As we set goals and commit to change, it can feel surprisingly lonely. We face a thousand and one obstacles: old habits, our surroundings, the people around us, our own self-sabotaging practices, and our limiting beliefs. Often, we build momentum for a day, week, a month, and what-do-you-know!? -something disrupts our routine. What began to feel steady has already been derailed.
Sometimes, getting back to what we built feels overwhelming. Other times, we need to adapt our practice: for a new season, an injury, a change in work routine. Bigger changes: a move, an addition to the family, grief and loss - all play a part, as we make a commitment to ourself to grow into who we aspire to. Growth rarely happens in a straight line.
One thing that is so essential to our continued growth - whether spiritual, business-oriented, physical fitness, or any other aspect of our life, is the people who surround us.
What feels normal in our relationships shapes our mindset, our choices, and ultimately how we relate to our lives. In yoga, this is known as the power of sangha, or conscious community.
Be always with people who inspire you;
Surround yourself with people who lift you up.
Do not let your resolutions and positive thinking be poisoned by bad company.
Even if you cannot find good company to inspire you, you can find it in meditation.
The best company you can have is the joy of meditation.
~ Paramahansa Yogananda
The people around us influence not only our habits, but whether we feel supported as we change. Raise your hand if you’ve ever had someone in your life that you had considered close, but once you tried to create positive change in your life, vulnerably launch something into the world, or authentically walk your own path - suddenly didn’t seem to celebrate or support you in any way…
Support matters. Cheerleaders matter. Having people who listen, reflect honestly, and hold space can be the difference between burning out and continuing forward with steadiness, whether you are deciding to become healthier, embrace habits that elevate you, find balance into your life, or towards freedom and abundance.
Consider your current support system. Who offers encouragement? Does your chosen community keep you excited and give you space to share about your victories? Where do you feel resourced rather than depleted? Where are there gaps - and if you notice any, let your mind wander about how to fill them.
A practice - list out your allies. They may appear in many forms:
Household and family
Peers, friends, co-workers
Movement, spiritual, and wellness community
Teachers and mentors
People who inspire you
Are the people around you learning and growing, too? Where are you getting your inspiration and guidance on how to step forward.. Is it personalized or generic? Is it from TikTok or Instagram Reels, YouTube, or is built on ?
In an era of constant information, guidance is often fragmented. While online platforms can be valuable tools for education and inspiration, meaningful integration usually requires continuity, relationship, and context. It’s incredible to dive deeper into this web of interconnectivity and get access to the teachers who you resonate with most.
I feel immense gratitude for the teachers I have in my life - the private and group programs I’ve participated in, the cohorts of incredible people they bring together, the retreats I attend and the wonderful facilitators I get so much insight and inspiration. Living in a rural place, I feel so grateful for hybrid and online options that have expanded in the last few years and make incredible things available to me as I live in simplicity and rural beauty. I’m grateful for the teachers in my own community, and the quiet teachers that I can recognize even in unexpected interactions around me every day.
If you’d love an ally to support your health, clarity, and capacity for change - someone who will listen deeply, gently offer informed resources and suggestions, and steadily guide you as you step into your vibrance and power - I offer a free 20-minute introductory consultation.
My work is grounded in feminine-form Ayurveda, infused with traditional yogic knowledge, and a lifetime of following my wild heart through grief, loss, transition, and boundless hope.
Whether you are tending your mental or physical health, navigating perimenopause or other hormonal changes (me too!), recovering from burnout and stress, or moving through a season of transition, I would be honored to connect.
Contact me here to schedule a consultation.