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Friday, May 31, 2013

Yellowstone & Travelling in the Directions of our Fears

Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs

So much has transitioned in the last few weeks! Maybe it's because May is considered to be the month of manifestation, June the month of creative action. I really wanted to take advantage of this time to put my wants and desires into actions. Only thing is, I kept coming up with blanks! For those of you who read my last blog, I was feeling pretty good about following my passions and desires, keeping it simple, but still I felt like I was still so cloudy and nebulous, without any clear vision as to what my next steps should be.

Well I finally feel like I have my ducks in a row (or at least in more of a line than the chaotic scramble that they were in before). It's challenging to not know what your next steps are when you're someone who believes so strongly in the power of manifestation, who can see the 5-10 year dream line, who has always had a strong intuition of what the next move would be.

But as always, when I most needed them, my friends were there to help (cue the Toy Story theme song). I had a few of my best friends in the world come to visit me in Montana this past week and it definitely provided the motivation, inspiration, combined efforts, and outside perspective that I needed to put some momentum into gear.

Having good friends (or Couchsurfers) visit is something I truly relish. It's like being presented with a travel opportunity without going anywhere! Fresh perspective, a chance for revamping, rejuvenating, broadening horizons, and starting fresh.

This was all enhanced by a remarkable trip to Yellowstone. Did you know that the world's first national park contains more than half of the world's thermal activity?! Wowza!  I spent a lot of my time there pondering the renewal of life, through this mesmerizing landscape. The lands there are literally in constant change- sink holes, geysers, mud pits, all coming and going, literally bubbling and boiling at the surface. Young byson frolicking, testing out their legs and feeling the freedom of life.

I was able to bring this new perspective back with me to Bozeman, appreciating new houses that I had never noticed before, all within just a few blocks from my home.

What can you do to find some new perspective? I'm always a fan of planning and following through on a life changing trip. Having some good friends come to visit can also help. But you don't have to go anywhere or do much of anything in order to gain a renewal of life and spirit that is constantly available to you.

Try setting an intention for your walk, your day, or your yoga practice (i.e. I want to open my eyes to something new today and be made aware of it). Find a new neighborhood or restaurant in your village or talk to a stranger. Simply be open to rejuvenating your soul, bringing new opportunities your way, and enjoying the constant replenishment that life on Earth provides.

I've quoted Einstein often on this blog, and I'll do it again:

'There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.'

Through all of this brainstorming, good friendship, and opportunities to see renewal firsthand, I've found much more clarity than I've had in quite some time. I've learned through yoga that what we often fear most is our brightness, not our darkness. I keep searching for the perfect fit in terms of a career, a way to make a living. And it hits me over and over again, that I'm already doing my perfect career, already living my perfect life (however imperfectly).

I have a gift. And it involves helping people to access the inner parts of themselves that tend to seem so elusive. My gift is in helping others to understand, love, embrace, and accept themselves, exactly as they are, with the best vision of themselves in their hearts & minds. I want to help others find and live their very own Personal Legends. I kept telling myself that I needed to know more, have more experience, that I wasn't quite ready to really give my dream my all. 


Not anymore! I'm throwing my hands up in surrender, knowing that whatever I have to offer, it is enough. That whatever my dreams are, they are already coming true and I simply need to continue walking towards them. After all, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with just one step, right? Thank you Lao Tzu!


This is where Viva My Yoga was born- at the heart of accepting my self, giving my gifts, and receiving my needs. I'm expanding my horizons, I'm learning new things, consciously choosing to do things that scare me, and I'm taking tangible (albeit sometimes tremulous) steps to turn my dreams into realities. 

So find that fresh perspective on life, by just being open to it (channel Yellowstone). The more I travel, the more I realize that there are beautiful places to explore everywhere! Walk towards your fears, your brilliancy, and into the very best you. Know that your capabilities are endless and that whatever you most want to offer is probably exactly what someone else is looking to receive.


Thank you Katie ~Thank you Anna ~ Thank you Vicki ~ Thank you Sally
For helping me to recognize my brilliance, for encouraging me to let my light and my best intentions shine through!
Thank you to all my wonderful friends out there far and wide- new, old, and yet to be discovered. 
I love and cherish you all dearly!!

NAMASTE y'all!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Do What You Love, Keep It Simple



I've decided to share one of my favorite stories, which I found here:
'A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked. "Oh, a few hours," the Mexican fisherman replied. "Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.

The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs." The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats."


Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, "Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."
Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, señor?" asked the fisherman.
"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."


"Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."



What do you think? A simple reminder to live the life you love, and you will be successful at it? What defines success to you? 

To me success is finding strength, contentment, passion, and integrity in that which you do, through  the challenges, the times of nothingness, and the rewards. It just feels right.

Lucky for me, I had wonderful parents who always instilled in me, 'Do what you love, and the money will follow.' Here's a compelling TedTalk on the subject that many in the world are struggling with right now, and it involves much of the same advice, for us 20-something dreamers and doers.


I think one of the biggest challenges in life can be to know what it is you do want, to know what does actually make you happy. It sure seems like the simpler we live, the easier it is to know and do what makes you happy. Like the Mexican fisherman. He was content with life as it is. But for so many of us who want to change the world, who've seen expansiveness, who want to have an impact, where do we start? Here's an interesting article about happiness found in making a difference.


How do we make that difference? We start with ourselves and it quite naturally unfolds from there. It's about following your heart. Your intuition. And if that seems confusing or inaccesible to you, revert back to the good ole Eleanor's 'do one thing every day that scares you.' If it rattles your bones, you know it's making a difference. Start there. And know that by changing your life for the better, you are without a doubt already changing the world.

I hope you enjoy!


Please feel free to write me, or comment, with any questions, confusions, or for further insights!
I welcome them!


Namasté!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Bandhas Are Sexy


"Wouldn't it be powerful if you fell in love with yourself
so deeply that you would do just about anything
if you knew it would make you happy?
This is precisely how much life loves you
and wants you to nurture yourself.
The deeper you love yourself,
the more the universe will affirm your worth.
Then you can enjoy a lifelong love affair
that brings you the richest fulfillment
from inside out.”
~Alan Cohen
*shared from the ever wise and beautiful Mystic Mamma


I want to thank all of you who have encouraged me on my path of writing and sharing my teachings. I have been so inspired through all that I have learned in this journey of expression and exploration. Writing has always been a creative outlet that has allowed me to fall in love with (or at least accept) myself over and over again.


Please read (and feel free to share) my first Elephant Journal article: Bandhas Are Sexy, because really they are!


It's been a rapid and transformative growing process, this writing thing, and it is only just the beginning! Come back for more tips and reads on acceptance, love, meditation practices, and just plain finding and living the life you love (i.e. that makes you happy).

What would you do if you were so in love with yourself that you would do just about anything to make you happy? Be your own best friend and share any musings in the comments below!

Namasté y'all.