Defining Moments

What is a defining moment?

Here’s some words to describe a defining moment:

• life-changing events
• milestones
• insights
• critical choices
• crisis points
• unchangeable actions
• personal definitions
• opportunities
• misfortunes
• pivot points

You can see by the above words that “change” almost always occurs in these instances.

Defining moments usually happen very quickly, sometimes in the blinking of an eye. They are unalterable. It is if time stands still and moment has HUGE MEANING for you.  It is as if God has stopped all things and says "HEY! Pay attention here!!!  This is for your own good!” They are memorable and many times you can remember the exact date and sometimes the exact hour that your defining moment occurred. Our choices help define these events. They are either negative or positive but rarely neutral. Negative moments can come as a result of  weather, other people, catastrophic or un-forcasted events such as a hurricane, a school shooting,  loss of a loved one or even an unplanned pregnancy. Positive moments can happen quickly or come about after much planning and preparation such as a graduation or winning an Olympic event after much training. They may come from a new job or a simple promotion or they may be the result of a complete career change.

Here’s a few more definitions of a defining moment:

• a memorable, life changing decision, event, or action that alters the course of our life (my definition)
• simple moments that define who we are
• Dictionary.com  – An event that typifies or determines all subsequent related occurrences
• What does defining moments mean? An event, action, or decision that results in a significant change for a person, institution, community, country or the world. (Wiki Answers)

Here’s a thought  you may not have realized… Defining moments bring you closer to discovering your purpose in life.  What are your defining moments?  Do you ever write them down?  Have you ever had them on your mat? Yoga provides us a fantastic way to peel away things that keep us from being who we authentically were created to be Our mats become our mirrors if we let them.  Having a ‘Yoga Journal’ is a great way to practice and to write down revelations as they happen.

Remember our issues are in our tissues!! It can be be a releasing of something you have held onto and is stored deep in your muscle tissues.  A false filter in which we view the world, a person, a people group, a situation, etc. can be revealed. Something that needs healing, forgiveness that needs to be given to ourselves or others can also be revealed to us as we practice.  We may discover a path in which we are to trust, have faith, and embark upon.  We may discover we are more powerful than we ever thought possible. No matter what our defining moment is, we know that our mat is a sanctuary. Our yoga mats have become an extension of ourselves-a portable safe haven to both learn on, and reflect upon. We bring them to class, and return to our mats during home practice with comfort and familiarity.  Our mats allow us to explore what is in the past, what is happening in the present and what is to happen in the future.  It allows us to work out our messy lives and accept that we are PERFECT in our own mess.

Are you aware of how amazing the life God has planned for you is?  Are you aware of the defining moments that have already occurred and are occurring? Have you let any of your defining moments lose momentum simply due to the fact your schedule is too busy?  Remember the art of being present is a discipline that needs to be continuously cultivated.  Get a journal and keep track of your defining moments or work them through with deeper thought  after your yoga practice  brings about awareness.  Write those down that occur in your everyday-walking-around-life!  The opportunities afforded to us in both positive and negative defining moments is a continuous gift. Come to your mat, explore your body and your SELF to become as brilliant as God knows you to be!


Life is exactly as we need to it be as God has designed a brilliant life for us to aspire to.  Our life is our journey toward that brilliance.  Let's get to it!