A State Of Excellence

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”- Aristotle

My good friend Amy called recently and said she felt like she was on a roller coaster. Her life seemed to be going up and down, with plenty of twists and curves. But then she surprised me when she told me not to worry, because she was learning to live in what she calls, "A State of Excellence." She says whatever happens is going to happen, but it won't throw her. 

God, how I love my friends and my clients. They are some of my best teachers. If excellence can be Amy's mission, maybe it can help others as well. After all, Excellence is a choice and doesn’t happen simply by chance. Choosing to be remarkable at everything you do is making a conscious effort to do the very best you can, in everything.

It's also a balance between action and surrender.

Let me explain... Let’s say, in your first yoga class ever, you decide to put your foot behind your head, thinking that's the way to be in a state of excellence. Unfortunately, you'll probably ending up tearing something if you aren’t warmed up or experienced enough. It takes practice to build up to advanced poses. However, you can still be excellent in your first yoga class by being alert, present and positive. In fact, you can be the best in everything and anything you do, no matter what you do. But sometimes it takes a little longer to be your best.

In yoga and in life striving for balance between action and surrender is an excellent intention. If there is only action, we will eventually burnout and run our bodies and minds into the ground. If there is only surrender, nothing gets done and we don't get anywhere. Balance between doing and being are the key ingredients to greatness.

Understanding excellence in your first yoga class, your first marathon or your first thesis is going to look different than your 100th class, 100th run or 100th paper.

Give yourself a break and meet yourself where you are. Be in a state of excellence RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

Don't compare and despair. Being proactive rather than reactive is a component of excellence. Choosing to press the pause button and always choosing the higher thoughts and feelings is excellence.

Excellence is not perfection. Excellence is striving for what's attainable. It's being the best of who you are at the time.

So I'm the teacher learning from my student. Now that Amy is pushing toward a state of excellence, I am joining her in that mission. I am choosing to make a habit of excellence in all my actions, thoughts, words and deeds.

Let the choice of excellence, not chance, determine your future!

And remember... Always, always, ALWAYS... Go where the love is.

--Susan