Do You Ever Make It A Point To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone?

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Do you ever make it a point to get out of your comfort zone?

I made it a point to get out of mine last week.  I taught my boyfriend yoga for the first time at one of my group classes.

We had talked about him coming early on when we first started dating and then I think as more time passed I kind of secretly maybe didn’t want him to anymore.  Probably because he’s done yoga for years and has had the privilege of taking from some pretty amazing teachers, so I believe a bit of my perfectionism I’ve tried to put to rest was trying to awake from a nap when the time came.  I found myself quite anxious and a little nauseous all day until it was time for us to drive over to the studio.

Instead of pretending all was good and possibly having my voice shake for an hour, I just called it out for what it was at the beginning of class and let everyone know how nervous I was and why and invited them to join me during class to get out of their comfort zones as well.  I did things we’d never done before with this particular group and had everyone play around with different versions of hopping on their feet as a prep for handstands and the option to do handstands later in the class against the wall.

After about 10 minutes, I loosened up a bit and stopped sounding like a drill sergeant with zero personality and started bringing some lightness into the class.  I have to admit though, I didn’t look at him too much knowing I could possibly get a little distracted.

At the end of class, I thanked everyone and told him I loved him and how happy I was to have him in class and was pretty thankful that first time was over.  Despite being out of my comfort zone, I made it through and I didn’t die.  In fact, I know I will be a better teacher because of it.  Funny how you could put me in a room full of hundreds of people easier than doing it in front of one particular person.  Amazing how silly we can be at times, isn’t it?  And now I’d be totally cool with him coming anytime!

What would get you out of your comfort zone?  I think we all have many things we could put on that list.

What would it take to make you willing to do one of those things and make a point to get out of your comfort zone?

Guess what?!  I’m pretty sure if you commit to doing one of those things that you won’t die either.  And it will probably make you a little stronger in that area, have more confidence or possibly even cause you to experience a little magic!

Wishing you all the strength, confidence and magic one can muster…

Oh, and p.s. everyone said it was the best class I’ve taught so far.  Go figure 😉

Do You Know When Enough Is Enough?

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Do you know when enough is enough?  I’ve been asking myself this question all week long.

I won’t bore you by going into how busy I am right now.  But, just so you know I’ve been juggling working on a project the past few months through the end of this month that has led me to almost need help having someone run to the store to buy toilet paper for me if that gives you any idea. And the other day it occurred to me that sometimes enough is enough.

I’m not saying that caused me to stop working on the project by any means, but it just made me realize that sometimes it is mandatory to stop and take a break.

I had a meeting scheduled at a coffee shop and got notice that the woman I was meeting wasn’t going to be able to make it.  I decided to go sit in my car and make a phone call. Before I made the call, I had a chance to just sit and be by myself for a few minutes in complete silence and feel the sun beating down on my arms through the sunroof in my car.  I felt like I was on vacation.

Did I mention that earlier that morning I had interviewed the mayor of Dallas, a pastor and one of the heads of the Dallas Police Department?  What?!?!  My head was spinning a little bit to say the least…

Amazing that being able to sit alone in silence for a few minutes can seem like being on vacation. But, it really can.  And I was so grateful for those few minutes that I had just to sit. Taking time to breathe and be silent is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves for our mind, body and soul.

I also had a chance last week to escape the hustle and bustle of the project for a bit and go have some fun with a few people that I’m working with (see photo above) and was so grateful for that opportunity as well.

When you’ve reached a point where you are maxed out after going 100% for so many days at a time, you must stop at some point and breathe, do something fun, do something that you love to do or that you enjoy doing.

Thank you Hal and Alisa for treating me to a break to go have some random fun!  I am so lucky to be working with such talented artists right now and am grateful for the experiences that we are having together.  You two inspire me more than you could ever possibly imagine.  (To see more about their awesome work, you can visit http://www.halsamples.com and http://www.alisalevy.com)

I hope you find a way to stop and breathe along the way of your journey and hopefully have some fun too.  Here’s to an awesome weekend…

Cheers!

Do You Help Others Live Out Their Passions And Be Their Best?

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Do you help others live out their passions and be their best?  I know someone who does an incredible job at doing just that and I’m having the privilege of working with him on a special project right now.  His name is Hal Samples and he’s in the middle of producing a film that will be launching April 1st.  You can see more information about it on his blog that he posted yesterday:  http://halsamples.com/blog

Throughout coaching him and assisting him with the film, I have learned so much through watching video footage that he has filmed over the past 10 years, along with interviewing people that he has known throughout the years that know him very well and that he has greatly influenced.

I had an epiphany the other night because it hit me that we are both actually trying to accomplish the same goal, we just do it in different ways.  I say that my greatest passion is helping people live their life to their fullest potential.  I’m learning that one of his many passions is getting people in touch with their passions and through speaking the truth in love, he inspires them to go and live them out.  My work is through coaching others.  His work is portrayed through his art whether it be photography or film or through just having conversations with others or having people witness his life and actions.

The funny thing I realized the other day is that I’m doing for him what he does for others. I’m helping him live out his dream and passion by being there to speak the truth in love, while holding him accountable (see photo of project map above :)).  Considering I think he’s a genius, it’s a great reminder for me that sometimes in order for us to be the best us we can be (even for a genius!), we need someone there to speak the truth in love and challenge us to do things differently every once in a while.  I know I’ve had many years worth of a couple of coaches working with me in the past to do the same for me and I feel like I literally owe them my life.  If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be living out my dreams today, including being a part of this amazing project.  Did I mention I’m having the time of my life?

What dreams can you challenge yourself to take a step towards today?  Do you have someone who can lovingly speak the truth to you in your life?  If not, would you be willing to find someone?

Happy weekend!

Are You In Love With You?

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Are you in love with you?  I hope so.

I strongly believe that in order to be able to fully love another and give the best of yourself and love someone as they deserve to be treated and loved, you must be in love with you first.

Sometimes, that can sound like a stretch, so perhaps as a starting point, we could say that you at least need to like yourself a whole big bunch.

Unfortunately, for many years, I didn’t have much love for myself.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  I pretty much couldn’t stand myself.  I didn’t know this for a very long time, but I feel so fortunate that I finally figured this out.

Learning to love myself wasn’t a super quick or easy process, but it was the best gift that I could have ever given myself as well as anyone else in my life that receives love from me.

There are many people that I love in my life and I feel like those people have gained a better me and get more love from me by me being able to work through things I needed to and then fall in love with myself.

And I can honestly say that I am head over heels in love with someone romantically and have more love for this person than I ever knew would be possible.  And again, I feel that he benefits from me being able to love myself now.

This self-love is not a conceded love or a selfish love and allows me to have a healthy love with others.  My romantic relationship is the best one I have ever had in my life and I feel it is because I have learned to love myself.  When you learn to love yourself and can be secure in who you are, you can then be secure in your relationships.  We are loving, open and passionate with one another and have trust, respect and confidence in our relationship and it is also a very relaxed, yet fun relationship!  I am convinced that would not be possible if I didn’t love myself.  First off, for me to figure out what I actually wanted in a relationship and then, second, for me to then actually love myself enough to let myself take in all of the overwhelming feelings (in a good way!) that come with being in love and being very close to someone!

I honestly think I spent the majority of my life not loving myself up until a few years ago.  I would self-sabotage myself all the time in multiple different ways.  I would let my fears and insecurities keep me from doing everything I would dream of doing and being.  I would do things to hurt others because I was hurting on the inside.

I’m not saying times can’t creep back in there sometimes.  Last week, due to a certain fun time of the month for my female friends out there (I know, sorry excuse, but it just is what it is ;)) I was feeling totally crappy in general and about myself.  Basically, I had no love for myself for a few days and was doing nothing to show love to myself either to make myself feel better.  I didn’t take a break or rest or do yoga or take a long bath or get a massage.  I just kept ignoring how I was feeling and became grumpier and yuckier.

Unfortunately, my sweet love had to receive the end of that and the impact of how I was feeling.  I was downright pretty much mean and judgmental and spoke my mind about things that I had no business talking about when I felt bed and was one of the most opinionated people on the planet (or at least it felt like it).  Luckily, it only lasted a day or so, but I don’t like the person I was being when I wasn’t loving myself and I know he didn’t either even though he was sweet enough to put up with me and continue to be nice even when I wasn’t (probably crossing his fingers it would pass asap ;)).

I recognized what was happening and did nothing about it.  Had I done a better job of pulling myself away and given myself space and did something for myself and shown myself love and chosen to love myself anyway, that probably wouldn’t have happened.

Therefore, I have made a commitment in the future when I know that is happening to make sure and remove myself from a situation where I could say hurtful things or not be coming from my best, which normally, is a place of love.

I am fully committed to living my life from a place of love and when I see myself moving away from that place to quickly do something to get myself back to it.

My wish for you, not only today, but all days, is to find ways to love yourself.  If you can find things to appreciate and love about yourself, your love and relationships will be so much better.  If you are having a day where you are feeling all alone and like you don’t have someone to share this special day with, spend time loving yourself.  Write down three things you love or can appreciate about yourself and then find one thing you can do for yourself this afternoon or evening to show yourself love.

What do you love to do?  Go on a walk?  Paint?  Listen to your favorite music?  Read a book?  Take a long bath?  Watch a fun movie and relax and lay on the couch?  Whatever you know makes your heart smile, go and do it today!

Here’s wishing you and yours a Happy Valentine’s Day and a wonderful and safe weekend.

So much love and then some xoxoxo

Sometimes You Just Need To Stay In It…

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This week I was reminded that sometimes, under certain circumstances, you just need to stay in it.

For the past eight months, I’ve been teaching yoga each week on a voluntary basis to a wonderful group of children that I adore and want the best for and this week I found myself wanting to quit and give up.

It’s not that the children are bad, so don’t misunderstand me when I say that sometimes it can be a bit chaotic when you try to teach yoga to 30 kids in a gym that would possibly rather be playing basketball instead.  The kids are just being kids and trying to have a good time.

I started to doubt that it was doing anything for them and tried to convince myself that they would rather be playing basketball anyway.

I was considering talking to someone at the organization that afternoon to tell them that I wasn’t going to be able to come anymore.  I had even convinced myself that since I had picked up another class that evening at a different location that I shouldn’t try and do both (although, I knew I had plenty of time to get to both classes in one evening).

Then, someone came up and told me exactly what I needed to hear…  They said how amazing they thought it was that I was giving these kids an opportunity that they would never have otherwise to get to do something that they may never be exposed to if I wasn’t coming to teach them.  They told me how even though I may not see it that their faces light up when they see me come into the gym and that he could tell a difference of what yoga is doing for them.

Therefore, this week I’ve been looking at the fact that sometimes it’s great to just stay in it. The same goes for yoga.  There are so many times where I want to come out of a pose because I think it’s hard or I try and convince myself I’m not strong enough to keep holding it, but if I find the strength to tell myself to stay in it then I can and the rewards can be so incredible in what it does for my mind, body and soul.

I’m not saying that all circumstances are worth staying in (there are so many that people actually need to choose to leave!), but there are so many that are.  I’ve been noticing when things get tough in my life how often I want to just run away vs. staying in it.  Running away may be the easier thing right in the moment, but may cost us the most in the long run.

If I can reach one child in that class and have it make a difference in their life, then it’s worth staying in it.  What areas in your life do you possibly find challenging that you may be wanting to run away from and would you be willing to consider staying in them to see the reward that could come in the long run?

Would you be willing to be honest with yourself and see if it’s really something that is worth running away from or if it is something that the benefit could be so much greater if you just stayed in it?

What are the possibilities of what could happen if you stayed?  What is the cost if you stay vs. the cost of if you were to leave?

Do You Really Know The People That You Are Judging?

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Do you really know the people that you are judging?

As I was getting some work done at a coffee shop today, I was reminded of this quote by Abraham Lincoln.  Even though I try not to, sometimes I make judgments about people when I don’t even know anything about them.

I had an interaction with someone that I had never met before where I noticed that I began labeling them as “not very friendly” and “unhappy” and a little “rude” without knowing anything about their situation.

It’s amazing to me how much first impressions really can impact what others think of you and I was reminded of that as well.  How do I come across the first time that people meet me?  Am I always present and make them feel like I’m 100% with them and have them feel heard or like I see them for who they really are?  I wish I could say that I do that all the time.

When I come across people that I find myself starting to judge, I try and catch myself and start to ask myself questions to get more curious about who they really are.

I’d like to challenge you to try and catch yourself the next time you find yourself judging someone to ask yourself a few questions and have compassion for what could be going on in their lives that you will never know about.

Here are a few possibilities of questions that you could ask yourself:

1)  I wonder what they might have experienced in their life to have them have this type of personality?

2.  I wonder what they might have going on in their life today that I am not aware of? Perhaps someone they love dearly is really sick or they could have lost a loved one recently.  Maybe they lost their job and are wondering how they are going to be able to pay the bills.  Or maybe an important relationship that they cherished has just come to an abrupt ending.

3.  I wonder what they are yearning for in their life and not receiving or don’t know how to ask for and what kind of hurt they might be feeling as a result?

Occasionally, we get the opportunity to actually learn more about the people that we judge and sometimes it’s a shocking experience to realize the world that they are living in every day.  I’ve even had experiences where once I have learned more about someone I’m actually amazed that they are able to do the thing that I was judging them for before and thinking things could be a lot worse.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend filled with love and compassion.

Taking A Break Is A Choice

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A few months ago, I wrote a blog about knowing when to take a break and that I’m not always that great at knowing when I need one or allowing myself to do so.  I also made a commitment that I would be willing to do this in the future and that is what I am doing today and have been doing the past few days.

Taking a break is a choice and not always an easy one to make, but sometimes it’s the best one for us.

I haven’t been feeling well the past few days and have allowed myself to take a break and stay in bed and do nothing.  Knowing today is the day I typically post a blog, it has been hard for me to let it go and decide that I am choosing to take a break instead.  My body, mind and spirit all are calling for rest and relaxation.

So, yes, I still posted something and didn’t completely stay off the computer, but I’m taking baby steps here and this is still taking a lot less time and energy than it normally would.

Hoping you all had a safe and Happy New Year and I hope that you all can see when you need to take a break and will be willing to give yourself that gift as well in the future.

How To Leave Work Behind This Holiday Season

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Last night, during a yoga class I was taking, I was reminded of a blog I wrote last year for the Institute for Health and Human Potential.  Getting prepared for the holidays can be such a stressful time trying to figure out how to get all of your work done before you leave the office and how to set yourself up to not be really stressed when you return.

You can read the article with my suggestions of how to set yourself up for the holidays here:  How to leave work behind this holiday season

With all of the hustle and bustle, sometimes we just need to take time to slow down.  We’re going to get done what we are going to get done, but the key is to try and stay as calm as we can through the whole experience and stay present and enjoy ourselves and this season with friends and family.

My yoga instructor last night was having us inhale and say the word “slow” to ourselves and exhale and say the word “down” to ourselves.  I thought that was another helpful tip for the holidays.

Here’s wishing you all a safe, peaceful, loving and joyful holiday season and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Until next year…

The Start Of A Brand New Season

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This week was the start of a brand new season of my life.  I left an amazing full time job to officially launch my new business and focus entirely on TRIESSENCE.

As I prepared to leave and train the people to take over my old role, it occurred to me that this could quite possibly be the end of my experience in the “corporate” world and that I am transitioning over to working for myself, which means leaving the security of having a wonderful job and a supportive team surrounding me in the workplace.

Since I’m trying not to focus on the fears around it (although I could write an entire blog around that), I’ll just say that this is quite possibly the scariest time of my life and I have to remember to keep my thoughts positive on what I do want and continue to have faith and believe that this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.

I’ve been dreaming of this for years and it doesn’t matter that I’ve been preparing for it for a couple of years now or that I gave a six month notice to my company that I was working with because I don’t think you are ever quite prepared for the final days at the end and for the reality to sink in that one season is over and a brand new season of my life has now begun.

As I walked around in the ice and snow today in Dallas, Texas, I was reminded of all of the different seasons in our lives and how things can change so quickly.  We don’t get much snow or ice here and when we do, it seems like it always happens so fast and you don’t have much time to prepare.  This time I actually took time to stock up yesterday and buy some food and all that I would need to have in case I was trapped inside for a few days since the city pretty much shuts down when we do get this type of weather.

As I walked out back to check things out this afternoon, my gate was frozen shut to get to the back where my car is parked and I could see through the gate at how frozen my car is as well.  I was very thankful that I prepared ahead of time.  I was then able to choose to walk around the neighborhood and walk over to a cute coffee shop and that’s when I got to snap the beautiful photo above.

I also made the choice to leave my amazing full time job.  It doesn’t make it any less fearful or less sad to leave people that I loved working with so much and to be starting something that is so unpredictable and scary for me to be out on my own.

I could make the choice to worry every day and focus on the fear of not having enough coaching clients or yoga classes or that my business could fail.  Or I can choose to visualize and think about all that I want to accomplish with my new business.  I can think about all of the people that will get introduced to yoga that have never done it before when I bring it to corporations and the people that I can help through coaching them.

I recently learned a helpful tip that I’ve been incorporating before I go to bed.  The things that we focus on right before bed are crucial because our subconscious brain is at work when we are sleeping.  If I go to bed panicking and focusing on what tomorrow will bring and that I’m afraid I could fail, that sets me up to continue to feel that way the next day and let my brain soak that in until morning and quite possibly attract that into my life.  The other choice would be to visualize myself and my clients and students living their lives to their fullest potential and benefiting from the work of TRIESSENCE.  I am going to choose the latter.

Would you be willing to spend the next few nights before you go to bed really paying attention to what you say to yourself before you go to bed and make a conscious decision to set up your subconscious to help you succeed by focusing on the amazing things that you want for yourself?  Then, you must have faith and believe that those things are possible or better yet, believe that they have already happened.  I think we’ll both be amazed at the results.

Happy weekend and hope you all stay warm and cozy.

Eddie Vedder Makes Me Act Like I’m Back In High School

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Sometimes I take myself way too seriously and can come across as being a pretty serious person.  Then, sometimes I can act like I’m back in high school.  Eddie Vedder makes me act like I’m back in high school.

I’ve had the privilege of going to quite a few concerts lately.  I have had a wonderful time at all of them and enjoyed the music very much, but if you were watching me from a distance you’d just see me bouncing my legs up and down a little bit and that’s about it.  I could be having the time of my life, but sometimes it’s hard to tell.

And then I went to Pearl Jam last weekend…

It didn’t matter that I’ve seen Pearl Jam live a number of times as well as Eddie Vedder perform two solo tours or that I had the honor of meeting him and having a quick conversation with him back in the 90’s.  I still acted like I was back in high school.

And I tell you what, I had an absolute blast!

I yelled and screamed lyrics and in between songs, danced and even participated in a two person mosh pit.  It was absolutely incredible.

It was a great reminder that I don’t allow myself to let loose enough, be silly and really enjoy myself.  We all need to know the things that make our heart sing and make sure that we give ourselves those gifts every once in a while.

What are some things that cause you to act like you are back in high school and what would it take for you to be able to do one of them?

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and do something that makes you act like you are back in high school!