This last week and a half has been intense.
I shot a brand new video training series, I went to a wild party here in San Diego with people in costumes that was totally outside my comfort zone and then I went to a dirty dancing workshop full of attractive men.
Bottom line: the last week I have felt more stretched than the past year combined.
Last Friday when I shot my new 3 part video training series (very juicy and stay tuned for details in the coming couple of weeks) I was called to step into my power in a much bigger way than ever before. It felt incredibly, painfully uncomfortable. I would slouch on the chair, stumble my words, engage in fleeting moments of negative self-talk.
I realized how uncomfortable I felt being in my own power.
I also realized how much of life I was missing by holding myself back from claiming it.
I was painfully aware of how much my fear of what others think of me stops me cold in my tracks.
It was scary. I was being a stand for my message and every part of my brain was telling me all the reasons that people would hate, judge and criticize me for making a stand for something that I believe in deeply.
But then I was reminded of WHY I was shooting that series.
It had nothing to do with me.
It had everything to do with being a contribution to the thousands of women who are suffering, living lives and creating businesses that don’t feel true to who they really are.
For the women who are stuck, unclear and lost. For women who are ready to find their personal clarity to living their dreams instead of following anyone else’s version of their truth.
Then in the span of 2 days, I attended two social events that were totally out of my comfort zone. A costume party where I knew practically no one and where I didn’t feel very connected to most.
Every cell in my body wanted me to bolt and hide. I felt awkward, out of place and like I was having a rather overly hippie and surreal experience.
Then, thanks to a last minute cancellation, I decided to join a dirty dancing workshop because who doesn’t love the movie Dirty Dancing and the songs right?
During the first part of the event, we sat around in a circle: 18 men and 18 women, some couples and some single, and did some authentic relating exercises where we got to share our fears and what we wanted people to know about us.
The shares were beautiful and profound. Everything from a man’s new exploration of God and Jesus and how he was changing his relationship to religion given his upbringing to my highly memorable share (from people’s feedback) of my terror of being seen by men (gulp!).
My lessons included realizing that just saying what I was really afraid of and acknowledging it freed up and ENORMOUS amount of nervous energy. Then I was able to relate to my why, to my truth and to my heart in an easy and authentic way.
By staying open to the possibilities at the social events without expectations, by simply showing up and breathing through my discomfort I have experienced an incredibly open heart.
I feel more solid in my power.
I feel incredibly good about facing fears that felt pretty paralyzing before and during these events.
Perhaps not coincidentally, this was almost my highest ever grossing month in my business.
The reminder here is to face your fears head on so that you can shine your light.
Face your fears so that you can live your dreams without waiting any longer for another day, another party, another missed opportunity.
Life is meant to be lived in the here and now.
From this past week, a few lessons and insights were born that I want to share with you.
- Get support: I owe so much of my courage to my support system. Pushing my own edge and my own boundaries came from having incredible support from my friends who opened their hearts and even their homes to help me live MY dreams and expand what’s possible for my life today. Everything from dating advice (yes, I got a cool date from the Dirty Dancing workshop) to helping me own my power during my video shoot were invaluable to keeping me grounded and in action.
- LEAN INTO the discomfort and face the fear: A big reason why we don’t expand and grow is because we are so uncomfortable being uncomfortable. We are so willing to grow as long as it doesn’t stretch us beyond that line of “I’m freaking out.” But you KNOW that it’s in the stretch that you regain your power and show up more fully in the world. So when you are uncomfortable: on stage, in front of the camera, in a conversation with someone you care about, LEAN IN. Allow yourself to feel the discomfort and the incredible insights that it has to share with you.From my photo shoot I was able to see how much I care about what others think of me and how it’s been holding me back. From the parties, I was willing to be seen and to look at several men in the eyes and allow them to see through my fears which absolutely terrified me. I allowed myself to feel, to be touched and to stay in the possibility…and the results WERE MAGICAL.
- Connect to your WHY: I know people say this so often but in life, love and in business, when you have a dream, the courage to pursue it comes from remembering WHY it’s so darn important to you. Your dreams create a deep stirring in your soul to expand you into the next version of yourself. The key is to be willing to answer the call and trust in yourself that you will come out stronger, more powerful and more confident in the face of the fear.
- Get clear on YOUR dreams: A big part of the success and joy I am experiencing in my life today came from being incredibly honest with myself about what MY dreams are and what my ideal lifestyle really looks like. This isn’t about following anyone else’s templates or formulas but rather about getting clarity on what I want and then creating a soul-aligned custom plan that works for ME – not any one else.
So, are you ready to expand your edge and to boldly be “all in” in your life and in creating your dreams your way this year?
If so, I’d like to invite you to apply for my 6 month Living the Dream Mastery Program that starts at the end of July.
The Living the Dream Mastery is all about getting YOU clear on YOUR DREAMS and building a soul-aligned and customized plan that supports you in living them out on your terms and in your way.
It’s about being a part of a solid, intimate and powerful group of like-minded women who are also pushing their edge and being witness to you living out your dreams in a bigger way.
No templates, formulas, blueprints or mimicking society or some guru’s ideal of what your dreams should look like. That’s just not sustainable or fulfilling.
Mastery is about mastering the art of living your dream life in a soulful, bold and powerful way.
So I ask you, where can you expand your edge so you can live more boldly and fully?
