The Inner Dojo Digest Online Newsletter

The Inner Dojo Digest

Where all the interesting stuff happens. The inside work. The pattern shifts. The tiny moments of clarity that knock you sideways in a good way. Think of this as a visit to your own inner dojo. No mats required.

Practice vs Performance (or Why You Can't Just Fly a Plane)

Imagine the scene in Random Adventure Movie: Our intrepid heroine/hero is on a plane flying over the tundra / dense forest / desert / jungle. Something happens to the pilot and suddenly our Intrepid Adventurer has no choice! They have to fly the plane! We are at the edge of our seats: will they m...

by Colleen, Dana — Apr 04, 2026 black belt mind communication skills emotional regulation inner work mental martial arts personal transformation

The One With All the Elephants

My friend got me an elephant for my room.I said thanks. They said, “Don’t mention it.” Ba-dum-tss. 🥁But it's accurate, right? The thing we absolutely should mention is the thing that we absolutely don’t mention, because naming the thing can feel scary. Naming the thing kicks up feelings. Naming...

by Colleen, Dana — Mar 20, 2026 inherited trauma inner work personal transformation self awarness trauma responses

How Clarity Shows Up When Old Patterns Finally Shift (Welcome to Our Online Newsletter!)

It can sometimes feel like no matter what you do, those old patterns will always be there. You do the work and they're still freakin' there. I was once touring a (very dark) underground cave system with my family, and only the cave tour guide had a light. In my 8-year-old-perpetually-distracted-b...

by Colleen — Mar 12, 2026 nap stories the black belt mind trademark

Why being under the weather may be 'under construction'

So, pathogens...🦠 Both of us have been down with some sort of bug lately. A losing-your-voice, time to cancel classes because people-can't-hear us sort-of-bug 🤧 It's easy to slide into the 'oh woe is me' way of thinking. I mean, we've got stuff to do, right? We don't have time to be sidelined by ...

by Colleen — Mar 11, 2026 biological adaptation health science human evolution immune system microbiome nervous system regulation

Feel like you're failing at money? You're not alone.

Here's a fun stat for you: 60% of adults feel like they've made (costly) financial mistakes because they don't know about credit and personal finances. That number goes higher if you don't include Baby Boomers or before - it seems that the younger you are, the less you feel like you know about ...

by Colleen, Dana — Mar 11, 2026 abundance emotional patterns money mindset nervous system regulation personal transformation trauma responses

In a new place? Great! But before that, it's caterpillar soup 🥣

Caterpillar soup...🐛🦋 We've talked about this before, right? The whole caterpillar-turning-into-a-butterfly thing? And how most of us (including yours truly) thought that somehow caterpillars tucked themself all nice 'n' snug into a chrysalis (or cocoon - we're not judging) and then sort of...I d...

by Colleen, Dana — Mar 11, 2026 emotional healing growth and change inner work nervous system regulation personal development personal transformation

Control, and Why It's a Sucker's Bet

There are 2 types of people in the world: people who instinctively like being in control and...ok, there's 1 type of person in the world. Joking! Also, not at all joking. 🤪 The world, after all, is a place where things can change in a heartbeat, and when we're kids, that can be fun and exciting,...

by Colleen, Dana — Mar 11, 2026 emotional regulation inner work letting go of control nervous system regulation personal transformation trauma responses

The Inner Dojo Digest

Where all the interesting stuff happens. The inside work. The pattern shifts. The tiny moments of clarity that knock you sideways in a good way. Think of this as a visit to your own inner dojo. No mats required.