“If you’re searching for that one person who will change your life, take a look in the mirror.”
~Unknown

“Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.”
~Michael Masser

It’s a new year. 2017 offered a challenging perspective for many, including myself. Not only has my country endured one of the biggest reality checks we’ve had in my lifetime, I’ve had many changes that have challenged everything within me, including my values.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a very sensitive person who’s always seeking ways to understand myself better. Because I’m so sensitive, I’m affected by my environment. By my relationships. External sources as well as my internal wisdom invite me to seek ways to be a more present and more mindful person. To create better relationships. To continue to change and evolve. To connect deeper to my purpose.

Yoga has intensified this aspect of myself. By continuing my practice- between asana, yamas, niyamas, kriyas, relationships- I’m more aware of how I treat myself. Yoga has forced me to acknowledge my boundaries. One of the hardest aspects of my practice and my life. It’s forced me to take responsibility for my actions. That when I affect another person negatively, it’s awakened me to honor the responsibility in making it right. No matter the result.

We all make mistakes. Mistakes are what keep us in check, as long as we’re open enough to learning the lessons they offer, and redirecting our responses and actions accordingly. If we don’t honor our mistakes for what they are, we will continue to treat ourselves and others the same. It’s much like what we’re seeing in Hollywood and in politics. We all have our own stories of living in shame, in fear and in negativity. But we have the ability to transform and move forward in truth. We move forward in truth by keeping each other accountable for our actions. As Hollywood mentioned- and as yoga has been highlighting within me for 15 years now- time’s up. It’s time we look within and force ourselves to connect to our innermost truth and be vulnerable to making peace with our heart, our soul, and those around us. We ALWAYS have the chance to start anew and gain new perspectives. Always.

2018 is a year that I’ve dedicated to taking more responsibility and acknowledging my role in this world. How I treat others is a direct reflection of how I treat myself. As long as I continue to understand this, to make this a priority in my life, is the only way for me to wake up to the reality of my ripple in this world. Ripples do have an impact. We all have an impact.

Elizabeth Gilbert once said “I’ve never seen any life transformation that didn’t begin with the person in question finally getting tired of their own bullshit.” The universe will continue to teach us the same lessons that we need to learn about ourselves until we choose to listen and do something about it. We hold the key to unlocking our truth. No one else. But in order for us to be able to turn that key, we must be open to what the relationships and lessons the universe puts on our path are teaching us. I pray we all dare to be open enough to want to make changes for the better. I, myself, am tired of my own bullshit. I hope you are too.

Happy New Year to all of you. I have some exciting things coming up this year, and I hope to see some of you along the way. Love to you all.