Anne
A long time practitioner of Yoga, I have recently started studying Yoga as taught by B.K.S. Iyengar. I am in heaven. Not only do I love the way my body is responding but I love the notion of intentionality and the call to monitor, measure and manage – in life as in Yoga. When I got home I found Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar’s classic text. What follows is a part of the introduction written by Yehudi Menuhin, a long-time student of Iyengar’s and one of the finest violinists of the 20th century.
“The practice of Yoga induces a primary sense of measure and proportion. Reduced to our own body, our first instrument, we learn to play it, drawing from it maximum resonance and harmony. With unflagging patience, we refine and animate every cell as we return daily to the attack, unlocking and liberating capacities otherwise condemned to frustration and death….
The practice of Yoga over the past fifteen years has convinced me that most of our fundamental attitudes to life have their physical counterparts in the body. Thus comparison and criticism must begin with the alignment of our own left and right sides to a degree at which even finer adjustments are feasible; or strength of will will cause us to start by stretching the body from the toes to the top of the head in defiance of gravity. Impetus and ambition might begin with the sense of weight and speed that comes with free-swinging limbs, instead of with the control of prolonged balance on foot, feet or hands, which gives poise. Tenacity is gained by stretching in various Yoga postures for minutes at a time, while calmness comes with quiet, consistent breathing and the expansion of the lungs. Continuity and a sense of the universal come with the knowledge of the inevitable alternation of tension and relaxation in eternal rhythms of which each inhalation and exhalation constitutes one cycle, wave or vibration among the countless myriads which are the universe.”
Namaste
Breathing
Now that I’m admitting who my niche really is – you’re showing up everywhere. Like vocabulary words I thought started showing up magically once I’d learned what they meant, I keep seeing my ideal clients walking up to me on the beach and asking for my business card (true – happened yesterday). I realize that the clearer I get about who you are, what you need and what I can do to make your life better – you ask if I do groups live here on St. Thomas as well as online? Yes.
I’ve taken out my Strategic Attraction Plan and started filling it in again. It’s such an amazing tool for getting really clear and becoming a vibratory match for who (what) you want to attract: perfect clients, life partner, great VA, business partner, house, great job, literary agent, ideal pet.
Start by making an exhaustive list of characteristics you want your ideal client to possesses and what you expect of them. Next make a list of your characteristics and what your client’s can expect of you. Post it on the fridge or put it under your pillow. When you think of a characteristic that you forgot to put on the list – like having enough money to pay for a coaching – add it. To your list too.
As I’m learning about my niche and getting clearer about who my perfect clients are, picturing them and thinking about them, I know I am inviting them in. They are bound to show up – like the woman at the beach. It’s attraction hunting (or is that an oxymoron?). It like an opera singer hittting a certain note and breaking a glass – the note and the glass are at the same vibratory frequency. Hmmm – if I get crystal clear on my niche maybe I’ll hear the shattering of glass. My glass ceiling.
You’re a mid-life woman – baby boomer age span 1947-1964 ( you are if you say your are – a bit younger, a bit older works too ). You know you’re in a pivotal place in your life. You’re entering new territory. You’ve never felt this way before and it can get scary.
You find yourself re-evaluating everything – your relationships, your body, your health, life-style, vision, goals, your ward-robe.
You’re saying enough is enough – no more poverty mentality, no more breaking promises to yourself, no more putting up with people, places and things that drain your energy. No more putting yourself last. No more making excuses for why you’re not doing what you said you would. “Excuses Begone.”
You wonder who you are. What’s your purpose in life now that your kids are gone, your job has changed, you retire, you get divorced or lose a partner, your health changes, you relocate and your body, mind and soul are undergoing a ‘growth spurt’.
You can’t turn back the clock but you want to stay fit and healthy. You want to have adventures. You want to look good and feel great. You’ve got a contribution to make and miles to go and you’d really like to do it with enthusiasm and joy. You want to uncover and embrace the blessings of your next chapter.
You’ve heard of the Law of Attraction. Maybe you’ve seen or read the Secret and heard Oprah talk about deliberate creation. You might be a long time student of Law of Attraction. Either way, you’re still not where you want to be. You’re ready to do whatever it takes including taking risks, doing the work, asking for help and being willing to see things differently.
You’d like to be thinner? You dream of running a 1/2 marathon? You wonder if it’s too late to hope for a wonderful love life? You worry about the future? You wonder if this is all there is? You are drawn to spiritual books and films and are interested in alternative approaches to being balanced (from Activia to meditation).
If you are nodding in recognition at the above description – you’re my niche!! I welcome your comments. What rang true? What didn’t? What did I forget? What are your challenges, frustrations and last straws? Help me to help you.
I was going to write my blog last night, had some good ideas and then kept doing other thing as the clock turned 8pm then 9pm and next thing I knew it was 6am and sun-rise.
When I realized I’d missed a day of blogging in this 30 day blog challenge – I thought “I blew it”, “as usual” – “lasted a week and then lapsed.” Negative self talk – loser me.
Luckily paying attention pays off and I noticed that I was traipsing down a thorny path and stopped. I recalled that the challenge said 30 day blog challenge – ie 30 blogs in 30 days. I’m doubling up today.
I have to admit the possibility of not doing 2 blogs today passed fleetingly through my mind and I cringed at the thought of blogs piling up. It made me want to quit while I was ahead.
There are situations with similar dynamics:
– you eat a cookie on a no carb, no sugar diet and figure you’d better forget the diet – you blew it with the cookie;
– you vow to keep track of money you spend, or the food you eat and you last a day or two, fall off the wagon and never get back on again.
It’s got me thinking about what keeps us on track even when it comes to doing something we enjoy. What helps us to show up and keep our promises, to ourselves and others?
First we have to make a promise – like I did to myself and others by signing up for this 30 Day Blog Challenge.
We have to see clearly and value the benefits of fulfilling the challenge. We have to do whatever we need to remind ourselves – with alarms, buddies, routines – be it blogging, yoga, meditation, walking, reading, practicing the violin. Simple practices ground us no matter what is going on. We may need community, or a ride, a nudge, soul searching.
If you’re not doing something you say you want to do, ask yourself if you really and truly want to do it. Maybe you don’t and are afraid to say so. If you do, stop making up stories and using them as excuses. As for help. There’s nothing like a great coach to hold a space for you to be your most amazing.
I’m going to keep it simple here. I want to blog. I fell asleep and missed a day and I’m going to make it up. I learned I should blog earlier in the day – not as risky; and that it would be a good idea to build up a small store of blogs to use when I’m away or fall asleep.
This advice to myself is for you too. It applies to anything that you use to let yourself off the hook of keeping a promise. It suggests making things easy for yourself, getting enough sleep, support, leaving yourself some wiggle room and making up stories that invite you to step into new places within and without.
I’m keeping my blog promise to myself and to you.
I am lucky to have a bi-monthly date with a small group of people who love hearing what a channeled collective of non-physical beings has to say about what matters. Mostly about love.
At the end of this week’s session, a member of the group made two very profound observations. 1. Love Comes to Us and 2.All we have to do is be authentic and see what we attract? Authenticity is irresistably attractive.
We spend a lot of time “getting and spending”, seeking and trying to make things happen. Maybe all we have to do is pay attention to our vibratory state and feel good as much as possible.
Focus on what matters to you and do things that reflect who you really are. Then sit back and wlecome what shows up.
I am leaning more and more in the direction of loving what is and am reminded that the solution to all my problems is acceptance. I am reminded of this on a hour to hour, sometimes minute to minute, basis.
Whatever we resist persists. I like the idea of giving up, turning it over, hoping for the best and loving what is.
There are always things to do but maybe not half as many as we think.
Love Comes to Us.