Day 5 ☀️ The Indulgence I Bet You Didn’t Know About

Years ago, I was on the mat with the wonderful actor Stephen Tobolowski — you might remember him as Ned in Groundhog Day. During our session, I mentioned flexibility, and he said something that’s stayed with me ever since:

"The statement ‘I am not flexible’ is an indulgence."

Wow. Wait — what? It’s not like he was suddenly bending into impossible shapes, but he showed up curious and fully present with whatever the practice asked. And in a single moment, he flipped the script for me. Suddenly, the statement that insidiously drains our power had no game.

We all get caught in these negative refrains about ourselves, and indulging them doesn’t serve us. Not only can it be an indulgence, it can even become a form of self-obsession (which I later learned in recovery). It’s a way we spend energy thinking about ourselves and lose the ability to truly be present in the world.

It’s really not until we become aware of this tendency that we can do anything about it. It’s not like they disappear overnight. These limiting beliefs will swing by like uninvited visitors — not just during our 10 days together, but anytime in life. The difference is that during this practice, you have the tools to notice them, pause, and choose how you respond.  One tool you might try the next time you sense a belief taking hold: notice and ask yourself, Do I need to co-sign on this, or is this just an indulgence? Underneath these indulgences is a beating heart waiting to be held with more care.

JOURNAL & REFLECT

Today’s invitation: deepen the work you’ve already begun. Take a mindful pause and explore:

  • Where in my life am I noticing the familiar refrains or limiting beliefs showing up?

  • Do I need to co-sign this, or can I notice it as a passing thought and feeling — one that’s mutable, not fixed?

  • What small benefits or shifts have I already felt from the practices I’ve committed to?

  • How can I hold myself — and these moments of awareness — with more care?

Take a few intentional breaths, journal your reflections, and remember: these beliefs are not your identity.
Every mindful choice that you make, every conscious pause that you take, is an act of co-creating a life you love living.