Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the moments when I find myself saying, “I’m fine,” even when I’m not. It's in these instances that I realize how easily we can drift away from our truth, especially in a world that often values appearance over authenticity.
Our inner truth doesn’t always manifest as bold actions or loud declarations. More often, it takes the form of soft honesty—like admitting, “I’m not okay today,” choosing to slow down when the world urges us to speed up, or honoring what feels real in our bodies, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
This is Satya—the second Yama in the Yoga Sutras—often translated as truthfulness. But Satya is more than just refraining from lies; it’s the practice of being real with ourselves. And let me tell you… that is not always easy.
Truth doesn’t always look pretty. It doesn’t always align with what’s expected of us. Embracing truth requires courage, practice, and an open mind. Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t being honest with others—it’s being honest with ourselves. It takes tremendous courage to be honest and true to yourself.
Yoga has been my sanctuary for cultivating that honesty. Not the postures or the performance, but the quiet—the breath, the listening. It provides the space where I can ask myself:
– What do I really need today?
– Where am I pushing when I need to soften?
– What part of me is trying to be someone I’m not, just to be accepted or understood?
Sometimes, Satya means saying no. Sometimes it means admitting you don’t know. Sometimes it’s as simple—and as challenging—as choosing rest when your mind screams, “keep going.”
I've come to understand that the body never lies. The breath never lies. Each time I ignore these messages—each time I override my truth to meet someone else's expectations, or even my own ideas of what should matter—I feel it. A subtle ache in my chest. A burning in my stomach. A fog of confusion in my mind. A quiet disconnection from myself. These sensations are my body's way of speaking, urging me to listen, to return to what's real.
Satya is the practice of choosing alignment over approval. Of trusting that your truth matters more than what other people think of you. Of remembering that life reorganizes itself—gently but powerfully—when we start listening and aligning with our truth.
So today, I invite you to pause. To ask yourself what’s true for you—not in theory, not forever, but right now. Because truth isn’t fixed. It moves. It shifts. It evolves with you. And your job isn’t to get it perfect—it’s to stay honest with the version of you that’s here now.
That honesty will set you in alignment with your heart and purpose. And in that alignment, you may find a profound sense of peace—a quiet knowing that you're exactly where you need to be.
A little mantra to carry with you:
“I honor my truth. I trust my body. I choose alignment and authenticity."
With love and truth,
Julia
