Being a Better Human: My Lifelong Quest

I would have never said that in my 20s. Back then, I had a therapist who gave me two daily prescriptions:
🌿 Spend 20 minutes in nature
🧘 Do yoga every day

At the time, I didn’t realize it, but those practices became my spiritual path. I’ve been a yogi for over 30 years—sometimes consistent, sometimes not—but always learning.

Returning to the Basics

Each fall, I come back to the basics: the Yamas and Niyamas, the ethical foundations of yoga. This year, I’m re-reading Deborah Adele’s book for the fourth time. Her words always remind me how these practices aren’t abstract—they’re daily choices in how we show up for ourselves and others.

I start September with Ahimsa (nonviolence). At first, I thought this meant the obvious—no yelling, no fighting, no cruelty. But the deeper work is about the subtle violence we inflict:

❌ The inner voice that says, “Really? You think you can do that?”
❌ The way we downplay our existence.
❌ The judgment we place on others without seeing their humanity.

Ahimsa calls us back to compassion—for ourselves and for the people around us.

The Foundation of Leadership

And isn’t that the real foundation of leadership?
Awareness of ourselves.
Compassion for others.
The courage to stay soft when we feel like going hard.

This month, my own practice is to notice where I can live with more compassion and less judgment. To quiet the inner critic. To choose connection over separation.

✨ I’d love to hear from you:
What practices help you bring more compassion into your life and leadership?

#selfawareness #growth #BeTheCatalyst #yogaforlife