What’s the Story?
These past few weeks, I’ve been leading an Inspired Living Coaching series with some of the most awesome individuals I’ve ever met. Some of you already know this because you are participating as one of these amazing humans. 😊
I love leading these kinds of workshops as they facilitate growth in such powerful, unexpected and sometimes even magical ways. But what inspires me most about working intimately and honestly with “regular” people learning to live the principles of yoga is discovering how extraordinary each of us really is. None of us come empty handed. We show up with lessons learned, relationships navigated and hurdles faced. We bring our stories with us, they live in our bodies, or as a teacher once said to me, “Our issues live in our tissues.”
My dad always says, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” He is quite the story teller. His philosophy illustrated for me that stories connect us. And connection is what life is all about!
Stories allow us to expand our understanding and our perceptions and in doing so expand our capacity for empathy, compassion and truth. Our stories of the obstacles we’ve faced, the fears we’ve overcome, the loves, the losses, and the lessons bridge us and unite us. Shared stories help us to figure out who we are and who we want to be in this world. After all, we have more in common than what might be visible from the outside. We all have a heart both anatomically and emotionally. Sharing our heart’s truth requires vulnerability and courage.
The Inspired Living group has been exploring vulnerability and courage. We’ve been discussing and learning the principles of inspired living and philosophies of yoga. And we’ve been practicing. Doing the hard work of practicing inspired living, finding ways to integrate these teachings into our daily lives and learning new ways of understanding our stories. We’ve been figuring out who we are and how we want to live.
Like my Dad, I have a couple of favorite sayings, too. You’ve probably heard me use them: “It’s all yoga” AND “It’s a practice.” I really believe this, as much as my Dad believes in a good story. We don’t just wake up one day and have it all figured out (message me ASAP if you DID!). We practice becoming.
What if we were able to really practice being our best selves? What if we really were able to embrace every day moments as opportunities to show up in our truth. What would it be like to trust on another in our imperfect work-in-progress state, and love each other in it?!?
I call this willingness to be seen in our vulnerable and imperfect condition as showing up in truth. I’m grateful that I get see it every day! The human experience of showing up, of practicing BEING in truth, allowing and embracing imperfection, vulnerability and love. Are you ready to practice? How will you show up?
May you breathe deeply, move freely, labor lovingly & live vibrantly,
Namaste,
Kimberlyn
