Archives for January 2013

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“Don’t be afraid, just play the music.” – Charlie Parker

Welcome back! If you’re new, please scroll down to WEEK 1.

WOW! What a way to shine the light on making 2013 the most amazing year of our lives!! These past 5 weeks have really been epic for me. Things have shifted and surfaced – all evolutionary and many surprising! With our eyes on the prize, tenderness in our hearts, and commitment in our souls, here we are in this precious sacred moment… exactly where we should be. I’m feeling it and so many of you have reached out to say that you’re feeling it too.

We set the trajectory, trusted in ourselves, planted intentions, moved beyond fear, and now it’s up to us to SURRENDER & TRUST that all of the needs of the heart that we have given ourselves – attention, affection, appreciation, and acceptance – will carry us energetically to the places that we envision ourselves to be.

Like the daily practice of meditation – detaching, surrendering, and trusting is a moment-to-moment practice – bringing about awareness to the fluidity and evolutionary nature inherent in this existence of ours. There are many lessons (and growing pains) along the way, which may contribute to the underlying challenge that makes us reluctant to trust and welcome the unknown. During these many years of my own self- discovery, I’ve found comfort in finding the most beautiful and precious treasures are in life’s little miracles. They often appear when I least expect them…when I am innocent and vulnerable to the next moment. And they consistently confirm my intuition to listen to the internal voice that guides me. The magic of miracles happens most when we remain open without expectation. So why do we struggle? Why do we white knuckle the things that take up so much room, time, and energy within our sacred, internal space? Why is being neutral and accepting such a challenge – especially when overcoming and releasing with grace feels so good? It is our desire to cling to the known – even if it’s an uncomfortable known that brings us comfort as we crawl back to “conditioned” mode. But we can gracefully break out of this lifetime of negative conditioning through SELF AWARENESS, ATTENTION, TRUST, and ACCEPTANCE.

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When we truly place our attention on something – like we have over these past five weeks – it gives us the innate ability to focus on self-expansion. Haven’t you noticed the dynamic power that has taken place within the 5 REALMS of your life in just a few short weeks? We can believe whatever it is that we want. By remaining attentive with positive intention, we give ourselves CHOICES. When I choose to surrender to the moment and accept that this moment is exactly as it should be – with all of it’s flaws and uncertainty – I feel calmer, clearer, and carry a greater openness to acceptance.

Now, this may sound like somewhat of an oxymoron – on one hand I’m saying that we need to detach and on the other hand I’m saying to place your attention where it needs to go. Finding the elusive balance between the two can be perplexing, especially when you are still searching for what your desired outcome is, but because of this necessary balancing thought process, it opens us up to working it through – truly validating our desires and making it possible to detach with attention. Ideally, we want to detach from OUTCOMES with the recognition and subtle awareness of our intentions. It’s like driving a car – we simply push down on the accelerator and steer. We don’t worry if the right amount of gas is getting into the engine, combusting at exactly the right moment, focusing on the gears interlocking at just the right time. Why? Because we trust that the process works. And the same is true for this sweet existence of ours – everything in life has its purpose – every decision, every interaction, every choice – and will flow exactly as it’s supposed to. When we trust, bean by bean the bag get’s filled. This isn’t the time to wallow in conditioned behaviors, it’s the time to be open and accepting to the mysteries of what’s to come. TRUST.

Trust and acceptance go hand in hand. And it’s important to know that acceptance doesn’t mean that you’re compromising to life, situations, or people. It is a wonderful opening of the heart which gives us the quality of graceful tact – opening you to the profound life force that is the symphony of universal existence…tapping you directly into the flow of the energy that supports you. When you say “yes” to the way of universal law, it opens you up to greater possibilities and frees you from shackles of emotional constraints. When we let go of the “result driven” and “worried” patterns of thinking – we simultaneously open up to organically receiving what we desire most for ourselves. It is this fresh layer of intelligence that inspires us to keep at the practice. The lightness is intoxicatingly inspiring.

So let’s spend this week reflecting on exactly what we have placed our attention on during this Discovery Challenge and let’s SURRENDER & TRUST that the seeds have been planted, fertilized, watered, nurtured, and loved. It’s up to us to match up to the universal laws by continuing to remain open and flexible – detached from the outcome and accepting how they enfold. Infinite flexibility. You’ve done your best. Enjoy the magic that lies ahead for you.

Rock on!!! and I’ll see you all next week as we glide into February and continue our journey in making this the most AMAZING YEAR OF OUR LIVES!

Peace,
davidji

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It’s ON! The 40 day Winter Feast for the Soul is back! There’s no better time than now to keep your practice going for 40 consecutive days.
CLICK HERE to see what I’ve created for you!
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“Where something becomes extremely difficult and unbearable,
there we also stand already quite near its transformation.” – Rilke

WELCOME BACK! If you’re new, please scroll down to WEEK 1.

Fear is the topic of writers, poets, philosophers, musicians, humanitarians, healers…all of us have been taken in by its stronghold at some point or another during our lifetime. Fear is a universal experience – we all have it. It touches us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And for some of us, it creates blockages and patterns that take years to overcome.

Our emotions are colored by our life experiences. Joy, anger, surprise, trust, grief or sadness, love and fear. If you ask anyone what emotion is the strongest, it raises quite the topic of philosophical conversation. If you’re an optimist, you would say love, but it’s pretty interesting to see how common fear, anger, and grief rise to the occasion. I say be the optimist and go with LOVE – love for yourself, love of your fears, and love for one another.


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Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to receive all of this weeks tools & techniques!

You’ve given yourself an incredible gift these past few weeks – permission to focus on YOU and the life that YOU TRULY WANT. Now is the time to face those fears and instead of running away from them – TRUST, take the CHANCE, BREATHE and LEAP right into YOUR FEARS. It’s easy for us to come up with creative excuses not to face those fears and my personal favorite is “just waiting for the perfect time.” Perfection doesn’t exist. Perfection = Procrastination.

This moment is exactly as it should be. Moments of fear are life’s way of gifting you the lessons necessary in guiding you towards your dharma – your souls PURPOSE. Living a life of dharma moves fear to the backburner and heightens life’s experiences to be unbounded, enjoyed, and cherished. If we can just shift our perspective a bit on what fear really can be – challenging, positive, FREEDOM – then our outlook on fear and life itself takes on a whole new meaning. Simply put, a better way of navigating through life!

One of the most prolific guides in my life are the teachings of Pema Chodron. Here, she says it best, “The only way to experience fearlessness is to know the nature of fear. The journey of growing closer to fear brings COURAGE & BRAVERY.”

The many stages of life, jobs, careers, or relationships, can create vulnerability to fear and anxiety. These transitional times bring on levels of uncertainty. We’re not the person we once were nor are we the one we’re about to become. So we need to establish a life of living in a GROUNDED state. YOU are and should be your own ROCK. Grounding practices will assist in maintaining focus, clarity, grace, & ease during life’s many transitions.

The tools of yoga and meditation are ancient grounding rituals. They help us stay present and establish a regular touchstone through which we can experience and move through fear. They also give our challenges the ideas of transformation so it feels as though it has a higher purpose. If you don’t have a meditation or yoga practice, we all have to start somewhere – I did. So I encourage you to take that first step and give yourself a personal challenge this week. Sit with yourself in silence by following your breath and participate in a yoga class. Many yoga studios offer free or discounted classes to new enrollees, so no excuses.

For every emotional response, there is a correlating physical response. We know through research that these tools work in the following ways:

1. Meditation helps us stay in the present, which reduces fear.

2. A daily 10-minute walk in nature increases stress resilience.

3. Relaxation-based practices such as Restorative Yoga reduce anxiety and heal the body.
4. Deep breathing or pranayama is a quick and effective response to stress, anxiety & FEAR. Try 4-part breathing thenext time you feel any constriction. Softly close your eyes (unless driving) and inhale to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4. I know you have 16 seconds! Feel free to repeat a few times if time permits.

5. Take some time each day to tap into some sensory therapy: soothing music or nature sounds, beautiful visual imagery, aromatherapy, self-massage, mindful eating. Your 10 minute nature walk alone will tap into your inner healer with smell, sight, sound, and touch (if you’re barefoot).

As I mentioned last week, with ritualized practices, we are better able to tap into deeper levels of who we are and track our behaviors that establish the patterns – presenting us with opportunities to observe, learn, and shift away from the patterns that make mountains out of molehills.

Some additional steps:

1. Make your decision and OWN IT – know your impact!
2. Know that YOU ARE NOT YOUR FEAR and step outside of the bubble.
3. Shift your view – fear is GROWTH!
4. Taking small steps builds CONFIDENCE.
5. Make the choice not because you have to, but because YOU WANT TO.
6. Keep reminding yourself that fear is a part of the journey.
7. LIBERATE yourself and take on those fears.

So as we leap into week 4 of our 5-week journey to manifest our deepest desires and make 2013 the most amazing year of our life, know that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. And know that fear is your sweet companion on the road to growth and personal transformation to help you move beyond your constrictions into a sweeter more magnificent unfolding of life.

Keep it real & keep meditating!!! Peace. -davidji

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Inspiring quotes to scatter about your space(s):

“There is no illusion greater than fear.” – Lao Tzu

“I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them.” – Epictetus

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

“The past cannot be changed, the future is still in your power.” – Hugh White

“He who fears to suffer, suffers from fear.” – Proverb

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.“ – Walt Whitman

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” – Edmund Burke

“There is nothing strange about fear: no matter in what guise it presents itself it is something with which we are all so familiar that when a man appears who is without it we are at once enslaved by him.” – Henry Miller

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“You are your deepest driving desire – as is your desire, so is your will, as is your will, so is your deed, as is your deed, so is your destiny” – Upanishads

Welcome BACK!!!

It’s WEEK 3 of 5 – which brings us to the halfway point of our manifestation discovery challenge!

We’ve set the course, took the leap, and now we’re gearing up to plant those seeds!

What does this mean exactly?? It means GO FOR IT! Grab a handful of willful intention, put it in your pocket, and run like the wind – never looking back.

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What does it mean to plant the seeds in fertile soil? It means creating a sweet, still garden and then inviting your intentions into the nourishing womb of creation that rests within. It means selecting one intention at a time and giving your self the room to marinate on it in stillness and silence. Ritualization is key to making things stick and setting intentions is no different than introducing any other positive behavior into your daily routine. Another thing to keep in mind is that the chances are higher if you select your intentions with honesty and authenticity – so take it slow and breathe with patience.

So what is an intention exactly? One definition is to have in mind a purpose or plan – to direct the mind – to aim. And I say WHY NOT AIM HIGH?!

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So here’s what we’re going to do…
Starting today – Wednesday – we’ll begin with your PHYSICAL REALM intention(s). Below are two options to choose from – if one doesn’t vibe with you, try the other.

1. Find ONE word that captures each intention. If you are looking to cleanse your physical body to start the year, use the word CLEAN. If you are looking to let go of some pain in your physical body, use the word RELEASE. Remember, today we can spend the whole day on our intentions for our PHYSICAL realm.
2. Write down your word and place it where you’ll see it; on your bedside table, your refrigerator, the dashboard of your car, or the bathroom mirror.
3. Now write the same word on another piece of paper and place it somewhere that you don’t often go; a draw you don’t often open, your garage, your linen or hall closet, a guest room…even the pocket of a shirt you haven’t worn in a while.
4. Find a quote, poem, song, phrase, article or book excerpt that exemplifies that word.
5. Spend the day with it.
6. If you have more than one within the physical realm, just try to keep things simple – the simpler the stickier. Let’s own this one before we move on.

Tomorrow – Thursday – you’ll do the same process for the EMOTIONAL realm and so on and so forth.

If these steps don’t resonate with you, here’s option 2.

1. Get clear on what you want and write it down.
2. Share with someone you trust – this will hold you accountable.
3. Do something today that demonstrates your commitment.
4. Acknowledge that you did what you said you were going to do, smile and give yourself a hug.

Some inspiration for you…

A close friend of mine shared with me a story of her mother’s love of photography. She had been taking photos for years. She’s approaching 70. It was always her dream to be a photographer, but with life’s many twists and turns she never pursued and followed her heart. Last year, she set an intention to get back into the hobby that she so adored and starting adventuring out more. One day she had lunch with her close friend’s daughter. The daughter had no idea of her hobby, saw the photos, and was elated to recommend one of her photos for a new project that she was heading. Much to her surprise, the client loved her photos – so much so that they ended up using an entire series for an ongoing campaign! Not only were her photos selected, but she has now officially taken on a career as a working photographer…at 60+ years young!! – doing what she loves most, traveling, and making an income.

The point of my story is that if fear or self doubt should show it’s nasty head – don’t fall into the “trap pattern” because we’re never too old or too far away from our dreams to make them come true – it’s never too late – or early for that matter.

We are living in a different time these days. People are taking chances more because they feel they have less to lose. I know more people in their “mid-life” that have gone back to school or started a new career just in the past few years – more than ever before. It’s a time of reinvention. People are turning to more creative solutions for themselves because the game has changed in the world. It’s an interesting time. Through all of the uncharted waters that we have navigated over the last decade, many of us have encountered some serious challenges. When we overcome, pull through, and see the silver lining in every new experience that life brings, CHANCE and INTENTION take on new meanings. For some of us, it may instill some discomfort or constriction– but for others, it’s becoming more like home… comfortable, ritualized and always exciting. No matter where you are at this point in time, now is the time to take a hold of what you want and set the pace for your life as it should be – the truest representation of your deepest desires – no need for secrets anymore. It’s time to live how you really see yourself. It’s no longer done in simple and periodic times of reflection. It’s time to set your intentions, become ONE with them, and LIVE them everyday.

If you’ve been challenged with change when setting intentions in the past, the key is persistence and taking it slow – like we are this week – one by one. Bean by bean the bag gets filled! The greatest transformations don’t happen overnight…they happen over time. And keep meditating! If you ritualize a daily meditation and or mindfulness practice, you’ll be “upping the ante” by giving yourself permission to essentially pattern interrupt those nasty and emotionally sabotaging behaviors; fear of the unknown, not feeling worthy or deserving, self-doubt. Meditation gives us those beautiful, momentary pauses that enable us to open up those French doors and take in the fresh air – breathe – even if it’s just for a second (which it usually is). It allows us to press the pause button for a moment– and make the most conscious and nourishing choices for ourselves at any given thought crossroad. When you start to become a witnessing participant (which happens when we meditate) in the choices that you make for yourself – there’s no turning back. It’s contagious beyond belief because you feel so great when you notice this shift within yourself – it’s true elation! You actually begin to STOP before moving in the wrong direction. Over time, it begins to give you clarity, when in the past you may have gotten lost in the fog.

Now is the time to shift the course and tap into the things that make you feel whole, balanced, and fulfilled. So get centered with your intentions, keep your eye on the prize, plant and water those seeds, and embrace those intentions with ALL of your HEART! Let’s get busy!!! I’ll see you in the gap. Here’s to making 2013 the most magnificent year of our lives!! – with love, davidji

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Taking a chance on YOU!!!

Well, here we are…we set sail a week ago, have found our paradise, and the anchor has been dropped!

Last week’s session was about identifying what is important to you within the 5 realms of YOUR life – “your” being the key word here. This past week was an opportunity for you to get clearer on what matters most in your life; physically, emotionally, materialistically, regarding your relationships with others, and what you want spirituality.

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This has been a GREAT week for me – incredibly cleansing, reflective, and eye-opening and I hope that feels true for you as well. There’s a saying that’s used frequently in the yogi world “where attention goes, energy flows” …and this week has certainly proven that. Just by placing my awareness on the things that matter most to me, I’m noticing my body’s signals more, I’m more deeply in touch with my emotions, several of my material goals have materialized, I’m more conscious and reflective in my communication with others, and my spiritual practice is thriving – it’s in dynamic exchange with gratitude, trust in the divine, and the craving for more knowledge & spiritual growth.

If you think that this hasn’t happened within your own realm – think again. Truly reflect on the five areas of your life and see how even little baby steps may have emerged this week. Maybe you simply realized what you don’t want in some of those areas. And that’s a huge step. Having the aha! moment that you don’t want something is more powerful than realizing what you do want because you can begin the shedding process. Letting go of what no longer serves you.

Today, we begin the process of solidifying these desires that we have become acquainted with for ourselves and releasing even more of what we don’t need. In the clarity of peeling away layers, we become lighter, and clearer on what WILL best serve us as we step into our power. And then these new beliefs – these new acceptances will slowly become you through new behaviors and stay with us for all the days to come as we continue to grow, and learn, and evolve into the best version of ourselves.

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With all 5 realms in your awareness, this week’s topic is about TAKING A CHANCE ON YOU – envisioning your dream life and giving yourself permission to actually LIVE THE DREAM! It’s time to take that first step and not worry so much about what‘s behind us – what we’ve left behind. Don’t look back…you’re shedding that skin from the past and re-birthing that balmy, smooth, and new Kosha (layer) that embodies and illuminates the BEST VERSION of YOU. Stay here – in the new…the fresh…this sacred precious moment.

Sometimes letting go can bring on a bit of anxiety – letting go of the things that have given the facade of security can make us feel uneasy and vulnerable, but there’s no better time than now to take the leap and trust that the net will appear because IT WILL!

How do I know? Because I’ve seen it in me. I’ve seen it in those around me. I’ve seen it in my friends who are bold enough to take the leap. And I’ve seen it in the tens of thousands who have reached out to me over the years as they have given themselves permission to let go of who they were in order to become who they might be. And I see it in you – because if you hadn’t given yourself permission to begin your journey to a bold, fresh, new you – you wouldn’t be reading this.

Congested KAPHA energy brings stagnant space into our beliefs – both physically and emotionally – we get comfortable, complacent, beaten down, stuck. And nature abhors a vacuum. So let’s make room for the new opportunities to arrive and fill the space that we’ve created for ourselves. So right now – let’s DO IT!!!!! …LET GO and FREE YOURSELF – TAKE THE CHANCE and trust that YOU of all people know precisely the things that you want, don’t want, and what’s best for you! By filling yourself with sweet space, trusting in your inner voice, and opening to the things most important to you…clarity will unfold – and the possibilities are endless. YOUR possibilities are endless. So stay focused, keep meditating (remember to begin your meditations by placing your attention on the 5 realms – physical, emotional, material, relationships, spiritual), and I’ll see the NEW YOU that’s unfolding next week when we SET OUR INTENTIONS!!

Be sure to connect with the davidji sweetspot meditation community every Wednesday on hayhouseradio.com and if you miss it – there are free replays for the next four days. By co-creating this space together, meditating, connecting online, and connecting in the gap, we will move one step closer to achieving our goals for 2013. Enjoy this week’s meditation and remind yourself throughout the day to stay strong and keep taking a chance on you!!!

Peace, davidji

 

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