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You know that moment when out of nowhere, life delivers you a surprise punch in the gut?

A moment where something fundamental changes for the worse, and your whole system goes into shock- trying its hardest to resist acknowledging what has just happened?

And yet it happened, and now you have to deal with it. And HOW you deal with it in those precious first moments makes all the difference of outcome.

I want to share with you a very difficult experience I had in June- my own personally tailored punch in the gut and what I had to do regain control.


So in June I was down in LA training with my Siberian teacher. Every morning we would go to the beach to run, swim and do yoga practices.

On one of these mornings, I took off my engagement ring to go swimming (Zoë gave me a family wedding band when we got engaged), putting it in a pocket that I thought was safe.

It wasn't =(

After my swim and yogas, I realized what had happened.


My friend and I searched the sands back and forth; and even though I was very energized and focused from the practices, each moment of not finding it increased the weight in my heart and stomach, as well as the berating inner voice of failure.

Oh the sickening feeling of something terrible and unavoidable.

No one had died or gotten hurt; I didn't lose my life's savings...I know things could have been worse.


But at the time, I felt like the biggest f-up in the world- losing a family heirloom and my symbol of soul-level commitment with Zoë.

After a time of searching, I was so numbed and in such a state of depressed energy that I simply gave up. We went back to the place we were staying and I just collapsed on the floor.

But, I knew I needed to call Zoë. So I somehow got up the energy to walk outside and make the call.


She was not upset that I lost the ring, she was upset that I gave up so easily.  She knew I was better than that- knew I had persistence and power and was living up to neither. She believed in me and called me forth through her powerful and loving words of encouragement.

Without any doubt, she told me this, and sparked my own inner fire. At first it was just a glimmer of possibility...an opening into a different kind of energy.

After we talked I felt my inner state beginning to change.


Now, one of my focuses and specialties is the 'anti-crisis arts' (how to break 'bottoming-out' depression and anxiety, and shift back into a resourceful state for empowered action), but never had I tried this in such a difficult situation.

Luckily, between Zoë's inspiring words and my embodied past training, I began to return to my resourceful Self.  I did a few quick anti-crisis (empowerment) practices and visualized myself finding the ring.


It was like I was coming awake after being long unconscious. I saw possibilities; I felt inspired; I began to act.

I found a professional ring-finder in the area, went back to the beach, mapped out the area I knew it was in, and found the ring within 20 minutes. I gratefully gave the man $200 (who let's you pay what you feel 
the reuniting is worth).

My two take-home lessons:
  1. Having a partner that believes in your best self is a blessing beyond value.
  2. The anti-crisis arts are also a blessing beyond value.


Though this instance was a unique and personal challenge, the experience of crisis is shared by all of us.

So here's the question:
How quickly can you recover from an unanticipated life twist?  How reliably can you return to a resourceful state and begin meeting your challenge in an empowered way?

The good news is that systems exist that are very skilled at this.

Apply for a free Ignition Session to explore how the anti-crisis arts can empower your career, your relationships and your life.

And head over to Inner Hero Yoga to find classes and events near you to learn these amazing arts in a group practice setting.


Thanks for letting me share my challenging tale of crisis and empowerment.  I hold you in the same place of inner strength and possibility.

Keep on rocking your awesome,
SuperSpark

 
 
Powerless and Alone...
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Have you noticed this voice...

It comes from without, and within.

It strikes in our most exposed moments.

Feeling isolated, resourceless, helpless.

...you aren't enough...
...you will never be enough...
...you can't do this, so why try?...
...what makes you so special to succeed?...
...no one cares anyway...

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As poisonous as they are seductive, these insidious voices are whispered to us from all angles: media, family, parents (bless their hearts), partners, politicians, religious officials, and worst of all, our own minds.

And for those of us that have committed to living at a higher vibration (like you!), these voices tend to become even louder (both from others and ourselves).

At each potential moment of career and financial breakthrough, we must face these poisonous voices, and stand our ground in something other than victimization.

How?  Read on...

Powerlessness: The Catch and Turn-Around
The catch about powerlessness is that YOU are CHOOSING to accept this position of powerlessness.  Your choice is empowered, and if you weren't truly powerful, you wouldn't be able to so fully and convincingly play the hopeless victim.

Quite a twist eh?  See how far the rabbit hole goes Neo...


Alone and Lonely vs. Alone and Free
Have you ever had this experience:

After hours of hiking through forested trails, you at last break the tree line and reach the summit.  The air is fresh and crisp, your body is exhilarated, you feel fully connected to the world around you...and, you are alone.

If you have not had this experience, I am sure you have had one with a similar energy and context of 'alone and not lonely'.


In another instance, I spent 4 consecutive months in silent and isolated retreat.  And, this was one of the most full and sublime times of my life.  Why?  Because I was there...
fully present to the fullness within my aloneness.


Loneliness is a pitied, embittered and self-serving lens that we see ourselves through to deny our own power.

Ever study the lives of geniuses and world-movers?  Hang out in self-pity much?

No ma'am.  They understand and see through this filter of victimization.  Their gifts are too important not to give.

So What to Do?
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  1. Acknowledge Suffering: Give yourself FULL PERMISSION to feel the feelings of powerlessness and loneliness that are present.  Being authentically present with the unpleasant feelings is where this kind of transformation work always starts.
  2. Acknowledge Choice: Acknowledge that powerlessness and loneliness are choices you are making on a moment-to-moment basis.  It is the way you are energetically relating to the present moment.
  3. Shift Your State: These first two steps done skillfully will open up a space of energy and possibility- even if only a little one.  Take advantage of this opening, and shift your state using acceleration practices.
  4. Empower Authentic Action: Once you are conscious and energized, tap your essential or authentic self and source your next actions from this place.  This action will realign and retune the following actions and life path.

Remember fellow Hero,

Powerlessness and Loneliness are stories about what is happening to you, and are just as true or real as any other story you decide to take up.

The big shift begins to occur when you take a stand again the ruthless negative thoughts of your own mind, instead making deliberate contact with that inner voice beneath and beyond the mind.

Acceleration practices and Inner Hero Training are excellent ways for you to make this shift and take the leap into the next amazing phase of your visionary and successful life.


I'll see you there,
SuperSpark