This week in San Diego temperatures sank to a rigid fifty-four degrees. I broke down and turned the heater on for the first time.  Not before texting my Mom to see if she considered it an acceptable low and not before reflecting on how I had had the air-conditioning on in my car that afternoon.  Living in the most temperate climate in the country can skew your view of these things as much as teaching a bunch of hot yoga in San Diego can. We are so comfortable here.

 While I may be extra sensitive to the conditions outside I am also sensitive to the conditions inside.  Yoga asks that we watch our mind.  When we do we see that the mind is always looking for a comfortable place to rest. The path of yoga is also called the hero's journey.  It takes a  heroic amount of courage, fortitude and grit to get uncomfortable often and even more to follow your fears until they no longer scare you.  The more you let yourself be uncomfortable eventually the less discomfort there will be. .  The path is far from easy but it is definitely worth it.  Are you comfortable? Are you too comfortable?  Rather than being a sign of, "the good life," this could be the sign of an unexamined one.  

I’m not advocating causing suffering in your life, by all means put on a sweater, turn on the heater! But also watch your mind.  See what you procrastinate, avoid and fear it is probably your path to freedom. The Manifesto below by Brene Brown says it beautifully.

MANIFESTO OF THE BRAVE AND BROKENHEARTED

There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers Than those of us who are willing to fall Because we have learned how to rise.

With skinned knees and bruised hearts; We choose owning our stories of struggle, Over hiding, over hustling, over pretending.

When we deny our stories, they define us. When we run from struggle, we are never free. So we turn toward truth and look it in the eye.

We will not be characters in our stories. Not villains, not victims, not even heroes.

We are the authors of our lives. We write our own daring endings.

We craft love from heartbreak, Compassion from shame, Grace from disappointment, Courage from failure.

Showing up is our power.
Story is our way home. Truth is our song. We are the brave and brokenhearted. We are rising strong.