On learning how to not play small

My blog this week is going to be very short. Iowa Public Radio already covered it for me. One of the things yoga has taught me is the importance of stopping to reflect on my experiences, so that is what I will take this time to do.

Yesterday after my interview I was absolutely overwhelmed by the messages and attention I received. I could not bring myself back to real life. My head wasn’t just in the clouds, it was somewhere in outer space. I used to be an extrovert. Then I became an introvert, and yoga slowly is coaxing me back into extrovert-dom. I always thought I liked being the spotlight, but I just could not handle it. After stopping to put my legs up the wall in my office (see photo), I came back to one of my favorite quotes from Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? ... Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

A brief moment of disclosure. 1) That quote is an abridged version. 2) I have not read her books, so don’t dog me about her philosophy or life or whatever. Simply put, I like that quote and it has played a role in my self-acceptance journey and that is all.

The point is, I’m taking this time to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous. I’m taking this time to soak in my 15 minutes of kind-of fame and promoting myself and my brand. I have something to offer people, and my playing small does not serve me and it does not serve the people that I know will be happier with just a little yoga in their lives.

Another, more important, thing I have learned is gratitude. I’ve said this before, but every time I think I understand gratitude, what it means to be truly thankful, I learn a new lesson on what it means. Gratitude is not only being thankful or saying “thank you”. I’ve learned that it means to be truly filled up with love and gratefulness. Gratitude has become an emotion for me. I feel the love and thankfulness deep in my bones. It feels good! So, to everyone that has been so supportive of me, THANK YOU!