My Aha Moment Experience: Mom Was Right, Sharing is Good.
The Mutual of Omaha airstream came to Asheville, NC this past June and I hopped right on to share my story.
If you are not familiar with Mutual of Omaha’s aha moment campaign and commercials, you can visit them online to see what I’m talking about. Basically, they travel the country and interview everyday people, some well known, others not so much, and provide them with a chance to share their story. In these commercials, people talk about a moment in their life that has had some impact or brought about clarity, you know, an “aha” moment. The cool thing is that everyone has a story and most everyone wants to share that story with others. I find this is true with the people I meet teaching yoga classes.
So, I shared my aha moment and you can view it here. To sum it up:
The best things in life are made even better when you share them, when you give them away.
I have the best job in the world – empowering people to transform their lives and to take responsibility for their health and well-being. Yoga practice is so very personal and brings about life-changing transformation through moment after moment of these “aha moments,” these moments of clarity and connection.
For me realizing that I wanted to teach and to share what I’ve learned came about through noticing what benefits I have received (for asthma, allergies, depression, injuries, self-esteem, purpose). I thought about the things in my life that I have suffered with and that I have seen transformed … by me. I realized that this is pretty incredible and very empowering. I immediately wanted to shout it out to the world: You can do and be anything you want to. We are FREE to create and invent ourselves in every moment! REALLY!
Perhaps you’ve had a moment like this. A moment when you realize the depth of your untapped potential. And what do you do with this kind of powerful information? Do you hoard it? Do you keep it to yourself? Nope. you want to share it, right? You want everyone to feel this way and to know this potential.
I have realized that the best things in my life have been made a kagillion times better by sharing them with others and that this is because it provides me with access to ultimate connection. By simply sharing and interacting with other people, I become part of what’s happening in the world. I am contributing. I am affecting change. And it is exciting.
I have also noticed that this is a very human characteristic. We all instinctively want to connect with each other. We want to be heard and understood. We want to contribute. In this realization, I found even more yummy connection. Aha! Aha! Aha!
So, whether or not I convey all of this in the short “aha moment” moment video with the Mutual of Omaha gang (I don’t think it is clear), I am glad to have this blog as an outlet for sharing. Now, of course I could pick apart the video until I drive myself bonkers (for example the way I say yogaaaaa in the beginning of the video makes me twitchy), but I am glad I did it. I’m glad I shared. I was really nervous, which surprised me, so that explains the lack of a coherent and clear message.
Anyway, let me know what you think and share your thoughts and aha’s below. And thanks for being a witness to my journey!
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
And the Yoga DVD Winner is …
I think I like this whole giveaway thing.
Really, it is pretty great. Not only do I receive the gift of giving, but hosting this event has introduced me to so many cool people and blogs. Yes, I think I LOVE IT.
And honestly, I am surprised at how many entries there were on my little blog here. BIG thanks to all who participated in my FIRST EVER giveaway and if you didn’t win this time, don’t worry, I plan on doing many, many more of these.
Also, thanks everyone for sharing the wonderful quotes and inspiration that help you to connect. Here is a highlights reel:
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Harold Whitman via Tena
“Be still and know that I am God”….that reminds me to slow down. – Nicole
” …come on everybody, try to love one another, smile on your brother …” -Tiffany Chiristie
“To watch us dance is to hear out hearts speak”. Yoga and dancing are ways for us to express what words could not. -Mandala
“Breathe and Believe.” via Benita
I read something a long time ago “Wherever you are, be all there,” and that’s stuck with me ever since and reminds me – the wanderluster – to be present wherever I am, physically or emotionally. -Doniree
“There is no spoon” – from The Matrix via Adanma
“Living might mean taking chances, but they’re worth taking. Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth making.” via Deanna
And congratulations to Michelle H. She is the winner of the Barkan Method of Hot Yoga DVD! I am certain you will love this DVD as much as I do, Michelle.
If you are still interested in practicing Jimmy Barkan’s approach to Hot Yoga in the comfort of your own home, the DVD is available on Amazon.com or by visiting the Barkan Method website.
Like I said, I plan on doing this again real soon. so, please keep in touch. I’ll even give you a hint. The next giveaway will have something to do with my Facebook Page (so, scoot on over there and “like” it *hint hint*). Oh, and tell your friends!
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
Mindful Monday Recap: The Internet is So NOT Over
Before I started this post today I asked myself: Should I even bother? And why blog in general? Because according to Prince, this internet thing is soooo over. The answer: Yes I should bother. Blogging is totally worth it. I completely disagree with Mr. Prince.
And I have proof. This internet thing is so NOT over. Thanks to all (including those I have not mentioned below) for keeping it alive with such thoughtful and inspired posts.
Love this post from Krystina McIntyre on elephantournal.com. “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” How to have compassion for ALL … even if they piss you off. Seriously though, this is well worth your time.
In your day to day life, it is easy to notice, and even get caught up in, the things that well, suck. These sucky things reveal to you a clear contrast of what it is that you do want to live, see, do, or be. And while those contrasts are wonderful teachers, this article takes a different approach. Cultivate an abundance of positive aspects with 50 Things to Love About Life That Are Free.
Have you heard of positive picketing? Love demonstrations? This post and video made me smile. The message I received: What if we could love our jobs as much as these lululemon devotees do?
Another beautifully written post from the ever-lovely Kathryn Budig: When in Doubt – Breathe. She had me at “I have the best job in the world.”
This posted piqued my interest as a hot yogi and mommy. From the momlogic blog: No Joke: Mom Brings 4-Year-Old to Hot Yoga Class. I really appreciate this thoughtful post as well as the included safety tips. Thanks to Yoga Dork for turning my on to it.
Please leave your comments below and feel free to share a link to your blog or a favorite article you read recently.
**If you haven’t already, there is still plenty of time to enter my giveaway for The Barkan Method Hot Yoga DVD. Click here for details.
Lots of Love,
Lindsay
Unlocking Gratitude: Money Is Love
Just thought I would share this wonderful affirmation and also some information about tapping into the power of gratitude. This has helped me personally to shift my attitude about money and allowed me to recognize the abundance that already exists in my life, leading me to a happier, more fulfilling life.
There seems to be a collective focus on money these days, more specifically on how not having money is causing problems and unhappiness. What if we could think about money in a new way. What if there was a way to find happiness other than money? What if money is a physical expression of the love inherent in every one of us. Try this: Read and repeat out loud the affirmation below daily, or as often as you need to.
Money Is Love
I take this time to open myself and my life to abundance.
The abundance that flows freely through this honorable universe.
The abundance that is for the many, not just the few.
Money is part of everything, as I am part of everything.
Money is unlimited flowing to me, in every possible way.
I can easily, joyously shift my attitudes toward money.
I can experience money as energy that can be transformed into love,
so that each dollar I send out into the world flows from me on a current of love and light.
Each dollar I send out into the world can touch another person with love.
My heart and my mind have been opened to the truth that Money is Love.
For this and all the abundance in my life each and every day, I am deeply appreciative.
Okay, maybe affirmations and talking about “money as energy” just doesn’t work for you. How about a keeping a gratitude journal? This is another incredibly powerful tool for shifting your attention and awareness to that of abundance.
Here’s how to do it: When you first wake up in the morning, make a list of those things in your life that you appreciate. Write down evidence of abundance in your life. You will notice, when you begin the exercise, your list may only be 5 items long. Before you know it, you will be making gratitude lists of 20-50 things or more every day as your awareness shifts to that which you appreciate. It’s a great way to begin your day and I can honestly say that it has helped me tremendously, as someone who has suffered from depression, to shift my mood naturally. The better the mood, the more the inspiration and motivation flows.
It is easy to get caught up in what you don’t have and thinking about what you want based on what you don’t have. What about those things that you do have — those things you have worked hard for and have already accomplished. Do you not want those things? When you are able to notice what you have as being something that you want, it becomes a easier to find ways to improve your situation, for example your financial situation. This is in part because you are now open to the possibilities of things being different than they are and you recognize that you have been able to make things happen positively in the past, so why not now? In other words, you stop focusing on the problem and start looking towards a solution.
Here is some more help …
Share and get inspired with Gratitude Log
A great site for tapping in to your abundance, GratitueLog.com is kind of like Facebook …. but even happier! By the way, gratitude is free, and so is this awesome site!
There are many other resources for online gratitude journals. However, some people find it easier to type their journal using a word processing program on their computer. I recommend keeping it simple and do-able. The process can be as basic as a pencil and a scrap piece of paper.
I will leave you with one last little bit of inspiration. One of my favorite quotes of all time:
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
-Melodie Beattie
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