How to Stop Striving and start thriving

Summer is here and with it comes an opportunity to slow down. So grab a book, sit by the pool and chill out. It is also the start of “Off the Shelf,” a once a month review of books in the HYU library.

This months’ book is Toxic Success by Paul Pearsall Ph.D. Dr. Pearsall studied 100 “Winners” over a ten year period, his results to me were not shocking, simply because I have been there in my own life, working 10 years in corporate America before becoming a yoga teacher. He writes that he found that most suffered from a form of ADD and had become disconnected from themselves and had lost all capacity for intimacy. The continual striving for greater accomplishments and the craving to accumulate more are never satiated.”

“Got everything done, died anyway- Epitaph of the toxically successful

Back then I too was a huge multi-tasker, feeling that doing only one thing at a time was a waste of time. I still find myself wanting to multi-task though. My mind was constantly racing, thinking back to what I didn’t finish or ahead to what still needed to do. I took my work home with me and could not mentally separate from my job.This all-consuming toxic, striving for more mentality, was taking a toll on my marriage too. I am blessed with the best husband ever, who stuck with me even when I was so consumed with work, constantly striving for the next goal, the next bonus, the next best thing. Toxically successful people say yes to everything without realizing what they are also at the same time saying no to…to themselves, their relationships and their health.

I began my yoga practice 8 years into my corporate job where gratefully my eyes were opened to how Toxic my strive for success had become. Over the next two-year period I gradually reconnected back to myself, my husband and my life, resigned from my career and began a new path of sweet success.

Fast forward eleven years and I am enjoying life with my awesome husband, my family and my thriving yoga studio.

“Sweet or meaningful success happens not because you have accomplished something that makes you stand out. It happens because you have lived in a way that you are able to easily and happily stand with everyone else; with those who applaud your success and who at the same time still feel like you are one of them and not separate from them.”

If you’re ready to Stop Striving and Start Thriving, Toxic Success is the book for you. It’s a fast read with lots of testimonials and great quotes. Have a pen and paper ready or if you’re like me, you’ll want your own copy and start highlighting!

Karin xx