I am not a great person. In fact, I have the capacity to do great harm. My pride can cloud my judgment. I’m well-rehearsed in self-sabotage. My word should be a bond, but I’ve made whisper-thin promises. And, my efforts at being selfless have earned a solid C-.

It’s no surprise, then, that I strived to leave this person at home in my first year of teaching. In my view, impactful yoga teachers were completely detached from their ego. As a light-bringer, I was convinced that shadows only weighed me down. They were odds and ends to pile high in a closet, out of sight and incongruent with a “positive vibes only” view – until they all tumbled out.

I try my best to stay on top of my “do good, feel good checklist” (moisturizing regularly, practicing gratitude, sipping a green juice every now and then) and these practices have paved the way for a significant change in my perspective. However, some days, I’ll admit that – contrary to what Big Sean says – I just don’t wake up in “beast mode.”

I am but two generations removed from my family’s Southern origins. Between my last name and the occasional lilts and drawls in my speech, it’s clear that I am wholly Midwestern. With that identity comes exposure to a vernacular that is simple in delivery, yet rich in context. And, as I navigate the space between faith, race and gender, my roots have given me a roadmap for making meaning.

If you’re a Millennial, everyone’s hustling. That’s just who we are. As we make the most of the tools we’ve been given, we’re subject to constant accusations of entitlement. Our retaliation tends to take the form of this endless loop of “eat, pray, hustle.” Such is our mantra. Whether it’s a side hustle, an entrepreneurial gig or a 9-to-5, Millennials are here to outwork you, out-imagine you and claim everything prior generations said we couldn’t earn. I am among this powerhouse generation and I, too, will make sure I eat. However, it’s not uncommon for my boss mode and my faith mode to clash from time to time. I often wonder when I’ve pushed past healthy ambition into a fear-fueled cycle of “busy.”