Being myself includes taking risks with myself, taking risks on new behavior, trying new ways of being myself, so that I can see how it is I want to be.

- Hugh Prather

Once we have set our intention, the next step is to align with it.

We align with our intention not to fix ourselves, our get something different from the world, but to move toward an experience of our highest self in body, mind and heart.

Physically, when we move away from what is called the body's "Optimal Blueprint," we experience discomfort and pain. The "Optimal Blueprint" applies to all of us: it is the ideal way our bones and muscles biomechanically fit together to create the greatest stability and ease in our bodies.

When we feel physical pain, it can bring up feelings of hopelessness, self-doubt, and anger. When we find ourselves suddenly free from pain, we experience a flash of deep inner clarity, joy, and gratitude. Thus, our physical experience is inseparable from our mental and emotional state.