Law of Least Effort -Practice Acceptance. Accept people, situations, and events as they occur. ‘Today I will not struggle against the whole universe by struggling with this moment. My acceptance is total & complete. I accept things as they are in this moment and not as I wish them to be’ Taken from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Practical Application.
This week started off like any other, in my mind, I had my week mapped out in detail, and in my diary, everything was scheduled and coordinated. I even left a bit of wiggle room as this week’s plans included houseguests and attending a long planned concert. However, something interrupted my detailed plans, something I didn’t have control over. If I close my eyes I could hear the sound of my own voice, telling the familiar tale to clients…
‘Your mental, emotional and physical bodies are all connected. and at any time, when it all becomes too much, your physical body takes charge and manifests the emotions and feelings you cannot control into Dis-ease’
Boom!!! Like a smack in the face, my physical body wanted my attention and it did just that by bringing on an early menstrual cycle. Say whattt? Oh joy!! Thankfully I knew this was a signal I wasn’t in alignment. This is the reason, I try hard, to resist taking any medications that would merely mask the symptom of what my body is trying to tell me. For instance I don’t usually get headaches so I know if I’m having frequent ones, something’s up. Okay okay, I know… sign me up in the VIP section at the next Cray Cray convention.
My Lifestyle as a Yoga teacher & Personal Trainer, has opened me up to a deeper understanding of my body so much so, I remember when I met my husband 5 years ago, the first thing he commented on after we’d spent some time together was that, he’d never met anyone who was so aware of their body like I was. But as healthy as my physical body was, I didn’t take into account the emotional drain my mother’s sudden death and ongoing divorce battles with my ex had taken. Alas, my plate was full, yet I was going back for seconds without an awareness of the toll it was taking.
After relocating to our new home and new surroundings, I decided to take a pause from teaching to focus on my new relationship, our new business and regain some balance and peace into our lives. When the time was right, I knew I would feel that vibe in my gut again, and be inspired to move accordingly. That vibe came so stealthily and quickly, I acted without hesitation, and jumped right into what I knew was the missing link to my purpose, forgetting I was still digesting leftovers from my plate. Therefore, in trying to keep up with the Health and Life Coach course, the FB business page I created in preparation for my certification, the 400 members, the interactions, the partnering up for weekly skills lab, the weekly one small steps and trying to match where everyone was at, thinking I was capable and equipped to go above and beyond some, setting some unrealistic goals and deadlines, …I forgot to exhale. I unknowingly allowed my ego to take over with my desire for perfection. I am not in competition with these people, why am I thinking I should be on the same page as some of them, I took a year off dammit!Why am i being so hard on myself!
Okay EXHALE aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
It’s Time-Out for a Time-In… this is how I regroup and account for myself. Let me explain, the concept of a Time-Out is that of a break, you decide how long, and the concept of a Time-In, is that of an inner retreat, or an active Time-Out even. You are basically giving yourself permission to detach, unplug and chill the hell out!!!
Woosahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….
Now because it is an active Time-out, you ought to spend that time doing something to create an awareness of what you’re trying to achieve.
- First step…identify your WHAT.
- Second step…UNPLUG ..put your phone down, stay off of social media, avoid watching tv, reading the news etc…become present.
- Third step…LISTEN…to an inspirational podcast, a motivational audio book, or any type of music with words and harmonies that would soothe you.
- Fourth step…PRACTICE…meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, journaling, or any type of movement..walking, running, biking etc
- Fifth step…TALK… converse with someone who can help you become accountable for your needs, wants and feelings.
My WHAT was to return to a state of mental calm, my feelings of overwhelm were obviously taking over. I stepped away from my phone, put on my audio book ‘Dare to Lead’ by Brene Brown, and within a few minutes of LISTEN-ing, I got it…. I knew where I went wrong. I am no longer in my comfort zone, and with all I am doing now I opened up myself once more to being vulnerable,… “Vulnerability is having the courage to show up when you don’t know the outcome…Brene Brown”. She added seconds later that “Vulnerability without setting boundaries is not vulnerability”…Sigh, that’s it, I forgot to set my boundaries! To set boundaries is to be clear …”clear is kind, unclear is unkind”. I decided to get out of the house and join in on a meditation and breath awareness class, this particular studio’s PRACTICE is different to that which I teach, but I let all that go and exercised discrimination in my resolve that I needed help. When I got home I then told my husband, we needed to TALK! (LOL… if you’re married or in any kind of relationship and reading this you would know why i am laughing) Oh the look on his face was PRICELESS…poor guy lol. So, after giving him a minute to continue pretending he wasn’t sure what I had said to him (whilst i know in his mind he was quickly trying to remember if he forgot to do something I had asked) I shared with him what was going on in my head and with my body. He was as amazingly supportive as he always is, and shared in his own way, his brutal honesty about some areas I needed to work on. My husband and I met at a 12 step group for people with dysfunctional behaviors, so I know his criticism comes from a place of love, trust, understanding, and holds no judgement. I heard the term once “Don’t ask directions from someone who hasn’t been where you’re going”. So I strongly advise you to proceed with caution in choosing who you have that TALK with. It’s not meant to be a pity party either, so hold back on those invitations and accept that vulnerability isn’t a cry out for sympathy.
We all walk around with our own armor, conducive and subjective to that which we are trying to protect, and when there’s a kink in that armor, we instinctively feel like giving up. We panic with fears of defeat, and pile up the inadequacies, failing to see at the time, that the weakened armor actually shows strength, courage and bravery.
It’s Sunday, and as I look to my wall calendar, I decide to slot in “REMEMBER TO BREATHE” as a reminder to us both…that “Life isn’t as serious as the mind makes it out to be…Eckhart Tolle”.
The Butterfly Effect Lifestyle 