The Art of Including Yourself

I woke up to the sounds of trippy drone music playing.
I was in the park, surrounded by a hundred other people.
We had just practiced a Kundalini mantra for abundance and had been taken into a deep sound bath.

None of this was planned.

I’d stumbled upon a gathering hosted by Walk Good LA, which apparently happens every first Sunday of the month at a park in my neighborhood.

I was on a solo morning hike when I came across the scene—and I’ll be honest, despite my love of all things spiritual/wellness related, I hesitated to participate.
By all accounts, it seemed to be a space created by and for the Black community.

Even though I was warmly welcomed and invited to join, my first thought was:
What will they think of me if I join? I don’t really belong here…

But I was intrigued (see above: love of all things spiritual/wellness related). 

I had come to the park to put my feet in the grass and be in nature, and here was an opportunity to do exactly that—but in community. Maybe not my community, but community nonetheless.

 So I made a donation, borrowed a mat, and joined in.

 As we began to chant, I felt sensations in my body.
Thoughts crept in: Am I chanting too loud? Are people judging me for taking space here? Should I leave?
I kept breathing and chanting, bringing my mind back into my body.

And then I realized—
I was the one separating myself.
No one else was.

How often do we do that?
How often do we exclude ourselves from connection because of the story in our head that says we don’t belong?

Yet here we were—a group of humans practicing Kundalini yoga, a tradition that originated far from any of us—breathing, moving, chanting, healing together.

From that moment on, I decided to include myself—to open to the experience and make peace with simply being there.

It didn’t matter whether I “belonged” or not.
I was there—sharing this experience with other humans who came to do the same thing I did.

And then of course, because this is how the law of the universe works, I ran into someone I knew! We hugged, caught up, and might even collaborate on a future workshop together (stay tuned!).

 So know this: the magic is always flowing.
The only question is: will you step into it—or take yourself out of it?

3 Ways to Include Yourself

1️⃣ Get behind your choice.
If you’re choosing to be somewhere, fully choose it. Own your presence (respectfully).
 

2️⃣ Welcome yourself into the space.
Don’t wait to be included. Say hi. Smile. Introduce yourself. Bring the warmth you would want to receive. 
 

3️⃣ Stay open to what unfolds.
Connection often comes in unexpected ways—if you’re open enough to receive it.

Belonging starts when you decide you belong.
The rest follows.