curious + courageous

I was perched on a towel in an anorak chair wearing a bikini and fedora, Iyengar's Light On Yoga in hand, ready for a philosophy poolside chat as part of last week's Costa Rica retreat at Rayos del Sol, when my retreaters began giggling and shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Look at the life you live!" they joked, in all seriousness, at the ridiculousness and splendor of the current situation: my job, as it stood at that moment, was to talk about something I love [yoga] in an environment I love [tropical paradise] basking in the warm sun with wonderful people. "I must have done something right in a past life...," I responded.

The reality I was faced with in that chair by the pool was blissful, even though the reality of how I got to that place was not exactly smooth sailing. That being said, I was curious enough to cultivate a healthy dose of courage and do it against all odds, of which there were many.

I stayed curious, talked to fellow teachers who led retreats, tried it on for size by teaching yoga on four Fitness + Foolishness retreats - in which my role did not involve coordinating the entirety of the trip - and kept studying yoga. Along the way, even as I began to get more serious about conducting my own retreat and gained momentum as a teacher, several of my workshops and events had to cancel due to various obstacles, despite widespread interest and positive feedback.

I felt both defeated and empowered, crushed and determined. I would ask myself, Do I just quit here, is this worth continually failing? And I would counter with, Who says I am failing, who says I am not successful, what else would I even do if I was not doing this?

I experienced a bit of a tumultuous battle between anxiety and confidence, knowing I would have to keep facing ongoing fears of being "found out" per the notorious Imposter Syndrome, and somehow kept doing the damn thing whether I felt that I had flourished or "failed."

Click here for the full post, including four ways we can all learn stay both curious and courageous when fear paralyzes our physical and mental capabilities of being truthful to our Selves.

What does being curious and courageous mean to you, and how has it helped you cultivate what you want in your life?

Read on for glorious Costa Rica meal inspo, music, special discounts, and wellness happenings.

Photo: self-practice at Rayos Del Sol, Costa Rica.

costa rica food inspo

• Quinoa with chopped steamed veggies, yucca chips, shredded veggie salad
• Almond banana pancakes, avocado mango tartar, plantains, fruit, almond milk matchas
• Gallo pinto, local eggs scrambled with sautéed onion and broccoli, avocado, papaya
• Avocado coconut mousse with Purely Elizabeth blueberry hemp granola & cacao nibs
• Matchaful chia pudding with Windy City Organics goldenberries, coconut oil fried plantain, fresh sourdough with almond butter and mango marmalade, papaya, local hard boiled egg