Spirited Solutions to What`s Holding You Back

Transcription

SPIRITED
Spirited Solutions to
What’s Holding You Back
RACHEL MACDONALD
+ TA R A B L I S S
CONTENTS
Part 1: The Light
Set the tone for your year with:
P4
P7
P13
P16
P18
P19
P22
Preface
Introduction
The Lay of the Land
2014 Intentions: A 12-Month Perspective
Intentions expanded
Weekly Planner
Rituals for Renewal, Release and a Relationship with the Divine
Part 2: The Shadow
A month-by-month deep dive into common challenges, with Spirited
solutions to guide you through.
P27
P33
P40
P45
P50
P54
P59
P63
P67
P71
P76
P81
January: I’m at War with Myself
February: I’m Resisting and Procrastinating
March: I’m Having a Crisis of Confidence
April: I’m Green with Envy
May: I’m Being Judged
June: I’m Afraid of Not Having Enough
July: I’m Getting Left Behind
August: I Feel Like a Fraud
September: I Failed
October: I’m Over It
November: I Can’t Find My Purpose
December: I Feel Lonely and Isolated
P85
P87
P89
P90
P92
Final Thoughts
Random. Practical. Pow.
Home Truths to Carry You Forward
About the Authors
Spread the Love
PREFACE
In the early days of 2013, we had an idea to create a ‘survival guide’ of sorts for
an 80-women strong online community we’d created in our first collaborative
coming together.
This guide was to be focused on ‘managing the monsters’ that accompany
online business. Fear, comparison, self-sabotage and self-doubt were all to
be explored, but when we sat down to write, our mini-guide quickly began to
morph into something much juicier, banging down our door demanding that
we invest more time, more attention and more soul into it.
And so we did.
Spirited: Soulful Lessons on Clarity, Connection + Coming Home (to You)
launched in September 2013, and with an enthusiasm that has almost knocked
us off our feet since, this 147-page handbook for life has been lovingly
embraced by women the world over who have been consciously seeking a more
intimate relationship with themselves, but weren’t quite sure where to start.
Then came: the call to dive deeper.
After giving Spirited her wings and joyfully observing the ripple effect she
was having as she touched hearts and minds from our home base in Oz, to the
U.S, Europe and beyond, a new truth - a deeper, moodier message - starting
knocking at the door.
What wanted to come through was this:
S P I R I T E D 20 14 C O M PA N I O N
// 4
Where there is light, there is also dark.
Where there are dreams, there are also fears.
And living an aligned life - with self-love, self-acceptance and
wholeheartedness as the cornerstones - means embracing every aspect of
ourselves. Not just the pretty looking parts.
The more we’ve explored the crevices of our own souls, the more we’ve come to
realise that our job as coaches and women in the world looking to shake things
up, is not to simply throw out a few positive affirmations and hope they stick.
Quite the opposite. We believe that there’s beauty and inspiration to be found
in the depths. There’s an exquisite honesty about the parts of ourselves that
we try so desperately to smooth away like an iron across a wrinkled shirt. The
shadow is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong - we are all perfect and pure in
essence.
Looking at our own lives from a bird’s eye view, we can say with grace and
truth that the moments we’re most proud of, that we humbly pat ourselves
on the back for, are the ones where we let our visions be greater than our
fears. Where we conversed with our emotions, instead of shoving them
away, to uncover a life lesson that would rocket us forward. It was in those
uncomfortable moments where we momentarily felt like foreigners in our own
skin that we experienced true growth. Evolution. Profound joy. What it means
to be alive.
Looking beyond the usual robust resolutions.
At the dawn of a New Year, when we wide-eyed hopefuls sit down to declare
our tenderest of intentions to the world, we’re pregnant with possibility. Life
// 5
feels enormous, our goals - in the bag, baby.
Until they’re not.
This is where the Spirited 2014 Companion strolls in and pulls up a chair. It’s
punchy, potent and practical - brimming with solutions to the possible (and,
dare we say, probable) challenges that will arise as you hunt down your desires
during the year.
This is the yang to Spirited’s yin.
The action to her contemplation.
The black and white to her colour.
The Go! to her Stay!
The straight shootin’ to her subtlety.
The doing to her being.
And together, they are one helluva team.
+++
Humbled and grateful, we thank Spirited for playing - and continuing to play the role she has as a vessel for self-discovery for the curious, courageous souls
who have welcomed her into their lives.
The edge of something new is a beautiful place to take stock, look around,
acknowledge where you’ve come from and where you’re going. One chapter
has ended and another is yet to begin, and it’s on that fertile soil that we begin
this deeper journey with you; phase two of the Spirited soul-odyssey.
It’s time to nuzzle up to ALL that we are.
// 6
INTRODUCTION
This year will be different. The very fact you felt called here, to read these
words, signals the beginning of the transformation process. It tells us that
you’re in the midst of cultivating some pretty badass awareness - the kind of
awareness that asks:
‘What’s holding me back?’
‘Why do I get in my own way?’
‘How do I move forward?’
We’re here to tell you: everything you’ve been running from holds the key to
your freedom.
Joy in its purest form, true fulfillment and the ability to deeply and completely
accept yourself require you to illuminate the darkness, and so it’s on this
journey that we’re going to say a big hello to your shadow.
Residing in an invisible home deep within the unconscious mind, the shadow
- a concept pioneered by psychiatrist Carl Jung and brought to modern
audiences by the late Debbie Ford and Caroline Myss (amongst others) represents the parts of ourselves that we try to hide or deny out of shame,
ignorance or lack of love.
In other words: our shadow is the person we’d rather not be.
Over time, we’ve taught ourselves to become grand masters of disguise,
gathering up our suffering and tucking it away in places where we hope to
god no-one will find it – and sure as sugar, not us.
// 7
We don’t want it. No thank you. Please go now, we demand.
And so this pain makes its home in our bodies, burrowing away in the
spaces between our bones. It’s felt in the repeatedly inflamed lower back,
the dodgy knee, the neck knots, the lump in our throat. In the disease. The
migraine. The skin condition. There it is. Our pain.
It’s visible in our addictions. The bottle of wine to blow the steam off a
stressful day. The secret block of chocolate. The over-spending. The brokenbut-still-not-over relationship. The striving. The need for more. And more. Fear
and hurt and shame and anger and rejection are all well and truly alive in the
yearnings we keep hidden from the world around us.
The big one, though, is the role of the shadow in our relationships. When
we deny shadow elements in own psyche, we instead project them onto others
– which means that what we dislike in another is present within us, by virtue
of the fact we can identify it in that other person. You spot it, you got it, sweet
pea. We all do.
The important thing about this shadow side we all possess is that it can only
wield its power over us when we keep it in the dark.
What would you say if we told you that the parts of you that you’re hiding –
the parts that judge and criticise, the fears that keep you from fulfilling your
dreams – are actually your most powerful teachers?
What if we told you that you can transform your life by bringing out of the
dark the parts of you that, up until now, have held you back and sabotaged
your efforts to create the life you’ve always desired?
// 8
What if you could come to peace with your loneliness, your fears of being
a fraud, your so-called laziness, and all the egoic, primitive, selfish, entitled,
arrogant, in-pain parts of yourself you’ve been shovelling under the bed for so
long?
“The shadow is not a problem to be solved or
an enemy to be conquered, but a fertile field to
be cultivated. When we dig our hands into its
rich soil, we will discover the potent seeds of the
people we most desire to be.” — Debbie Ford
This companion serves as an invitation to find out who you really are. All of
you. Every. single. glorious. bit. And let it be declared: our brightest wish is
that you take what you learn here about yourself and what’s been holding you
hostage, and make 2014 the greatest damn year of your life.
Our message is one about homecoming. Returning to love and truth. Total
self-acceptance. True and resolute compassion - that is, having the courage to
not only refrain from throwing arrows of negativity at ourselves, but to be able
to witness something in another that we find abrasive, irritating or downright
obnoxious, and rather than berate it, turn inwards and ask “Where is this
present in me?”
And - here’s the clincher - to be okay with the answer.
In our one-on-one sessions with our respective life coaching clients, what we
find is that usually, the ‘formulating inspired intentions’ part isn’t the issue.
// 9
What is the source of suffering, though, is the inevitable internal chaos that
hijacks the grandest of plans on the road from here to there - which is where
the Spirited Companion comes in.
We’re not saying this to stick a nail in your tyre, but the very nature of being
human means that this year, like every year, you will, on occasion, come face
to face with your shadow. Like the rest of the planet will doubt your abilities.
Your confidence will waver. You’ll compare yourself. There’s a good chance
you’ll trip yourself up when you’re on the verge of brilliance, and sometimes,
you’ll take as gospel that callous inner chant that decrees: ‘You’ll never be
enough.’
This is what it means to be a wildly, imperfectly, gorgeously, messily human;
to be in possession of both a light side - the side that thrives on hope and
harmony - and a murkier side that marinates in mood swings and irrationality.
We all know that inside us are two voices fighting to be heard at all times – the
voice of our souls, our highest self, and the fearful, shame-filled, critical voice
of our ego. To acknowledge both and make a conscious shift towards totality
is the most profound act of self-love you’ll ever undertake. You have our
permission to never hide from yourself - to never deny part of yourself - ever
again.
/ / 10
How it Works - or, Awareness is Awesome, but
Seismic Shifts Need Serious Action
This book is about radical self-responsibility.
It’s about making shit happen (for real).
It exists to help you amplify your life and, at the same time, make the soulled trek home towards wholeness. It gives you the essential tools, heartfelt
wisdom and powerful practices to face - and embrace - challenge. Your
thoughts are not to be feared. Your problems are not to run away from. Every
moment is an opportunity to drop deeper.
Our heart’s desire is that the Spirited Companion will be a catalyst for you to
fully participate in your life as each day unfolds in the year ahead, helping you
prise off the heavy cloak that ‘til now, has been keeping you feeling just shy of
magnificent.
Laid out by month, the Companion contains twelve ‘challenges’ or ‘issues’,
with corresponding solutions, meditations/ visualisations/ contemplations
and a dare from us to you. It can be read from cover to cover, but – and here’s
where we circle back to finding what works for you, and you alone – please, by
no means, feel locked into the linear format.
If you find yourself in the throes of a major comparison attack in December,
turn back to April and use the guidance you find there to soothe your soul.
If failure flips your lid in January, scroll forward for a dose of September’s
medicine.
/ / 11
The objective is that not only will this book give you the tools and wisdom to
move out of, and beyond, that which is severely limiting your potential, but
that – alongside Spirited – it will also serve as a springboard for deeper, far
richer inner adventures.
Your time is now.
We’re placing the ticket in your hand, but what the journey ultimately looks
like from here on in is yours to decide.
As the great Joseph Campbell once said: “The cave you fear to enter holds the
treasure you seek.”
Let’s get this show on the road, Spirited sista.
Step inside.
Your treasure awaits.
Just a quickie before we dive in:
Like Spirited, this ebook lends itself to
being printed, bound or stored inside
a ring binder folder, but if you want
to take an eco-friendly approach, we
recommend printing the templates
on these pages: 14-21, and using your
journal for the contemplations
and dares.
/ / 12
THE LAY OF THE LAND
2014 is the year of being All of You. Embracing your idiosyncrasies.
Celebrating your contradictions and taking both feet out of the container
you might have found yourself in. It’s time to be fully seen. Together, we’re
going to dissolve all senses of ‘I can’t be this because I’m also this’ (ahh,
sweet relief!).
+ In the first exercise, we encourage you to go nuts with words, phrases and
adjectives that describe who you are, what you stand for and what you want
more of in 2014.
+ Next up, cast an eye over your handiwork and choose the words that yield
the strongest resonance to create a supreme statement that feels powerful,
potent and oh-so-right for you.
+ You’ll then dive into some serious intention-setting, identifying some of
your ‘grander’ aspirations from a 12-month perspective, expanding these out
into the various areas of your life.
/ / 13
I AM:
(examples: a
yoga fanatic; a
great listener;
a connoisseur
of cocktails;
a mama; an
introvert)
I STAND
FOR/ I
BELIEVE
IN:
(examples:
righteous selfexpression;
animal
protection;
leaning into fear;
forgiveness)
/ / 14
THIS
YEAR, I’M
CALLING
IN/
CREATING
MORE:
(examples: white
space in my
calendar; date
nights; ideal
clients; moments
of profound joy)
CHOOSING 3 PHRASES/ WORDS FROM
EACH, LET’S TURN IN INTO YOUR BOOM!
STATEMENT FOR YOU:
I am:
I stand for/ believe in:
This year, I’m calling in/
creating more:
/ / 15
2014 I N T E N T I O N S :
A 12-MONTH PERSPECTIVE
Goal:
Guiding Word/Feeling:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
/ / 16
2014 I N T E N T I O N S :
A 12-MONTH PERSPECTIVE
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
/ / 17
INTENTIONS EXPANDED
For My Biz/Work...
For My Spirit...
For My Body/Health...
For My Relationships...
For My Creativity...
For My Professional/Personal Development...
/ / 18
WEEK OF:
WEEKLY
PLANNER
I DECLARE SUNDAY A DAY OF...
S P I R I T E D 20 14 C O M PA N I O N / / 1 9
SUNDAY
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY
MONDAY
WEEKLY GOAL
MONTHLY GOAL
WEEK OF:
THE PLAN
// 20
MY SCARIEST MOFO
OF A DREAM...
The intention
I’m sharing with
the world (for
accountability + major
manifesting mojo) is:
DECL ARE IT AND SHARE IT!
INSTAGRAM ONE OF YOUR 2014
INTENTIONS TO LET THE UNIVERSE
KNOW YOU ARE ‘READY!
This is
happening by:
HASHTAG IT:
#SPIRITED2014
TAG US:
@RACHELMAGAHY
@TARA_BLISS
// 21
Rituals for Renewal,
Release and a Relationship
with The Divine
Rituals root us in practice. They solidify our devotion to living
a Spirited life and enable us to embody all that we believe
to be true.
Plus, let’s not ignore the fact that there’s something so divinely magical
about an invocation whispered atop of candlelight, or the vital force
that brings a group of women together, simply so they can marvel at the
brilliance in one another.
Rituals amplify our manifestations, help us acknowledge and celebrate our
efforts, and provide an environment in which we can accelerate through the
funk. It’s all about intention.
Use these rituals to welcome in a new month, call upon your favourite
deities, or as daily practices that remind you that you are loved, and
connected, and supported. Always.
// 22
LET THERE BE LIGHT
Before you sit down to write whether that’s a blog post, a journal
entry or your best-selling novel light a candle and place it beside
you. The ceremonial act of lighting
the candle anchors you and signals
to your inner writer that it’s ‘go time.’
SOUL SISTERS UNITE!
Host a weekly potluck dinner with
your girlfriends. Same day, every week,
different location. Indulge in: great
food and conversation that swings
from deep ‘n’ soul-filled to frothy and
lighthearted in a millisecond.
BURN IT
You fears, on paper, straight in the fire.
(Play safe with this one).
THE POWER OF THE
ORACLE
Pull three cards from your favourite
deck of oracle cards or lay a tarot
spread. This is a powerful ritual to do
on the first day of every month to set
the tone for the weeks ahead.
Decks we love: anything by Doreen
Virtue (her Goddess Guidance Oracle
Cards, Life Purpose and Archangel
cards are favourites) and The Wild
Unknown tarot deck.
MOVE IT
Stuck? Overwhelmed? Feeling like
your head’s about to explode? Try
a walking meditation for clarity.
Mindfulness is the objective, so leave
your iPod and phone at home and
take in the sights on your journey.
CRYSTAL-POWERED
‘Program’ your favourite crystal pendant or ring. ‘This piece makes me feel
instantly calmer every time I wear it.’ ‘I feel confident with this ring on my finger.’
‘This crystal enhances my creativity.’
// 23
EMBRACE A SUPPORTIVE
MORNING ROUTINE
Wake up at the same time every day
(we’re both earlybirds and it’s not
for everyone but we’ve gotta say there’s something pretty magical
about the dawn hours!) Give a 5am
start a go… if only once.
Exercise. Slowly sip a glass of water
with a squeeze of lemon. Repeat an
affirmation or intention - a feeling you
want to bring into your day. Roll out
your yoga mat. Drink a green juice
or smoothie. Oil pull. Meditate. Do
whatever feels most nourishing for you.
SACRED SCENTS
Dab your wrists, throat, heart and
solar plexus (and any other key
energy points in your body) with
essential or alchemical oils. Breathe in
the love.
POUR IT ON THE PAGE
Create a ritual around writing.
Try morning pages or stream of
consciousness journalling. Set a daily
word count target. Start a ‘9 Things’
gratitude journal:
• 3 people you’re grateful for
• 3 opportunities/ things
experiences that you’re grateful for
• 3 aspects/ parts of your self/body
that you’re grateful for
Anne Lamott says “One of the gifts
of being a writer is that it gives you
an excuse to do things, to go places
and explore. Another is that writing
motivates you to look closely at life, at
life as it lurches by and tramps around.”
GET PUMPED
Between client sessions, before an
important presentation or while you
get ready for a night out with your
besties - crank a tune (or two) that
makes you feel like an absolute BOSS.
Dancing optional (but encouraged).
/ / 24
CALLING ALL GODDESSES
Feel less than abundant? Call on
Lakshmi, the benevolent Hindu goddess
who brings abundance to those that
call upon her. Whether it’s more time,
moolah, knowledge or opportunities
you’re hankering for, Lakshmi will help
you clear your heart of fear and worry,
and bring you comfort that your needs
will always be met.
to the project at hand (procrastination,
begone!). Her mantra: You are a
limitless being.
Feel like your world’s been flipped
on its head? Oh hey there, Kali, fierce
goddess of destruction, transformation
and transcendence. Kali’s staunch
position is that ‘the old must be released
so that the new can enter.’ The good
news is, she exists to help you accept
universal order, ever-shifting realities
Feel creatively blocked? Holler to
and turbulent times. Kali is the ultimate
Saraswati, goddess of the arts, who helps
get-it-done goddess and will push you
with all forms of creative expression right out of your comfort zone - always
writing, music, dancing and speaking.
towards your highest potential.
Evoking Saraswati directs your focus
AND ANGELS, WE WANT YOU Raphael - for healing and support with
TO SHARE YOUR LIGHT TOO your health.
Michael - for support, courage and
confidence.
Gabriel - for guidance around writing
and publishing.
FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH
SOMETHING
Maybe it’s running. Maybe it’s
kundalini yoga, whipping up raw
desserts every Sunday afternoon,
Metatron - for embracing your spiritual
power and replacing negative thoughts
with positive ones.
pinning inspiring images to Pinterest,
volunteering, studying mysticism or
writing poetry. Maybe it’s decorating
your home. Taking black and white
photos. Teaching yourself how to sew.
Go for full-tilt immersion.
// 25
SINK INTO A DETOX DATH
GET TUNED TO THE MOON
Into a hot bath, add 3 cups of Epsom
salts, 2 tablespoons of green clay, 2
tablespoons of coconut oil and 15
drops of rosemary oil.
In your calendar, mark down the
dates for the New Moon and the Full
Moon each month. The New Moon
is ripe with super manifesting mojo,
making it the perfect time to plant
seeds for the future, and to kickstart,
or guide forward, important projects.
The Full Moon, on the other hand, is
an intensely emotional time focused
primarily on the theme of ‘release’ so
to access the full power of this potent
energy, head outside with the moon
is full overhead and hold a releasing
ritual to let go of negative energy,
limiting beliefs and fears that are
holding you back from making your
dreams a reality.
Dry body brush from the feet, up
towards the head, then massage
black sesame oil from the face, down
towards the feet.
Slip into the tub for at least 20
minutes… and enjoy the hell out of it!
DESIGN YOUR OWN PRAYER
Dear ___.
Allow nothing to intrude upon this moment. Thank you for _______ and _______.
For _____ and _____ , I am grateful.
Move through me, speak through me, use me as you will. Allow my fears of _____
and _____ to be disintegrated by your undying love. Thank you.
// 26
JANUARY
CHALLENGE: I’M AT WAR WITH MYSELF
SOLUTION: EMBRACING EXPANSION
Our main intention this month is to cradle you with the comfort of coming
to understand that everyone with a heartbeat, everyone with a mind, will feel
the struggle of a war being waged within them. The soldiers that prey upon
us are Self-Attack, Doubt and Sabotage.
Let’s break down these little monsters in an attempt to reveal the boons
beneath them.
Self-attack feels: Poisonous. Self-destructive. Hostile. Ugly. Dark. Thorny.
Pressurised.
It can feel like your jaw weighs a tonne, or like your shoulder blades are
being squeezed together like an accordion.
A furrowed brow, clenched teeth, angry, throbbing temples. An
unmistakable scent of sadness.
Self-attacking thoughts teach us to fully embrace, love and adore who
we are. They’re an invitation to step outside our comfort zones while
rebelliously and lovingly defying the soundtrack that’s playing on repeat. If
we follow the teachings of the shadow, we can recognise that if that voice in
our head is telling us we’re under-qualified, selfish and lazy, then we must,
by virtue of Universal law, be wise, generous and proactive.
// 27
Deciphering your fear-thoughts with this level of awareness takes the
bigness out of the attack that’s festering in your mind. We are all underqualified, Spirited One. Just as we are all selfish and lazy, and wise,
generous, proactive.
Self-attack is a call to breathe again, to become present, to ease back on all
the doing, fold back into yourself and, most importantly, healthily express
any suppressed emotions.
Self-doubt feels: Sunken – like you can feel the pit of your belly bubbling
with unease. Queasy. Like you’re incapable; a rookie. Self-doubt makes us
feel foolish, like Who the hell do I think I am to believe that I can pull this off?
It feels like unworthiness has taken refuge in our throats. It swoops in with a
nauseating wave of Not Good Enough.
But get this: it’s also an indicator of success, of forward motion. Self-doubt
is a shadow response to Right Action, and as Danielle LaPorte says: ‘Your
fears are part of the creative process – they keep you alert’. In other words,
if Self-doubt hasn’t shown up to beat down your door, you don’t want it bad
enough, sista.
Every expansion is terrifying. Every commitment to progress is laced
with uncertainty and What Ifs. And that, our sweet friends, is what makes
resilience so damn fulfilling (and sexy). That despite the doubt, despite the
list of pros and cons, you went ahead and gave it a crack anyway. You did it.
+++
// 28
Self-sabotage (once you’re eventually aware that you’ve been
sabotaging) feels: Powerless. Weak. Small. Kinda pathetic, like, Dammit,
I did it again! Frustrating: Why do I keep repeating this situation/ pattern/
lesson in my life? Enough already!
The saboteur in all of us (and let’s make that very clear, it’s an archetype
that takes residence in the psyche of every human) serves to protect us
from harm; to keep us safe, but often it does this at the cost of progress and
accomplishment. It’s why we come down with an illness before a special
event, why we deflect tender compliments that were intended to land in our
hearts, and why we sub-consciously create drama in our lives when we’re
humming along to an eerily peaceful drum beat.
Our comfort zones are paved with pain and melancholy and average.
When we’re on the brink of brilliance, if we’re not aware and present and
intentional with our actions, the saboteur will pull us back down to what’s
comfortable - to what’s certain.
We’ve never heard it explained better that this: ‘Self sabotage is our way of
externalising the shame within us’ - Debbie Ford
Which means that it presents itself in our lives with an offering of
transformation: unmask your internal shame that continues to manifest
in your life situation, and give yourself permission to be great.
Though it seems as though self-sabotage is our greatest foe, it’s anything
but. It’s simply a reminder for us to check back in, explore the pattern or
belief that continues to resurface, and transform it with intention, selfacceptance, and a whole lotta juicy self-belief (March has you covered in this
arena).
// 29
It’s only when the self-destructive and self-sabotaging aspects of our natures
are loved and nurtured in the same way we nurture our ‘light,’ that true
healing can unfold.
MEDITATION / VISUALISATION / CONTEMPLATION:
Answer these questions in your journal:
What failure am I afraid of?
What success am I afraid of?
Where am I dimming my glow, playing small, hiding out in the corners of my comfort zone?
// 30
What’s possible for me if I follow the curiosities of my spirit, rather than stifle these desires?
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Give the critical voice in your head a friendly name. Take the bite
out of it.
•
Take to your journal with a list of attack thoughts that are on
repeat in your psyche. Without judgement, unleash that chorus
of pain and condemnation onto the pages. Notice what it feels like
to read over the words. They may be feel spiky, or suffocating, or
plain hurtful. That’s okay. Lock eyes with them, and feel the words
in your body. Be patient and stay with this, until what you’ve written
on the page no longer triggers you negatively. When you can feel
that these emotions have been flushed from your body, turn to a
fresh page. What are the polar opposites to the statements you
just wrote? I’m not good enough may become I am capable, I’m the
one for the job. Again, these positive truths may trigger you – they
may feel fraudulent and fakey-pants – but just as you sat in the pain
// 31
previously, you’re going to nestle into these words brimming with
light, positivity and possibility; locking eyes until they become you,
until they no longer trigger you.
•
Try Kundalini yoga, a practice which helps us transcend the
viciousness of the mind with presence and awareness. YogaGlo is
incredible for an at-home practice.
•
Just keep going. ‘Silence the saboteur with acts of courage, and by
following your intuition’ - Caroline Myss, or, as Mastin Kipp says:
‘When you put your ass on the line, the Universe moves.’ Let’s dance.
•
How can you healthily express your anger, sadness, frustration? A
punch-on with your pillow? A two second, top-of-your-lungs outburst
in the shower? A petulant stomping of your feet? Better out than in,
beautiful. Out with it!
Recommended Reading:
The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks
Sacred Contracts - Caroline Myss
Why Good People Do Bad Things - Debbie Ford
// 32
FEBRUARY
CHALLENGE: I’M RESISTING AND PROCRASTINATING
SOLUTION: DIG DEEP ON YOUR DESIRES
Your guilt is growing by the second. It’s just not happening. You feel
blocked. Stuck. Stifled. Alone - and swallowed whole by your suffering as
you do everything but the very thing you’ve been called to do.
“What does Resistance feel like? First, unhappiness. We feel like hell. A lowgrade misery pervades everything. We’re bored. We’re restless. We can’t get
no satisfaction. There’s guilt but we can’t put our finger on the source. We
want to go back to bed; we want to get up and party. We feel unloved and
unlovable. We’re disgusted. We hate our lives. We hate ourselves.’
- Steven Pressfield
Yep, you’ve found yourself face-to-face with Resistance; that unseen force
with a power so fierce it can diminish your confidence in a heartbeat and
keep you stuck in a place where moving forward feels all-but-impossible.
Resistance shows up when we’re on the move, leaping from a safe and sturdy
home base into the depths of uncertainty. It thrives on keeping us small. It
loves the familiar. And while Resistance may be the stumbling block, at the
heart of it all, lies fear. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of imperfection,
rejection, or the kind of connection you’ve been (secretly) longing for. And
here’s the problem: we’re wired to shut down in the face of fear, which is
what creates the entire conundrum in the first place.
// 33
To transcend Resistance, we need to first acknowledge its presence – along
with the host of other disguises its prone to wearing, like perfectionism,
procrastination, anxiety, confusion and self-doubt – and then, change our
perspective, alter our game plan, and take action.
The only way out is through.
Big dreams and bold intentions have the tendency to leave us on the wrong
side of overwhelm, so start by breaking down your ambition into bite-sized
pieces.
If you want to write, start by declaring: ‘I’ll write one sentence. That’s it. Just
one sentence.’
And when that one sentence is done, start again. Write another. And
another. Imagine your work in a metaphysical way, coming out of you – from
a place where creativity is in abundance. You’re the vessel; the conduit for a
message that needs to be shared with the world. To fail to show up for the
work would be to ignore a call of duty.
‘Doing the work’ is rooted in discipline, but that very word can feel
restrictive and cagey, so why not try this one on for size instead: devotion.
Devote yourself to your craft.
Devote yourself to your practice.
Devote yourself to feeling extraordinary.
// 34
Another word for devotion is enthusiasm. And the origins of enthusiasm?
Entheos, or in spirit; the God within.
Know this: Resistance is cause for celebration. We want you to get wildly
excited - wildly enthused - about the times you feel most resistant to doing
the work, because at the core of that crippling reluctance you’re feeling is a
beautiful message you need to hear: you’re on the right path. Keep going.
“Are you paralysed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt,
fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of
thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be
that we have to do it.” - Steven Pressfield
This contemplation is going to see us dance between the present and the
future. We’ll take a snap of the current landscape, cavort in the future for
a moment or two and then we’re going to steer things right back to the
present - that enchanting place where we ride out resistance and make
magic happen. So… shall we?
What are you doing? Alternatively, what do you WANT to be doing? (name your task/ project/
undertaking)
// 35
Why are you doing it?
Who is it for? (if this and the following question aren’t relevant, skip them)
How will it help/ inspire/ empower/ inform them (or you?)
Let’s talk your ‘ideal end result.’
This task completed looks like:
// 36
And now, ‘the journey.’
How do you want that to feel?
What kind of person do you want to be? One that:
What’s the pain of NOT doing this work?
// 37
Daily devotion. What daily rituals/ practices/ disciplines do you need to embrace for this to
come to fruition?
What would you do if you didn’t have to do this perfectly?
Come with us now, back to the present. Mark down three small action steps you can take to get this
show on the road immediately. Go:
The commitment. When will you start? (Note: ‘Right now, sista’ is a terrific answer)
// 38
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
If it’s writing you’re stuck with, write something other than the
piece you’re resisting to kick your brain into ‘on.’ Write a creative
email. A love letter. A list of words you adore. Your favourite quotes.
It doesn’t matter what you write; it’s the butt-in-the-chair process of
sitting down to write that’s important (and trust us when we say that
before long, you’ll be itching to write The Very Thing That Wants to
Be Written). Get in the rhythm.
•
Change your strategy. Normally meditate in the morning, but
haven’t sat in stillness for days? Expand your comfort zone by feeling
into the experience of sitting at night. You’re stuck for a reason – to
become unglued, you need to shift gears and move the energy in
a different way. A few night time meditations may be just what’s
needed to re-inspire an a.m priority shuffle.
•
Change your location, or even simply change your pen. If you’re a
Tap It Out On The Keys kinda writer, grab your notebook, head to a
cosy cafe, and notice if you experience a second wind; a welcomed
Whoosh! of inspiration. Change is key to kicking resistance to the
curb.
•
Hire a visionary (coach, mentor, healer) who can help guide you
through the fog.
•
Choose courage in the moments you’d normally fold yourself into
creases of burdened perfectionism. Perfection = procrastination = fear.
Be brave.
// 39
MARCH
CHALLENGE: I’M HAVING A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE
SOLUTION: BELIEVE AND RECEIVE
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If
you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get
busy.” - Dale Carnegie
We get what we expect.
Want to sip on the sweet nectar of success? Want to crank your confidence
out the wazoo? It all starts with radical self-belief, baby.
You need to believe that you have the goods to pull it off.
You have to trust that if someone else can do it, so can you.
There is no specialness. There’s no magic bullet.
Believing in yourself is a choice, and it’s one that’s available to us all.
Grit. Determination. Commitment. Conviction. Read any good interview,
autobiography or quote from the mega-successful or mega-famous, and the
thread you’ll find woven through them all is an unwavering belief that if
they show up, put in the work, stare down fear when she rears her head and
continue to courageously move forward regardless, then the sky is not the
limit. No sir.
/ / 40
When your confidence in a state of flux, use this exercise to transcend the
story that’s stealing your spark.
Remember, this Companion is about illuminating all of you, rather than
denying even a slither of your essence. If you’re nervous as all hell, if you’re
shot down by sheer terror - call it out. When we label it, we lessen it. When
we allow ourselves to actually feel our emotions; what’s true for us in the
moment, we can more efficiently transmute the energy within us.
Repeat out loud: I’m nervous. I’m really freaking nervous. I feel like I’m
going to be sick. Whatever’s true for you.
Get physical. Shake your hands and feet, your neck, your shoulders.
Literally, and intentionally, shake the unease out of your body. Jump around
vigorously, tunes cranked, hair out. Inhibitions begone.
Stand still, with your eyes closed, and just feel. Feel the sensations in
your body, and become curious as to whether there is still nervousness,
inadequacy or fear hanging around. (We reckon those guys might be long
gone by now.)
Finish off by visualising yourself IN the situation that calls for your
courage. For example: you’re walking in the door to the interview, shoulders
back, breath steady, a big smile on your face, your energy grounded and
strong. The friendly folks across the table from you take turns in shaking
your hand, smiles stretched across their faces. You’re the star of the show.
On fire. Electric. This feels GOOD, you think to yourself. I’ve got this.
/ / 41
And hey, don’t forget your support team. Marianne Williamson says fear is
trusting in your own power, and what she means by that, is Fear is thinking
that it’s all on YOU, that it’s YOUR responsibility to pull this off, land the job,
make an impression, impress the people. That’s a whole lot of weight to bear
on those shoulders of yours.
‘My cosmic team is with me.’
‘The right words will find me.’
‘I am the vessel.’
A little less pressure, non?
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Try chanting. For confidence with communication, chanting is
an incredible tool which helps to not only project the voice, but
vibrationally heal the body while clearing away blockages in the
throat chakra. The sanskrit mantra for the throat chakra is ham,
pronounced ‘hum’. Try this three-stage ham chant, and repeat seven
times.
To begin, allow the chant to ‘fall out of your chest’. You’ll hear that
you make a haaaaaaa sound.
/ / 42
Then shift the projection up to your throat. Your chant will change
from haaaaaa to aaauuuuu.
Finally, close your mouth and complete the chant in your nose, which
will vibrate the mmmm sound. Haaauuumm.
•
Give the Tony Robbins ‘Emotional Flush’ a go.
Close your eyes, and connect in with your heartbeat.
Find a moment that made you feel grateful. Hold it. And then bring
in another, and another.
On top of that, find a moment that made you laugh out loud. Bring in
another, and another.
On top of that, find a moment in your life when you were in awe.
Bring in another, and another.
On top of that, find a moment in your life when you felt sexy - turned
on. Bring in another, and another.
Let it all hit you in the heart. Let it overwhelm you. Allow it to fill up
your chest. Allow the smiles, the tears, the audible sighs - whatever
needs to surface - to rise up.
/ / 43
•
Channel someone you admire. Ask ‘What would (person who rocks
their shizzle) do?’ Feel that big, full energy warm your insides, then
throw your shoulders back, hold your head high and allow yourself to
truly own a sense of rock-solid confidence that’s all yours. Projecting
confident body language actually alters your physiology. Be the
embodiment.
/ / 44
APRIL
CHALLENGE: I’M GREEN WITH ENV Y
SOLUTION: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
The belly-twisting unease. The ‘not enough’ chant. The rising heat. The
tight-chested feelings of being small, unloved, unworthy and hopeless.
Untamed envy can be ugly.
This stowed-away shadow emotion will try with all its might to convince you
that there isn’t enough to go around. It’s an illusion rooted in separateness
– the thought that somehow, the person you feel triggered by has something
‘in them’ that you don’t. That their achievements and attributes are far
superior to your own (the ego’s favourite mind trick!) and that somehow,
they have never had to suffer or struggle or put in the hard yards quite like
you have.
Let it be said: this is a figment of every imagination of every human being
walking the planet. Like its opposites - inspiration, joy, acceptance, love envy is a universally-felt emotion, and depending on which side of the fence
you meet it from, can either cut you off at the knees, or propel you forward
from a place of profound self-awareness.
In its most positive state, envy is your guiding light. Your divine spiritual
teacher. What you envy in another holds the clue to your grandest desires some that, perhaps, you’ve buried in a deep-down locale long ago.
/ / 45
We say: harness this potent emotion. Take the energy you’re burning in
looking Out There at someone else’s accomplishments, and instead, funnel
it into pursuits so creative, so authentic and so meaningful to you that
whatever you’ve been coveting, you’ve now given yourself. This immediately
takes you from a place of lack to one where you’re embodying what you
desire. Rather than comparing, you’re contributing.
When you learn to work with – not against – an emotion like envy, you can
start to move the energy rather than reacting to a habitual pattern, and in
turn, heal what needs to be healed.
“You can’t be envious and happy at the same time.” - Frank Tyger
You are not your emotions. You are not your envy. You are good enough.
You’re exactly - exactly - where you are meant to be right now. And here’s the
beautiful truth we want you to tuck in your pocket for the next time you’re
feeling triggered: another person’s success is a metric of what is possible for
you.
The next time the part of you that wants to measure and compare pipes up,
choose to replace self-loathing with hope and wonder. Disarm envy with
admiration. Decide not to be swallowed up by judgement. After all, it’s just a
thought, and a thought can be changed.
Before you dive into this month’s contemplation,
consider this:
Could your envy be alerting you to a whole new level of potential that you’re
ready to tap into?
/ / 46
Could it, like fear, be a powerful indicator that this matters? That you’re
primed for action? Is it time for you to take a leap?
If you’re feeling rejected - what can you do to love yourself more, right now?
If you’re feeling left out - how can you step up and share your gifts with the
world in a (much) bigger way?
Appreciation reveals abundance in places you might have forgotten to
look, so when envy sideswipes you in a sharp one-two punch, find your way
back home to that place inside you where gratitude and truth reside with
an ‘I’m Blessed Because’ list.
The objective of this exercise is total presence. Fear, envy, comparison and
judgements about what you are and are not all live in the past and the future, so let’s steer you right back to the now and remind you of what’s real
with a loved-up list of your finest blessings.
1. If you’ve been triggered by something you’ve seen online, close down
your computer and walk outside, or into another room. Change your state
by changing locations, first and foremost.
2. Take three long, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your
mouth, and holding a hand over your heart, repeat in your mind: “With
/ / 47
every breath, I easily release feelings of envy and self-judgement.” Whoosh.
Let ‘em go. Feel the power fizz out of them as you acknowledge that yes, the
feelings are there, but no, you don’t need to hang on to them.
3. Grab your journal and your favourite pen and write at the top of the page
“I’m Blessed Because….” and start pouring out all that you’re thankful for,
stream of consciousness-style.
I’m blessed because I have a partner who loves me. I’m blessed because I’m a
creative soul who sees beauty and magic in the world. I’m blessed because I
have friends who get in touch to check how I am. I’m blessed to be here, living
the life I’m living.
4. If you stall during the process, close your eyes, take a moment, then ask
‘what else?’ Think of your relationships, your work, your health, your home,
your shining strengths, the things you’re most praised for.
* If you really want to ramp up the power of this exercise, swap your journal
for your phone or computer and speak this list out loud on video or using
the Voice Memo app.
/ / 48
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Pick up the phone. Open a fresh email. Say ‘congratulations.’ Say ‘you
inspire me.’ Say ‘I’m thrilled for you.’ Because that’s what you really,
truly, deeply want to say, underneath the surface layer of envy. Go
there. Be big with your praise.
•
Ask yourself: am I maxed? Exhaustion and feeling ungrounded or ‘off
centre’ can make you more vulnerable to old patterns, so if you feel a
comparison attack creeping in, dip into your self-care tool bag to get
back on track. Get a good night’s sleep. Prepare a nourishing meal.
Meditate. Run a bath. Read a few pages of a great book (Eckhart Tolle
is always a winner).
•
Tap it out using the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Click
through to The Tapping Solution for the low-down on how to use this
incredible (and super easy) technique to take the power out of your
pain.
•
Get offline. Call a friend, parent, someone who makes you laugh.
When you feel yourself slipping into a pool of comparison, create
something. Add more love to the world. Do a little soul excavation in
the form of a poem or essay. Paint. Whip up a vision wall. Get out of
your head and back into your heart - the place where togetherness and
tender love reign supreme.
•
Surrender your envy to a higher power. Say: “Dear (God/ Spirit/
Favourite Deity/ Life), I’m feeling triggered by (person) and I ask that
you please take this from me. I’m ready to move forward with love in
my heart, for myself and (person).” Amen to that.
/ / 49
MAY
CHALLENGE: I’M BEING JUDGED
SOLUTION: COMPASSION CRUSHES CRUELT Y
Nothing reminds us of how stuck we are in our current circumstance like
watching someone else chase down their dreams. Just as we can compare
our life situation to that of others, others can and will do the same with
us; sometimes silently, in the privacy of their own homes, sometimes with
malice.
Hurt people hurt people, and most of the time, they do it unconsciously.
It’s their stuff, their buried treasure that they’re yet to dig up and claim
as their own. The way that we allow ourselves to move forward and give
the naysayers permission to transcend their resentments, is through
compassionate forgiveness.
‘When you forgive someone, either their behaviour will change, or you won’t
care anymore.’ - Marianne Williamson
Authentic expression is threatening.
With authenticity, comes friction. Those who are struggling with their own
identity - their path, their dharma, will find authentic expression in others
intimidating and uncomfortable – perhaps even stressful. We’ve all been
there; we’ve all watched as someone we admire continually hits the ball out
of the park with such grace and authenticity, such raw realness, such selfassuredness of who they are and why they’re here.
/ / 50
Authenticity is a conscious choice, made moment to moment, and those who
haven’t yet owned their authentic power are likely to react negatively when
they see it on display in others. Cue: judgement, jealousy, or backlash.
But you know what? This is pure divinity made manifest. Rather than being
a sign that you ain’t doing things right, backlash is an indicator of success.
It’s a reminder that you’re smashing through upper limits and remaining
true to your vision.
Our beautiful friend, Jess Ainscough, is a trailblazer in the world of wellness.
After healing herself from cancer using natural methods, she continues to
cop constant scrutiny from the folks who view Western medicine as gospel.
But she is steadfast in her beliefs and values:
I won’t compromise on what I know to be true for anything, even if it means
that I’ll be unpopular or attract criticism. In fact, if I’m not rocking the boat
enough I use this as a metric that I’m not being authentic enough. If I’m not
pissing someone off every now and then, it means I’m playing things too safe.
It’s enough to make you think twice about pleasing everyone, no?
Extreme love bomb meditation.
Close your eyes. Breathe deeply into your belly. And visualise this person (or
people) who are holding a challenging space in your life – they’re standing
opposite you.
/ / 51
You may notice that they’re annoyed or frustrated, or perhaps you’re the one
with ruffled feathers. Either way, take a moment to notice what comes up
either in the visualisation, or in your body, or both.
Gently and gracefully, say ‘I forgive you’ while extending them warmth and
light from your heart to theirs. When you’re ready, affirm ‘I forgive myself for
reacting to you’ and allow your own warmth and divine light to envelop all
of you in love, until this light holds both of you in its embrace.
Watch as this light expands out into the ether, allowing you to forgive
anyone else who may have hurt you, allowing you to feel at one with the
world.
When you’re ready, open your eyes with a willingness to dissolve any drama
that shows up in your life, with love.
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Dedicate 3 love-filled breaths to the haters. A breath to forgive. A
breath for compassion. A breath for connection. Be the light.
•
Avoid reacting and delete with love.
•
Create a celebratory ritual for whenever you find yourself on the
receiving end of bitterness - a fistpump in the air, an out-loud laugh,
a declaration of ‘Namaste.’
/ / 52
•
Explore the projection, because remember, if it affects you, then it’s
your own projection. Can you own in yourself the sub-personality
that your foe is expressing? Can you find the same emotions within
you? Somewhere? Anywhere? Because when you do, you lessen the
charge it has on you, and instead, you allow compassion to be the
conduit of healing.
Recommended Reading:
Rebels With a Cause - Fel Spahr and Sian Richardson
/ / 53
JUNE
CHALLENGE: I’M AFRAID OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH
SOLUTION: GRATITUDE. GENEROSIT Y. JOY-HUNTING.
‘Abundance is not something we acquire, it is something we tune into.’
- Wayne Dyer
It’s fair to say that many of us are at our worst when we’re stressing over the
not enoughs.
‘There’s not enough money/ resources/ education/ skills/ hours in the day.’
Survival is a primal instinct; it’s in our DNA to sniff out safety and do what
it takes to ensure that our basic needs are being catered for. Watching as
our bank accounts drain due to monthly bills hits deeper than surface level
worry. Our amygdala lights up, our fight or flight response activates, stress
descends upon us, impending doom is inevitable! It can feel like life or
death.
The thing is: we are no longer neanderthals. Instead of having to ferociously
rub sticks together in the hope of sparking a few flames, we live in a world of
excess. And herein lies the problem: how much is enough?
Just like ‘perfection’, the pursuit of enough is akin to running endlessly
around a hamster wheel. Societal conditioning and generational hand-medown beliefs have us identifying with mantras that reek of scarcity, like:
/ / 54
‘I can’t afford it.’
‘No one will hire me for the job.’
‘I don’t have enough Facebook likes.’
‘I’ll never own that type of success.’
Here’s the thing though:
In focusing on what we’re lacking, we oversee the precious miracles that
inhabit every waking moment.
In cursing our less-than affluent back accounts, we refuse the gratitude
of having had enough to front the costs of last week’s bills; to buy the
groceries, to put fuel in the car.
In wondering where the hell all our email subscribers are, we deny the the
love, attention and devotion that each one of our current readers deserves.
When we’re desperate for more clients, we make it near impossible to
cherish the ones that we do have; our attention having been shifted from
service to selling.
Abundance flows when we loosen our grip. When we surrender control
and continue to consciously choose aligned action that’s not tainted with
manipulation. Action that supports you as a spiritual being – rather than
merely a body with flesh and bones that needs a few extra bucks, a couple of
bonus hours, a little more love – is the action that serves to dissolve not only
your fears, but the blockages that create them.
/ / 55
This can seem counter intuitive and fluffy, but the more the energy within
us is unrestrained and free-flowing, the more our physical experience of life
flow, also.
We receive more of what we already are, not more of what we want, so
instead of waiting for abundance to come a-knocking, show up in your life
abundantly; with spirit, with faith, with trust. With presence and love and
a listening ear. Give to yourself all that you wish you would receive from
another. Hunt out the joy.
Oh, and one more thing: Generosity is the antidote to poverty thinking.
It’s scarcity’s medicine, and one thoughtful, intentional act of generosity
holds the potential to fill you up more than getting something ever could.
1. Grab yourself a beautiful clear quartz crystal to work with for this lackbusting meditation.
2. Cleanse the crystal (see below), then ‘prepare’ the crystal by mentally
instructing it to draw out fearful thoughts from your system. You can do this
by holding the intent in your mind or repeating a simple mantra like ‘Please
remove all this stress from my body.’
3. Lie down in a comfortable position, and place your crystal on your
stomach.
/ / 56
4. Take a few deep breaths - inhaling for three counts and exhaling slowly and start to visualise the fear thoughts leaving your body and moving into
the crystal. Picture the crystal drawing out the emotional stress from your
body.
5. Thank your crystal for its assistance in releasing your fear around money
(or not having enough).
* To cleanse your crystals before and after using them for healing and
meditation purposes, hold them under running water, wash them in salty
ocean water or leave them out in the sunlight (or moonlight) to give them a
good rechargin.’
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Create an abundance altar in your home; a sacred place to go each
day – if only for 5 minutes, or 30 seconds, or 10 breaths – to say thank
you for all that you have. Adorn your altar with:
Loose change
Crystals (try citrine and pyrite for manifesting mojo)
Succulents (a symbol of endurance and resilience)
A green candle
A Post It note declaration of what you desire
/ / 57
•
We reap what we sow, so give, and give now. Even if it feels as
though you have nothing - are nothing. You don’t need to move
mountains, you just need to move.
•
Give Chakra One some love! Read Lesson Nine in Spirited for a
run down on ways in which you can work with and balance your first
chakra – the energy field that governs primal needs, security and
finances.
•
Find proof. Reflect on a time in the past when you were paralysed by
the uncertainty of not having or being enough. Bring forth a past fear
that feels familiar to the one you’re holding onto now. Perhaps a fear
of not finding the money in time for the deadline, or not attracting
enough clients after having quit your day job.
Ask yourself:
Did I make it through?
Did what I need show up?
Even though it may not have shown up in a way I’d have hoped, or expected, did everything work out okay?
We are always, without question, given everything we need in the moment.
And perhaps what we need doesn’t take the shape of what we want, or what
we expect, and it’s not always easy, but it’s always, always divine.
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JULY
CHALLENGE: I’M GET TING LEFT BEHIND
SOLUTION: RELEASE EXPECTATIONS AND TRUST THE FLOW OF LIFE
As forward-focused, curious creatures, when it comes to the way we
approach life, our natural tendency is to cast our gaze out in the direction
of our tribe members to search for clues - or better yet, a perfectlyformed blueprint - that explains exactly what goes where and by when.
Unfortunately (or, from where we’re standing, fortunately) that kind of
instruction manual simply doesn’t exist.
The beautiful thing about being here - each of us a microcosm of the
macrocosm that is the Universe - is that we’ve all been called to traverse
radically different paths, bringing to the table life experiences, soul lessons,
specific superpowers and desires of the heart that are ours, and ours alone.
And just like a fingerprint, no two life journeys are ever designed to be
the same. If we want to leave an imprint on the world, we need to keep our
compass pointing to our own True North. What is for us will not pass us by.
An unwavering trust in the sacred plan laid out for us doesn’t sit well with
our shadow self - the side that would prefer we measure and strive and race
and prove and chase down.
The shadow believes we’re running out of time:
‘All your friends have kids… and you don’t even have a man.’
‘Her business is blowing up - and you’re stuck in the same old cycle.’
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‘You should be further along the path. Get out there. Get moving.’
But it’s when we hinge our happiness on a preconceived ideal of how our
lives should look or where we should be by now, that we extinguish the flame
of the breadth of experience that’s carried us to where we are in this very
moment. THIS is why we need to throw away the measuring stick.
The inimitable Danielle LaPorte says it best when she decrees: ‘The journey
has to feel the way you want the destination to feel’ because if we can’t
cultivate joy now, there’s little chance we’ll be truly happy when we sign the
mortgage papers, the marriage certificate, or the business deal.
There’s no such thing as falling behind. That feeling you’re looking for can
be yours right now.
Spirited One, may we gently remind you that you are not what you do.
You are not what you earn.
You are not your fancy title. Your business. The car you drive. The mile-long
list of achievements. The house, or the opportunities. You are right where
you need to be.
/ / 60
To kick the Should Syndrome to the curb, answer these questions:
What is it that you feel like you should be doing?
What would you have to give up to do that?
Is it worth it?
What feeling/s are you searching for?
How could you feel like that right now?
/ / 61
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Spend 24 hours in your heart using this video as your guide (watch
from 8 minutes 50 seconds)
•
Reboot by ground yourself in the present. Take a bath with camomile,
lavender and mandarin essential oils to rest and restore, or ylang ylang,
sandalwood, basil and hemp oil to help your spirits soar.
•
Anchor back in to what’s true for you by creating a fresh vision board
and formulating a roadmap for fulfillment; one that’s a response to your
desires, rather than a reaction to something that has triggered you.
•
‘Satnam’ is a sanskrit word meaning: My true identity, and it’s a beautiful
mantra if chanted with purpose, allowing the energy in your belly to rise
to the higher energy centres (chakras). Try this kundalini exercise:
1. Set your timer for eight minutes, take a seat on the floor (perhaps at
your altar) with a cushion under your sit bones.
2. For eight minutes, repeat the chant Satnam with a long Saaaaat, and a
short Nam.
3. Once your time has alarmed, simply sit for a few moments with
closed eyes, feeling the energy within your body, remembering who you
are, what your true identity is, without the noise and expectations and
projections of the outside world.
4. Offer a bow, and a silent namaste to your inner teacher.
/ / 62
AUGUST
CHALLENGE: I FEEL LIKE A FRAUD
SOLUTION: GROUND BACK DOWN INTO PASSION
Our fraudulent feelings surface when – just like with envy, comparison
and the I’m Not Enough’s – we stack the whole of who are up against the
highlight reel of others. But if we’re willing to get present to the light of
this shadowy sub-personality, we’ll learn that it reminds us that we’re rife
with passion; that what we want matters to us; that there’s a burning desire
within us to not only step into personal greatness, but to serve in a big
and beautiful way. This longing of yours – the one that’s currently being
quashed by egoic trickery – is so important to you, so significant, that you’ve
never quite allowed yourself to feel ready. You’re not qualified enough, or
knowledgeable enough. You’re just not quite there yet. These are stubborn
and too-easy-to-believe whispers that (once again) stem from the ego mind.
The modern day term for this phenomenon is the Imposter Complex.
The incredible Tanya Geisler defines the Imposter Complex as - amongst
other things - that enduring feeling that it’s just a matter of time before
everyone finds out that you’re a fake.
And it often manifests as not only a sense of unending inadequacy, but also,
a delusional belief that everyone around us has their affairs in order, and we
don’t. They’re organised, educated, systemised, put together. They’re heads
and shoulders above us.
/ / 63
Standing outside of these thoughts and examining them as an observer
is one of the most powerful exercises you can do on the path to selfacceptance. Byron Katie, author of Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can
Change Your Life pioneered a profoundly useful technique called The Work,
which goes like this:
Identify your thought - ‘I’m a fraud’ - then ask:
1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know it’s true?
3. How do you react when you think that thought?
4. Who would you be without that thought?
And then turn it around, using the opposite ‘I am not’.
I am not a fraud.
Take a few moments to relax into a meditation position. Close your eyes
and settle your attention on your breath. In your mind’s eye, enter into a
visualisation in which you take a seat, and sitting opposite you, is your inner
fraud. Spend a little time getting to know him or her:
•
What does he or she look like?
•
Smell like?
/ / 64
•
Does he or she have a name?
•
What’s his/her body language?
Ask your inner fraud: What message do you have for me? Why are you
trying to keep me small?
And with a willing ear, and open heart, listen and feel for a response.
The gift of your fraud may be:
•
Protection. To live a certain life, means to live a safe life, and the only
way to do that is to consistently turn your back in the face of risk.
Here’s the only issue: a risk-free life lacks fulfillment and unbridled
bliss.
•
It may be trying to keep you humble. If you don’t progress, your feet
remain firmly planted on the ground, but you know what? We all have
to soar every so often.
•
It may be the seeker in you that’s forever looking for more
education, wisdom, information. This is a good and beautiful thing
- be a perpetual student of the world! Commit to never stop learning!
But never use education (or a ‘lack’ of it) as a source of resistance.
We live in a world of contradictions and dichotomies, and under every
negative aspect of ourselves lies not only a gift, but its polar opposite meaning, if even a splinter of you is fraudulent, then a splinter must also be
an authentic expert.
/ / 65
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Seek proof. Email 10 friends and ask them to offer you 3 words that
they would use to describe you. If you long to be a coach, and you
receive feedback such as: generous, good listener, optimistic, then
who are you not to pursue your dream?
•
In moments of self-doubt - before you’re about to give an important
talk or launch a product or put yourself out there in a bold new way
- quell fearful thinking with this simple but effective exercise that
utliises acupressure points. With your right hand, press your thumb
on your forehead about 4cms above your right eyebrow and on the
left side, do the same with your right index finger. This quickly
transfers the flow of blood from the ‘lizard brain’ and into the prefrontal cortex, bringing you out of irrationality and ‘fight or flight’
thinking and back to reality, quick sticks.
•
Coaching sesh with your bestie/ lover. Confide in a special
someone what’s biting at you; what’s really pressing your buttons and
causing you to feel inadequate. Then, ask them to repeat it back to
you, as if it were something that they were experiencing. Sometimes,
we need to step outside out from under our situation in order to fully
see it. How do you feel when your loved one repeats what’s plaguing
you? How would you support them in moving forward? Offer up
counsel, and notice the medicine that pours out of you.
/ / 66
SEPTEMBER
CHALLENGE: I FAILED
SOLUTION: FORGIVE AND FORGE AHEAD
You gave it your all. You mustered your strength, puffed out your chest, held
your breath and... leapt… only to fall into what can only be described as a
cringe-when-you-think-about-it pile on the floor.
We feel that gnawing sense of failure in our bodies as an external squeeze
and an internal betrayal. It’s a heavy experience – when inspiration so quickly
dissolves to make room for inflation, a feeling none of us signed up for. (Only,
in a way, we kinda did. When we fall, we learn.)
It’s in these moments, when the word ‘failure’ is pumping thickly in our veins,
that we suppress our experience with distractors. Food, alcohol, shopping,
television, anything - anything - to avoid the pain. Anything to avoid feeling
what failure really feels like. Spirited Ones, we’re going to encourage you to
not do that. It is safe for you to feel empty, ashamed and embarrassed. It is
normal. It is human.
Let’s reframe the energy around failure here, because (are you seeing a theme
yet?), failure is beautiful. Failure is on the job training; it teaches us the
divine art of surrender; letting go and detaching.
In our exhaustion, we learn that cultivating a self-care practice isn’t simply an
accessory to throw on our key chain, it’s essential.
/ / 67
In our perceived failed launches, we learn the importance of authenticity and
patience.
When we break our own promises, we’re reminded of the power of compassion
and acceptance.
How on Earth would we ever recognise the sweet taste of personal success
without first sampling the bitterness that accompanies falling short? How
would we know what was worth celebrating if we never allowed ourselves the
catharsis of commiseration? And how could we ever take courage up on its
offer of picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off, if we hadn’t stumbled
in the first place? Our mentor, the inimitable Belinda Davidson, calls this the
oscillation between the light and the dark.
In order for one door to open, another first has to close, and this is why failure
is such fertile soil – it’s an enlightened brand of de-cluttering that creates
enough space for a bigger and brighter miracle to unfold. The real mojo is in
believing this, despite the hurt in your heart and that lump in your throat.
This exercise centres on forgiveness and release. Surrendering to what is,
and then making a hand-on-heart pact to let it go in order to move forward
with hope and unbridled confidence.
Write at the top of a page in your journal all the feelings that come up
around a particular incident (or incidents) in which you feel you ‘failed’
yourself or another, using an ‘I feel...’ structure.
/ / 68
‘I feel broken and unloveable.’
‘I feel like I’m being judged by everyone.’
‘I feel as though I’ve lost my chance.’
Once you’ve poured your statements out onto the page, close your eyes
and imagine that you’re packing all those yucky moments and feelings into
a cardboard box. Do this slowly, consciously, and once the box is full, see
yourself standing up and stepping backwards, away from it.
Step out of the room you’re in, and close the door.
When you turn around, you see another door in front of you. Without even
having to touch it, you watch it open with ease; light pouring in from behind
it and illuminating your whole body.
Embrace the uncertainty in door two, and step willingly into the light.
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Do the opposite of what your ego is telling you to do - run away/
hide/ throw in the towel - and dive back in to life with gusto. Product
didn’t sell? Pull it off the shelves and improve it. Repurpose it. Or let
it go and start again. Didn’t get the job? Scrawl a page in your journal
about how you want to feel in your next role, and send a request out
/ / 69
to the Universe: ‘A deeply fulfilling job that delivers me this, please.
I’m ready to start now.’ Meet your desires with action, always, and
trust that you are being guided (because you are).
•
Check in with your original motives. Is this failure an invitation to
hold a magnifying glass up to your ‘why?’
•
Speak your fears and concerns out loud. Repeat I’m afraid, I’m
afraid, I’m afraid. Louder, louder, louder. I’m anxious, I’m anxious,
I’m anxious. Take three deep breaths. Check: is the sensation still
present, with the same intensity? Or have you allowed it to transcend
your body? (wink!)
•
Shake off stagnant energy and low vibin’ muck with a full-on
sweat sesh. We’re yet to find a time when a run or a dynamic yoga
sesh hasn’t left us feeling (infinitely) better than when we started. Get
out there. Be mindful with your exercise - feel your muscles moving,
your breath quickening, the feelings dissolving. Bonus points for
jumping under a cold shower (or the ocean) after to leave your senses
zinging. Nothing better.
•
Watch this video, then wrap each arm around the opposite shoulder
in a solo embrace.
/ / 70
OCTOBER
CHALLENGE: I’M OVER IT.
SOLUTION: TUNE IN. GET CLEAR. SET BOUNDARIES.
We’re just trying to do the right thing. We’re trying to help as many people
as we can - to get our name out, to stride ahead, to live life to the fullest. In
our own divine way, we all want to serve and make an impact - but often, in
the pursuit of all those sparkling ideals and honest hopes we fall prey to the
illusion that the more we do, the better we are.
Here are a few things to note about being ‘over it’:
1. The shadow starts revealing itself in our stressed out moments.
We snap, play the victim, inflate ourselves with a self-important puff of the
chest (‘I’m busier than you’) - and not only that, on a physiological level, our
adrenals kick into over-drive as we to and fro between tired and wired. It’s no
good for anyone.
2. A bulging schedule can be beautiful. But that very same schedule a
week from now could cripple you. This is where it’s important to know your
body. Observe your energy. Clue into your cycle. Know when it’s go! time, and
when it’s time to retreat. (If you want to go deeper here, we dive into this more
thoroughly in Lesson Nine in Spirited).
3. Be conscious of wearing busyness as a badge of honour. Busy does not
equal better, nor does it give you an excuse to behave badly. “Whatever is on
your plate got there because you said yes to it.” - Danielle LaPorte
/ / 71
4. Set some boundaries, stat. The power of a conscious ‘no’ always
outweighs an autopilot ‘yes’. When you bring in boundaries, you strengthen
your self-love practice, which in turn strengthens the way you show up for
those you love. Fill your cup first.
5. Honour your output. Ask: can I realistically add this into the mix without
sacrificing (insert what’s important to you here?)
6. There is no stress - only stressful thoughts. This too shall pass. It might
not feel like it right now, but nothing is permanent.
7. And finally, acknowledge that maybe you got carried away. In a
moment of invincibility and beefed-up enthusiasm, you bit of more than you
could chew. And now your body’s letting you know. Don’t inflame your guilt
by beating yourself up. Look for the lesson and take heed for next time.
The head’s mantra is ‘I can do this, I can push through’ while the heart says
‘Slow down. Be still. Surrender. Step away.’
Let your heart lead the way.
What’s stressing you?
/ / 72
Why did you say yes to this? Was it out of fear or love?
Was it for (external) validation and approval?
Does it bring you closer to your dreams?
Can you call in support? If so - who?
Can you shelve it for now or completely let it go?
/ / 73
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Swap overwhelm for gratitude. Write a list of everything that’s on
your plate, following this structure: I’m grateful for _______ because
_________. For example, ‘I’m grateful for a full calendar of client
appointments because being booked out makes me feel abundant,
valued and useful.’ Keep this list close by to remind you why you’re
doing what you’re doing .
•
Create a nourishing morning routine, especially designed to
support you. This isn’t about following anyone else’s blueprint, but
it is about experimenting with what feels most resonant for you and
making a commitment to honour yourself and fill your cup up with
the good stuff on a regular basis.
•
Hire a hotel for a weekend, and after blocking yourself from social
media with the Self Control app, declare a Get It Done getaway. Full
immersion with the intention of closing the loops and plugging leaky
energy.
•
Experience the beauty of a sacred ‘no’ by pulling out of something
you’ve already said yes to. Integrity is juicy, and a virtue we’d all
do well to embody, but feeling fulfilled as your head hits the pillow
at night (instead of flat-out fatigued) is just as honourable. Can
you muster the courage to graciously pull the plug on a ‘done deal’
commitment? We dare you to. For your own good. For the sake of
your creativity, and vitality, and relationships.
/ / 74
•
Wash it away. As soon as you observe a feeling - anxiety, tension,
frustration, overwhelm - rising in your body, head to the bathroom
and jump straight in the shower. Imagine that the feeling is mud
covering your body, and as the warm water falls on your skin,
envision the emotions rolling off your body and down the drain. Let
yourself fold into the sensation of sweet release.
/ / 75
NOVEMBER
CHALLENGE: I CAN’T FIND MY PURPOSE
SOLUTION: FEEL GOOD - TODAY
As coaches who find few things as fulfilling as helping our beloved clients
navigate their way through the labyrinth of life, two topics that continually
expose themselves in client conversations, are Passion and Purpose.
We’ve got you pegged as a woman who certainly isn’t lacking passion, but
how do we make the link between what lights up every cell, and what’s
written in our – as Caroline Myss would call it – Sacred Contract?
The good news? We think you’ve already got an inkling of what it is that
lights your fire.
The bad news? We have a feeling you might be ignoring the call.
We barely allow ourselves the power, let alone permission, to dream of
what’s possible. In a world where financial security and status is deemed of
higher importance than living a life of meaning, millions of dreams are left
to sit collecting dust on the shelves as we deny ourselves the deliciousness
of declaring what it is we want; what we long for; what, if money and time
were no object, we’re hungry for.
If you’re feeling disconnected from a sense of purpose, let’s acknowledge
that for a second. Because resentment – yet another blessing in disguise – is
a catalyst for change. It lets us know that we’ve outgrown our life situation
and that it’s time to change our strategy and pivot into a deeper truth.
Resentment and disconnection ignite our inner seeker.
/ / 76
What if you got present to the understanding that perhaps your purpose,
in this very moment, is to read these words? That your purpose isn’t some
unattainable holy grail that you have to grapple for, but rather, open up to?
That your desires are clues to what holds your devotion?
Your passions point to your purpose.
As children, we express ourselves naturally. We don’t decide, Today I am
going to paint with watercolours, or, be good at basketball, or, do handstands
in the back yard. It simply happens as an expression of joy – unique, natural,
organic.
The two of us both had prominent themes of communication as little girls;
we were word nerds, often writing broody songs and poems in our chunky
journals. We were obsessed with stationary, and both excelled in English
class. Writing is an energy that followed us into our adult years, and we
made the choice to keep aligning with the call of it.
We’re not saying it won’t be a dig, or a trying process of trial and error
– Rach spent 10 years in the corporate world, and Tara spent years
hairdressing and slinging beers – but what neither of us can deny, is that
once our gaze well and truly settled on what was authentic for us, not only
could we feel a sense of purpose unfold, but also, a greater call to be of
service to the world.
If you adore singing, sing. If you have a penchant for the written word, write
your little heart out, launch a blog, start writing the book within you. If you
want to be a coach, start coaching your friends (with their permission, of
course). Make choices – today – that will fulfill you, because we’ll let you in
// 77
on a little secret… neither of us know what our Purpose with a capital P is,
but we certainly feel the sensation of purpose within us the more that we
follow the scent of our desires.
Let’s dissolve a few myths.
Your purpose is not separate from you; it is you. Your business, your
creations, your projects, sure, these are things we birth and nurture (and
often walk away from), but your purpose dwells in your DNA, in your
chakras, in your heartbeat.
You cannot ‘find’ your purpose, but you can chip away at the blocks that
are preventing you from seeing it.
It is okay to be multi-passionate. In fact it’s more than okay - it’s bloody
beautiful. We are multi-dimensional, multi-faceted beings with the whole
world at our fingertips. Follow that hunger in your heart. Love salsa and
share trading? Brilliant, do both!
Forget about finding your niche for a second, and just do what feels
good! When you take action, create, communicate from a place of
authenticity, your people – your niche, your tribe – they’ll find you. Promise.
If you aren’t allowing yourself to be who you are in this moment, you’re
not honouring yourself. HERE is where is all starts, sista. It’s not essential
that you know the destination (actually, that kinda defies the whole point
of embracing uncertainty), but it is damn important that you start the
journey – the inner journey – of looking at what moves you in eye, taking an
intentional step into it, and embodying it.
/ / 78
We attract into our lives what we are most committed to.
What is it that you believe in? What are you committed to? Is your priority
in life simply getting by, or to live boldly? Are you grabbing life by the horns
and claiming what’s rightfully yours?
What did you love to do as a kid?
Don’t take this too literally; if you loved to sing, it doesn’t mean you should seek out a recording
deal, but gosh darnit, sing, baby, sing! Set the bathroom a-boom! with your mid-shower ballad. Belt
out the classics on your car trip home. Embody what enlivens you, for no other reason that that it
feels good. Take the size out of it.
When does time stand still?
/ / 79
What are those passions that you bury beneath a cloak of fear? The longings that seem a little too
large to even be possible?
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Quit ignoring your fascinations! When a passion is pulling at your
coattail, instead of pushing it to the side, lean into it. Follow the energy.
Play. Experiment. Explore.
•
Get on your knees, and make the ask. ‘Please, allow me to see through
the fear. Help me remove the blocks between me and my purpose.’
•
Try this coin toss trick from Gabby Bernstein. Think about a decision
you need to make in your life (for example, “Do I stay at my job?” or
“Should I pursue (this) passion?”) Heads is “yes” and tails is “No.” When
you flip your coin, did you feel relief in the result? That feeling when you
looked at the coin is your intuition.
•
Realign your energy. Whether it’s kinesiology, crystal healing,
acupuncture, Reiki, EFT or another form of energy work, clear your
channels to recalibrate and reconnect.
/ / 80
DECEMBER
CHALLENGE: I FEEL LONELY AND ISOL ATED
SOLUTION: BUILD YOURSELF UP ON A BASE OF SELF-LOVE
Before you move a brand new sofa into your lounge room, you need to create
room for it. To do this, you’ll need to remove your old sofa; either by selling
it, or giving it to charity. Either way, we must make out with the old as we
prepare for the influx of new.
The same is true for friendships and romantic love. ‘Alone time’ can feel
isolating and disconnecting, but can it not also be sacred?
Sometimes, we need to get a little quiet, a little still, if only to understand
who we are in own company. Whatever that force is - the one that grips our
muscle to bone, the one that spins the earth and allows birds to soar through
the air - the Source Of All Things is a force of expansion and contraction.
The rain comes. Then the sun shines. Money floats into your bank account.
It trickles out. The tides rise, and fall.
And socially, as a human being, you too will expand, and when you do,
you’ll be out in the world, feeling kinded bonds with your people. But there
will also come a time that you will be called upon to contract. To retreat.
To become silent. Not because you’re socially challenged, or broken, or
need fixing, but because it’s Universal Law. Your experience of life may
be manifesting as wobbly or lonesome, but you are not destined for
reclusiveness, Spirited One, you are simply aligning to your truth.
/ / 81
Before a flock of real-life angels swoop into your life, sprinkling friendship
fairy dust atop your head, perhaps some connections need to be severed,
first. Time spent solo is about so much more than feeling lonely. During this
time, you have the opportunity to lay down a strong foundation of self-love
and self-respect. You have the time (and if you choose, the inclination) to
explore who you are – who you really are – by developing a spiritual practice,
a connection with yourself, a connection with Mama Nature.
But beyond even that, these quiet times that leave us wandering the world
without a sense of belonging, are the times that bring out the hero in all of
us.
Joseph Campbell talks about the Hero’s Journey beginning with a process
of separation or alienation from the tribe, followed by a series of difficult
challenges that the hero must meet alone. The journey culminates in a
descent into the abyss of self-doubt and a loss of faith in the Divine, but
then results in a vital transformation and a renewal of trust, which in turn
leads to a revelation of some new knowledge, insight or wisdom.
Did you hear that, beautiful? You’re a hero in the making. Keep breathing.
Keep knowing that you are loved.
We are never given anything - anything – that we can’t handle.
/ / 82
After sitting for meditation, light a candle and ask yourself this question:
Who am I?
Allow your mind to take a seat in your heart as you simply feel for an
answer - without searching, or constructing one, just receive whatever’s
present for you.
Ask your heart: What do you need to feel loved?
Again, just feel. Notice whether your heart needs to the approval and
validation from others, or whether it simply needs you to acknowledge it.
Ask your heart: Who belongs in our tribe?
Allow yourself to move into a visualisation in which you see you and your
heart calling in kindred spirits, soul sisters, or true love.
Place both hands on your heart to seal your meditation with an out-loud,
I love you.
/ / 83
WE DARE YOU TO:
•
Make the declaration. ‘Universe, I’m ready for my people! Let me see
‘em!’
•
Prayer without action isn’t prayer - it’s dreaming, so take it upon
yourself to make yourself seen. Sign up for a 30 day challenge at your
local yoga studio. Scour community websites and the pinboard at
your favourite cafe to see what events are going down in your local
area. Sign up for an online course with a forum component and - even
if it pulls you out of your comfort zone - introduce yourself to your
kindred spirits with the intention of getting to know (at least) one of
them by the end of the course.
•
Pop a piece of Rose Quartz in your bra to remind you that you are
loved and you ARE love. Remember that you receive more of what
you are: more of what you energetically embody. Be love. Be open. Be
generous. And then, patience, grasshopper. Your tribe is a-comin’!
/ / 84
FINAL THOUGHTS
Total ownership of your feelings and true acceptance of both the light and
dark sides of your nature is confronting. It’s also brave as hell. To hold a
torch above the buried aspects of your humanity takes rigorous honesty and
searing compassion.
This work is important. Powerful. And absolutely necessary if we want to
give up warring with ourselves, and once and for all settle into peace.
In exploring what holds us back from the big, bountiful life we envision
for ourselves, we’re called to understand that every emotion and every
experience that unfolds in our life has something to teach us.
Insecurity longs to lead us down a path of cellular acceptance. When we
embrace that insecurity is a piece of the divine that resides in each of us,
we’re able to transmute the way in which it stifles us. It is safe to be visible.
Dishonesty might come bearing the gifts of protection – for yourself or
someone you care about deeply.
Without the capacity to be selfish, we simply wouldn’t have the inclination
to look after ourselves.
Accepting these fugitive emotions means we can finally - hallelujah! reclaim our power, feel at one with who we are, let go of the relentless quest
for approval and, as the great Debbie Ford said, transform our wounds into
wisdom as our deepest flaws are revealed as our greatest assets.
/ / 85
May 2014 crack you wide open to new possibilities, new ways of being and a
new truth about the very essence of who you are. May these discoveries infect you. Excite you. Catapult you forward.
May you realise that you are love.
And may you find your way back home, and delight in what you find there.
/ / 86
RANDOM.
PRACTICAL.
POW.
Wanna breathe life into a grand
idea? Transfer it to paper. Record
your
moments
of
brilliance
DOCUMENT YOUR LIFE.
WORDS. PHOTOS.
FEELINGS ON FILM.
THE QUICKEST WAY OUT OF STRESS IS ONE LONG, DEEP BREATH AND A BREAK. GET UP. GO OUT. GROUND YOUR FEET IN THE EARTH
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A GOOD BLOW DRY AND SOLO DATE
THE FASTEST WAY
THROUGH FEAR IS
TAKING ACTION. ALWAYS. C R E AT E A V I S I O N
WA L L . M AY I T L I G H T
YOUR FIRE DAILY
SET YOUR INTENTION FOR THE DAY WHEN YOU WAKE
EACH MORNING. HOW? EASY. CHOOSE A GUIDING WORD
FIND YOUR SOUL TRIBE. CONVERSE OFTEN. OPEN UP. CHERISH THEM
TEACH PEOPLE
H O W TO T R E AT YO U
CREATE MORE
THAN YOU CONSUME
E AT T H E F R O G ( A L A B R I A N T R A C Y ). H A R D E S T TA S K F I R S T. YO U B E T C H A
CARRY YOUR MIGHTIEST DREAM ON
A PIECE OF CARD IN YOUR WALLET
REMEMBER YOU ARE THE CEO OF YOUR LIFE. AND YOUR INBOX. AS ALEXANDRA
F R A N Z E N S AY S ‘ E M A I L I S A N I N V I TAT I O N T O R E S P O N D, N O T A C O M M A N D ’
IF YOU WANT
TO BE A BETTER
WRITER, READ
Blaze a trail with a clear roadmap, a
green juice, a heart full of gratitude
and a burning desire to rock the
soul of the world with your energy
THIS YEAR, PL AN FOR:
A S P I R I T R E T R E AT - T O S O O T H E Y O U R S O U L
A C R E AT I V E R E T R E AT - TO B I R T H S O M E T H I N G B E AU T I F U L
A D I G I TA L H I AT U S - B E C AU S E , L I F E
HOME TRUTHS TO CARRY YOU FORWARD
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ALONE
Y O U W I L L N E V E R B E A L O N E
You are whole. You are complete. You are perfect.
YOU ARE NOT BROKEN. THERE’S NOTHING MISSING INSIDE OF YOU.
YOU WERE BORN WITH THE INHERENT ABILITY TO CONSCIOUSLY
C R E AT E Y O U R R E A L I T Y. I T ’ S Y O U R D I V I N E R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y
YOU EXIST IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
YOUR POWER EXISTS IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
YOU’RE
EVOLVING
RAPIDLY
You are the alchemist, the visionary, the light beam, the captain of your ship
YOU CAN BE ANYONE
YOU WANT TO BE
BE YOU
THIS IS YOUR YEAR. THIS IS YOUR LIFE.
LIVE IT
ABOUT THE
AUTHORS
Rachel MacDonald is a life and blog
coach, soul-centred writer and speaker, and was
selected as one of Problogger’s ‘Top 15 Bloggers
to Watch in 2013.’ She is also the co-author of
Spirited: Soulful Lessons on Clarity, Connection
+ Coming Home (to You).
With unwavering enthusiasm, electric insights
and a whole lotta heart, Rachel guides passionfuelled women out of fear and uncertainty, and
into lives and businesses they love (and truly
desire).
Rachel believes in big ideas, fresh perspectives,
freedom, self-love, beach runs and your innate
brilliance. Clarity meets creativity, intention meets
inspired action. That’s her special brand of magic.
CONNECT WITH RACH
inspacesbetween.com
/inspacesbetween
@rachelmagahy
@rachelmagahy
// 90
ABOUT THE
AUTHORS
Tara Bliss is a spirit-fueled coach and healer,
motivational speaker, creator of The Party Girls
Guide to Peace and the co-author of Spirited:
Soulful Lessons on Clarity, Connection +
Coming Home (to You). Her mission? To
kick-start an avalanche of gutsy, fear-busting
confidence and love (all with a side serve of
swagger).
Think of her as your crystal-toting, skateboardriding, raw-dessert-loving lumière, unveiling the
path to peace and freedom. Her original medicine?
Fierce and curious vulnerability.
It’s time to embrace self-love. Seize adventure.
Revel in unconventionality.
CONNECT WITH TARA
suchdifferentskies.com
/suchdifferentskies
@tara_bliss
@tara_bliss
// 91
SPREAD THE
LOVE. MAKE SOME
MOOLAH. BECOME A
SPIRITED AFFILIATE.
Want to help us spread the Spirited love?
To become an affiliate for Spirited (each book or the bundle):
1. Click this link to our Affiliate Invitation page, where you’ll
be guided to set up an account with eJunkie.
2. Join our Spirited Sisters Affiliates mailing list, which will
then re-direct you to:
3. A page dedicated to resources you can use: photos,
tweetables and hot tips on how to share!
/ / 92
We hope that this companion has landed in your life in the most
serendipitous and meaningful of ways; that it has both comforted you in
times of uncertainty and crisis, and lifted you a little higher into the realms
of inspiration and super sonic faith, right when you needed it.
It has been our privilege - our utmost pleasure - to share this message with
you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for calling in the courage to come home to
you, once again.
Let’s set the interwebs ablaze with one very special, very powerful hashtag:
#Spirited2014
/ / 93
SIAN RICHARDSON: Designer Extraordinaire
Just like she did with the first edition of Spirited, Sian’s design work perfectly parallels
the deeper message and darker, more contemplative mood of the 2014 Companion - and
we couldn’t be more stoked with the result. This book is the shadow to Spirited’s light, and
with barely any direction on our behalf, Sian - being the intuitive, super-skilled creative
wonder that she is - whipped up a concept that rendered us both speechless. We’ve said it
before, and we’ll say it again (and again) - she’s THE BOSS.

Spirited Solutions to What`s Holding You Back

Transcription

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