We are basically saying, "I can't do it.  I can't be all that I can be so I will settle for this."  Sounds silly  but it's true.  There is nothing that can make us be less than we are meant to be but our own mind.  And it's only our mind that lacks faith when this happens - our heart is open but our mind takes over.

God has a plan for each of us - a purpose.  We are called to that purpose time and time again.  Why don't we live up to His calling?  What are we afraid of?  We are afraid of being all that we can be - what a high standard to live up to!  When we are all that we can be well then we may fall short.  We lack faith.

If we can recognize the beauty of life, the Divinity of "coincidence", and the power within each of us, we can truly live a life full of faith.  We can go out and be, do and have the things we wish for in life because we know, beyond all knowing, that we will be taken care of.  That the Universe, God or Source is working to deliver us to our Highest Self in every moment.

How to cultivate faith?  Start with yoga.  It's that stillness that makes yoga so different from any other practice.  Plus if we go back to the reason for Hatha Yoga Postures:  to use the physical body to bring the spiritual body toward consciousness, it makes complete sense.  You walk into a yoga class thinking, "There is no way I can touch my toes, or bring my head to my knee!"  And within a week or two, you are doing it - you have physically mastered the mind in order to perform a pose.  You now have faith in yourself.

Now you can go out and have more self-esteem.  You can quit drugs, eating horribly, smoking...whatever your "addiction" is - you simply stop because you know you can.  Then your physical body becomes lighter and more able to hear the guidance all around you, all the time.  That's faith.