Set your inner compass to "YES"

One of the themes I've noticed in my own life recently, but also in the lives of students and clients, is an internal shift. When society is as garish, and honestly - horrifying - as it is today, it seems to act as a mirror. To see in ourselves and our lives where we are living out of alignment with ourselves and the good of the collective. And what we're seeing now is this enormous shift away from individualism and instead towards community outreach. Expectation and achievement and long hours under fluorescent lights are being traded for time under the sun. Maybe I am speaking to my own experience here, but it feels like the world dynamics are screaming "NO" so loudly, that we're all pointing towards our personal and group "Yesses" instead. Seeing outside of ourselves to tend to what matters most - and beginning to understand that in pouring care into ourselves will deepen the quality of our care for others. That speaking and acting in our power can create massive ripple effects. This might just be a super cringey or naive take on an incredibly difficult time in our society. But, if you've felt the stirrings to deepen love, community, and hope, perhaps you follow them. Listen deeply to your emotions and physical body - not the thoughts - and follow the things that feel like a whole-body YES. What resonates? What lights you up? What inspires you and fosters curiosity? In Yoga, we practice our inner Drishti - our internal focal point. This tunes out the noise and allows us to focus inward on our true present state of being and awareness. By listening in stillness and silence, we can better learn how the "yesses" and "no's" show up. The regular practice of this inward gaze can lead to a strong inner compass to guide us to what aligns most individually and collectively. I encourage you to follow the yesses. Take what feels right (not necessarily what feels easy) and leave what doesn't. What feels right in the present moment may not feel right two minutes from now. For example, I am writing this email at 5:00am the day I intend to send it out. I trusted the time would be here when the words would flow, but I didn't schedule it. I woke up and my body screamed "yes, now"! Our society doesn't always allow for aligned schedules, but maybe you try it out just for a day, or just an hour. Let me know if you do <3 May we continue to care deeply for ourselves, our communities, our dear mother Earth, and the collective good.