When I began my journey to wellness, I thought that my life would become easy. Yes, my health and moods have become more manageable; however, there is an array of issues that come once we decide to either change our diets, take on meditation or enter the wellness industry as a professional.

Life is about learning and I believe some of these challenges to be necessary.

Here are 3 of the hardest things to accept once we decide to align ourselves with wellness:

1. We can still make mistakes.

I see a lot of perfectionism in the wellness community and almost a sense of god-like behavior from those in it. And, I suffered from it, too. I had to humble myself immensely so that I could speak to people and teach others from a place of understanding and non-judgment.

Once we accept that we can and probably will make mistakes once we decide to change our lives for the better, it eases judgement from ourselves and prevents us from placing it on others.

We are supposed to make mistakes in life, they can be some of our best lessons.

2. That self-forgiveness is important.

When I decided to stop drinking in 2013 for an inevitable amount of time to work on myself, I felt a lot of memories of my past resurface. They were often very painful and some of them how I had hurt others.

Sometimes, the pain was so overwhelming that it would leave me in tears lying on the floor of a yoga studio. I had to learn self-forgiveness and have the same compassion I was trying to have for others with myself.

In the beginning, it seems selfish. Questions like, ‘Who am I to be forgiven?’ And to that I answer, ‘Who am I not to be forgiven?’ We all deserve a second chance, a clean slate and a renewal of our hearts are in the right place.

3. That I am not the ultimate end-all and be-all for my clients and those around me.

When I began my health journey, I came across as a ‘know-it-all’. Even though I didn’t feel like it, I would speak to people in certain ways that was condescending and patronizing. The opposite agenda of my intent.

Like I mentioned before, I had to humble myself and speak to others from compassion. I understood and accepted that how I convey a message is just as important as what I am trying to say. I also learned that if someone doesn’t want to be healthy or follow my recommendations, I am not the one to punish them for it.