Don't Force It!

Have you every noticed that as women we expect or want from our hair what we don't have?

• If we have straight hair, we want it curly. 
• If we have curly hair, we want it straight.
• If we have layers, we are growing it out so it's all one length.
• If our hair is all one length, a style with lots of layers catches our eye and now we want layers.
• If we have short hair, we want to grow it out.
• And when it's long, we think about how it would look if we cut it short.

I have always described my hair as, "too curly to be strait and too straight to be curly." I have thick, coarse hair with a natural wave. My hair was made for the 80's BIG hair style.

The last time I was in to see my stylist (who I absolutely adore), she and I were talking about my hair texture. I told her how much I liked it when my hair was straightened, but also said that I don't like to spend the time it takes to make it that way.

I said something about how it's curly, but not enough to look good. When I let it dry, it looks like I had a permanent, but some of the curlers fell out before it finished processing. Parts of it are straighter than other parts.

She suggested using a product that helps maintain the curl and make it more consistent across my head.

Do they really make something like that? Yes! I found it at the grocery store and have been using it ever since. It makes it so my hair can easily do what I want it to do. There is no more forcing it to be straight, when in fact, it wants to be curly.

That's not to say I won't take the time to straighten it every so often...but it's MUCH easier to just let it do what it wants to do.

It's SO much easier when I don't force it.

The other day, the "don't force it" principal played out with a decision I was making. For the past two years, I have contemplated taking a fairly extensive Yoga Teacher Training from one of our local studios. Each time I was interested, but would look at the curriculum and the schedule and feel roadblocks popping up.

Last week I finally turned in my application (and put down a deposit) to do the Yoga Teacher Training this summer at the yoga studio where I practice.  The first time I heard about the training, I felt excited. As I looked at the schedule, it seemed like it would work. It was such a different experience than before when I felt like I was forcing it to work.

The flow and ease of making the decision this time reminded me of my hair. It's SO much easier when I don't force it.

The key will be if I remember this the next time I am debating on what to do. If it feels forced, I am probably making the wrong decision. If it flows...it is probably right.

I need to remember not to force it! I'm off now to take a shower and apply my curly gel...and let my hair flow.