You can do hard things AND you don’t have to like it.

You can have a good day and not get your to do list completed. You can love someone and be frustrated with them. You can be happy and sad at the same time. You can fall out of a yoga pose and your value as a human does not change.

The holidays have a unique way of shining a light on joy and sadness simultaneously. As humans managing these opposing feelings can be challenging. Because we can feel contrasting emotions at the same time it is important to hold space for them. Just as the word “and” connects two words, thoughts or ideas in a sentence, “and” is also a bridge between contradicting emotions. “And” gives us permission to create space for all our thoughts and feelings.

Embracing the word “and” is a skill. It is something you can practice and strengthen like a muscle. In yoga, you do it on your mat all the time. When you lose your balance in a pose and try again. When you struggle during a class and you take child’s pose to regroup. Yoga challenges practitioners to do your best and not attach to the outcome. Easier said then done but practice makes progress after all.

“And” allows for complexity and contrast as well as acceptance of your full experience. Acknowledging all aspects of experience enables you to make intentional choices about how you want to show up for yourself and others. You can have lemons and lemonade.