Have you ever found yourself saying things that you didn’t know you knew? What’s that about? I think it’s about understanding yourself deeply. There is something in the articulation of an experience or thought or feeling that taps us into our deeper knowledge. Writing, dance, photography, and blogging could all be part of the creative process that helps articulate an experience.

I love poetry and I think it’s an incredible avenue toward mindfulness. Poetry is understanding one’s self and life’s grand mysteries through bite-sized bits of awareness. Like the late, legendary Leonard Cohen says, “If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” The creative expression itself isn’t the experience; it’s a byproduct of the experience. More than the craft and beauty of their writing, we love poets for the people they are to write such words. And we love who they have become by writing their poetry.

I’ve been trying to learn about who I am my whole life. The same way writing or dance could tap this deeper wisdom, for me yoga and the separate practice of teaching yoga, has been a creative avenue of personal growth and understanding. Yoga and teaching yoga has showed me hidden gifts. It’s challenged me to confront my largest weaknesses. It’s showed me how much I love people and love to be involved in their own personal growth. What a privilege!

And in the process of practicing and teaching yoga, I’ve learned a bunch about myriad topics like philosophy, spirituality, anatomy, meditation, etc. After learning about all this fascinating, intricate, and sometimes esoteric stuff, I invariably come to the same fat and resounding question/statement: SO WHAT? What does any of this have to do with my daily life, or other people’s lives? What does any of this stuff have to do with going to work, living my live, having relationships, and fulfilling my dreams?

Dream and Write Retreat: Your Place in the Circle Harriman State Park, Idaho August 17-20 2017

My search into “SO WHAT?” has led me to the wonderful and challenging and enlightening practice of writing about Yoga. Writing has been one of my wisest yoga teachers. It’s here, in this creative expression of my own inquiry, where I find myself saying the things that I didn’t know I knew.

I can’t be having all the fun here. I invite you into this beautiful process of unfolding, knowledge, and experience, of finding your own deeper wisdom, by making your own personal expression of anything you do in life. Please write your response to this invitation (below) in the comments.

Do something. Anything
Document it in some way: journal, poem, Facebook post, blog, photo, draw, dance, whatever . . .
Do it again
Document it again, and maybe this time explain or teach it to someone.
Watch to see yourself say things you didn't know you know. Watch for insights that come surprisingly naturally
Then tell me about it, because I'm curious