ON DISCOMFORT

Hey -  it’s been a minute. I took a bit of a break from writing on my blog because, well, life is happening. And often times, when I bare my soul with words, I feel like there is a residual emotional hangover. It sometimes feels overindulgent, like I’ve shared too much. But then again, I realize that I don’t write for other people. I write for me. I put my words out into the world in this public space because I believe we need to start pushing the boundaries of our conversations. We need to talk about difficult things and challenge one another to think better and do better. We need to normalize conversations about vulnerability, about mental health, about the things that make us squirm or cry. I openly talk about going to therapy and going through the ups and downs of my mental state because I know I am not alone in these struggles. These experiences are what allow us to evolve. This is what makes us human.

It’s easier to tie up our vulnerabilities and cover them up with a pretty bow. It’s easier to drown ourselves in work and other distractions. But what happens when we find ourselves in quiet? When we are still? When we are left in solitude?

We sit with the discomfort. This is a practice that I have learned in my yoga practice. Holding a shape, finding its edge, exploring, and pushing past the zones of comfort. Sometimes, my body does not wish to follow it, but more often than not, I find myself in a deeper iteration of the shape. Not necessarily  an “advanced” position, rather, a shape that feels different from before. This is the place where change and growth happens. 

Some journal prompts, or questions for reflection:

What do you do when your heart feels heavy?

How do you meet the darkest parts of yourself?

How do you push past the discomfort?