March 16, 2023 • 23 mins
Playing it safe means you aren't finding that edge in life that makes you the best version of yourself. But if adding one more thing to your list to take action on or try harder at seems overwhelming, rest assured, finding your edge doesn't always mean you have to do more.
This episode is a continuation of last week's episode in which I discussed what it means to find your "edge" and how to go about doing so. But when you're on a self-understanding journey, it's not about trying harder or doing more, but instead using intentionality in the way that you approach life and perhaps even shedding some things from your life in the meantime.
When your version of playing it safe is to keep busy all the time, here's how to better yourself without adding to your to-do list.
Resources:
Daily Rhythms Tracker - In order to know where your edge is in life, you first have to become aware of where you are. And to do that, tracking is essential. Grab your Daily Rhythms Tracker here.
More Episodes Like This One:
#70: Stop Playing it Safe - How to Instead Find your Edge
#64: Yoga's Rhythm is Also Your Rhythm
#58: Permission to Allow the Uncomfortable
Grab the full show notes and resources at www.cairnyogawellness.com/podcast71 and subscribe and listen wherever you catch your podcasts:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Playing it safe means you aren'talways finding that edge in life
that makes you the best versionof yourself.
But if adding one more thing toyour list to take action on or
try harder at seemsoverwhelming.
Rest assured because findingyour edge doesn't always mean
you have to do more.
(01:20):
Hey friends.
Welcome to episode 71 of thepodcast.
I hope that you are all findingsome sort of spring.
Slow down.
Well, that doesn't really soundright.
Does it?
But, um, it's.
Spring break time around here.
And I'm recording this beforespring break.
So if you're listening to this,hopefully it's over, spring
(01:42):
break where I am at home,chilling with my kids, not doing
much of anything.
And that's how we're spendingour spring break.
This year, we got a new couchand it is like, it needs its own
time zone.
It's giant.
It's fun.
It's plush, it's comfy.
And we are anticipating doingall the movie watching and
(02:03):
snuggling and playing games onthat couch during spring break.
So that's what my spring breakis going to look like.
But if you're listening to thisand you're someplace tropical or
warm, kudos.
Keep enjoying and listen on myfriends.
If not, if you're just takingtime off of work, awesome.
Or if you don't even get aspring break or if you're not
(02:23):
having that downtime.
Be sure that to actuallyschedule in some downtime for
yourself, because this time ofyear sometimes gets to be that
way.
We just need a little bit of areset, maybe.
Even if it's just a day.
Um, do what you can to honorthat rhythm that, that allows
you to switch from.
(02:45):
Winter into spring.
Because as I'm speaking this outloud now, it's, it's making me
think that spring is literallyjust around the corner, Our kids
go back to school on the firstday of spring.
Which is actually kind of coolbecause it's just reiterating
that natural rhythm of gettingback to work, getting back into
(03:09):
things.
And the break part that happenson the very tail end of winter.
Is pretty cool too, because it'sreminding us that we need that
pause and we need that reset.
And that time to actually do thework under the surface, which
could just be resting, recultivating relationships, re
cultivating relationships withnot only others, but with
ourselves.
(03:29):
So this is my nudge to you also.
To take a little bit of a springbreak, even if it's a day.
This episode today is brought toyou by the daily rhythms
tracker.
It's all about beingintentional.
Since we were talking todayabout finding your edge.
You have to first know where youare in order to find that edge.
And the daily rhythms tracker isa beautiful tool that I've put
(03:51):
together to help you.
I do such a thing, whether it istracking your, uh, rhythms with
the lunar cycle or whether it'stracking your menstrual rhythms
or your sleep or your waterintake or your nutrition,
whatever it may be.
The daily rhythms tracker hasspace for all of that in there.
It's got a space for mindsetwork also in thought work.
So you can begin to become moreintentional with all of those
(04:15):
habits.
You don't have to tackle all ofthem at one time.
You could do less and justchoose one thing that you want
to be more intentional about andsee if you can come up with what
your edge might be.
In that one area.
And we're going to talk allabout that today.
So remember that from lastweek's episode.
That your edge is that place ofslight uncomfortableness.
(04:41):
But not so much discomfort thatit takes you to injury.
If you've injured yourself oryou're getting.
Too exhausted and burnt out allthe time.
You're going beyond your edge.
But it's that place that takesyou to where you're just a
little bit uncomfortable.
Where you're just at the edgeof.
(05:03):
"I don't know if I can gofurther or not." When you can
have that conversation withyourself about whether something
is painful or not.
It's not going to cause injury.
You're not in that place thatit's going to cause a split
second injury.
But you might be at your edge.
So consider that.
Often we get stuck in this placeof playing it safe though.
(05:28):
Of staying in the safe zone,staying with what's familiar,
staying with what's comfortable.
And that's not your edge either.
That's one way to keep yourselfstuck as well.
But when your version of playingit safe is to keep busy all the
time, we're going to talk todayabout how to better yourself
(05:48):
without adding to your to-dolist.
It's about exploring the depthsof who you are and the subtle
changes that you can make inorder to have a deeper
understanding and compassion foryourself.
And when you can do this, youindeed change the way you
perceive and approach life.
You stop living in scarcity andinstead trust the process of
(06:09):
life and begin to flow with yourtime, energy and focus all the
time, instead of letting thefear that if you slowed down or
said no to something, thatsomething terrible would happen,
rule your life.
To you, it might feel safe tokeep doing all the things and to
keep staying busy all the time.
(06:31):
But when you're on aself-understanding journey and
using your rhythms, meaning yourbody's rhythms, natures, and the
cosmos that edge likely needs tolook a little different than
what you initially think of whenyou think of finding an edge in
something.
You probably think of findingyour edge as doing something
harder, faster, stronger,tougher, but if you can think of
(06:54):
it this way, Consider a verticalaxis or spectrum, and perhaps
there's even a horizontal lineon it.
That might be a better visualfor you where upward and above
that horizontal line towards thetop of the spectrum is something
like perfection or effortfulaction, where your.
Doing a lot of work, putting alot of effort and seeking that
(07:15):
perfection.
But if you go down the spectrumand down below the line, It
turns into complacencyeventually.
So the upward and the above theline.
Is.
When you would be doing just abit more refining, hardening,
enhancing, and focus in thevisible outward way and the
(07:35):
downward, or going towards thecomplacency side, but not quite
that far, not going so far as tobe complacent or apathetic.
Is.
Um, exploring the depths ofsomething in a way that involves
compassion.
It means using intention to tuneinward instead.
I hope that's an okay.
Visual for you.
(07:56):
So when I think of it, I thinkof perfection and effortful
action.
Kind of at the top of thespectrum and in the opposite
direction would be complacencyor apathy and not doing anything
at all.
Now, we're not talking aboutgoing to either of those
extremes.
Right?
And you might have a tendency.
To generally go in the upwardmotion or towards that outward
(08:19):
expression, that effortfulaction where you're staying busy
all the time, where you're doingthings.
Where you are trying so muchharder, but it's not always
about trying harder.
Sometimes.
It's about going down below thatline, going towards complacency,
but not getting anywhere nearcomplacency.
(08:41):
It's about exploring the depthsof who you are, it's about
exploring the emotional depths.
It's finding this place right inthe middle of that.
When your version of playing itsafe is to keep busy all the
time.
You can indeed better yourselfwithout adding to your to-do
list.
It might even mean shedding someof the things from your to-do
(09:04):
list and that might be.
And that might be your versionof finding your edge.
In yoga, I talk about your edgebeing the place you push
yourself to that creates slightdiscomfort enough for growth to
happen, but not so much that itcreates pain or injury.
As I said before, if you canhave the conversation with
yourself that it'suncomfortable, it's likely not
(09:26):
pain that's going to createinjury.
Finding an edge has to happen ifyou want progress to occur.
And if you're practicing yoga,you likely want some sort of
forward change to happen in yourlife.
Otherwise you wouldn't be on theyoga mat.
So we're going to first talkabout what finding your edge in
the physical might mean.
And just remember, that.
(09:49):
Whatever you do to the physicalwill also reflect what's
happening or going on in themental, emotional as well.
Because our bodies are one,they're not separate as we
might've been led to believeover the years.
Everything is connected.
So what you do in one is areflection of what's going on in
the other as well.
(10:10):
And the physical, this might bea heightened awareness or
intention towards something youcould choose.
One thing maybe to be moreintentional about, like I
mentioned, in the daily rhythmstracker or in using the daily
rhythms tracker, just choose onething.
So when you're practicing yoga,there are some indicators or
cues that might start to happento know whether or not you're at
(10:32):
your edge.
For instance, your legs or armsmight start to fatigue when
holding a posture.
If you can't maintain aconstant, even paced breath,
you've likely gone over youredge.
So perhaps your edge in a yogapractice might be maintaining
that constant even paced breath.
Now, if you're someone who'shyper mobile, perhaps the
(10:53):
flexibility you experience onthe yoga mat, even if it's only
in one area of your body isactually a sign that you need to
incorporate more strength asyour edge, because too much
flexibility means you may havetrouble setting boundaries or
speaking your needs, which is awhole other episode.
(11:14):
Another way to find your edge,or use your edge on the yoga mat
is perhaps using your breath toconnect with your muscles, to
soften into a posture just alittle bit more than usual.
If you're not connecting yourbreath with what your body's
doing on the yoga mat.
Then you're losing out on theopportunity to find an edge in
(11:35):
that posture.
And maybe even to take your bodya little bit farther without
actually going deeper.
Another way that you could findan edge on the yoga mat would be
staying focused on a mantra orbreath count instead of letting
your mind wander.
This is a tricky thing forpeople, but this is one of the
things that definitely enhancesfocus the most.
(11:56):
In the yoga practices that I do,it's a breath count.
When you can bring your mindback to that breath count, or
perhaps for you, like I said,it's, it's some other mantra.
That will help you stay focused.
Maybe it's even taking thecourageous step to begin to
learn a yoga practice.
Right.
That may be something or a waythat you can find your edge.
(12:18):
Maybe it's learning a yogapractice that you can take
ownership of instead of havingsomeone else lead you through
it.
Right or yoga practice.
That is your own that, you know,In your brain and in your mind
that also enhances focus, whichis an edge that you likely don't
often think about.
If you are someone who.
(12:38):
Thinks primarily in the doingmore or taking action realm, you
might not actually think abouthow you're enhancing that mind
muscle in your body.
Or maybe.
It's the fact that you're evenstepping onto a yoga mat or
taking a yoga class for thefirst time, that could be your
(12:59):
edge.
And that's fantastic.
So there's a difference betweenpain and discomfort when you are
doing anything.
And I bring this up now becauseit's most evident when you're on
the yoga mat, when you're onyour yoga mat.
If you experience discomfort.
That's okay.
(13:19):
That means you're likely at anedge for yourself.
If you're experiencing pain.
You definitely want to stop whatyou're doing.
Pain means you've gone too far.
And I mentioned that before.
Finding that edge in thephysical means you're not always
pushing through and striving tobe the best in the outward
(13:40):
appearance.
So when we consider that off theyoga mat.
Maybe it means that you'reactually doing less.
Right.
And as itchy as that may feel.
Because sometimes it does feelitchy to me as well.
Like, Ugh.
Do less really?
Like, why would somebody want meto do that?
(14:01):
Um, That can feel kind of scaryand itchy.
But sometimes just a drop ofunder-functioning is the edge
that will actually startenriching your life.
Hmm, just something to consider.
Under functioning means.
Others have to do just a littlebit more.
(14:24):
And that may sound really scary.
So that could be your edge.
If that sounds super scary toyou, I'm just going to nudge you
towards that a little bit more.
So those are things in thephysical of how finding your
edge in your physical couldlook, right?
It's not necessarily addingsomething else to your, to do
list it's simply enhancing yourintention or your awareness
(14:46):
around those areas, even if it'snot trying harder.
Okay.
Now some of the examples I gaveyou were maybe things that you
would try new.
But it doesn't always have tobe.
If you're already practicingyoga and you're already
breathing on your yoga mat,maybe you just shift your
awareness to your breath.
(15:06):
And you start focusing on thatinstead of thinking about what
it is you're supposed to donext, or what the person next to
you is doing, or why doesn'tyour body.
Move like that person's body.
Taking all those judgments awayand instead focusing in on your
breath.
All right.
So let's look at it now from theemotional or spiritual side.
(15:26):
What could this look like?
It can look like a lot ofthings.
And when you're on aself-understanding journey, at
some point you start to seek outthings that take you out of your
comfort zone and bring you toyour edge emotionally, mentally,
spiritually.
That means you don't necessarilyshy away from discomfort.
In fact, you likely face a lotof discomfort when you start to
(15:47):
get deep enough into peelingback your own layers.
So, in order to do that, itmight mean that you are getting
counseling, that you areinvesting in coaching for
yourself, or that you'reexploring your relationship with
money.
Exploring your faith.
working on your marriage orstarting a yoga practice.
Like I mentioned, like that's inthe physical, but it also is the
(16:08):
emotional spiritual, because asI said, Your mind and body are
one and they are not separate.
As you have been led to believe.
I will keep saying that until itactually sinks in.
For everybody, because we can'tjust treat one part.
We've got to treat the whole,okay.
I'll step down off my soap boxnow.
But.
I'm going to go back to this,starting a yoga practice because
(16:30):
Lord knows that the simple actof doing so of starting a yoga
practice practice, be ins toshine light on the areas of your
life that need work.
I don't know how many times I'vehad a new student come into the
studio begin practicing, andthen a week or two later.
The universe jumps in and says,I'm going to try and pull this
person away because they havethis going on or this going on
(16:53):
and I'm going to try and temptthem and, and get them to.
Really not work on themselves.
So that's when the integritycomes in and that's when the
self-discipline comes in that.
You have to know that youactually want to remember to
find that edge.
And that yoga is a way that youcan do that, because it starts
to bring up uncomfortable stuff.
It starts to bring upuncomfortable emotions.
(17:14):
It starts to peel back thelayers that you've been building
up over the years.
Finding your edge emotionallyand spiritually might mean that
you are exploring yourrelationship with"shouding" on
yourself or any other beliefsthat you come across that seem
to be keeping you stuck?
Even asking yourself, what wouldmake me the most uncomfortable
(17:35):
in life can be a great prompt toget you thinking about where an
edge might lie for you.
Heck.
Even just this episode might bean edge for you because it's
bringing your awareness tothings in life that you may be
judging yourself or othersabout, and remember that
whatever you're judging aboutsomeone else or that thing that
triggers you about someone elseis likely because they're being
(17:56):
a mirror for you.
So there's an edge, or as mycoach would call it a Trailhead,
for you to explore.
And one way to begin to explorethose things, those edges, those
trail heads, or, or findingthose edges in the emotional
spiritual is by journaling.
Maybe that's an edge.
It's a great way to begin to tapinto that mental, emotional, and
(18:18):
spiritual side.
Even if you don't consideryourself someone who journals
stream of consciousness, writingis super therapeutic.
Even if it doesn't make sense,even if what you're writing on
the paper has nothing to do withanything in life.
Super, super.
Beneficial.
Your edge in your mental,emotional might also be
beginning to understand whatyour body is actually
(18:39):
communicating with you and howto start using it and it's
rhythms.
Or the rhythms around you toyour advantage.
All the messages that your bodysends you are ways that it's
communicating something in yourmind that needs to be addressed.
And finally, you might be livingwith the belief that you aren't
(19:00):
enough or won't ever haveenough.
And to you that feels reallycomfortable to just keep living
with that.
Scarcity belief or that notenoughness.
But what if the thought thatthere was a possibility that
things could be different?
Or that you indeed are enoughexactly as you are right now.
And all the gunk that you bringwith you.
(19:22):
What if there was a thought thatall of that is exactly how it's
supposed to be.
And that's the thought thattakes you out of your comfort
zone.
That's the thing that you beginto work with that takes you out
of your comfort zone and helpsyou find an edge.
Emotionally.
Mentally spiritually.
The point is.
Your edge, doesn't always haveto be harder, faster, stronger,
(19:43):
tougher.
It can indeed be exploring thedepths of what makes you, you.
Doing things the way you'vealways done them is safe.
It's comfortable.
It's familiar.
So what if your edge looked likejust making one small change
that gets you a littleuncomfortable, maybe just a
teeny tiny bit uncomfortable.
(20:04):
That pushed you beyond.
What is quote safe for you?
It's not just about discoveringhow to push yourself to be
better in an upward and outwardway or in a physical way.
Although making minor physicalchanges can be helpful in
enhancing that awareness becauseit ultimately will bring out the
mental, emotional, and spiritualchanges that need to happen as
(20:27):
well.
It's not just discovering how topush yourself to be better in an
upward or outward way or in aphysical way.
Although making minor physicalchanges can be helpful in
enhancing awareness becauseultimately, as I've said before,
What happens in your body is adirect reflection of what's
happening in your mind.
It doesn't have to be just aboutthe physical though or in the
(20:48):
outward way.
It can be in an inward way.
In a way that brings you to thedepths of who you are and who
your spirit is.
So, where does the challenge liefor you?
What if your challenge or edgeis in being soft or doing less
rather than doing more andhardening yourself?
It's not just exploring theoutward or how to push harder
(21:10):
and do just a little bit more,but to consider also the inward
emotional softer side, thatchallenges you to do less, to
sink deeper within.
And it's totally iterative.
You find your edge, you workthrough it, and then you have to
find a new one and keep goingeven deeper in your
understanding of self, in yourawakening of self or of spirit.
(21:31):
But when you try too hard or goover your edge, the changes
won't happen.
You'll be stuck.
And when you don't try at all orfind any sort of an edge, you'll
also be stuck, stuck incomplacency.
There's this fine line betweensomething becoming effortless
when intention is still attachedto it.
And effortless when complacencysets in.
(21:54):
And that's part of what makes upyour edge in any given moment.
It's in the middle of thatspectrum.
I talked about at the beginningof the episode.
It's about finding the balancebetween effortless action with
intention and inaction orcomplacency.
It's the sweet spot somewhere inthe middle.
All right.
So I've given you a lot of ideason how to find a different edge
(22:15):
today.
But the takeaway I want to leaveyou with is this.
If a warrior mentality orperfectionism or a super
self-disciplined approach to thephysical in work life or your
health is what you naturallygravitate towards.
Consider this your nudge toexplore what your edge could
look like from a differentvantage point.
(22:36):
From one that explores depthexpansion inward rather than
height and expansion outward.
Because when you do start to payattention to those little
signals that your body is givingyou, or that inward exploration,
you indeed will be able to flowwith your time, energy and
(22:57):
focus, even when unexpectedthings come up.
Okay friends before we go.
I want to just ask that youmight share this with just one
other person this week.
It might be this episode.
It might be another episode.
Whatever you feel called to do,would you just share this with
one other person to just see ifwe can turn the dial a little
bit on this podcast and grow ita little bit farther to reach
(23:22):
just a few more people?
I would be so grateful if youwould do that.
Until next week.
I'm Cathy Strue cker and you'vebeen listening to health,
harmony, and happiness withCathy.
Cheers to cultivating your ownversion of health, harmony, and
happiness in your life.
Playing it safe means you aren'talways finding that edge in life
that makes you the best versionof yourself.
But if adding one more thing toyour list to take action on or
try harder at seemsoverwhelming.
Rest assured because findingyour edge doesn't always mean
you have to do more.
(01:20):
Hey friends.
Welcome to episode 71 of thepodcast.
I hope that you are all findingsome sort of spring.
Slow down.
Well, that doesn't really soundright.
Does it?
But, um, it's.
Spring break time around here.
And I'm recording this beforespring break.
So if you're listening to this,hopefully it's over, spring
(01:42):
break where I am at home,chilling with my kids, not doing
much of anything.
And that's how we're spendingour spring break.
This year, we got a new couchand it is like, it needs its own
time zone.
It's giant.
It's fun.
It's plush, it's comfy.
And we are anticipating doingall the movie watching and
(02:03):
snuggling and playing games onthat couch during spring break.
So that's what my spring breakis going to look like.
But if you're listening to thisand you're someplace tropical or
warm, kudos.
Keep enjoying and listen on myfriends.
If not, if you're just takingtime off of work, awesome.
Or if you don't even get aspring break or if you're not
(02:23):
having that downtime.
Be sure that to actuallyschedule in some downtime for
yourself, because this time ofyear sometimes gets to be that
way.
We just need a little bit of areset, maybe.
Even if it's just a day.
Um, do what you can to honorthat rhythm that, that allows
you to switch from.
(02:45):
Winter into spring.
Because as I'm speaking this outloud now, it's, it's making me
think that spring is literallyjust around the corner, Our kids
go back to school on the firstday of spring.
Which is actually kind of coolbecause it's just reiterating
that natural rhythm of gettingback to work, getting back into
(03:09):
things.
And the break part that happenson the very tail end of winter.
Is pretty cool too, because it'sreminding us that we need that
pause and we need that reset.
And that time to actually do thework under the surface, which
could just be resting, recultivating relationships, re
cultivating relationships withnot only others, but with
ourselves.
(03:29):
So this is my nudge to you also.
To take a little bit of a springbreak, even if it's a day.
This episode today is brought toyou by the daily rhythms
tracker.
It's all about beingintentional.
Since we were talking todayabout finding your edge.
You have to first know where youare in order to find that edge.
And the daily rhythms tracker isa beautiful tool that I've put
(03:51):
together to help you.
I do such a thing, whether it istracking your, uh, rhythms with
the lunar cycle or whether it'stracking your menstrual rhythms
or your sleep or your waterintake or your nutrition,
whatever it may be.
The daily rhythms tracker hasspace for all of that in there.
It's got a space for mindsetwork also in thought work.
So you can begin to become moreintentional with all of those
(04:15):
habits.
You don't have to tackle all ofthem at one time.
You could do less and justchoose one thing that you want
to be more intentional about andsee if you can come up with what
your edge might be.
In that one area.
And we're going to talk allabout that today.
So remember that from lastweek's episode.
That your edge is that place ofslight uncomfortableness.
(04:41):
But not so much discomfort thatit takes you to injury.
If you've injured yourself oryou're getting.
Too exhausted and burnt out allthe time.
You're going beyond your edge.
But it's that place that takesyou to where you're just a
little bit uncomfortable.
Where you're just at the edgeof.
(05:03):
"I don't know if I can gofurther or not." When you can
have that conversation withyourself about whether something
is painful or not.
It's not going to cause injury.
You're not in that place thatit's going to cause a split
second injury.
But you might be at your edge.
So consider that.
Often we get stuck in this placeof playing it safe though.
(05:28):
Of staying in the safe zone,staying with what's familiar,
staying with what's comfortable.
And that's not your edge either.
That's one way to keep yourselfstuck as well.
But when your version of playingit safe is to keep busy all the
time, we're going to talk todayabout how to better yourself
(05:48):
without adding to your to-dolist.
It's about exploring the depthsof who you are and the subtle
changes that you can make inorder to have a deeper
understanding and compassion foryourself.
And when you can do this, youindeed change the way you
perceive and approach life.
You stop living in scarcity andinstead trust the process of
(06:09):
life and begin to flow with yourtime, energy and focus all the
time, instead of letting thefear that if you slowed down or
said no to something, thatsomething terrible would happen,
rule your life.
To you, it might feel safe tokeep doing all the things and to
keep staying busy all the time.
(06:31):
But when you're on aself-understanding journey and
using your rhythms, meaning yourbody's rhythms, natures, and the
cosmos that edge likely needs tolook a little different than
what you initially think of whenyou think of finding an edge in
something.
You probably think of findingyour edge as doing something
harder, faster, stronger,tougher, but if you can think of
(06:54):
it this way, Consider a verticalaxis or spectrum, and perhaps
there's even a horizontal lineon it.
That might be a better visualfor you where upward and above
that horizontal line towards thetop of the spectrum is something
like perfection or effortfulaction, where your.
Doing a lot of work, putting alot of effort and seeking that
(07:15):
perfection.
But if you go down the spectrumand down below the line, It
turns into complacencyeventually.
So the upward and the above theline.
Is.
When you would be doing just abit more refining, hardening,
enhancing, and focus in thevisible outward way and the
(07:35):
downward, or going towards thecomplacency side, but not quite
that far, not going so far as tobe complacent or apathetic.
Is.
Um, exploring the depths ofsomething in a way that involves
compassion.
It means using intention to tuneinward instead.
I hope that's an okay.
Visual for you.
(07:56):
So when I think of it, I thinkof perfection and effortful
action.
Kind of at the top of thespectrum and in the opposite
direction would be complacencyor apathy and not doing anything
at all.
Now, we're not talking aboutgoing to either of those
extremes.
Right?
And you might have a tendency.
To generally go in the upwardmotion or towards that outward
(08:19):
expression, that effortfulaction where you're staying busy
all the time, where you're doingthings.
Where you are trying so muchharder, but it's not always
about trying harder.
Sometimes.
It's about going down below thatline, going towards complacency,
but not getting anywhere nearcomplacency.
(08:41):
It's about exploring the depthsof who you are, it's about
exploring the emotional depths.
It's finding this place right inthe middle of that.
When your version of playing itsafe is to keep busy all the
time.
You can indeed better yourselfwithout adding to your to-do
list.
It might even mean shedding someof the things from your to-do
(09:04):
list and that might be.
And that might be your versionof finding your edge.
In yoga, I talk about your edgebeing the place you push
yourself to that creates slightdiscomfort enough for growth to
happen, but not so much that itcreates pain or injury.
As I said before, if you canhave the conversation with
yourself that it'suncomfortable, it's likely not
(09:26):
pain that's going to createinjury.
Finding an edge has to happen ifyou want progress to occur.
And if you're practicing yoga,you likely want some sort of
forward change to happen in yourlife.
Otherwise you wouldn't be on theyoga mat.
So we're going to first talkabout what finding your edge in
the physical might mean.
And just remember, that.
(09:49):
Whatever you do to the physicalwill also reflect what's
happening or going on in themental, emotional as well.
Because our bodies are one,they're not separate as we
might've been led to believeover the years.
Everything is connected.
So what you do in one is areflection of what's going on in
the other as well.
(10:10):
And the physical, this might bea heightened awareness or
intention towards something youcould choose.
One thing maybe to be moreintentional about, like I
mentioned, in the daily rhythmstracker or in using the daily
rhythms tracker, just choose onething.
So when you're practicing yoga,there are some indicators or
cues that might start to happento know whether or not you're at
(10:32):
your edge.
For instance, your legs or armsmight start to fatigue when
holding a posture.
If you can't maintain aconstant, even paced breath,
you've likely gone over youredge.
So perhaps your edge in a yogapractice might be maintaining
that constant even paced breath.
Now, if you're someone who'shyper mobile, perhaps the
(10:53):
flexibility you experience onthe yoga mat, even if it's only
in one area of your body isactually a sign that you need to
incorporate more strength asyour edge, because too much
flexibility means you may havetrouble setting boundaries or
speaking your needs, which is awhole other episode.
(11:14):
Another way to find your edge,or use your edge on the yoga mat
is perhaps using your breath toconnect with your muscles, to
soften into a posture just alittle bit more than usual.
If you're not connecting yourbreath with what your body's
doing on the yoga mat.
Then you're losing out on theopportunity to find an edge in
(11:35):
that posture.
And maybe even to take your bodya little bit farther without
actually going deeper.
Another way that you could findan edge on the yoga mat would be
staying focused on a mantra orbreath count instead of letting
your mind wander.
This is a tricky thing forpeople, but this is one of the
things that definitely enhancesfocus the most.
(11:56):
In the yoga practices that I do,it's a breath count.
When you can bring your mindback to that breath count, or
perhaps for you, like I said,it's, it's some other mantra.
That will help you stay focused.
Maybe it's even taking thecourageous step to begin to
learn a yoga practice.
Right.
That may be something or a waythat you can find your edge.
(12:18):
Maybe it's learning a yogapractice that you can take
ownership of instead of havingsomeone else lead you through
it.
Right or yoga practice.
That is your own that, you know,In your brain and in your mind
that also enhances focus, whichis an edge that you likely don't
often think about.
If you are someone who.
(12:38):
Thinks primarily in the doingmore or taking action realm, you
might not actually think abouthow you're enhancing that mind
muscle in your body.
Or maybe.
It's the fact that you're evenstepping onto a yoga mat or
taking a yoga class for thefirst time, that could be your
(12:59):
edge.
And that's fantastic.
So there's a difference betweenpain and discomfort when you are
doing anything.
And I bring this up now becauseit's most evident when you're on
the yoga mat, when you're onyour yoga mat.
If you experience discomfort.
That's okay.
(13:19):
That means you're likely at anedge for yourself.
If you're experiencing pain.
You definitely want to stop whatyou're doing.
Pain means you've gone too far.
And I mentioned that before.
Finding that edge in thephysical means you're not always
pushing through and striving tobe the best in the outward
(13:40):
appearance.
So when we consider that off theyoga mat.
Maybe it means that you'reactually doing less.
Right.
And as itchy as that may feel.
Because sometimes it does feelitchy to me as well.
Like, Ugh.
Do less really?
Like, why would somebody want meto do that?
(14:01):
Um, That can feel kind of scaryand itchy.
But sometimes just a drop ofunder-functioning is the edge
that will actually startenriching your life.
Hmm, just something to consider.
Under functioning means.
Others have to do just a littlebit more.
(14:24):
And that may sound really scary.
So that could be your edge.
If that sounds super scary toyou, I'm just going to nudge you
towards that a little bit more.
So those are things in thephysical of how finding your
edge in your physical couldlook, right?
It's not necessarily addingsomething else to your, to do
list it's simply enhancing yourintention or your awareness
(14:46):
around those areas, even if it'snot trying harder.
Okay.
Now some of the examples I gaveyou were maybe things that you
would try new.
But it doesn't always have tobe.
If you're already practicingyoga and you're already
breathing on your yoga mat,maybe you just shift your
awareness to your breath.
(15:06):
And you start focusing on thatinstead of thinking about what
it is you're supposed to donext, or what the person next to
you is doing, or why doesn'tyour body.
Move like that person's body.
Taking all those judgments awayand instead focusing in on your
breath.
All right.
So let's look at it now from theemotional or spiritual side.
(15:26):
What could this look like?
It can look like a lot ofthings.
And when you're on aself-understanding journey, at
some point you start to seek outthings that take you out of your
comfort zone and bring you toyour edge emotionally, mentally,
spiritually.
That means you don't necessarilyshy away from discomfort.
In fact, you likely face a lotof discomfort when you start to
(15:47):
get deep enough into peelingback your own layers.
So, in order to do that, itmight mean that you are getting
counseling, that you areinvesting in coaching for
yourself, or that you'reexploring your relationship with
money.
Exploring your faith.
working on your marriage orstarting a yoga practice.
Like I mentioned, like that's inthe physical, but it also is the
(16:08):
emotional spiritual, because asI said, Your mind and body are
one and they are not separate.
As you have been led to believe.
I will keep saying that until itactually sinks in.
For everybody, because we can'tjust treat one part.
We've got to treat the whole,okay.
I'll step down off my soap boxnow.
But.
I'm going to go back to this,starting a yoga practice because
(16:30):
Lord knows that the simple actof doing so of starting a yoga
practice practice, be ins toshine light on the areas of your
life that need work.
I don't know how many times I'vehad a new student come into the
studio begin practicing, andthen a week or two later.
The universe jumps in and says,I'm going to try and pull this
person away because they havethis going on or this going on
(16:53):
and I'm going to try and temptthem and, and get them to.
Really not work on themselves.
So that's when the integritycomes in and that's when the
self-discipline comes in that.
You have to know that youactually want to remember to
find that edge.
And that yoga is a way that youcan do that, because it starts
to bring up uncomfortable stuff.
It starts to bring upuncomfortable emotions.
(17:14):
It starts to peel back thelayers that you've been building
up over the years.
Finding your edge emotionallyand spiritually might mean that
you are exploring yourrelationship with"shouding" on
yourself or any other beliefsthat you come across that seem
to be keeping you stuck?
Even asking yourself, what wouldmake me the most uncomfortable
(17:35):
in life can be a great prompt toget you thinking about where an
edge might lie for you.
Heck.
Even just this episode might bean edge for you because it's
bringing your awareness tothings in life that you may be
judging yourself or othersabout, and remember that
whatever you're judging aboutsomeone else or that thing that
triggers you about someone elseis likely because they're being
(17:56):
a mirror for you.
So there's an edge, or as mycoach would call it a Trailhead,
for you to explore.
And one way to begin to explorethose things, those edges, those
trail heads, or, or findingthose edges in the emotional
spiritual is by journaling.
Maybe that's an edge.
It's a great way to begin to tapinto that mental, emotional, and
(18:18):
spiritual side.
Even if you don't consideryourself someone who journals
stream of consciousness, writingis super therapeutic.
Even if it doesn't make sense,even if what you're writing on
the paper has nothing to do withanything in life.
Super, super.
Beneficial.
Your edge in your mental,emotional might also be
beginning to understand whatyour body is actually
(18:39):
communicating with you and howto start using it and it's
rhythms.
Or the rhythms around you toyour advantage.
All the messages that your bodysends you are ways that it's
communicating something in yourmind that needs to be addressed.
And finally, you might be livingwith the belief that you aren't
(19:00):
enough or won't ever haveenough.
And to you that feels reallycomfortable to just keep living
with that.
Scarcity belief or that notenoughness.
But what if the thought thatthere was a possibility that
things could be different?
Or that you indeed are enoughexactly as you are right now.
And all the gunk that you bringwith you.
(19:22):
What if there was a thought thatall of that is exactly how it's
supposed to be.
And that's the thought thattakes you out of your comfort
zone.
That's the thing that you beginto work with that takes you out
of your comfort zone and helpsyou find an edge.
Emotionally.
Mentally spiritually.
The point is.
Your edge, doesn't always haveto be harder, faster, stronger,
(19:43):
tougher.
It can indeed be exploring thedepths of what makes you, you.
Doing things the way you'vealways done them is safe.
It's comfortable.
It's familiar.
So what if your edge looked likejust making one small change
that gets you a littleuncomfortable, maybe just a
teeny tiny bit uncomfortable.
(20:04):
That pushed you beyond.
What is quote safe for you?
It's not just about discoveringhow to push yourself to be
better in an upward and outwardway or in a physical way.
Although making minor physicalchanges can be helpful in
enhancing that awareness becauseit ultimately will bring out the
mental, emotional, and spiritualchanges that need to happen as
(20:27):
well.
It's not just discovering how topush yourself to be better in an
upward or outward way or in aphysical way.
Although making minor physicalchanges can be helpful in
enhancing awareness becauseultimately, as I've said before,
What happens in your body is adirect reflection of what's
happening in your mind.
It doesn't have to be just aboutthe physical though or in the
(20:48):
outward way.
It can be in an inward way.
In a way that brings you to thedepths of who you are and who
your spirit is.
So, where does the challenge liefor you?
What if your challenge or edgeis in being soft or doing less
rather than doing more andhardening yourself?
It's not just exploring theoutward or how to push harder
(21:10):
and do just a little bit more,but to consider also the inward
emotional softer side, thatchallenges you to do less, to
sink deeper within.
And it's totally iterative.
You find your edge, you workthrough it, and then you have to
find a new one and keep goingeven deeper in your
understanding of self, in yourawakening of self or of spirit.
(21:31):
But when you try too hard or goover your edge, the changes
won't happen.
You'll be stuck.
And when you don't try at all orfind any sort of an edge, you'll
also be stuck, stuck incomplacency.
There's this fine line betweensomething becoming effortless
when intention is still attachedto it.
And effortless when complacencysets in.
(21:54):
And that's part of what makes upyour edge in any given moment.
It's in the middle of thatspectrum.
I talked about at the beginningof the episode.
It's about finding the balancebetween effortless action with
intention and inaction orcomplacency.
It's the sweet spot somewhere inthe middle.
All right.
So I've given you a lot of ideason how to find a different edge
(22:15):
today.
But the takeaway I want to leaveyou with is this.
If a warrior mentality orperfectionism or a super
self-disciplined approach to thephysical in work life or your
health is what you naturallygravitate towards.
Consider this your nudge toexplore what your edge could
look like from a differentvantage point.
(22:36):
From one that explores depthexpansion inward rather than
height and expansion outward.
Because when you do start to payattention to those little
signals that your body is givingyou, or that inward exploration,
you indeed will be able to flowwith your time, energy and
(22:57):
focus, even when unexpectedthings come up.
Okay friends before we go.
I want to just ask that youmight share this with just one
other person this week.
It might be this episode.
It might be another episode.
Whatever you feel called to do,would you just share this with
one other person to just see ifwe can turn the dial a little
bit on this podcast and grow ita little bit farther to reach
(23:22):
just a few more people?
I would be so grateful if youwould do that.
Until next week.
I'm Cathy Strue cker and you'vebeen listening to health,
harmony, and happiness withCathy.
Cheers to cultivating your ownversion of health, harmony, and
happiness in your life.
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