Christine Lewis - 365 Positive Intentions (flipbook version w social back cover)

communication by listening. At some point, as we listen, respect, and honor someone else's point of view, they are much more likely to respect, listen, and honor ours. Spend time listening today and notice how much progress we make in getting our point across. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 210- Physical Confirmation If you have ever been to one of my live classes or to any of my events, you know that I encourage hugging. I create a hugging train often when coming in and out of the class. Any event—a dinner party or social event—I encourage a kissing train so that every person has physical contact. Sadly, there are some who go through the day without a hug or a touch. Wouldn't it be nice if every single person we interacted with were able to feel that physical confirmation of connection? The hug is physical confirmation of connection. The energy that we exchanged during physical contact has the power to enhance and increase our collective and community energy. Imagine if everybody took the time to hug or embrace each other and enjoy that physical connection. The more that we create a physical connection with each other and build that physical energy, the more connected we feel with everyone around us. Make an effort to hug someone today—maybe just hug a stranger. That hug has the power to establish a deep connection, and that connection keeps us connected with our community and with the world. It all starts from one hug or one kiss because one physical touch has the power to connect us all, one hug at a time. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 211. Quality and Quantity There are several suggestions in the ancient yoga text about maintaining our health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit. They talk of Kriya, the cleansing practice that helps remove toxins and blockages in our body so that we are better prepared to access enlightenment through our minds. One of the focuses is about food and the consumption of the external into our internal. Certainly, we wouldn't want to invite a toxic substance into our body, but often, we still do. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat are tainted. There is a range of chemicals that show up in our food and water supply, so how can we limit what we are exposed to so that we optimize our health and wellness? We want to be mindful not only about the kind of food we consume, but also the quantity. There is an idea that our stomach should only ever be half full so that half of the room is left for digestion. The half full should also only be a quarter liquid and a quarter food so that the body has room for digestion. If it is packed with food and drink, it is harder for the body to function, process, and flush it out because it is overwhelmed. The next time we sit down to consume a meal, be mindful not only about the quality of the food that we are consuming, but also the quantity so that what we are putting in is giving us the balance. In this way, we can put out the energy that we want to contribute to the world. It is like a cleansing and mindfulness practice, and some people even use fasting as a part of this cleansing practice. They

365 Positive Intentions choose to fast for either several hours throughout the day, a week, or a few weeks at a time, knowing that this space of emptiness is giving the body a chance to reset, to digest everything that’s gone on before, and to prepare us to create what comes next. Be mindful today about what we are consuming and make certain we are leaving enough room to digest. Allowing that space to make room for something better in the future. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 212. Raise the Vibration Set the intention to raise the vibration in a big way. Small changes are great, but big changes cause a ripple effect that resonates around the world. When I think of raising the vibration, I think of doing things like drawing energy out of the negative into the positive and changing the energy in a room when I walk into it. I think of changing the dynamics of a relationship because I am in it and changing the energy of every place I go in a way that resonates with the vision and the dream that I have for the world. I don't want to just raise the vibration from the sewer into the gutter. I want to raise the vibrations from the grasslands into the ether and into the cosmos so that the energy that I create in my world, space, relationships, and home has the potential and ability to resonate into the lives of everyone I touch. Set the intention to raise the vibration today. Plant a seed of positive energy. Say a kind compassionate word—anything that uplifts the people around us will raise the vibration. Maybe it starts with the energy that we raise in our own thoughts, minds, and beliefs. Eventually, that energy resonates into everything else. Decide to raise the vibration today and make certain that we leave every place we go a little bit better just because we were there. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 213. No Need to Reprimand Whenever we get angry at ourselves for something that we have said or done, realize that it does not make much sense to reprimand ourselves without correcting the action. Once we recognize that what we have done is not serving us, the best recourse is to do something different. Instead of spending a whole lot of time beating ourselves up over something we have said or done, knowing that it is in the past and already done, just set the intention to correct the action and do something better next time. We often criticize, critique, and analyze things that we do instead of changing the action causing us to spend more time feeling guilty. We make ourselves feel less than for something we have done when everything we do is actually an opportunity to learn something. If we do something well, that is an opportunity to do it again and maybe do it even better the next time. If we do something that we think is not serving us well, there is always an opportunity to check in, create something brand new, and do it differently the second time around. Be gentle with ourselves and know that everything in life is a lesson. Instead of being so harsh to reprimand ourselves, set the intention to do it better the second time around. Put our thoughts to work for us and make certain not to be too hard on ourselves.

Certainly, it is not very productive to place judgments and criticisms on ourselves—there are probably enough people in our lives who are willing to do that for us. Instead of letting that energy become part of ours and instead of being harsh and critical, realize that everything is an opportunity to learn. Let it roll off our shoulders, shake it off, and do something better the second time around. Be easy on ourselves today. We deserve it. We are just learning and that is what this lifetime is for. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 214. Quick to Do Good The Buddha once suggested to be quick to do good works. If we are slow, the mind, delighting in mischief, will catch us. When in doubt, do something good and do it quickly right away. Right now. Do something good because the more time and effort we spend on doing, saying, and thinking something good, the less time there is to get ourselves into trouble. The more effort we put into positive action, the more our life is defined by it. The more we sit and let time pass us by, the more our efforts during that time get focused into other things that might not serve us. On any given day, we certainly have the option to sit on a couch in front of the TV and just let time pass by as we get lost in whatever is projected on the screen or choose to get up, get out, and do something—maybe volunteer, walk in the park, linger outside the grocery store and help an elderly person with their groceries. There is so much good we can do in the world, but because we are stuck doing something else, we do not give ourselves the opportunity to do good. As the Buddha suggests, do good and do it quickly. Do it now because what better time to make a positive change in the world than right now. If we do not focus on doing good works right now, chances are our mind will get us into trouble. Focus every thought, every word, and every action on positive change so that there is no room left for anything else. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 215. Birds of a Feather They say that birds of a feather flock together. The people that we surround ourselves with are a mirror and reflection of ourselves. It is important to look at the people that we choose to spend time with and notice the quality of their energy. Notice our contribution to their energy when we walk into a room—how does the energy of that room change? How does the energy of our home change when we walk into it? What contribution are we making to the energy around us? Certainly, we want to make a contribution that reflects the energy we wish for the world. We want to contribute the energy that we want more of in our lives. If we notice that the people around us are not happy, check in with our own happiness. Make certain that what we are putting out or contributing reflects the energy we want more of. If, for some reason, the group of people that we spend time with does not have the energy that we really want to create more of, it's probably best to check in with our own energy. Make a shift and maybe choose a more positive group of friends. It is very easy to create a collective consciousness because we are the beginning of that consciousness. Whatever we choose to feel, think, and believe, inevitably, we are going to gravitate to those people who also feel, think, and believe the same things. It is helpful to use our friends or circle as an indication of who we are right now. The people around us are the best mirror of ourselves. The

365 Positive Intentions relationships and friendships we choose are giving us more insight into ourselves. Indeed, birds of a feather do flock together, but the magic is that we have the ability to fly away and find another flock. Be clear about what we want and make certain the people around us are supporting that energy. Make certain that the contribution that we are offering reflects the energy we want to surround ourselves with. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 216. Observing and Doing I feel like I am always doing something, going from task to task, and checking them off of my list of things to do. I am always doing, and I find it liberating, relaxing, and freeing to sometimes just sit back, observe, and do nothing at all but listen and watch. I spend so much time doing, that it feels nice to change it up and spend my energy just observing without having to be actively doing anything; I can just sit back and take it all in. I like to think of it as being a supervisor of my life—observing how things are falling into place and watching other people's response and reaction. Instead of feeling a sense of urgency to contribute my own two cents or change the situation to make it more conducive to what I want, sometimes, I just throw up my hands, sit back, and observe. It is in those times where I often learn more about myself and what I really want because in the doing, I am actively trying to create something out there, but in observing, I am able to formulate a strategy, a plan, and a vision in here. That observation leads to awareness and understanding, which at some point in the future will help me to do things more efficiently. Finding the balance between observing and doing can give us access to doing more and to the opportunity to access more of what we want. Sometimes, just sitting back, watching, and listening is the way to figure it all out and make things fall into place instead of actively trying to do it all the time. Spend a little more time observing and listening today. Maybe just throw up our hands and let go of the need to do so much. Sit back and enjoy the role of a supervisor. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Spoken Word Yoga Day 217. The Big Toe Mound If you have ever taken my yoga class, you have heard me refer to the big toe mound. It is that mound at the base of our big toe that helps stabilize our entire body. That big toe mound has the ability to lengthen our body, straighten our posture, and make us feel taller, longer, and stronger. How is that possible when it is just a big toe mound? There is one muscle layer that runs four muscle layers deep that connects the big toe to the inner part—to the calf and knee, inside the thigh, inside the hip, all the way up through the belly and the diaphragm, and all the way up through the tip of the tongue. That one muscle layer that is four muscle layers deep creates this center of strength and balance in the body. That center of strength gives us a stronger core and better posture. It lets the shoulders draw back, lets the spine get longer, and especially allows us to feel balanced when standing on one or both feet. That big toe mound acts as the center of strength for the body. If all we need is a center of strength to build anything and to feel stable and sturdy, we have to know that the center of strength lies within. It is the internal center of strength that is keeping everything supported, balanced, and stable. And the most important internal center of strength is the belief we have about ourselves. The way we perceive ourselves, what we believe about ourselves, has the power to stabilize and support us. It has the power to make us stronger and stand taller. Whenever we feel less than or like we are not enough, ground the big toe.

Feel our belly strengthen and our posture get longer and taller. Remind ourselves that the center of strength lies within, and all we have to do is create a stable foundation. Ground the big toe mound, and we will instantly feel stronger. Focus on the foundation—the foundation of what we believe and what we perceive about ourselves. Make certain that it is strong enough to support our dreams. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 218. Take a Deep Breath Use this moment as an opportunity to take a deep breath—a really deep breath. In order to take that deep breath, we must start with the inhale. We have to inhale so deeply that we feel our whole body expand and open. In fact, try to even take an extra sip of air at the end of the inhale and see if we can fit a little more in. Then, allow the magic to happen—the exhale, the letting go of that energy. Our shoulders might drop, and our back might release. Our body starts to feel like it is releasing—and that's what happens. When we inhale, we invite in energy—the prana or life force. When we exhale, we allow it to release and flush the body of anything we no longer need. The breath is powerful. If you don't believe me, just close your eyes. Take a deep inhale and then let it go. Notice how the body releases and responds to the breath. The breath is responding to everything that happens, and our emotions influence our breath. When we are relaxed and happy, the breath is easy, long, and steady. When we are anxious, fearful, or angry, the breath is shortened or stunted. Whether the breath is rapid or slow affects our heart rate. If it is just as easy as spending a moment focusing on the breath, if we have the ability to change our physical body, and if we have a physiological response to the breath, why not use that to work for us? Use the deep inhale to open and expand and the exhale to release and let go. Once we tap into the power of the breath, we can

regulate our energy. When we regulate our energy, we have the ability to control our emotional state so that we do not get frazzled, angry, or anxious. We come back to the breath, and we find a space of calm and balance. If one breath does not work, feel free to take two, three, four or five breaths. Eventually, we will realize that we are constantly in this dance between the inhale and the exhale. Make certain that what we are inviting in with the inhale is what we want to create more of in the next breath, the next moment, and every moment. Enjoy this breath—the long and deep inhale and exhale—and allow this rhythm of the breath to start creating a rhythm in our life. Slowly and steadily inhale and exhale, and everything will fall into place. Enjoy the day. One breath at a time. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 219. Life Is a Two-Way Street We have probably all heard that life is one big road with a lot of signs. I am going to suggest that the road is a two-way street, and we must decide which side of the street we are going to stand on. One side of the street, the traffic is moving in the direction of our dreams. The other side of the street, the traffic is moving in the opposite direction of our dreams. If we stand in the middle of the road without making a decision, chances are we will get run down, energetically run down, because we are being pulled in two different directions—we are indecisive, we are unsure, or we do not believe in our ability to move in the direction of our dreams. Certainly, there is fear in crossing the street and in jumping head- first into a dream. There is fear in taking that leap of faith, knowing we can create what we want as long as we are moving in the right direction. Which side of the street will we stand on? Are we moving in the direction of our dreams? Do we allow our energy to propel us forward? Or is there fear holding us back and forcing us in the opposite direction of our dreams? Are we standing in the middle of the road, feeling completely conflicted and allowing our energy to be run down? If life is a two-way street, be clear which side we will stand on. Make certain that we are at least moving in the direction of our dreams; it does not matter how fast the traffic is going or how fast we are going. What matters is that we are moving in the right direction. Be clear about which side of the street we are standing on and don't let ourselves get rundown by floating in indecision in the middle of the road. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 220. Communication Is Challenging Relationships are challenging mostly because communication, for most of us, is challenging. It is hard for us to accurately and effectively communicate how we feel without alienating someone or imposing on their feelings or their energy in some way. It is important to think about how someone is receiving the feelings and thoughts we are communicating. Putting ourselves in the position of the other person and allowing ourselves to be on the receiving end of our own feelings might actually help us communicate them a little more effectively. What would we want to hear from the person in our position? In any relationship, if we put ourselves in the position of the person who is listening, chances are we will speak more effectively, even more compassionately. If we think about how someone is interpreting what we are saying, we might be able to articulate it a little better to make certain that they actually hear what we feel. Too often, things are lost in communication. We are not able to verbalize the way we feel and think effectively. It is hard to verbalize a feeling—we know how we feel, but sometimes, it is just hard to explain it. Try to put ourselves in the position of the person we are trying to communicate with and tell them what we would want to hear. Try to explain things in a way that makes sense to us, and hopefully, it will make sense to them. Half of the work in maintaining a balanced relationship is

365 Positive Intentions communication, so think carefully about what we are saying. Make certain that it is something we want to hear—or at the very least, something we understand so that what we are saying truly communicates how we feel in the most effective way possible. Enjoy the day. Communicate effectively to enhance the quality of every relationship we have. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 221. Be in the Love Set the intention today to be in the love—the love we feel in our heart and the love we feel when we are connected with the people around us. Be in the love. The only thing that ever blocks us from the love is fear. Fear is at the root of indecision. It is the root of lack of commitment and of uncertainty. Fear is blocking us from the love and from connection. It is blocking us from fully living our truth, our dreams, and our life. Try to be in the love today. Notice where our heart is guiding us and follow it. Take the leap of faith and follow our heart. Don't let fear and uncertainty deny us of our dreams. Remember that the love exists in the now while the fear exists in some point in the future or the unknown. And frankly, it does not make a whole lot of sense to fear the unknown because the unknown is infinite possibility. We might as well create the love, because the love exists in the now while the fear exists in the nothing. Give ourselves a space of certainty and jump head on into the love, knowing that is what we want, anyway. It is better to be fully in the love today than live in fear and delay the love until it disappears. Be in the love today and don't let fear block us from the magic, the blessings, and the joy that we deserve. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 222. What We See Take a moment to notice how what we watch affects how we feel. The things we watch on television and see out in the world affect how we feel. Check in and notice if how we feel affects what we see and if how we feel inside affects the way we perceive every situation around us. Be aware that we can shift our perception or frame of reference. Maybe that will shift the circumstance entirely or at least shift our ability to influence the circumstance in the way we want in this life. Depending on how we feel has the potential to change what we see. If we see that we can make an impact on the world, then we must feel confident in that. How we feel can encourage us to change the world. If we feel powerful, certainly we can do anything. If we feel powerless, we are likely to do nothing. Take a moment to check in and notice if the way we are feeling is affecting what we are seeing. Spend more time focusing on shifting our feeling so that what we see is opportunity, and what is happening out there will not seem like an obstacle at all. Instead, it will appear as an opportunity because how we feel always affects what we see. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 223. The Forward Roll I am always amazed at the response of new yoga students to a simple stretch. It's almost like they are exploring and reawakening areas of their body that had been stuck and stagnant for too long. The forward fold, for example. Most people use the idea and vision of touching their toes as an indication of how flexible they feel but touching the toes does not seem like a big deal to those of us who can touch our toes. Even when it starts to feel effortless to touch our toes, there is still a little work involved to get there. If you don't believe me, try standing in a forward fold. Make sure to put a little bend in our knees, ground into the big toes, and then, as you fold forward, just hang there. Grab your elbows or just let your arms rag doll. Notice that after five, six, or ten breaths, the body eases deeper into the forward fold and that it does not take a whole lot of movement to create space in the body. As we hang in our forward fold, inevitably we start to feel the hamstrings open. We feel the hips and the lower back begin to release. If we grab onto our elbows and pull them into our fingertips, we will start to feel the back of our neck and shoulders open. All these are just from a simple forward fold. Imagine if every day, we did a simple forward fold. Every day, it gets progressively easier and the body opens even more. It is this exploration of the body that creates space and relieves tension and stress that we are holding in the body. All it takes is a few breaths and a few simple movements.

365 Positive Intentions Too many people believe that yoga is a very complicated and physically rigorous practice. They think that the only people who practice yoga are those who are already able to wrap their legs around their heads. Trust me, there are very few people in yoga that can wrap their legs around their heads and very few that can even touch their toes. Regardless, it is still a work in progress. Just allow the space and opening we feel in a forward fold to remind us that progress is possible. It does not take a forceful and rigorous effort, but it does require consistency. Allow ourselves to surrender in the forward fold and just remind ourselves that there is a balance between the ease and the effort. The effort comes in walking into the room, rolling out your mat, and then it requires a little ease to open up the body, the mind, and the spirit. Enjoy the day today. Check in with a little forward fold and let it be a reminder of how easy it is to access your body and to prepare your body to access a little more of your life. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 224. Symbol of Our Power There are several religious philosophies and ancient practices that use symbols to provide comfort. There are symbols that hold meanings and that make people feel more comfortable, powerful, safe, secure, or connected to whatever divine being they use for inspiration. If someone can give us a symbol or offer a symbol as a point of reference for a feeling, maybe we can also create our own symbol. We have all heard of people carrying a rabbit's foot for good luck or having a lucky charm of some kind. Why not just create a lucky charm? It could be something that we hold on to that reminds us of how we want to feel. Mala beads are a good example. They are comforting. There is something balancing and grounding about them when we hold the beads in our hands or have them around our wrist. People use them for their meditation to calm the mind so that there is something other than self to focus on, even if just for a moment, in order to bring the stillness back to the mind. It can be an object—something to hold on to; maybe a vision— something to focus on; or maybe an intention—something to encourage, inspire, and empower us. Whenever it is, use a point of reference—whether it is a symbol, a thing, an idea, a belief, or a dream—to give us power. Maybe we just need a reminder sometimes that the power we ultimately need to tap into is the power of the mind and the power of the belief within ourselves, knowing we can create anything if we

365 Positive Intentions choose. If a symbol can remind us of that power, hold that symbol close to our heart. Make certain that every time we need a little encouragement, we use the symbol that we create to remind us of the power that we already hold inside. Enjoy the day. Feel powerful today and know that the symbol is just a reminder of what we already possess. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 225. Wanting Implies Lack Take a moment to consider the action of wanting. Wanting implies lack and that we do not already have enough. When we decide that we want something, we start to crave for it. We desire that thing and too often in the pursuit of it, we lose a part of ourselves. The wanting mind feels like it's not enough. It feels like it is less than or like it needs whatever the focus of the want is in order to be full, complete, or whole. The irony is that we create the want. Then we put all this effort into trying to fulfill that desire—all the effort and energy we put into wanting makes us feel like we do not have enough as we are right now. Consider what wanting is doing to us. Consider how it makes us feel, and then think if it is worthwhile to do it all. Is what we want worth the mental and physical effort it takes to strategize, manipulate, plan, and plot in order to get to that goal of whatever it is we are wanting? Is it worth it? Too often, we think that we want material things. We want financial excess. We want a relationship. We get this idea that we are always wanting, but in the wanting, we do not feel like we have enough. Instead of allowing the wanting mind to distract us, we set our goal to be grateful for the abundance we have right now. Certainly, it is great to have a goal of something out there— something to strive towards and to achieve. However, it is in the moment that this wanting starts to take away from our sense of self that we do ourselves a disservice.

365 Positive Intentions Try to shift the focus away from wanting something out there into creating more of what we need in here. Enjoy the day, let go of the wanting mind, and instead, embrace the abundance that already exists one breath at a time. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 226. We Are the World We are the world. The way we view everything in the external space is defining our perception of the world because we are the world. Everything that exists begins with our perception of what is outside of ourselves, but that perception begins inside. Even though there are things outside that exist in the physical space, that everyone else can see, and that we can mutually agree on, our individual perception is what is ultimately defining that thing. If each of us has the freedom to look at what exists in the physical space and interpret it in any way that we choose, that gives us power to create our own reality. We are the world. I am the world. You are the world. What we choose to create in this moment in our minds is defining the physical reality. Nothing out there can exist until we leave space for it in here; and that begs the question, what are we choosing to create as our world as our reality? If we can project any idea, feeling, or emotion onto what exists out there, then we should create the very best out of every circumstance. Create something that is fulfilling and inspiring. Create something that makes us feel like we are a part of everything that exists around us so that we will not think that things are happening to us. Instead, we realize everything is happening with us because we are the world. Step into our role as the creator of everything that exists in our space and realize that whatever is out there only exists because we have chosen to acknowledge it, to give energy towards it, and to

365 Positive Intentions make it a part of our world in here. Embrace the fact that we are the world and prepare to rule it one thought, one word, and one action at a time. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 227. Darkness for Recovery The significance of the transition from dark to light has always influenced how we feel as individuals in the vast universe that surrounds us. The darkness is symbolic of the opportunity to look within the opportunity, to acknowledge and analyze the past, and to identify things that were harmful or detrimental. The light is the opportunity to create something brand new, to move forward to something better, and to leave the past and the darkness behind. When we are focusing just on the light and dark cycles of the rising and setting sun, we feel emotion. It is in the periods of darkness that we are forced to reflect and acknowledge what is working for us and what is not. The magic of the light is that in that space, we can move forward and become something brand new. It is like a wake-up call. The light is giving us an opportunity to eliminate our dreams, our visions, and our passions for ourselves. It is giving us the opportunity to evolve and see past what was and create what will be. The light is a source of energy—a source of heat and warmth. It provides nutrients. It rejuvenates and reinvigorates. On the other hand, the darkness is time for contemplation, for rest, and for recovery. If we allow our own darkness to be a space for recovery and our own light to be a space to rejuvenate and reinvigorate our energy, we can put these cycles of dark and light to work for us. We are never stuck in the darkness because the light is

365 Positive Intentions never too far away. We appreciate the darkness for giving us an opportunity to wash the slate clean and to prepare for something better in the light. Enjoy the balance of both the dark and light. Use it to feed our spirit and soul. Realize that neither the dark or the light will last forever—there is a beautiful cycle and balance that is happening. It is up to us to take advantage of both equally so that we benefit from the natural cycles of the dark and the light. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 228. Love Without Expectation I have heard people say that love is pain, but I do not agree. When we offer love unconditionally, there is no pain—only an open heart, offering, and generosity. When we offer love with an expectation of what we are going to receive in return, that can be painful because love, when given with expectation, is inherently undermined by the expectation. When we give love with an expectation, we experience unhappiness, pain, anger, jealousy, and envy. Inevitably, we will feel like the love that we are offering is the most priceless gift we can share so there is really no way for someone else to fulfill an expectation that is tied to our love because we inherently know our love is priceless. Love cannot be limited, defined, labeled, or restricted. It is infinite, and when we attach an expectation to the love we give, we will always be disappointed. How could somebody possibly live up to an expectation attached to something that is infinite, to something that is rooted in generosity and vulnerability? It is hard for anyone to live up to that, and frankly, it is wrong for us to expect someone to try to live up to it. Instead, the work is just to love unconditionally, to love selflessly, and to offer ourselves in such a deep and open way that we expand the love we hold inside even more just by offering. Our greatest gift is the love we offer and the compassion and generosity we hold inside. By simply being in that space of vulnerability to love unconditionally opens us up to a deeper

365 Positive Intentions connection with the people around us, with the people we hold close, with the strangers we meet, and especially with ourselves. Feel confident in the love we give today—so confident that there is no expectation attached to the love we give. We just offer it freely, generously, and unconditionally. Love without expectation today, and we will feel the purest joy possible. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 229. Why Practice Yoga I am often asked why I practice yoga when I am already so flexible. People don’t realize that it was yoga that made my physical body flexible, but I do not practice it for the flexibility or the strength. I practice it for the mental work—for the “work in” and not the workout. The practice of yoga is intended to allow us to access the mind. We move the body in physically rigorous and confrontational positions so that the mind is more likely to quiet, to steady, and to focus for meditation. There is a difference between Vinyasa or Hatha yoga practice where we are physically exerting the body and Raja yoga practice where we are working and exerting the mind. Raja Yoga is known as the yoga of consciousness. It is kind of the science of yoga in which we recognize that the mind is constantly working, questioning, analyzing, and examining. It is not until we come to a space where we can quiet those questions and silence the analysis and examination that we begin to find ourselves. There is a reason that the yoga mat is so small and only large enough to fit just one of us on it. We cannot bring the entire day, family, relatives, friends, or lovers along on that mat. We need that time in stillness and silence with the breath in order to find ourselves. So why do I practice yoga? It is not for flexibility or strength even though that is a great added bonus for my physical body. It is always more of a practice for the mind, the work of the breath, and

365 Positive Intentions movement. It is for allowing my mind to settle and quiet and for finding that stability, not just on one foot, but in every thought and every moment. Allowing that access to the conscious mind is what creates the flexibility in my life. Enjoy the day. Try to be more flexible today, not in our physical body, but in our mind, thoughts, words, and actions. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 230. Strength versus Flexibility There is an inherent irony in the physicality of the yoga practice. Too often, people think they cannot do yoga because they are not flexible. What they don't realize is that yoga is much more difficult for those who are flexible than for those who just carry strength. People who are strong immediately feel the resistance of the stretch. They know where the edge is and how to back away from it. They know how to ease themselves deeper into the stretch because frankly, it does not take much movement for them to feel the stretch. The moment they feel it, they are already in it. Meanwhile, those who are more flexible are challenged because they are forced to be aware from where they need to pull back. Pushing to the full extent of flexibility can cause injury, and flexible people can go very quickly to the full extent and even past what is healthy in a stretch. Knowing where to stop or when to pull back is hard for them as they can easily access most areas of the body. When we are flexible, we need to engage strength in order to find that careful balance. We need to find that spot where the stretch will benefit us and not push us into the edge. Those who are stronger have the resistant body. It already needs expansion, extension, and opening, so it is easier to feel where to stretch. When we are strong, we can tap into the stretch and ease into it, but when we are flexible, we have to know that even though it feels like we can go farther, we have to find that spot, pull back, and ease

365 Positive Intentions our way into it to avoid pushing past where we need to be for the stretch. Always know that even if we are in a yoga class as an individual, we have a unique experience in the yoga practice. It is that balance between strength and flexibility, the balance between emotionally being okay with where we are and having a vision to improve and evolve. Finding that balance on the yoga mat helps us find that balance in life so that we don't push too hard, too far, or too fast. Instead, we find that balance that ultimately gives us access to everything. Enjoy the day, find that balance, and remember that pushing too hard or too fast for too long will never get us to where we want to go. It is in finding the balance that allows access to everything, and that is exactly where we want to be. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 231. Not Limited by Labels Tell me about yourself- Who are you? How do you identify yourself? At birth, we are given a birth certificate. We have an identification card with our picture and personal information on it. It is supposed to describe who we are, but frankly, it really says nothing about us at all. When we identify ourselves as our physical body, we are limiting ourselves to just this physical form. When we identify ourselves as the roles we play in this life—as a mother, father, sister, brother, lover, or friend—we limit the expressions of ourselves. When we identify ourselves as our job occupation, we are limited to that job title. There are too many ways that we can feel limited by identifying ourselves by things outside of ourselves. When we think about it, our physical body, the roles we play, the belief we have about ourselves—none of these things truly describes who we are. They might describe what we look like, what we do, or what relationships we have, but they still do not define who we are. We are best defined by our passions, our love, our desires, and our dreams because ultimately, these are the energy we will leave behind in the world. Once our physical body is gone, nobody will remember what we look like. Once we retire from a job, very rarely will people remember what we did. Once the roles we play have evolved into something else, the title we once held onto disappears.

365 Positive Intentions Feel a sense of urgency to find out who we are so that when someone asks us to describe ourselves, we are not limited by labels that are confined to our physical body, to our job occupation, or to the roles we play. Instead, who we are becomes so much more that it transcends the boundaries of this physical reality. Instead, we become an energy that resonates with every person we touch everywhere we go and everything we do. Who are you? Make certain that who we are is a reflection of the energy we want to leave behind as our legacy in this life; that who we are reflects how we want to be remembered; and that who we are reflects the energy that we share with the people we touch every day. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Spoken Word Yoga Day 232. The Same Sadness Take a moment to think carefully about how our response to circumstances is changing our spirit, our heart, our view of the world, and ourselves. A spiritual philosopher posed a significant question about our emotional response to circumstances in our life. He asked, why is it that we would not think to laugh twice at the same joke, yet we find it easy to cry over the same sadness? If someone were to repeat the joke over and over and we heard that joke more often, the less funny it would be and the less we would be inspired to laugh from that genuine deep place where laughter and happiness comes from. However, when we replay difficult circumstances, we allow ourselves to access that same depth of sadness each time we replay. We allow ourselves the opportunity to cry, to weep, and to mourn as much with the thought in this moment as when it initially happened. Be very careful with where we choose to invest our energy. If we would not laugh at the same joke twice, certainly, we should not cry at the same circumstance twice as well. Time is precious and our energy is powerful. Where we choose to focus our energy and emotion creates a reality for ourselves and the people around us. So today, consider the response to the circumstances, and if we would not laugh at the same joke twice, try not to cry at the same sorrow more than once. Enjoy the day. Focus on the laughter today and allow it to come from the purest part of our soul. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 233. Recipe for Happiness There is a recipe for happiness, but the recipe does not include an ingredient nor require us to accumulate things or have a particular structure to our life to access happiness. The recipe for happiness truly is in how we make others feel. How happy are the people around us because of what we have inspired in them? How willing are we to extend ourselves in a selfless way to ensure the happiness of the people around us? If we find ourselves not feeling so enthusiastic about life, feeling a little under the weather and lethargic, feeling like life is a struggle, or facing adversity, the best way to overcome that adversity is to focus on the positive change we can make in the world. Maybe the recipe for happiness simply is just making others happy, giving an offering, volunteering, and being charitable with our energy, time, and the abundance that we have. The happier we make the people around us, the happier we become as a result. In the search for happiness, realize that happiness starts from within, but the evidence of this happiness is in the way we make others feel around us. Invest in the happiness of the people we love, the people we touch, and the strangers we meet. Notice that the more happiness that we inspire in others, the happier we become. One thought word and action at a time, spread a little happiness around the world and create a happy life for ourselves. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 234. Find Our Passion Often, when I first meet someone, my first question is, are you happy? Are you living your passion? Are you doing what feeds your spirit and soul and inspires you to greatness? You would be surprised by the number of people who are not able to answer those questions. When asked what they are passionate about, they often have to take a little time to think, to examine, and to analyze. What makes us happy truly brings us happiness. Living our passion is a good way to access happiness, but if we are not certain of what we are passionate about, how will we know? We become analysts—we examine and observe. Our work in yoga and in life is to become an analyst, an examiner, and observer of our thoughts and our emotional response to those thoughts. In the time we spend on the mat, we are given an opportunity to look within and to be on our own in our own space, our own breath, and with our own thoughts. That is why it is a perfect time to become an analyst. Analyze what makes us happy. Analyze what we are passionate about. Investigate what brings us joy, contentment, and fulfillment. Notice how we feel with different thoughts and words in different circumstances. Become an analyst so that we are critiquing our own response to the thoughts, the circumstances, and the situations in our life, and we can better create those circumstances that serve us. Find what we are passionate about and what makes us happy and allow our role as an analyst to help us pinpoint exactly what we want more of

365 Positive Intentions for us to recreate it. Step into our role as an analyst of our own life in every moment that follows. Make certain that when somebody asks what we are passionate about, we know. If we are not sure now, just take some time to observe and examine because at some point, we will feel that passion, that drive, and that inspiration. Certainly, we will be inspired towards greatness. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 235. To See or to Know Reality In the world of metaphysics and quantum mechanics, there is a lot of discussion about what is real, what we perceive as real, and what is actually real. To really gain an understanding of how complex reality truly is, we have to be aware whether we are seeing the world as someone who knows or as someone who sees. The see-er observes and is aware of everything that is going on, the knower can close their eyes and inherently be in tune with what is real. The question now becomes what truly is reality? Most of the conversation is rooted in the fact that what we see is limited. There are things going on beyond what we see, but because we are only focused on what we see visually, we are restricted in what we can see. On the other hand, someone who knows their truth and the reality can close their eyes and see everything they ever need to know because it is not restricted by what is outside. To break it down in simpler terms, do we know what we look like? Have we ever really seen our face? If we look in the mirror, all we are seeing is an image of our face projected to us, but it is not our actual face. If the mirror has any distortion or a bend in its shape, we will appear distorted and bent out of shape. Our appearance in the mirror is not really us—it reflects our face, but it does not always accurately reflect our facial features. Deciding which reality we stand on is a very complicated conversation in quantum mechanics and metaphysics—of whether

365 Positive Intentions we are basing our reality on what we see in the physical space or on what we know to be true and independent of the physical space. There are a lot of gray areas there, and maybe which reference frame we choose does not mean much to some of us at all, but it is simply comforting to know that there are possibilities and options. We are not just stuck in the physical space but instead, we can choose to see or know things that are far beyond what is presented to us which gives us options. Maybe just enjoy the options today and decide whether we are going to view the world as the seer or the knower. For the person who sees what’s in the physical space, that is all there is. But for the person who knows, there is certainly much more out there and obviously, much more in here. Enjoy the day. Blessings, blessings, blessing, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 236. Trick the Mind Trick our mind to create positive thoughts instead of negative ones. It is too easy for us to fall back into a critical and judgmental way of thinking about things, to be hard on ourselves, or to interpret situations in a negative way as though things out there are working against us even when we have the power to shift our perception of everything to make everything work with us. Trick our mind into developing positive thoughts instead of negative ones. If we start to train the mind and to shift the spin that we put on every circumstance, we can create a positive perception of it. That does take a little work though. It might be easier to fall back into the criticism, the judgment, and the complacency; but if we have known anyone who complains, we know that it does not work for them. Inevitably, the complacency makes us feel worse about whatever is going on. Trick our mind into creating a positive perception of everything so that everything that happens in our life is somehow benefiting us. There is always a lesson to be learned somewhere even in those circumstances that seem catastrophic or confrontational. Even in those moments that are painful and hard to work through, there is always a lesson. The struggle is inevitably giving us strength, so trick our mind and create a positive situation out of everything. That positive perspective will create a more positive perception of our life, of every circumstance, and of every relationship. With every interaction, there is something positive there. Sometimes, it takes a

365 Positive Intentions little work to get to it. If we can train and trick our minds to automatically focus on the positive, then there will be no room for the negative to exist. Play with our mind a little bit today and shift everything into a positive space. The more often we do it, the easier it becomes. Inevitably, it will become effortless. Focus on the positive—it is there. Sometimes, we just have to put a spin on it to create it. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

Day 237. Replace What If With What Is Anytime we create a what if scenario, we allow a possibility of causing ourselves pain and suffering because of fear. What if is a projection of what might happen or of what might be despite knowing it isn’t even that way yet. We are creating an energy and an emotion, and we are assigning it to something that has not even happened yet. Too often this happens when we are pursuing our dreams, especially when we are presented with an opportunity to create something for ourselves. Maybe we are a little nervous about taking the jump or making the leap and fear is holding us back. Instead of wondering what if and instead of being concerned about what might happen, put energy into creating what we want to happen. The what if scenario never works in creating what we want. Instead of what if, create what is because it is powerful enough to lay the foundation for our dreams. Focus on what is and let go of what if. Feel a sense of certainty in the reality we are creating right now. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 238. Our Truth There is always a difference between the truth and how it is presented. The presentation is up for interpretation, so not only is the person presenting the truth offering their personal interpretation of that truth, but the person listening is also interpreting that truth from their own life perspective. When something is presented to us, it’s like the telephone game. It has been passed along and interpreted by each person that has heard it before. The truth might be that one thing that is constant or that exists in the initial state, but the first person seeing that truth will interpret and communicate it in the way that serves them. This means that the truth in the physical can be misinterpreted very easily and that each one of us has our own individual idea of that truth. Fundamentally, however, the truth of the self remains the same. Once we know who we are and we are clear about the energy we want to contribute to the world, we must be consistent in living, in speaking, and in being that truth because that will never be up for interpretation. The stuff out there can be misinterpreted. It can be misread or misunderstood. Language can be modified and altered. The tone of voice might change the way it is presented. On the other hand, the truth can never be changed when it is rooted in our sense of self; it is always the same. The stuff out there changes and can be misrepresented, so our work is to make certain that we are always representing that purity and truth in the most authentic way possible so that it is never misinterpreted.

Be mindful that in this moment, we have the ability to communicate our truth. Make certain that it will never be misinterpreted in the way that we are communicating it. Make certain that everybody will know our authentic self because we are consistently expressing that authenticity in everything we think, speak, and do. Be an example of our truth and make positive change in the world. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio

365 Positive Intentions Day 239. Garbage Disposal I often refer to our yoga and meditation practice as a garbage disposal. We are getting rid of the junk that we have been carrying with us to make room for something brand new. We know the way a garbage disposal works—it’s just grinding up the stuff at the bottom that has been stuck for too long, but if we keep piling on stuff at the top, it never appears to go anywhere. The beauty of yoga and meditation practice is that as we get rid of the junk at the bottom, the clarity we find in our meditation keeps us from piling extra new junk on the top of the pile. It’s funny because when we first begin a yoga or meditation practice, it's challenging. There are all sorts of distractions and obstacles that we need to push past and overcome, but we realize the real obstacles are not out there; they are in here—obstacles that we have created, emotional baggage that we are holding onto, belief systems that do not serve us. If we can get at them—grind them up, spit them out, and get rid of them—we make room for something more positive, more fulfilling, and something that contributes to our sense of self. Use our yoga and meditation practice as our garbage disposal. Get rid of all the junk that has been accumulating and make room for the magic we deserve. Allow ourselves to purge the things that do not serve us because by letting go of that pain, baggage, stress, and tension, we can create something better. Use the meditation practice as a garbage disposal and get rid of the junk to make room for the magic. Blessings, blessings, blessings, Spoken Word Yoga. Namaste! Click to play audio