Meet Michael Wally...

"Life is a crucible; it will purify you if you let it. If you don't, it will seemingly burn you because you misunderstand - you believe yourself to be the dross." - Michael Wally

Where my journey started...

• Unmotivated, undisciplined and directionless

  • My main driver was the need to support myself and my family along with the societal pressure to not be a drain. 

  • Procrastination was my only discipline, motivating me with fear should I fail to meet deadlines and expectations.

  • No sense of which path to follow other than the rut I'd already worn.

• Perpetually unhappy and depressed

  • Outwardly I had a good life - a loving and supportive partner, friends, a lucrative career with lots of upward mobility and I owned my own home.

  • Inwardly I was rarely happy, always chasing what I thought would make me okay but never finding lasting contentment in spite of achievement.

  • Depressed at the prospect of dull repetition, not knowing where I could find, or if I could find, happiness.

• Anxious, fearful and reclusive

  • Socially awkward and inept, I never felt very comfortable around others, even those that I knew well.

  • A "homebody",  I was afraid of the anxiety that came with venturing outside my ever shrinking comfort zone.

• Angry and confused

  • Repressed anger of unknown origin, driving often brought this side of me out.

  • What was the delta between me and those that seemed to be able to enjoy life? I was confused how I became the way I was and didn't know what to do about it.

Where I am now

• Disciplined

  • Wherever I've found myself, I haven't missed a day of my daily practices since starting them in 2018 - yoga, pranayama (breathwork) and meditation.

  • I strive to maintain clear awareness every moment of the day.

• Motivated, Mindful and Insightful

  • I know where I am headed and how to get there. The course is clear and the choice obvious.

  • I clearly notice when I slip up and am able to quickly course-correct. I take responsibility for it all.

  • Always deepening my understanding of the path, insight yields to an open-mind.

• Content

  • I am able to enjoy life. Whatever comes my way, wherever I find myself, I make the best of it.

• Excited and Adventurous

  • I reflect on how far I've come and am excited to see how far I will go.

  • Recognizing discomfort as the fuel for growth, I welcome it and work with it.

• Calm, compassionate and composed

  • My anger is a thing of the past. When any remaining threads arise I am able to work with it and continue bettering myself.

  • I do my best to always hold space for others to be themselves. We're all going through something and I know not pushing on others aides them to do their best.

  • When difficulty arises I work with it; I fall back on the many techniques I've honed over the years to regain composure when I am unsteady.

And how I got here

• Teachers and Philosophies

  • From past to present, in-person and in books, the influence and insights from countless teachers have helped inform and motivate my path.

  • An open, dynamic mindset has lead to perpetual distillation of insights across disciplines - from ancient - Buddhism, Taoism, Stoicism, to modern - psychology and neuroscience.

• Communities

  • Inspiration, insights, accountability and mutual support among a variety of communities has contributed greatly to my growth over the years.

• Patience and Persistence

  • Seeing this path as the only reasonable choice, with patience and persistence I know all obstacles will eventually yield.

• Practices

  • Yoga, meditation and breathwork continue to be pivotal, essential aspects of never ending development.

  • Always experimenting and on the lookout for effective new practices to add to my repertoire.

• Experience and Experiences, Insights and Integration

  • Integrating continual practice, moment to moment, deepens existing insights and yields the truth of gathered insights.

  • Experiences from intense breathwork, meditation, retreats and psychedelics reveal my true nature and offer glimpses of my potential - the polestar of my life.