by Audrey Sutton Mills
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by Audrey Sutton Mills
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I’m engaged to the ultimate manly man. He has long blond locks and a grizzly beard and muscles like Hercules. He can build anything, break anything and fix anything. He hunts, hikes, skis, swims, surfs, free dives, runs, scales mountains, kicks sharks in the face and beats his chest like Tarzan. Well, everything is true except the last point. He’s really good at everything athletic. He’s even better than me at yoga, and I teach this stuff! I, on the other hand, am the girliest of girls. I’m scared of any activity where I may get hurt, and there’s a good chance I’ll shed tears if I get a bruise.
Jake is a beast when it comes to athletic activity, and it’s hard not to feel like I suck when I’m trying to hang with him. We went to our first “all-levels” gymnastics class last night. I thought we were going to do some light activity such as jumping on trampolines, rolling around doing somersaults and maybe graduate to a cartwheel or two. Within the first 20 minutes, the entire class was doing handsprings and backflips over large obstacles. Well, everyone except for me. I was in the corner doing roly-poly baby somersaults while everyone else, including Jake, was doing circus tricks. “All-levels” class my ass!
My inner critic started to chime in big time. I’m too old, too tired, not fit enough, not athletic enough, not courageous enough. In short, not good enough. My inner critic was running a long dialogue about why I should quit now and plan my exit strategy. That’s the funny thing about our Ego. It loves to judge, compare, compete and criticize, keeping you stuck in a cycle of suffering. I knew that at any moment I would break down and cry – not just a weep. I’m talking like a 5-year-old-ugly tantrum-kind-of-blubbering where there’s snot running down your upper lip and your facial muscles are paralyzed in permanent agony. So, to get back Above-the-Line, I had to harness my yoga ninja skills.
I had a little coaching pow wow with myself and made some distinctions. I may not be the most athletic fearless creature, but I’m pretty awesome at other things. Instead of comparing myself and beating me up during the process, just enjoy and have a good time. Celebrate that I’m doing gymnastics…and I wasn’t half bad! When I began to let go of the mental gymnastics in my head, I could then be present and enjoy the physical gymnastics. Once I stopped listening to my inner critic, I could celebrate myself just the way I am.
No one is perfect, no matter how perfect they appear to be. This experience shows how fast we can travel down a shame spiral when listening to our inner critic. The inner critic limits your perspective and stunts your inner growth. The constant, daily work is to bring awareness of when you have dipped Below-the-Line, get quiet and create space to shift your perspective to rise Above-the-Line and reconnect with your True Self, your Soul, that is compassionate, patient, and kind. Your True Self celebrates all of your gifts and loves you just the way you are.
This moment is enough. I am enough. You are enough.
xo,
Audrey
If you’re in the Seattle area, join me this Saturday 3/20 @ 1:30-3:30pm for my Yin Chakra Melt at the swanky Seattle Yoga Lounge custom with LED lighting for each chakra color and next weekend at Bala Yoga in Fremont Friday night 3/26 @ 7:30pm for a fun all-levels Yoga Jam with DJ HyFi spinning live music and Sunday 3/28 1-3 for my Yin Chakra Melt. Stay tuned for some really fun march madness events sponsored by lululemon pacific place downtown seattle! So much fun stuff! See you on your mat soon 🙂
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YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.
&
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.
&
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.
&
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.