# 134: Who Cares if People Judge You?

Do what you love and you will attract people that do the same things you do.

Who Cares if People Judge You?

# 133: Everything is Possible

You will figure it out.  Work your ideas from all angles, back to front and side to side.  Believe that what you want is already yours.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

― Francis of Assisi

Everything is possible.

A few days later one of the teacher trainees asked my brother if I had enjoyed class and told him what a graceful practice I had – she said it seemed like I took every pose with such a sense of ease.

My brother called me later that night and asked me if I had ever heard that before. I couldn’t help but feel a little pleased because no – I had never heard before that before, but that was something that I have been working diligently to instill in my yoga practice for the past several months.

During my own yoga teacher training, a fellow trainee led a workshop on yoga for golfers. At the start of the workshop, she asked us to write on a golf ball what we wanted to bring to our yoga practice that day. I immediately knew what I wanted and needed – I boldly wrote on my golf ball ‘EASE.’

I believe that one of the most powerful aspects of yoga is our ability to practice on our mats that which we want to practice in our lives – whether that is strength, compassion or any other quality. At the time that I was going through yoga teacher training, I desperately wanted to start living my life with more ease. I had just quit my job to begin a new career as a yoga teacher and was moving across the country back to my hometown following the training.

I was struggling with the uncertainty of what would happen when I actually finished training – would I be able to find enough teaching opportunities to make this career change work? Would returning to my hometown be a wonderful homecoming or a return to my less-than wonderful high school years? I knew that the next few months would be a time of immense change and I wanted to handle this time with ease – something that I had never tried in the past.

For the first 30 years of my life, I would say the word on my golf ball would have been ‘FORCEFUL.’ On my yoga mat, I was always the one to take the advanced option even when that meant struggling and shaking to get there. I was the reason all yoga teachers repeat, Relax your shoulders. Off my mat, I was very driven and oftentimes single-minded.

Because of this mindset, many good things did happen – I excelled academically and professionally and accomplished many things of which I am proud. But this attitude also had negative consequences as I forced many things to happen because I thought it would create the life that I should have. I often used the expression that I would just “power through this” – I powered through a graduate degree that wasn’t the right fit for me and relationships that were toxic.

Looking back, I powered through years of my life because I thought it would get me to where I was supposed to be.

In my yoga practice and in my life, I am now practicing a sense of ease. Rather than forcing what I think should be, I am taking ease with what is. And amazingly, I am finding out that this new approach is taking me so much further and faster than powering through ever did. Sure my life doesn’t look like what I once thought it would, but I’m finding that it’s actually a much happier life than the one I imagined I should have.

I still practice yoga and live my life with a sense of power and strength, but I have tempered that with a sense of ease and grace. When I find myself reverting back to that idea of powering through something that I know isn’t right, I take out my golf ball and focus on my intention.

I challenge you to do the same thing – The next time you find yourself in frog pose tensing all your muscles and counting down the seconds until it is over or telling yourself you’re going to stick with a job you hate for just one more year, choose instead to breathe and allow yourself some ease and grace. I think you will find, like I have, that being less forceful and more easeful actually leads to a much more powerful life.

# 132: You Are Always Ready

Everything leading up to today has prepared you for everything you will do now or in the future.

You are always ready.

# 131: Be A Nomad

Have you heard the sayings “If you pack lightly, you live lightly”?

or

“If you can figure out your suitcase, you pretty much can figure out your life”?

or

“Travel is a symbol of life, and traveling is living”?

The secrets of travel can be a metaphor for life.

Be a nomad.

# 130: Leave Open Spaces

Opportunity knocks at unexpected times.  Create white space on your calendar.  This gives you some breathing room, space for fun, or even a peaceful moment or two.  Many times we fill the space rather than do the things that make us uncomfortable.  Get comfortable with open spaces.

Leave Open Spaces.

# 129: Be Self Sufficient 

The greatest gift is freedom. Whether you dream about living in wide open spaces or getting away from the throw away everything society, you can do it all from home today. 

Develop resourcefulness, save money, use more moment to moment wisdom in your everyday activities.  Clean your house of clutter, grow and prepare your own food, recycle, know your local resources, and maintain good health.

Be self sufficient.

#128: Don’t Do This, Do That…

Don’t let go, let it be
Don’t find a way, make one
Don’t find yourself, create yourself
Don’t think cost, think value
Don’t follow your heart, lead with your heart
Don’t follow your breath, lead with your breath
Don’t choose easy, choose the most difficult first
Don’t let life happen, take charge of your life
Don’t chase the wrong things, let the right things catch you

Don’t do this…do THAT.

#127: Dare To Be You

“Life isn’t about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw
We all have unique qualities.  Whatever you do, do it your way.  Have faith in yourself, your dreams, and your desires. 

When you meet challenges full on, people in your life will celebrate your failures too, as inspiration.  Create your best life in every action you take.

Dare to Be You.

#126: Nothing Matters In A Group
If you have a positive attitude you will be unflappable, and nothing will matter. 

Anything said in a group is general – don’t take it personally.  See the group with love and forgiveness.  Think of what is said in a group as simply sharing – a practice of self expression and not right and wrong.

Celebrate being together.

Nothing Matters In A Group.