The purpose of life is to grow. From the moment of conception, we are growing. We are born with an innately glorious blueprint – the nexus of "who" we may become.

"Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself." ~ George Bernard Shaw

In yoga class, I love the symbolism of the tree pose. A tree starts as a tiny seedling beneath the earth's surface – invisible, yet nourished and protected as it begins to spread its roots. Then one day, a sprout appears and the tree has taken root. Day after day, the little tree reaches skyward while shifting with the sun, wind, rain and the seasons.

Next time you're in tree pose, imagine your feet as roots drawing strength from the earth, your torso as your strong trunk weathering life's storms and your arms as branches reaching toward new possibilities.

Just like the tree, we, too, have grown from a tiny seed. Day in and day out, we are shaped by the many seasons of life – through love, rebirth, loss, joys and sorrow – life's challenges prodding us to grow and keep reaching. While we face continuous change, it is how we respond to these changes that ultimately shapes the person we are becoming.

Growth is not easy; it's a continuous process pushing us out of our comfort zone. Change demands our courage, our imagination, our commitment and our faith.

So often, we aren't able to see how far we've come, how much we've accomplished, and how much we've grown. Life keeps us distracted – Consider this your gentle reminder to make time for yourself, find a space for quiet reflection honoring the path you have traveled and the journey you are on.

As you reflect on your own growth journey, consider:

In what ways do you desire to grow?
What are some of the ways you've grown in the past year? What was the catalyst?
What are you reaching for?
What are the roots in your life that keep you grounded?
What would your highest self encourage you to embrace in this moment?

I'm rooting for you!

​Inspired by Gandhi’s teachings, let us be the change we want to see in this world.

As I settle in to write this, ominous clouds fill the sky so big and dark that the light from the sun is hidden. I think many of us are feeling the chaos and uncertainty of a changing world. The very world we have known, lived, and grown in for decades seems to be at a precipice. A world where truth, freedom, peace and liberty are our birthright, yet seem to be in question. 

No matter how hard I try, I cannot make sense of it. In these times when darkness seems to gather, I find myself returning to the very foundation of yoga, not merely the physical postures, but the ethical guidelines that inform its heart. The Yamas (yoga sutras) offer us a compass for navigating life's storms. And the first of these, Ahimsa (nonviolence) feels particularly relevant today.

Ahimsa – Complete compassion toward all living things, including ourselves – reminds us that beneath the clouds of confusion and conflict lies our shared humanity. Inner peace leaves no room for violence. When we truly understand that hurting another is hurting ourselves, we discover a pathway through the darkness.

The practice of yoga looks different for each of us – for me it has always been much more than asana, stretching, twisting, bending and strengthening. In its essence yoga becomes an exploration, peeling back the layers of our true essence, opening us to our inner truth and wisdom. 

The ancient texts focus very little on the physical postures, rather on the yoga sutras. You might think of the sutras as a guide to living your best life and how to advance on a spiritual path. The sutras are not written to tell us how to live, rather suggestions to observe, practice and ask the important questions.

The sutras invite us to reflect deeply on our choices:

What are the thoughts I chose, the thoughts I chose to let go of, the words I chose to speak, and how I speak them?
Are my actions kind towards others even when we disagree? 
Am I kind to myself, nourishing body, mind and spirit? 

Here's a short meditation you can do to cultivate Ahimsa in the world:

Step 1: Take a moment today to sit quietly. 
Step 2: As you breathe deeply, imagine peace flowing from your heart outward, touching everything around you. 
Step 3: Imagine how might this simple practice transform your experience of our changing world.
Step 4: Sit in gratitude for all that you have in your life and give thanks.

Every single day is another opportunity to practice peace within and without. And so dear friend, let's stand together, especially beneath dark clouds...

"Peace is not something you wish for.
It is something you make,
Something you are,
Something you do, and
Something you give away."
– Robert Fulghum

"You're allowed to be a work in progress and a masterpiece at the same time." ~ Jess Sims

It's not what you say to everyone else that determines your life; it's what you whisper to yourself that has the greatest power and influence.

The best lessons in life are the ones we continue to learn over and over again because that's how we learn. The human mind needs lots of reminders and lots of practice. So often we forget that it's okay to make mistakes, to speak our mind, to say no, to prioritize ourselves, embrace our imperfections, to forgive and seek forgiveness and to begin again.

I'll segue for a moment here – I was working with a professional dog trainer today and the thing that stood out the most is the idea of acknowledging first what the dog does well. Rewarding the dog's good behavior encourages him to keep doing it, rather than scolding him for unpleasant behavior. The positive reinforcement becomes a new goal and becomes much easier to drop the unwanted behavior.

As humans we are blessed with the gift of neuroplasticity – a fancy word for saying our brains truly can change and adapt throughout our lives. The mind is like a muscle, and just like the muscles in the body need to be exercised to gain and maintain integrity and strength, our minds need to be trained daily to develop over time as well. 

Each day the messages we send ourselves become the building blocks that either strengthen us or weaken us. What are some of the messages you repeat to yourself? Are they words of inspiration, aspiration, affirmation? It's time to let go of the thoughts that don't make you strong. As we say in our yoga practice – where the focus goes, energy flows.

You and I both know we cannot control the outer world, but we can choose to fill our inner world with love, peace and gratitude for this life. The most powerful and practical life changes happen when you decide to take control of what you do have power over, rather than constantly craving control over what you don't. 

We are living in a world so vastly different than the one I remember growing up in. It feels even more important to cultivate inner peace, through self-acceptance, love and care.

Below I'm sharing with you a message that I read every morning. It resonates deeply with where I am at in my life at this time. It serves as a companion and a reminder of the path that I am on, the life I am building, and the abundance that flows through my life.

"Day in and day out, I am building my life on wisdom, on patience, on faith, on high values and morals. The foundation of my life is strong. Beautiful, abundant and prosperous things are being built."

You may feel inspired to write something that resonates and inspires you. I strongly encourage it as a way to cheer yourself on, validate your efforts and build upon your strengths.

Remember, as Jess shares, you're allowed to simultaneously be a work in progress and a masterpiece.