Facing our Fears and going BIG

I got back late Sunday night from my retreat in Puerto Rico, and it was EVERYTHING. I won’t kvell too much about how perfect it was, but needless to say, my cup feels very full. The yoga, the people, the nature, the foooood!! (I put a picture below because I can’t help myself.)

When we started the retreat, we set an intention not to escape, but to take an intentional pause so we could come back to ourselves. And the thing I most wanted to come back to was, for lack of a better term: GOING BIG.

I’ve always been pretty adventurous, but somewhere along the way, I’ve found myself pulling back — in my career dreams, my physical adventures, even my social plans. Some of that is maturity and practicality (it is harder to backpack across India with a 7-year-old 😆). But some of it, if I’m being honest, has been fear.

And last week, I got to face a little of that fear.

Facing Fears by Jumping into a Waterfall!

I hadn’t led a retreat in almost 10 years, and I was nervous. But we did it — and it was wonderful. I also hadn’t surfed in almost a decade. As a single mom, sitting on a board over a coral reef felt like a pretty questionable idea. So, naturally, I hired an instructor. 😉 And for the first time in years, I sat in the ocean, caught wave after wave, and had a giant sea turtle swimming beside me.

It was AMAZING. And it reminded me that sometimes the best way to face our fears isn’t to ignore them — it’s to find the support we need to move through them.

Which brings us to our October theme: Abhaya — Facing Our Fears.

Fear is important. Sometimes it keeps us safe. Safety first! But sometimes it keeps us small.

So as we enter the season of ghosts, ghouls, and candy, maybe take a moment to notice where fear is protecting you — and where it might be holding you back.

And then ask yourself: What would it look like to go a little bigger?

💜 Erica