A guest blog post written by TASK Graduate, Jo Hanks (Edited by TASK).
How do we define success? What does success look and feel like to you?
I’ve been recently studying on the TASK Practitioner Course which culminated with the final theory exam in July 2021. I get nervous before exams and so I was thinking, “The things I put myself through to follow my passions and dreams ha!”
I applied some Kinesiology techniques to help me stay present and positive, yet I finished my final exam feeling really low and downhearted as I was sure I’d failed. All that work, study and revision down the pan. It weighed heavy on me and knew it’d be a long painful wait until the results were issued.
I thought I’d failed
When I confided in a friend that I truly thought I’d failed my finals, they gifted me this incredible insight, I was so caught up in the eye of the storm I just didn’t see it….
But failure is all about perspective
They said “You’ve passed with flying colours, if you zoom out of your life a little bit to see that the exam is the exam, but the bigger test is how you coped with months of extreme stress and study. All those things you would have burnt yourself out for previously and you would have reached that point and be ill. So, the pass or fail of the exam would be irrelevant, because you had failed your body”.
But this time you passed, you passed with flying colours. Yes, there will be tiredness and a need for restoration and amazing self care but you haven’t irreparably harmed yourself in the process so when the results do come through, they won’t matter because you’ll be in bed with deep deep fatigue”
Finally that light bulb moment
Boom…A light bulb moment. I saw that me passing the exam was an outer success much like buying a home, getting the dream job or a new car.
There are inner successes, that aren’t necessarily seen but felt, such as the success of; changing habits of the mind, healing from childhood wounds and stories and the success of learning, creating and holding boundaries for yourself and with others.
I feel unstoppable
I know and feel I have truly learned a big life lesson and I feel unstoppable as I know I will always listen to my body rather than ignore, push and force my way through, as was my previous method of life.
So, this is my measure of success. A balanced, loved and well-tended body, mind and soul.
Do you strive for perfection?
I’m sharing this for anyone who like me, strives for perfection. Those who tend to force themselves forward to achieve goals and tasks regardless of how their mind or body feels. There is a different way, a kinder approach and radical self care shows the way.
Keep doing “the work”
So, to all of you who have been “doing the work”, or thinking about it, keep going. I hear you and I see you. I celebrate you and all the small victories.
You are stronger than you can ever believe, you’re doing better than you think. You are the most perfect work in progress. Sometimes it’s good to zoom out a little bit from our lives to savour a very different scene.
Oh….and I passed.
Much love Jo x
Original post can be found on Jo’s website
Jo Hanks is a Yoga teacher, TASK trained Systematic Kinesiologist and nutritionist.
She helps people live their best vibrant life with radiant health. She encompasses the true meaning of wellness through yogic lifestyle with Yoga Classes – Workshops – Retreats – Kinesiology & Nutrition Advice.
You can find out more about Jo via her website here.