Mantra:
“Begin with wonder, soften with grace, grow through doubt, and trust the becoming.”

Topic 1 – Begin in Doubt, End in Knowing

Sometimes we think doubt means we’re failing—like we should have it all figured out before we start. But the truth is, doubt is a natural, even necessary, part of the path.
The Buddha didn’t tell us to ignore doubt—he told us to investigate it. To get curious. Doubt is what wakes us up. It’s the voice that says, “Is there more?” or “What is true for me?” That kind of questioning is sacred. It’s how real wisdom starts to grow.

Tonight, let your doubts come with you onto the mat. Let them be part of your breath, your movement, your stillness. When we stop trying to push doubt away, it becomes part of the journey toward deeper understanding.

Personally, I’ve had times where I doubted everything—my direction, my practice, even my ability to teach. But every one of those moments cracked something open. Doubt helped strip away what wasn’t real. What was left was something simple, clear, and deeply true.

So tonight, the invitation is this: welcome your questions. Practice not knowing. And see what kind of quiet truth begins to rise up in you.

Metaphor: The Unlabeled Jar
Think of walking into your kitchen and finding a row of clay jars with no labels. You look at them and wonder what’s inside. You could ignore them—or you could open one and see. Some might be spices, some might be tea leaves, some might surprise you completely.
Doubt is like those unlabeled jars. If you avoid it, you never really know. But if you open it up—investigate it—you learn. You discover something true. You don’t need the label to begin. You just need the willingness to look.

Quotes to reinforce the message:

“Doubt everything. Find your own light.” — The Buddha

“The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance—it is the illusion of knowledge.” — Daniel J. Boorstin

“The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.” — Pema Chödrön

“If you want to be certain, you must begin by being uncertain.” — Tibetan saying

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe

Topic 2 – We Are Works in Progress

Let’s just say it clearly: you are not supposed to be perfect.
Not in this practice. Not in this life.
And yet, so often, we judge ourselves for not being “there” yet—wherever there is. We forget that we’re not finished. We’re in the middle. We’re unfolding.

From a Buddhist view, our imperfections are not something to hide—they’re part of what makes us real. They soften us. They open our hearts.

In yoga, we fall out of poses. We lose our balance. We forget to breathe. And then—we come back. That “coming back” is the real practice. That’s the beauty of being a work in progress.

I’ve had plenty of days where I felt like I was starting over. Not just on the mat, but in life. But those moments taught me more than the polished ones ever could. They humbled me, softened me, and helped me love others more fully.

Call to action:
Tonight, as you move, don’t aim for perfection. Aim for presence. Let each wobble or misstep be part of your masterpiece. You are not unfinished—you’re just evolving.

Metaphor: The Handwoven Rug
In traditional Persian rug weaving, artisans intentionally include a small flaw in every design. Why? Because only the divine is perfect. These tiny imperfections remind us of our humanity—and they actually make the rug more beautiful and authentic.
We are like those handwoven rugs. Our so-called flaws are what make us real, what make us ourselves. When we embrace them, we stop chasing perfection—and start living with more honesty and heart.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:

“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect.” — Stephen Hawking

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen

“Be patient with all that is unresolved in your heart.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

“You are not a problem to be solved. You are a person to be met.” — Anonymous

“Compassion begins with the acceptance of our own imperfection.” — Jack Kornfield

Topic 3 – The Strength in Softness

Sometimes we think strength means pushing, holding on, or proving something. But the deeper path—the quieter, wiser one—reminds us that real strength often looks like softness.
Not the kind of softness that gives up, but the kind that stays open. The kind that can breathe through discomfort and stay kind in the face of pain. Softness lets us be with what is, without needing to change it right away.

Yoga invites us into this kind of strength. Not just how long we can hold a pose, but how gently we can hold ourselves when things don’t go as planned.
Tonight, let yourself soften. Let your breath be easy. Let your movement be kind. Strength doesn’t have to roar. Sometimes it whispers, “I’m still here.”

I’ve had days where I couldn’t force my way through, and it was only when I softened—when I stopped trying to control everything—that the real healing happened. Softness taught me how to stay with myself, especially when things felt hard.

Call to action:
In your practice tonight, notice where you can let go of gripping. Let your body, your breath, your heart soften. That’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.

Metaphor: The Worn-In Shirt
Think of your favorite old T-shirt. It didn’t start that way—it was probably stiff and new once. But over time, through wear and washing, it softened. It molded to you. It became comforting in a way no brand-new shirt ever could.
You’re like that shirt. The experiences that wear on you—the doubts, the setbacks, the cracks—can make you softer, more open, and more real. There’s a deep strength in becoming softer through life.

Quotes to reinforce the message:

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” — Saint Francis de Sales

“Softness is not weakness. It takes courage to stay open.” — Unknown

“You don’t have to be fearless. Just don’t let fear stop you.” — Charlie Mackesy

“A gentle word, a kind touch, a quiet presence—that is power.” — Unknown

“Let go of the harsh edges. You are allowed to soften.” — Morgan Harper Nichols

Topic 4 – Trust the Becoming

We all want to know where we’re going. We want to see the full picture, to be certain we’re on the right path. But the truth is, we rarely get that kind of clarity at the beginning.

The process of becoming—of changing, healing, growing—isn’t always clear. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. But beneath the surface, something always is.

Yoga reminds us that the journey is the practice. It’s not about reaching a pose or mastering anything. It’s about showing up, again and again, and trusting that something meaningful is unfolding—even when we can’t see it yet.

There’ve been times I felt stuck or unsure, like I should be “further along.” But later, I could see that even in the stillness, even in the mess, something was changing in me. That’s what it means to trust the becoming.

Call to action:
As you move tonight, don’t rush toward an outcome. Just be in it. Trust that this moment, right now, is part of your unfolding—even if you can’t see where it leads.

Metaphor: The Developing Photograph
Remember those old Polaroid photos? You’d take the picture, and at first it just looked blank. But slowly, over time, the image would appear—shadows, shapes, details coming into focus.
You couldn’t speed it up by shaking it. You just had to wait. And trust.
You are like that photo. Your path is still developing. Just because you can’t see it all now doesn’t mean it’s not forming into something beautiful.

Quotes to reinforce the message:

“Be patient with yourself. Nothing in nature blooms all year.” — Unknown

“The path is the goal.” — Chögyam Trungpa

“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.” — Sophia Bush

“Transformation is not a future event. It is a present activity.” — Jillian Michaels

“Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place.” — Unknown

Topic for “We are Works in Progress.”

We are all works in progress. Stephen Hawking once wrote, “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist… Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” From a Buddhist perspective, our imperfections are doorways to deeper compassion—both for ourselves and for those around us. When we recognize that we are all imperfect in different ways, we naturally show greater generosity to others and learn to appreciate the path that has shaped us.

Yoga teaches us to embrace both the moments of graceful flow, but also the moments when everything unravels—when we stumble or fall out of a pose. These experiences both cultivate patience and resilience. Beyond the mat, we discover that those who truly love us see beyond our faults; they recall our wholeness and purpose even when we doubt ourselves. They love us even when we forget how to love ourselves. This loving acceptance reflects the generosity we can extend to one another: by holding space for each other’s flaws, we foster a powerful sense of belonging.”

“Our greatest struggles are our greatest teachers. Always remember that we only have control over ourselves, and our choices. There is a lesson in ever experience and an experience in every lesson.” – David Scott

“Listen to the inner light; it will guide you. Listen to the inner peace; it will feed you. Listen to the inner love; it will transform you.” – Sri Chinmoy

Yoga is a lot like life. It is a balance between holding on and letting go.

“In your practice focus on only what you can control.” David Scott

“Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose” – Eckhart Tolle

Meditation means dissolving the invisible walls that ignorance has built.

If I can change my thoughts, I can change anything. Today I will make progress towards my goals. …

Never underestimate yourself. You are capable of great things. …

“Holding onto worries about tomorrow is like trying to carry two heavy backpacks at once—it’s exhausting and unnecessary. It’s like worrying makes us live in tomorrow before it’s even here, and that just takes away today’s energy without changing anything about tomorrow. So, let’s not worry about opening our umbrella until it actually starts to rain.” David Scott

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

“Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will stop focusing on how stressed I am and remember how blessed I am. Complaining won’t change my reality, but a positive attitude will.”

“If you spent your life concentrating on what everyone else thought of you, would you forget who you really are. Why do we give so much power to others in our thoughts, worried about what they think of us, when there do not know or really care about who we are or what we have been through to get to where we are today.” – David Scott

“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“I will get back up. Again, and again. The faster I recover from setbacks, the faster I’ll get back on the path of life.”

“Often we have to spend time fumbling around in the darkness, bumping into things, before we appreciate the light once it returns.” David Scott

“When I find that I don’t have time for what matters, I will stop doing things that don’t.”

“There’s nothing selfish about self-care and self-love. I can’t give what I don’t have. When I enrich my own life, I’ll be life-giving to others too.”

“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” – Rumi

“We are all broken, that’s how the light gets in.” – Ernest Hemingway

“There is no such thing as the light at the end of the tunnel; realize that you are the light. Be the light that helps others see. Let light shine from within darkness.” – David Scott

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” – Maya Angelou

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr

“See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.” Wayne Dyer

“When the grass looks greener on the other side, it’s just life’s way of reminding me to water the grass I’m standing on.”

Before you utter anything, run your thoughts through three key filters and don’t speak unless you get three resounding YES responses: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful?

“Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.”

“Happiness doesn’t mean you always have a smile on your face. It means you have a foundation for your existence that allows you to be at peace no matter what is happening in your life.” – Wai Lana

The hardest prison to escape from is our mind.

Change is never painful. Resistance to change is painful.

Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but instead in trying to control it.

You can’t have a physical transformation until you have had a spiritual transformation.

Do not choose the one that is beautiful to the world, but rather choose the one who makes your world beautiful.

The mind is like water. When it is turbulent it is difficult to see, when it is calm it becomes still.

What comes easy won’t last long and what last long won’t come easy.

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room.” – Dalai Lama

“According to Vedanta, there are only two symptoms of enlightenment, just two indications that a transformation is taking place within you toward a higher consciousness. The first symptom is that you stop worrying. Things don’t bother you anymore. You become light-hearted and full of joy. The second symptom is that you encounter more and more meaningful coincidences in your life, more and more synchronicities. And this accelerates to the point where you actually experience the miraculous. (quoted by Carol Lynn Pearson in Consider the Butterfly)”

“Your diet is not only what you eat. It’s what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, the people you hang around… be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually, and physically.” David Scott