Feeling caught up in the hustle and bustle of the new year? It's not too late to pause, reflect, and set your intentions for 2024.
Remember when you were a kid and there was all this time to do whatever? You could discover new hidden landscapes within the wilds of your mind or around your yard and neighborhood. As a kid, playing was endlessly generative. I remember finding freedom in the little patch of woods near my house, playing with Barbies, experimenting with my handwriting, or getting together with a friend and hopping on their baby dirt bikes to squeal over the whooptie doos! These occasions had no objectives other than being together and hanging out. All it took was that familiar sound—ring-ring!—followed by the simple invitation: “You wanna come over and play?”
Pausing now to contemplate the last time I played on my own or with a friend brings up some recent memories of painting a big canvas pink and of going over to my yoga teacher Erich’s studio to simply be together. Going over to Erich’s yoga studio is one of my all-time favorite things to do. Maybe that’s because Erich is a person who embodies what he teaches—and his teachings have made my life infinitely better. Erich is also just such an awesome friend. What is so cool and unique about him is that, when we’re together, I feel totally free to allow whatever arises in the moment to unfold naturally and to occur without premeditation or interference. This feels like Self-discovery, an evolution of connection and Self-expression, which can feel very playful! We might do some yoga, and of course the poses are a part of that experience, but the whole experience is yoga. Feeling the freedom to Be and then to be guided spontaneously into each moment without anything getting in the way—that is the essence of what yoga is all about. Is it any wonder that it feels like play to me too?
In these moments of playful curiosity, we may show up with a light heart or a curious mind. It is extremely helpful to leave any other agenda at the door so that we can innocently engage in the unfolding of each moment as it occurs. I love thinking about and sensing into this conscious cocreation with the movement of Life. This is playfulness in the ultimate sense. When we are consciously engaged, without agenda and open to creative inspiration, there’s a good chance that we will feel delighted and in-filled with joy, happiness, and excitement. This is empowering and motivating because then we are experiencing our conscious connection with Divine Consciousness, the Infinite, Source, and/or our True, Higher Selves. This is yoga: experiencing conscious union with What Is is realizing our connection with the undeniable interconnectedness of All.
Thich Nhat Hanh introduced so many of us to the beautiful word Interbeing. When we feel our inherent connection with Infinity, we feel empowered, and joyful; this can feel like sunshine on the inside. We all have the capacity to be in-filled with joy, love, and peace, and luckily this is our natural state of being. The trick, or the practice, is to allow ourselves the opportunity to be free of our inhibitions, judgments, and non-optimal thought patterns that get in our way. A regular yoga and/or meditation practice is where and how we can best get familiar with those feelings of peace, love, and joy. Additionally, being surrounded by a supportive community of friends, teachers, and mentors can help so, so much. Let’s be there to support, encourage, motivate, and inspire one another!
In 2024, I want to give myself more opportunities to be in-filled by wonder, curiosity, spontaneous joy, laughter, enthusiasm, and that feeling of being in love with Life. It is in this Spirit of play, generosity, and self-discovery that I am offering a super fun class to reveal our deepest hearts’ desires. I recently hosted a virtual Envision 2024 workshop where together, we created vision boards representing our vision for our lives in 2024 and beyond.
During our time together, I guided participants through various meditations and breathing and deep relaxation exercises that help you welcome in the experience of being at ease and at peace. Then, from this space of inner tranquility, we reflected on 2023 and explore our deepest desires for 2024. Within the space of meditation, feelings, words, and images will emerge to help create your vision board for 2024. Be ready to exercise indiscriminate curiosity and to experience spontaneous wonder and joy!
If you missed out on the live workshop, it’s not too late to pause, reflect, and set your intentions for 2024. Dive into the transformative experience with the Envision 2024 recording, now available at a discounted rate as an on-demand class.