I accidentally meditated for the first time on a yoga retreat with Clara Roberts-Oss (I thought I had signed up for giggling + backbends). The meditative component was incredibly challenging and emotionally painful but I knew there was wisdom in that pain. I sensed that growth could be found through more meditation, and by learning to be with the discomfort of it.

After sharing with thousands of people over many years, and doing my own slow work of softening, I now see that “Life is the practice”. The practice of meditation and of betterment have nothing to do with how many hours a day you can sit quietly alone on a cushion. But in fact, every aspect of life is a practice and there is no need to show up perfectly. All that matters is that we show up again and again, with a curious beginner’s mind.

This lifelong practice has taught me that we all have our own perfect process which will include: a lot of time (transformation is slow), disconnection and setbacks, returning to presence and opportunities to learn every single day.