Ep. 23 | Courage to Change the Things I Can--Serenity Prayer Part 2

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In November I started teaching yoga twice a week at a local charter high school called Harmony Academy. 

I was contacted to teach yoga to the students for their PE period.

The crazy part is that that makes me their PE teacher.

If you would’ve told high school aged, seventeen year old Kari that someday she would teach high school PE, she would’ve been pissed.                                                                   

PE was the bane of my existence in high school. Gym teachers made my life a living hell. 

A huge amount of my body shame and trauma sources back to that time in my life.

Now, being an adult who leads others through movement practices means huge changes have occurred since that time in my life.

That’s why this week's episode of the Luminous Recovery Yoga podcast is about finding the courage to change the things I can.

This is part 2 of our 3 part series on the Serenity Prayer.

The serenity prayer says: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. 

Often times, in a moment of distress over people, places, things, and situations, I take a moment to break down a situation into three components: 

1. Accept the things I cannot change.
2. Courage to change the things I can.
3. Wisdom to know the difference.

If I’m applying the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer to my current PE teachership, I can accept the fact that high school gym, to say the least, was not my strongest subject. I cannot change, and I cannot alter the past.

Having the courage to change the things I can, means I get to look at my life now and ask who and how I want to be in the world. I get to change my story based on new data and information.

When I left high school, young Kari promised herself she would never move or exercise again. It was a pact I made with myself that led to consequences later down the line.

Later, I discovered yoga, which became a form of movement that generated empowerment and self-discovery for me.

I discovered recovery, which allowed me to call my spirit back from the people, places, things, and situations that have caused me grief.

Having the courage to change means I get to retell the story of my body, and my whole self.

Maybe you can relate—sometimes I have to find the courage to do something that I don’t yet have the confidence for. In this episode, I suggest that you ought not confuse the two.

Having courage doesn’t always, and in fact might not, mean that you have found the confidence to act. Confidence may develop over time, but it is not required to find the courage to change.

I love taking this principle to the mat. By taking time to focus on your breath and body, you can quiet the mind and find a sense of inner peace and calm. You can learn to let go of your fears and to trust yourself and your abilities. When you practice this kind of surrender, you can find the courage to embrace the unknown and to face the challenges that come your way with more grace and resilience.

Courage is about finding the inner strength and resilience to take on new challenges and to persevere, even when things feel scary. 

If you're feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward, try taking some time on the mat to find your inner strength and courage. 

I created an interactive PDF to get your juices flowing about courage to change. You can use this guide on its own or as an accompaniment to the episode. It contains some thoughtful questions for consideration you might find helpful.

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And once you’ve listened, consider joining me for a LIVE yoga class in-person or virtually. Come and find out how it feels to practice courage on your mat. 

With love,

~Kari