The Lesson I Didn’t Want
I had an amazing time at the Telluride Yoga Festival. Every class was inspiring—except one.
At least, that’s what I thought at first.
Ironically, that class ended up teaching me more than any of the others.
Not because of the sequencing or the philosophy being shared, but because it held up a mirror.
As I sat with my reaction, I realized an old wound was still alive within me. It was quietly influencing my judgments about someone else’s teaching style. I also recognized something less comfortable: while I often tell myself I don’t enjoy it when people dwell on the negative, I can do exactly the same thing. Instead of appreciating everything the class offered, my mind became fixated on what I didn’t like.
It was a humbling reminder that our strongest reactions often point toward something unresolved within ourselves. What triggers us isn’t always about the person or situation in front of us. Sometimes it’s simply an invitation to look inward with curiosity instead of certainty.
The experience also reminded me that we are always exactly where we are meant to be. Even the moments we’d rather avoid can become our greatest teachers if we’re willing to listen.
Thoughts and emotions will always arise. We don’t have to judge them or push them away. We can simply notice them, become curious, let them move through us, and resist the urge to invite an unwelcome visitor to stay.
Sometimes the lesson we need most doesn’t come wrapped in comfort. Sometimes it arrives disguised as discomfort, gently pointing us toward another opportunity to heal, grow, and know ourselves a little more deeply.
With love and resonance,
