I have been researching and working through healing my ancestral trauma. This complex and delicate process typically involves understanding and addressing generational patterns of pain and dysfunction within a family system. Ancestral trauma can be passed down through generations, affecting individuals in various ways. I want to acknowledge that much of my work has been to sever these old patterns that were unfortunately handed down to me.

When have you felt like a beginner recently? I recently found myself unexpectedly teaching a yoga class when the original instructor's substitute needed clarification on the schedule and didn't show up. Little did I know that this impromptu experience would become a catalyst for understanding the true value of being a beginner. Here are things I learned:

It’s our natural instinct to seek out joy, pleasure, balance, comfort, and contentment. Happiness has so many different qualities to it, and goes by so many different names. When we really get to the root of our motivation to do just about anything, we’ll almost always find some version of the word “happiness,” usually alongside things like “safety” and “love.”

When it comes to making any lasting change in life, you want to use the same approach you would use when trying to teach a child something new. It's a learning process and journey, not a race. And there is no need to criticize and push yourself so hard that you lose sight of the importance of enjoying the whole ride.

How can you get ahead of this feeling of angst? When people suffer from anxiety, it is because they accidentally believe the distortions and exaggerations in their mind. I work with super smart people who also, at times, can’t get out of the loop of intense angst. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of reading the same tips over and over about ‘how to calm down and destress.’

No matter how much success you achieve on the outside, are you secretly being hard on yourself and putting enormous pressure on yourself to be perfect on the inside? When I help people grow confidence, I lead them to own courageously who they know themselves to be – from the inside out. I show you how to leave behind the “shoulds” and instead do what is truly right for you. You actually can learn how to listen to your inner wisdom.