The Well in Wellness: Nourishing Discipline and Resilience
Since December’s full moon, I’ve sought guidance from the universe, leaning into Santosha (contentment) and the self-disciplines of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. This journey has helped me uncover the essence of contentment, revealing the abundance and contentment already present within and around me.
As I observed my environment with gratitude, I noticed the dying plants hanging outside my window. I recognized how their condition reflected my disappointment, pressure, and frustration. Their neglect mirrored the things I had been neglecting about myself, which led me to reflect on how self-love is required for discipline.
These plants mirrored my inner world, exposing limiting beliefs and an inner voice that hasn’t always offered support and protection. Like them, I needed nourishment—affirming thoughts, like drops of water, to restore balance, flow, and resilience. As I observed the plants more closely, I heard my inner voice more clearly.
I created an intention on the last new moon to embrace Tapas—the discipline of consistent effort and dedication. Rooted in the Sanskrit word for "heat," Tapas ignites personal growth, transformation, and purification. I intended to gain a stronger structure for my wellness practice, but what I received was far beyond what I had imagined.
My attention was brought to the shame I have carried about my perceived lack of discipline. This insight surfaced through my dying plants. I recalled when I stopped caring for them around this time last year. The plants fell last on the endless to-do list and became another mouth to feed.
Recognizing this, I began to understand that discipline isn’t just about action; it’s also about shifting perspective and extending self-compassion. Reflecting on my beliefs and behaviors, I realized this shame was rooted in a distorted perception of myself—a “wrong knowing” shaped by old patterns, judgments, and limitations.
By shifting my focus from shame to self-awareness, I could begin tending to the neglected spaces within and around me. It wasn’t just discipline that my plants needed—they needed me to slow down and fill my well. To return to my essence, the well, and create channels for water to flow.
This well is like the ocean within. The salty Hawaiian water keeps me afloat. I was reminded of my healing place recently when I lay awake for nights struggling to breathe as COVID, anxiety, and dry air kept me awake. It took several nights of sleepless hell to burn away the film over my mind, which prevented me from seeing the truth.
Every sign told me to fill my well, which I thought I was by doing through the motions, but water wasn’t reaching the roots. I decided to go back on my anti-anxiety medicine to help peace reach my roots. I released expectations surrounding work and school, working less hours, and trusting the universe to provide.
This wasn't the Tapas I had created an intention for, but it was the fire necessary to burn away the dam surrounding my well. With my eyes wide awake, I saw my essence, and with the help of medicine, prayer, and my yogic practice, I found deep rest.
I watered my plants and even brought one into my bedroom to help bring moisture into the dry air. I could finally see its essence and how we nurture and balance each other. Through this process, I realized that Tapas isn’t just about discipline but finding balance and resilience.
Ojas is the vital essence and resilience in Ayurveda that sustains us. It is the foundation of mind, body, and spirit wellness. When we connect Tapas—the fire of transformation and discipline—with this vital essence of resilience, we access the profound energy that sustains us. With this in mind, here are some ways to integrate Tapas and Ojas into your daily life:
Keep a journal and track your mood and negative habits, limiting beliefs, or unhealthy patterns—creating space for Ojas to flourish. Here are some journal prompts to get you started:
How are you digesting your experiences, emotions, actions, and food? What practices can help you cultivate self-awareness and align with the natural cycles? Where are you avoiding, neglecting, or overextending into lifeless areas? How can you balance the fire of Tapas with the replenishing power of Ojas in your own life?
Engage in practices that nourish you rather than deplete you. Practices like mindful eating, meditation, and daily yoga. Create a SMART GOAL to support and nurture your well.
Balance fire with rest by alternating deep restoration, cardio, and strength training. Overexertion can deplete Ojas, so avoid burnout from too much intensity. It can also prevent stagnation from too much rest, especially during the Kapha season (late winter/early spring).
Incorporate Svadhyaya (self-study) to ensure your energy and effort align with your higher purpose and core values. You can support this with manifesting, intentions, and goal-setting practice. You can place it to the moon cycles, menstrual cycles, the seasons, and even the time of day. Follow along with my moon compass for ideas on creating your own map and compass for your healing journey.
Agni, meaning fire, is another Ayurvedic concept representing the biological fire responsible for digestion, metabolism, and transformation. We look to digestion, absorption of nutrients, energy levels, mental and emotional states, and immune system to see the state of our agni. We can follow a diet based on our dosha and the season's guidance to help stoke our Agni. Tapas includes nourishing foods that enhance Ojas. Highlight foods that complement your dosha and season and rituals such as eating without distractions to strengthen this connection.
Dinacharya is an Ayurvedic term that translates to "daily routine." It’s designed to align one’s lifestyle with natural rhythms and the seasons. Daily practices such as following a regular sleep schedule, eating warm, nourishing foods, and grounding rituals promote stability and transformation during winter/spring. Check out my cheat sheet and think of ways to align your practice with the natural rhythms of life.
With the new moon upon us, I invite you to set an intention to put the well in wellness—to nourish the source that sustains you. May we awaken to a life that nurtures, guides, and protects us through every storm, leading us home to deep rest, resilience, and knowing.
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