learned to tell more elaborate ones--especially to myself.

I've been practicing Bikram yoga for over a year and a half now, and I always had a regular yoga practice before I started this. I should be no stranger to stretching and strengthening by now! However, when it comes down to it, I admit I rarely give 100% in class. This is especially true in any hamstring stretch poses. For no good reason whatsoever, I am terrified of pulling a muscle in hands-to-feet pose or any of the head-to-knee poses. I get myself "into" the posture and hang out right in the comfort zone. "Save some energy for later. You're gonna injure yourself," I tell myself. "You're already working hard enough just being in the hot room."

It's as bad as the straight-up lie I told my mom as a child.

OK, so, lying to yourself about how hard you're working in yoga class isn't the biggest problem on the planet. But isn't what we do in class a mirror of what we do in life? The little lies we tell ourselves are just the walls we build to our own prisons.

Tonight, I stopped the lying in my yoga classafter being present enough to first recognize that there was no need to hold myself back in standing-head-to-knee pose. I was able to see it was just fear. I pulled my head just a little bit further toward my feet. I allowed myself to feel discomfort in the back of my legs. It may not have been "Pain sensation," but for the first time in a long time, I let myself really feel something. No fear, no lies, just feeling.

And guess what? It felt good.    

10 comments:

Juliana said...

Oh, that story is priceless. That's amazing that your little bro remembers that. It must have felt good to talk about.
I can totally relate to not giving my 100% all the time. For me it depends on the teacher, I know which ones will call me out so if I'm feeling lazy and it's an "easier" teacher, I'll relax a little bit. I guess the first step is admitting you have a problem ;-)
Good for you for pushing yourself today:)

angelzrhere said...

I'm the victim of most of my lies. Oh, crap: breakthrough therapy moment right now!

Kimberly said...

I agree with not always giving 100% everytime in yoga. For me it is not just the instructor but the music they have chosen. I have found myself completely distracted with someones eccentric music sollection. Though not all is bad but I feel there should be a flow of some sort. Well anyway, I will keep in mind to push just alittle further next time and give myself that good pain of hard work.
As for the story you told as a child; I would have never pegged you for a girl that would blame the other person. So I can see why your mommy didn't hesitate to believe you. Poor little bro. :)

Cher said...

And yet, and yet, it is possible to injure yourself in yoga class. Years ago I injured my neck doing a shoulder stand, and it took years for it to heal. I stayed in the pose long past the point of comfort. So challenge yourself, and also listen to your body's signals.

bikramyogachick said...

I don't think anybody always tells the truth. We lie to protect ourselves. We lie because we think we are protecting others. Mostly we lie because sometimes the truth is too overwhelming. I give 100% everytime I go to bikram. (lie!) :) I guess that's why I need teachers up there who can see through my b.s and call me out. The other day Lacey was coaxing me further into the final stretching pose and she said "michelle, do you know how much deeper you just went! ya, that's right, I see your guilty smile!!".

Charlane said...

Well said!

Unknown said...

Well, they do say that it is a marathon and not a sprint... I usually know after Half Moon how much I can give.. I tend to be the lightheaded kind and after doing this for a couple years now, yeah it still happens. :)

hannahjustbreathe said...

GOOD FOR YOU, lady. It's so easy to hold back, isn't it?? And so much harder to just go for it. Although it seems it should be the other way around...

Anonymous said...

I love this lady, so smart!
My biggest fear in my life as long as I can remember is that I would think I was something I wasn’t, by spending a lifetime lying to myself. I love when people get real, no sugar coating, and say it how it is. Such a great exercise! And congratulations on your standing head to knee!

Elisa said...

Cher and Elle, you're right... it is definitely possible to injure yourself in yoga and we need to take care not to overdo it. Maybe some folks have a tendency to do that and others to underdo it!

Thanks, Martina!

Michelle, your reality check is totally true... I think striving for honesty--with others and ourselves--is a good aim, though.

And thanks for coming by, Charlane and Kimberly (is this MY Kim??)! :-)