Why wouldn't we want to be a NY Times best selling author?  Why wouldn't we want to invent something so amazing that we suddenly became a household name?  Why wouldn't we put ourselves out there ... on a limb, literally ... so we could just see if we could "do it"...whatever it was for us.

Fear is the obvious answer.  Fear of failure, of judgment, sure, but mostly fear of too much recognition.  Fear of too much success; of shining too brightly. I mean, what would happen if all of a sudden we outgrew our friends, our neighborhood, our family even?  Then what?  Well we would lose so much!  Not only that but now we have to live up to that pedestal we put ourselves on.  We have to be ... perfect! 

But just for a second, if I can interrupt this thought process, think what we could gain if we shined our little light?  What interesting people could we meet if we were our highest Self?  And honestly, would we have to lose everything and everyone to shine brightly?  And what is perfect anyway?  I've heard it said that perfection is in the effort and I LOVE that saying

What's the big deal if we fall?  We won't fall far and if we do, I'm certain we will have someone to catch us.  Maybe it's someone we least expect.  Point is, which is worse, living a life that is mediocre, knowing beyond all knowing that you could be more, give more and do more or falling after taking a risk and seeing what you are really made of? 

As a "yogi-mom" I will be the first to admit that I do not practice asanas every day.  I am however, offered the chance to practice yogic principles many times in one day - we all are.  And guess what, I get angry with my kids, lose my patience, drive too fast without paying attention and I sometimes follow negative thoughts.  Living imperfectly gives me the gift of remembering that I am a spiritual being struggling with a human experience every single day.  It also allows me the time and the space to recognize my chances to shine.

I heard a story once about a man who, at the end of his life said, "What if I made a mistake?"  It made my heart sink to even think that.  What if I made a mistake?  Daily decisions we are offered gives us the opportunity to shine or fall into familiarity.  Sometimes it's easy like, should I go left or should I go right?  Should I park here or there?  Other times it's more challenging like should I stay in this relationship or should I leave?  Should I go back to school or not?  We could fall into habitual behaviors and thought patterns, only to travel along the same path.  Or we could challenge ourselves to think more with our heart and move toward the light instead of away from it.