To ignite your passion! Spark your ardor! To set your feelings alight! Fan the flames of your desire! ...
There are so many ways to say it... however the key to your passion is to not just talk about it. You have to really mean it, and then ACT!
In step #5, we talked about how to discover what you really (Really) want- and good thing we did- because today we're going to use those results to really drive home today's post!
Ok, so here's the quick and gritty:
If you are crystal clear on what you want, but are lacking passion, motivation, drive, etc... or your intentions are muddled- then it doesn't matter one iota how badly you want something, because you will not get it.
Here's an example: More than anything else in the world, you want Chicken Ala King for dinner. Even thinking about it get's your mouth watering. You've never been so certain of anything before... dinner must be Chicken Ala King. However, there are a few obstacles to overcome on the road to this goal. First of all, you need to to have a general understanding and talent for cooking. You will also need a recipe, and a trip to the grocery store. Lastly, you must actually cook the meal. What if you lacked the passion or motivation to complete just one of the steps? There would be a kink in the Ala King chain... and you would not accomplish your goal. Perhaps you would abandon your dinner vision and just order pizza instead. You would have failed.
I know it may sound harsh, but without guidance or a well-lit fire under your butt- you are essentially setting yourself up for failure.
...And I want you to succeed. BIG TIME! :)
So, if you know what you want, but you're lacking the motivation and drive to see those visions become reality- here's the first step of what I recommend my clients do!
First of all, I highly suggest bringing something to mind that is an easy passion-connection for you. For instance, not everyone knows what it feels like to get passionate over accomplishing a goal, or writing a book... but almost everyone can relate to a memory of a passionate, steamy experience!
So let's use that!
On a sheet of paper, write out 5 fantasies that make you feel sensual and passionate!(Don't worry... they don't have to be sexual fantasies, although it's best if they are sensual).
There are no limits on this exercise. The only rule is: if you start to feel silly... don't back off- use it! :)
Just as an example, I will share one of my own.
I would LOVE to fill a swimming pool with warm melted chocolate, and swim naked in it.
That would be absolutely DeLightful!
What is it for you? Whether it's taking a luxurious bubble bath, or laying on the beach, soaking in sun and feeling fantastic- I want to know about it!
Just keep your imagination open, and give this a try! Go ahead and try this out soon and stay tuned in, because in a day or two I'll be posting the the next step to furthering the process of reawakening your passion.
I'm sending you all love, and
until next time...
Cindy Neder Highfield
Life Coach, Tantra Counselor
Majestic Living, LLC.
www.majesticlivingnow.com
cindy@majesticlivingnow.com
(646) 202-1782
Let the journey begin...
I'd like to take a moment and share a personal story with you.
The other day I was riding riding the Subway home. I was on the 6 train, and coming from quite a long morning of work. And even though I was tired and hungry, I noticed that my body felt relaxed.
Really relaxed.
My body felt the maple-syrupy warm and mushy type of relaxed. Which took me by surprise because, to be entirely honest, the subway was loud, crowded, and the man next to me smelled distinctly of Jerk chicken... and yet my body felt like I'd just had a full body massage.
When the subway stopped at 28th St., the doors opened, and I felt a rush of fresh cool air. Suddenly, I had shivers and chills all up and down my spine-- my body just felt so good!
And that's when I noticed... That's right. Right there in the underground of New York, on a crowded, loud, dirty subway car next to the man that smelled of Jerk chicken-- I was incredibly, undeniably, hot-and-bothered-ly Turned On. And I'm vegetarian!
While riding that (and I apologize in advance for this one) pleasure wave, I just had to give a hardy laugh.
This experience is a part of what I've been teaching people about. What all the books and teachings talk about, but can seem so inaccessible to put into practice. How walking the dog, doing the dishes, and even riding the subway home(!) can become an "orgasmic experience". This is a part of what I believe is meant by the phrase, "living an Orgasmic Life".
It's not that suddenly you're different, or that you're daily activities change to become more erotic... but it's how you're availability to open up and experience them shifts! When you give yourself the permission to become turned on at any moment, not only will you feel like you've got a secret super power in your back pocket, but you may also notice that the most insignificant parts of your day are actually a huge turn on!
This whole week, for me, has been dedicated to working through some very old thought patterns. Big, bad, nasty ones that involve a little something called Body Image.... and my issues with it.
Quick Side Note:
[Old and deep-rooted thought patterns always take me by surprise when they come up, because I think I did such a good job uprooting them last time... that they must surely be gone this time. I am always reminding students of this- when it comes to restructuring habit patterns it takes awareness and persistence. But when it comes to me and my patterns....I have no patience whatsoever. I want it all right now. And, yes, even as a teacher and coach-- let me rephrase that.... especially as a teacher and coach, I am on a constant journey of learning new things all the time! ]
Negative body image is not just something that affects a certain type of person. There's no magic number on the scale, or certain features that determines whether or not your body image is one that honors you or doesn't. And, to tell the truth, while it can feel like a very lonely path to be on... you are not alone. I have yet to meet a person that has not, at some point or another, felt ashamed of, or wanted to change something about their body.
Unfortunately, most of the time instead of just loving up our bodies, and then making choices that support them in healthy change- we punish ourselves with our thoughts, words and actions. This abusive treatment can include: over or under eating, harsh thoughts, intolerance, etc... and does NOT, actually, assist the body in releasing the trauma that caused the negative image in the first place. In fact, it feeds it!
If we listen to what Tantra (as a philosophy) has to say about this... it says that there is nothing bad or wrong about having a negative body image, just as there is nothing right or good about having a positive one! What Tantra does say is, "Why not pick the one that feels delectable? Why not choose the option where you feel like a magnificent, ravishing angelic creature that smolders with passion and delights in life's every nanosecond?"
This magical world is one where wrinkles are the story of your life, told through your laughter and emotion. Sagging breasts weave an individual remarkable tale of nurturing and femininity... and in some cases, the story of a woman who allowed another human being to suckle life from her breasts. Our bodies are beautiful, and they deserve to be treated that way.
In a Survey done by the US a few years ago, it turned out that more than 50% of women were more afraid of becoming fat than they were of dying. Another survey revealed that individuals who used to be obese would prefer going blind or losing a limb rather than gaining that weight again. WOW. Do you see how comparison can become a dangerous opponent? There's no way to win against it. There will always be someone taller, poorer, thinner, blonder, fatter, younger, shorter, smarter, richer, etc... than you are. Always.
However...
there is no one else like you in the entire world. You are your own brand, and no one will ever be better, or less, than you.
Imagine you are in an immense forest with a thousand different types of trees. Each one making the forest even more diverse and beautiful than the last. Do you think the Aspen is ever jealous of Pine's dark bark? Or the Redwood feels superior to the Maple because her trunk is bigger? Of course not! And, our bodies are no different. Our bodies are a roadmap of each moment in our lives and choices we've made. They are individual to us, and Magnificent!
With the intention of supporting women everywhere in claiming a healthier body image, I propose this challenge to you, the reader (and, subsequently, myself):
Undress completely, and stand naked in front of a mirror. Take 5 minutes (or as long as it takes) to observe your body entirely: head to food. Get to know the "map" of your body. Now go along, one by one, and notice every freckle, mole, wrinkle, stretch mark, hair, vein, scar, etc... and pause for a moment at each mark to feel grateful and honor it as a part of your awesome body.
You might not be in your "ideal" body right now... and that's OK, because one of the points of this exercise is to begin accepting your body here and now... and not as it will be in the future. And, whenever you feel a harsh thought coming to mind about yourself or someone else....just counteract it with one positive thought, instead! Begin "re-writing" that need to punish yourself for being your Awesome self!
To move forward with positive change, and to experience different results, we must first accept where we are in this present moment.
May you celebrate your Sumptuous Body!
Until next time,
Cindy
Majestic Living