16 years ago, I discovered hot yoga. I was 22 at the time, and I'd just graduated from college and had turned the car around on the way to grad school. 🤦🏼‍♀️

 

During this time, I was working in the radiology department as an intern because I had randomly decided to go back to school to explore pre-med and become a doctor.

 

I was tasked with researching eosinophilic esophagitis.

 

Yeah.

 

The reason why you've probably never heard me talk about this, is because I only lasted one quarter, and I flat out walked out of my physics final.

 

 

That was enough for me.

 

But back to hot yoga... 

 

Besides the fact that I didn't quite fit in because I was wearing J.Crew yoga pants instead of Lululemon which was just starting to infiltrate the US with their pop-up showrooms…

 

I loved everything about it.

 

So much so that throughout the years, I've kept in touch with my favorite teacher, Heidi, from this class. 

 

(I even interviewed her when I decided to start my own business to see if I wanted to start a yoga studio like hers in London. The moment she told me she sometimes had to clean toilets, I knew it wasn't the business for me.)

 

Since then, she's gone on to open up her own studio that happens to be 10 minutes from where I live so I've been able to go regularly since moving back to Ohio.

 

Now here’s the thing about her class…

 

 

 

I push myself. 

 

I give into the challenge. 

 

I love how everyone is packed in there with their yoga mats just an inch apart.

 

 

Doesn’t that sound horrible when you read it? It does to me.

 

But I love this class. And even though I’ve lived all around the world, this is the best one I’ve ever found. 

 

And as you can imagine, it’s not just about the environment, it’s about the teacher too.

 

You see, Heidi is special. She somehow knows every single person’s name. She makes an announcement when you come back to town (she did this for me during my first class) and makes the whole experience memorable. 

 

Although you’re hot, sweaty and about to pass out, she makes you want to be there.

 

 

She actually makes it fun.

 

Why am I telling you this?

 

Because for whatever reason, I look at this class and its level of difficulty with extreme positivity. 

 

I literally throw myself into the challenge. I crave the challenge. I get up at 5am for the challenge.

 

 

 

Maybe for you, challenge = bad. 

 

You avoid it.

 

And instead of looking at the challenge as an opportunity to grow, you’re allowing it to stunt your growth. 

 

 

And you stop.

 

You hold yourself back because you don't want to be seen as anything but perfect instead of going all in regardless of the outcome. 

 

 

Ring any bells?

 

I get it…we want to be good at everything. We want it to be easy. We think we're doing something wrong if it's not.

 

 

But the truth is, there's nothing wrong with you. And sometimes, things are meant to be hard!

 

 

Probably all of the above!

 

But First name / friend…

 

 

I listened to Kevin Hart's book I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons a few years ago and recorded a podcast episode on it. 

 

His belief is that the bigger the challenge, the bigger the thing that you're being prepared for…

 

 

I've chosen to adopt that mindset.

 

For example, the last two years have been hard. I actually just recorded three episodes yesterday for the podcast that will be released in the next few weeks sharing some of what I've been through and more importantly, how I've moved through it. 

 

All I can say is that there must be something pretty big around the corner!

 

 

So how to we overcome this aversion to challenge?

 

One of the exercises that I love to do involves looking back at my previous challenges and seeing what I've learned from them.

 

So today, I want you to do the same.

 

 

What positive can you see in that experience? (Even if it was 1% positive.) Was there anything you learned? Did you grow? Did it prepare you for something else?

 

 

 

And maybe, you'll even start to feel grateful for the challenge and embrace it.

 

And recognize that it's probably giving you something you need in the future.

 

 

You changing your perspective on challenge is going to free others. Maybe it's your employees, spouse or kids. They will no longer feel the need to be perfect or shy away from challenge.

 

Remember, the bigger the challenge, the bigger the gift on the other side.

 

You've got this.

 

Speak soon!

 

Emily

 

P.S. I also recorded a podcast episode with the incredible Alexi Panos where we talked all about challenge. She's someone who loves challenge so I knew I had to ask her about my own aversion to it (at the time). Click here to listen to it.

 

P.P.S.If you enjoyed this email, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply and let me know if you liked it / anything stood out / if you've ever been at a crossroads like this. If this was your first newsletter and you made it all the way through, I'd love to hear that, too.