7 Reasons To Get Over Yourself

Since I've been feeling in a bit of a funk the past couple of weeks I decided to write my Top 7 Reasons to Get Over Myself

1) Because nobody likes a victim

Seriously. When was the last time you really enjoyed hanging out with that person who just couldn't enjoy themselves, or your company, because everything was just ... not quite right? Playing the victim, makes you the victim, and it's a drain on those around you. Your best friends will always be there for you when things get tough (if they're not you have to question whether they're truly friends), but if every day is cloudy and grey and you are looking to others to lift your spirits, you're just not being fair.

I notice when I feel that way out, when I'm just grumpy and need some space - that's exactly what I should take. I'm not talking about when I need support and uplift, but when it's just a grey day. It is very tempting to moan and complain, but ultimately I end up feeling worse then when I started. As my mum would say "if you can't find anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". Sound advice!

2) Because laughter is the best medicine...

It's such a well known phrase for a reason

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. 
• http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

Next time you mess up try to find the comedy, it's usually right there if you look, through the weeds of "it's not fair" and "everyone is against me" is the sheer hilarity that is real life, find it and soak it up, I guarantee you'll feel better.

3) ....not to mention the best beauty treatment

Taking yourself too seriously = frowning

Frowning = wrinkles

Chill out and save on the anti-aging!

4) Because when you have no responsibility you have no power

When we behave like the world is against us, we're essentially saying "it's not our fault". Pushing responsibility to external factors. It's a short term fix and I get it. But revoking our responsibility relinquishes our power over our own lives. Importantly, it's a learned behaviour, so start on the small stuff. It's not the fault of the Universe that the train isn't here yet and you're late for work, it's yours for not getting out of bed 5 minutes early. It's not your damn computer's fault for losing all your work, it's yours for not saving it regularly. Start to accept responsibility, put behaviour patterns and actions in place to avoid situations and you will quickly find that the world seems much lighter because much less goes wrong. It also helps you find the humour when stuff does go wrong, it's much easier to laugh when you realize you probably shouldn't have worn your Uggs out in the pouring rain and now you're squelching around like a swamp monster.

5) Because the Universe is on your side

Really it is. Truly it is. It wants you to succeed. But it's not going to give it to you easily, and it doesn't like victims either. Start listening to the lessons and accepting your place. You're here for a reason, start being grateful for that and chill the hell out!

6) Because life's too short

The quicker you can get over the little, mindless rubbish, the quicker you get to the good juicy stuff. Just let it go, flow with it. Have a bad day here and there, everyone does, but try to spend the bulk of your days happy. That way, when the proverbial s*** hits the fan, you have something to look back on; a happiness store if you will (thank you Gretchen Rubin for that idea - btw check out The Happiness Project - pretty great read)

7) Because things just aren't as bad as they seem

Usually. Okay sometimes things really are bad. But I've found, those people who are generally brighter and more optimistic and responsible for their lives, found coping with adversity and tragedy much easier. So be realistic. Is it really the end of the world? Is everyone really against you? Or are you beginning to alienate friends and reject help because you're in the depths of your own despair? Taking a really hard look at the situation often helps gain a lot of perspective. 

Next time things are piling up and you feel yourself slipping into the "woe is me"s, try to be your own best friend. What would you say to someone else in your shoes?

Face your fears, laugh at your mistakes and just get over yourself. Go on...

Credit where credit's due

Ever feel like we're all way too hard on ourselves? I do. I think it's high time we take a little break from trying to live up to impossible expectations and acknowledge just how fabulous we all are.

I know there are some really amazing people out there, those heroes who stand out from the crowd - soldiers, firemen, doctors, policemen to name just a few, and I give them full credit, respect and love for everything they do for us. However, there's a little something amazing in every one of us and it's important from time to time to give credit where credit's due and it's okay to feel good about the love you bring into the world.

Take some time today to sit back and recognize all the great things you've done, all the times you've made someone else smile.

Struggling for ideas? Well, firstly, stop being that person - there are enough people in the world who are going to put you down or hold you back, you need to be your own biggest fan, start right now! Take a breath and look around you. Is there a little puppy or kitten looking up at you with big thankful eyes because you saved their life when you adopted them and gave them a loving home? Did you take an extra minute on your last shopping trip to offer a smile, a kind word or some food for the homeless guy that so many people just blanked and walked straight past? Perhaps you donated some money or time to your favourite charity, that is right now working miracles for those in need. Maybe you took an extra minute, even though you were exhausted, to read that extra bedtime story to your little one.

Are you starting to see my point?

There are so many ways in which your love and light change the world, be thankful that you have the opportunity to spread happiness, and recognize how much you do to make others happy. You're amazing! Now go celebrate and treat yourself big today.

Testy test-outs

What a weekend!!
Friday started with our CPR Heartsaver class (that brought back some memories after 18months with the AHA!), and a panic over the upcoming written test. Then Saturday was such a high: really amazing "Friends and Family" class where we all taught a couple of postures, followed by the written which was way easier than expected. Then today our final test out. The sheer highs of the weekend, along with the nerves and excitement was overwhelming. It's a crazy feeling to know I've completed something I've poured my heart and soul into for the last 8 weeks.

So what have I learnt?
Firstly - I feel more at home teaching a class and working with people's energy than I have been doing anything else before :) Most importantly, I learnt that my own self-judgments often hold me back. At the start of the course I was worried that people were laughing or gossiping about me. In the past that would have lead to me backing off and not performing to my best, for the first time it actually spurred me to work harder. I needed to prove to myself that I had tried my absolute best whatever the outcome, and I needed to step out of my own judgments. Its true that more often than not the judgements we feel others are passing are our own insecurities and ego screaming at us.
And, although there have been so many lessons over the last 8 weeks, with all the emotions this weekend it seems pertinent to note that I learnt it's okay to be emotional and it's okay to ask for help. I have often tried to hide my true feelings, I suppose I've worried that I'll be seen as weak or that I'll be adding to someone else's troubles. This weekend, particularly tonight, I realised that sometimes you need to be completely honest about what you are feeling and why. Only by doing that was I able to get over it and move on. It's perfectly okay to cry and let everything out, it helps us clear our hearts for the positive emotions we aim to embrace.

Yoga encourages us to do this by physically opening our hips and hearts and preparing us for the mental and emotional release (I bet I'm not the only one to have cried in half pigeon or wanted to scream in camel), but we need to be ready for that next layer. It you feel overwhelmed remember that emotions don't last forever. If you're feeling hurt then cry, scream, shout, then let it go. Don't carry it around with you allowing it to cloud your every decision and action. If it's an option, talk to the people who have hurt you - but be honest, with them and with yourselves (this is how I feel... But I realise I am over stressed / anxious etc). Remember that those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind (thanks Dr Suess for that one!). If that's not an option just let it go, what's the point of holding on to events you can't change, let it go and do what makes you happy, whether that's following your dream to become a yoga teacher or snuggling with you pup on a Sunday night watching Mannequin .... Which is exactly what I'm gonna do right now!

Namaste b*****s ;)

Wasted Energy

You've heard that phrase "well that was complete waste of energy" right?

I used it today and I realized just how negative that is. It's so indicative of how we view the world around us. We're always expecting a certain result from our actions and if we don't realize these goals we feel that we've wasted our time and energy.

A few weeks ago I was working on a little project with my friends. We were going to get together and film and post some sketches. A few of us had really invested a lot of time and energy and things just sort of fell flat. Every time I would try to get people rallied to work together it was met with clashes of schedules, lack of interest and a general lethargy around the project. I let it drop too and quickly filled up my time with other things (teacher training for the most part) and hadn't really thought about it much until earlier today when I was walking my puppy and a song came on Pandora that sparked the memory.

My immediate reaction was to become irritated. Why did I waste so much of my time if no one else cared? I could have been doing lots of other things. Why am I the only person who can keep a commitment? It really pissed me off and I was feeling completely hard done by. But then I got to thinking... I had fun working on the project with my friends, I enjoyed being creative, we hung out, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company. Can I really call that a waste?

I get so attached to the end result that I forgot sometimes how much fun the journey is. Would it have been great to see things through to fruition? Absolutely! But does that mean I completely wasted my energy? I don't think so. I guess it showed me, if you're doing things for the right reason, whether that's to develop your own skills, to have fun, to benefit others or something else entirely, then you're using your time and energy in a positive way and that's all you should hope for. It reminded me to enjoy the process and action above and beyond the goal.

I'm not suggesting we all stop trying to reach our goals deliberately - that would just make us stagnant and depressed. But enjoy the present, enjoy the time you spend doing things, the time you spend with your friends and family along the way, or the things you learn individually. And remember, as soon as you've achieved that goal, it's not the end, it's just a step further in life and it's time to start something new. This weekend I complete my 200hr training and I'm both excited and terrified. The last 8 weeks have been really life changing and I've enjoyed the growth, the friendships I've formed and the deepening of my yoga practice. The idea that next weekend I won't be meeting up on Fri, Sat and Sun with my classmates is really quite unnerving. Achieving a goal can be unsettling at times. Luckily for me this is just the start to a much longer journey and I'm already planning next steps...

Remember to love every minute of life. Realization of your dreams is wonderful but it's a very short lived high, like massacring that bar of chocolate you've been thinking about all week, and it can feel like a big crash after it. Don't spend your life rushing from one goal to another without enjoying the path on the way there. And don't freak out when you achieve your goals, enjoy the celebration and then get right on into your next journey. Keep growing, keep learning and keep laughing.