Tag Archives: change

why knowing where you are can change your life

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tumblr_m5pluoy6Oz1rve1jto1_500Your worry, fear, and guilt are not signs of an existential crisis for you to suppress.

Be clear: your feelings are real, but not permanent. These feelings can be signs of more fundamental issues, i.e. unfulfillment in your job, insecurity in relationships,  discomfort with your body, etc.

When you face such obstacles head on, instead of avoiding them, you change your life.

Deciphering what needs work in the stages of development can begin this transformation. Yes, “stages of development” sounds a bit clinical, but seeing what you need to strengthen before taking a risk supports you to make profound changes.

where are you in the development cycle?

I’ll use the example of my recent career risk.  My job was creating tension in my body, manifesting as sickness, sadness, and anger towards myself and others. Taking the leap to quit included awareness of each of these stages.

1) Where are you now? What’s your mindset? Are you creating or limiting change? When you develop a strong daily practice of mind and body awareness, you have a firm foundation for growth.

  • Initially my thoughts were that because I went to school, worked hard, and got good grades then I must fit into this prescribed path. I let others tell me what I could do and who I should be. Before I quit, I had to discover such limiting thoughts and develop a strong meditation and yoga practice to support change. [There are many ways of cultivating awareness. These worked best for me.]

2) Where do you want to be? Discover what more is possible. Read, explore, get out of your comfort zone. Refine your vision—what do you want to change?

  • I created a vision of my future. Before I could take a risky leap, I explored what exactly would make me come alive. This included talking with life coaches, therapists, body workers, and other mind/body entrepreneurs about their wins and challenges.

This Dynamic Life-- risk3) How will you get there? What’s your action plan? Where can you make space in your schedule for this plan? Once you create positive habits for change you can re-create your life.

  • I created a step-by-step process to bring mine into reality. Step one was clearing out the space that my job occupied. Step two included reading inspiring literature daily and surrounding myself with people who believe in living their dreams. 

4) Are you making progress? Strengthen your accountability and self-awareness. You can develop strategies to help you reach new levels of growth. If you’ve made moves to better your life, learn how to celebrate your success.

  • I’m working hard everyday to develop my new business. Sometimes I feel like I’m not working hard enough. That’s when I need to step back and congratulate myself on the work I’ve done thus far. 

Working through obstacles can be frightening. Yet, when you know where you are in this cycle, you can equip yourself to take giant risks. If you’re nervous to work through this process alone or want a little support through one stage or another, don’t hesitate to reach out and seek help. You’re more than capable of taking risks and changing your life. Begin now.

I want a miraculous life! where do I begin?

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You can break your life down into three categories: relationships, work/career, and mental/physical health. Consider each fully–does each area of your life flow? Do you see miracles occur? A miraculous life evolves when you feel like a rockstar in all three areas. It is possible to feel that way!

Notice your sensations when you think of a certain area. Did your stomach churn at the mention of career? Did you soften at the mention of health? Did your muscles tense at the mention of relationships?

The first step is knowing where to begin.

I’m asking you to look at your life objectively, without judgment, without self-hate. Instead of saying, “I’m unhappy,” “I feel stuck,” or “I want ____ (fill in: your dream job/relationship/health goal), but it’s impossible”, like a scientist say, “This area isn’t working. Something needs to change.”

Often, if someone is a rockstar in one area, there is a struggle in another. Yet, we feel so comfortable in certain areas that we just dive deeper into the comfort zone, neglecting the other area(s).

For example, your job is a dream. You get every opportunity available–it flows. But your health isn’t as glorious–you’re not happy with your body, you cry, lose your temper often, or you just don’t feel content. Rather than diving into your health to make a change, you just dive deeper into your job.

If you’re thinking, “I know the area(s) that need my attention”… Now what?

“To get something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.”

It’s that simple. Your thought patterns and practices need re-vamp. Try something new. Let me be clear: YOU do not need to change and become someone else. Just your thinking and habits need to be re-evaluated to figure out what’s working and what’s not.

Don’t have to listen to me. Look at your own life. Think about a miracle that has happened recently. Did you find a twenty on the street? Were you told how much you were valued? Did you lose weight? There is behavior in that area of your life that is working! Perhaps you trust yourself enough to let that area flow. Perhaps you’ve made a change that you’ve never tried before.

The practices that are working could be many. Now you have to figure out what and why. A miraculous life begins here.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what is working and what isn’t… Share your story in the comments below or email me!

shedding skin to reach your fullest potential

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Every seven years, you shed your skin. In other words, in this minute, you are entirely different then you were seven years ago.

It makes sense when you think that the cellular make up of the body is formed by the nutrients and energy taken in (this is why non-processed, organic food is so essential!), and the cells reform based on physical, spiritual, and mental practices. No matter what, in seven years’ time, physical, spiritual, and mental practices have reformed you entirely.

However, how you CHOOSE to let the reformation occur is what determines your potential. You can either reform or transform. By not resisting change and embracing non-attachment, you can reach your FULLEST potential.

I read this inspiring story about a woman who lived a romantic life of a rich twenty-something in New York City. She was an online magazine editor, making tons of money, partying every night, and surviving on champagne and late-night lean cuisines. Then she got cancer. The doctors wanted to amputate a limb to remove the cancer, but instead she tried Gerson Therapy, a strict and rigorous regime of hourly juicing, round-the-clock coffee enemas, a basic vegan diet, and a program of cancer-fighting supplements. She used this awful experience with cancer to become a writer, holistic health coach, and the creator of the health and wellness website, The Wellness Warrior.

In her words, “Before cancer became part of my daily vocabulary, my life lacked meaning. It was fun, and I thought I was living to my full potential, but it wasn’t until all of the superficial trimmings were forced to take a back seat that I realized what I was really capable of creating for myself.”

This is an extreme example of shedding skin. Nevertheless, she CHOSE to detach from her party life to recreate herself. She could have gone the Western medicine route (Dad, I know this is not always a bad thing!). She chose instead the alternative lifestyle, which led her into her fullest potential.

Sometimes these giant catalysts are the most effective, but even without them, we can shed skin to reach our core selves. Shedding skin can include changing your diet, trying different types of exercise, and even moving on from friends and romantic partners that no longer encourage your physical, spiritual, and mental growth. In essence, the practice of detachment and shedding skin frequently can free us from this illusion that things will not change.

When I say “practice detachment,” I don’t mean practice passivity, indifference, or carelessness. I mean for you to live actively, passionately, and carefully while infusing life with the skill of grace. I have spoken about grace here, understanding force and gripping in the body, and I have spoken about detachment here, coming to terms with attaching and detaching as part of growth. It is the same idea. We’re just exploring the nuances of experiencing change, practicing grace, and knowing that growth is a process–never a perfection.

The key is that YOU ARE DYNAMIC and EVER-CHANGING. Sorry–there is not a magical stopping place of your fullest potential. The difficulty is maintaining your alignment when you’re constantly changing. For instance, how do you fall in love and remain detached? How do you start a business without becoming wrapped up in the outcome? Or how can you have children without constantly caring about their well-being?

Simply, your fullest potential has to change with your shedding skin…

“Detachment is rarely something we achieve once and for all. It’s a moment-by-moment, day-by-day process of accepting reality as it presents itself, doing our best to align our actions with what we think is right, and surrendering the outcome.” -Sally Kempton

Use this moment as a chance to begin again. Look around and welcome change with grace and integrity. If someone, something, or some thinking is not encouraging your fullest potential, shed the skin. Look forward and surrender to change with THE LOVE, GRACE, AND INTEGRITY you’re capable of creating for yourself.