What are you longing for?

Come home to yourself.

Come home to yourself.

Come home to yourself.

Come home to your Self.

Lately I hear myself saying this repeatedly while I teach yoga.

It seems to me that many people today are searching for something, existing in a constant state of striving toward some goal. Many times we can’t even put our finger on exactly what it is that we feel is missing. Heck, many times we don’t even slow down enough to notice how we are feeling!

What is it we are longing for? Eight consecutive hours of sleep? A fabulous international vacation? The perfect vegan dark truffle? We might look toward a new job, a robust savings account, the perfect partner, or a beautiful home to bring us contentment. How many of us have ever uttered the words, “I’ll be happy when…”

All of these things are wonderful goals to work toward in life. (Especially the 8 hours of sleep. Believe me I will be shouting it from the rooftops when Lainey sleeps through the night.) And I am all about going after your dreams! But hear me when I say this: achievements, be they personal or professional, aren’t going to bring you what you’re looking for. No shiny object can bring you true inner peace. 

Because all of our hankering for stuff and titles and money is really a yearning for something more – a certain feeling we are after. And the truth is this: whatever you are seeking is already within you. Now if we could just get quiet enough to connect with it…

I truly believe that there are countless ways to tap into this fount of pure, blissful peace within you. Please do whatever works for you. You’ll know it when you’ve got it. If you’ve never felt connected with this part of yourself before here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Meditation (actually everything on the rest of the list is just another form of meditation)
• Yoga
• Folding laundry
• Painting
• Sewing
• Washing dishes
• Drawing
• Writing
• Laying on the beach
• Walking
• Watching wild animals
• Hiking a mountain
• Staring at a river
• Knitting
• Holding a baby
• Gazing at a fire
• Running
• Petting a dog or cat

What would you add? I'd love to read about it in the comments or on my Facebook page! 

    

Permission Granted

Recently, I was watching a video by the lovely Liz Lamoreux and she happened to mention her daughter's babysitter was arriving soon. As I heard her speak those words a light bulb went off for me. I could have my very own babysitter for Lainy. Truly this thought had never occurred to me (it's funny how our minds shut out possibility).

Lainy's babysitter starts next week. I feel nervous and excited, guilty and relieved all at the same time.

That one sentence in the video was the permission slip I needed to ask for the help I had been craving. She does it, so I can too. Too often we are sitting around waiting for permission.

Today I'd like to give you your very own permission slip. Permission to ask for whatever you need.

Permission to rest.

Permission to go for it.

Permission to call in sick.

Permission to ask for help.

Permission to make the call.

Permission to say no.

Permission to say yes.

Permission to quit.

Permission to start.

Permission to love yourself exactly as you are today.

Permission to stop trying so hard.

Permission to create.

Permission to tell your story.

Permission to let go.

Tell me what you're needing and I will send you a permission slip via email or snail mail. Your choice. Leave a comment with your address or send me an email at mscime710@roadrunner.com and I'll send you your permission slip. Not because you need my permission (or anyone else's) but because I want to support you in whatever you are needing right now.

What exactly is it that I DO?

For over a year now I have been struggling with describing what it is that I "do."

I've been taking online classes and buying up every product that promises to help me gain clarity on the subject. It's pretty straightforward to say that I am a psychologist or I am a yoga teacher or I own a wellness center but those titles don't truly convey what my life's work is all about. I had settled on the following description, "I inspire women to create more wellness in their lives." But every time I tried to spit it out it felt awkward. When I really examined this phrase, it came up feeling very safe. And playing safe is just not for me anymore.

Then yesterday in what felt like a very sudden revelation (but I'm sure has actually been brewing beneath the surface for quite some time) the answer came to me.

All of the work I do and every program that I create shares one goal: to help you magically transform your life from good enough to GREAT! My inspiration comes from my own life experiences, particularly my relationship with my inner self and my life's work.

In what feels like a lifetime ago but in reality was only 2008, I attended a yoga retreat that transformed me. At the time I had what I describe now as a good enough life. I had a good job, a beautiful home, a loving partner, and I was surrounded by wonderful family and friends. But I wasn't fully, authentically showing up in my life as ME. This retreat was the first time that I asked myself, "What do I really want?" Like so many of us, I had been caught up in doing what I thought I should do and spending too much energy worrying about what other people might think. There was no room left for honoring my true self. Nothing was really wrong but nothing was REALLY right either.

Since that retreat in 2008 I have completely transformed my life on the inside by nurturing my relationship with myself and on the outside by pursuing my dreams. My own journey parallels what I see as my life's work: helping women to reconnect with their true self and honor her by authentically showing up in their lives.

This is the thread that connects all of my work. Whether I'm teaching a yoga class or working with a therapy client or writing a blog post or creating workshops, my goal is always to inspire an authentic awakening so that you too can magically transform your life!

Last January I was interviewed by the local paper about my Dare to Live Your Dreams Online Circle. The last line from the interview was, "I just want everyone I see around me to be loving their life as much as I love mine.
" This might sound super cheesy but it is absolutely true. That's why I do what I do.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me,

Mindy

The Power of Permission

No matter how qualified or deserving we are, we will never reach a better life until we can imagine it for ourselves and allow ourselves to have it. ~ Richard Bach

I was doing some cleaning today and found my 2009 planner. I looked through it to see if there was anything I wanted/needed to keep before tossing it and I found this quote jotted down on one of the notes pages. I have no idea where I first came across it, but it resonates with me today as I'm sure it did then back in 2009.

Visualizing what we want is a key factor in moving forward, as is giving ourselves permission to have everything we have ever wanted. Sometimes we are held back by fear or guilt or old beliefs about whether or not we deserve to live our best life, but we must move beyond this in order to fully express our potential. We all deserve to be happy and live fulfilled lives!

What limiting beliefs are you holding on to? Can you let them go and give yourself permission to live the life you've always dreamed of?

It is never too late to move in the direction of our dreams! Visualize what you want in your life (maybe even put together a vision board - see pic above for my 2010 vision) and plan a small step in that direction. You will be surprised how powerful small steps in the direction of big dreams can be!

What makes you come alive?

One of my favorite quotes is by Howard Thurman, "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

I am so grateful to have spent the week doing many things that make me come alive! I held the first Women's Wellness Circle! I taught yoga to both adults and children. I played legos with my niece. I attended my first meeting of the Main Street Business Association as a soon-to-be business owner. I watched Gilmore Girls with my daughter. I gave a yoga talk and demonstration in the beautiful Main Gallery at the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center. I savored a glass of wine from this amazing winery while watching Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice with my hubby. I enjoyed ice cream with my family on a beautiful afternoon. I got a pedicure. I took in a play put on by a local theater group (Steel Magnolias).

Ahh...so much deliciousness!!! For me, just last year I spent most of my time doing things that did not make me come alive, to say the least. It is amazing how quickly life changes when you ask yourself, "What do I want?" Not what should you do. Not what other people would like you to do. Not what you have to do. Simply what you want to do. What makes you come alive.

Believe that your dreams are possible and head toward them. I promise you won't be disappointed!!!

Picture above is of my yoga studio (gorgeous chalk murals courtesy of my sister)