Your Resilient Human Will | The Strength Of Your Humanity

I believe that there is no earthly force stronger than the human will.

It is resilient.

It is divine.

I have been reminded over and over again of this force and it has drawn me to one conclusion.

You are never given anything that you cannot overcome.

On the mat:

Whether you're sweating your mat apart in a vinyasa class or squirming in a three-minute dragon lunge during yin, you have taught me something very important about the human will. I have put you in a physical pose (an asana) that is uncomfortable and that requires your one hundred percent focus and attention.

You are now in a place where you cannot be distracted by a phone, or a friend, or anything else.

You are here on your mat, in a position where you have no other choice but to show up for yourself.

I see the way you look at me when I tell you that you still have three more push-ups to go.

I see you when you feel like you want to cry in a stretch that you have only just arrived in.

But you stay, you breathe and you show up.

I see the strength of your will.

I see the power behind your eyes when you tell yourself to keep going. Even when a very loud part of your mind is wishing I would tell you to stop.

But you stay. 

And you show up.

And I hope you understand the depth of this showing up. 

I hope you see this showing up as your most important pursuit. 

This showing up for yourself; this telling yourself that you can when you so badly want OUT, is truly a miracle. 

We live in a world that pulls us away from ourselves every second of our waking lives. We zone out in front of screens, and engage in habits and behaviours that are not filling our cups.

Sometimes we spend time in places or with people that do not absolutely nourish our souls. We often find ourselves out of alignment or far away from our truth. Watching you not only show up for yourself, but choose yourself in a moment where you are truly challenged is such a miracle. You follow me to the uncomfortable place and you show up, fiercely, even though there's an open door waiting for you to leave and return to your world of distractions.

I see you when you want to throw in the towel and say that you have had it and you're finished. I have seen you in that vulnerability, and in that tiring. I witness your internal battle of whether you should stay or go, and then the moment I tell you that you can, and that you are able; I witness another miracle.

Suddenly you are back and willing once again.

You have awoken.

You breathe louder and you come into this knowing that you are not merely this mind or this body.

You are something rare and unique and much greater than the boundaries you live within.

Once again you have returned to show up for yourself.

This is the magic of the human will. And I know how strong it is because when I tell you that you can, you take my word for it. My word - the word of the least important breathing thing in the room - the word of (to most of you) a stranger.

We have the power to choose ourselves and to be strong and show up; but sometimes we need a whisper. A voice to reinforce what is true. A voice to tell you that you can when you are ready to throw in the towel. A voice that says what you already know you have deep down is still in there.

You can say yes. You can choose how you show up in a challenging moment. You have that power. Take my word for it, I watch people say yes to themselves for a living. I know it’s in there, and I know you can find it.

Your beautiful strength is within you, I promise. My dream for you is to hear yourself saying "I can" by cranking up the volume to your inner voice. I will help you practice making your inner voice stronger and louder on your mat so that when you are off your mat, you can show up for yourself just the same. I want you to witness the miracle that is you, and bask in your glory the way that I do when you show up in my room. 

I want you to know the magnificence of the human will.

I want you to see it the way that I do.

I want you to understand that when you say you cannot, you are accepting a story.

I want you to know that the story you have accepted can be one where you say yes.

You can do hard things.

Use your trials as invitations.

Face your discomfort and overcome it.

Show yourself that you can in fact show up for yourself.

You are unstoppable.

The light in you is all I see. 

In service,

P