15/08/2025
I’ve been using this statement, made famous by author Glennon Doyle, a lot, as Sadie, my daughter asked me 562,879 times this week, “why does everyone have to do cross country!?” 😮💨. I responded “because it gives you a chance to prove to yourself that you CAN do hard things.” She was adamant she wasn’t going to do it, and made sure we knew how she felt this week in the lead up.
I held space for her big feelings, listened to her objections around having to do it. But I read between the lines, she never asked me to write her a note, and continued to shout “I’m not doing it!” while unconsciously dressing in her House Colours this morning. I’ve witnessed her determined spirit and I could see, there was a part of her that was committed to doing it, even though the part that felt nervous and uncertain was the loudest and most visible.
To see the stoke on her face during, and of course, at the finish line was the proof! 🥹 As I watched her overcome her nerves and face her ‘hard’, I had this insight, that it’s not too often many of us adults get to push ourselves to that edge, where our mind tells us ‘that’s the limit’, but we get to decide whether we want to challenge the obstacles imposed by our mind.
My yoga practice used to be a place where I would curiously explore this, but generally only if another teacher was guiding me. I experienced some challenging classes in Bali that reminded me how good it can feel.
We have these self-imposed limitations, but if we let the body lead, we will often exceed what we thought we were capable of, whether that ‘hard thing’ is testing us physically, mentally or emotionally.
Maybe this is an invitation to be curious next time you’re on your mat, or in life, when something feels ‘hard’, are you truly meeting your edge?
ATTUNE to your nervous system (your body), to witness physiological responses
REGULATE - can you still maintain a level of composure, your focus, a smooth and steady breath while meeting that edge.
EXPAND - Is there a part of you that wants to deepen in? Honouring this, overtime can expand your window of tolerance, and cultivate self-trust
(Permission granted by Sadie to use this image)
