As different parts of the world went into lockdown, different online trends and challenges started taking over the internet. There was banana bread and coffee and new TikToks and plenty of new things to do. The human mind finds new things to target and channelizes energy ever so often in so many directions.
I, for one, chose to learn how to do a headstand. A headstand is where someone is upside down and balances their weight on their head with a little help from the arms. I also wanted to work my brain, so I decided I’m going to be consistent with learning a new language. And along the way, I happened to pick up such important lessons from something so simple.
And here are all the things a headstand taught me!
Set your mind on your goal.
This perhaps is the hardest. When you live in a world with endless possibilities and opportunities, it is so close to impossible to fix your wandering mind on one thing and one thing alone. This in no way means that you never learn new things, but rather, learn one thing at a time, master it and then move on to the next. Doing two things at once will leave you only averagely skilled at both.
Have a plan in place.
You can know what you want to do, but without a plan, it’ll remain an unfinished goal. Whether it’s learning the right pronunciations or getting the posture right, you cannot do it without knowing how you want to do it. As part of a plan, devote time consciously to what you want to do. Don’t treat it like a pass time activity, or don’t do it ‘only when time permits’. Give time to what is important to you.
Learn from those before you!
It is very likely in all contexts of life, that there has been someone who has done what you’re about to do. So learn from them. Try and avoid the mistakes they’ve made and make some of your own, so the next person can make their own.
Get the basics right!
The most important part of anything you will ever learn is the basics. It’s like not knowing the alphabet but learning the language. Not too useful right? Even with a headstand, if you don’t know how to balance, you will keep falling over. Do it 20, 30 and even 40 times until you can do it with your eyes closed. Because even if the climb gets harder, your footing will still be firm.
Consistency is key
Repeat. Like a mad person, repeat it every day, every chance you get. I learned the best way to master something is to give in to it. That part of the day you devote to this one particular thing, let it be only about this. It can be incredibly taxing, not being able to see any difference despite the everyday effort. But even on day 2, you will be one step ahead of what you were on day one. Repeat.
Recognise your growth.
Give yourself credit where it’s due. It takes very real effort to go back and do something each day relentlessly. It feels like walking in the same spot but when you look back, you will see how far you’ve come and somehow it doesn’t seem that tedious. We’re all slaves to our goals at some point, so remembering that, don’t forget to give yourselves the break you deserve.
Recognise your weak points
Since we’re not all born perfect, we have our weak points. And recognising them is key to growth. How can you get better at something when you don’t know where you’re going? It’s tricky because while we are our worst critique, we also fail to see so our flaws. And if you aren’t too sure, just ask somebody that can give you honest and constructive advice.
You will fail
Shakespeare said to err is human and safely assuming that everyone reading this is, we’re bound to fail. Almost nobody has ever got it right the first time. The first time I tried to do a headstand thinking I was prepared, I fell over and looked like a full clown at work. But if you ask me now, I could stop, drop and stand on my head just about anywhere for as long as I’d like. While you may think there is no more getting better at it, a bitter reality will walk in and knock you over. So go into it knowing it’ll take more than one go.
You will always find cheerleaders
The best part of getting anywhere is that you will find your own set of cheerleaders. Some will help you do the task, some will tell you how to do it, some may have no idea and cheer you on anyway and some will pick you up when you fall. And sometimes, this may come as one person and sometimes a whole dozen. These are your people, these are people who will have your back every time you need them, always hold them in your heart.
Some people may never know.
Sometimes, or actually often, you’re going to find more critics and naysayers and they’ll only ever tell you how you’ve got it wrong, how it isn’t worth it, how insignificant it is. But, that is absolutely untrue. I know that because it is unlikely I may ever do a headstand outside of my house and possible I may never visit the country of the language I learn. But both these skills are skills that have added to me, as a person. It may never count in a professional setting, but it counts in every way that I want it to. And nothing anyone says should ever be the reason you stop.
When I started learning how to do a headstand and a new language, I never imagined I’d learn more from it than just the skill. And I guess that’s what life is about, the little lessons and surprises that come with the journey.
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