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Are we there yet?
Journey-minded as we are, eagerness to arrive often
keeps us from enjoying the NOW. Whether on a literal
road trip to a desired location or viewing a current
situation as a precursor to a longed-for outcome, our
preoccupation with goals, triumps and having things
unfold to our liking just isn't the key to an enjoyable
life. In fact, emotional intransigence with respect to
our preferences often keeps us from enjoying
anything at all. Can you dedicate your awareness to
enjoying right now?
This issue of balancebreak debunks the often
referenced notion of acceptance in favor of
cultivating
a sense of welcome. With the many
wisdom teachings that emphasize cultivating
acceptance of what is, despite our intentions
we often
confuse acceptance with resignation or settling.
You know - a certain arms crossed, whatevs attitude,
as in, "I'll be here
and sit through this and deal, but...". Welcome offers
a graceful alternative, as you'll see below, and allows
us to move masterfully and powerfully through any
traffic jam, literal or figurative.
We're welcoming your OM.
Earlier this summer, we experimented with linking
short versions the articles in this newsletter to a full
length blog-versions of the
same. We saw and heard that you LIKE having the
entire article on your desktop. In fact, when the
articles are included in desktop version, you go
back again and again for months to re-read and
consider the ideas offered. In honor of you, moving
forward we'll do the following: each article will
be offered in it's entirety here, with end of article links
to the balance
break blog for anytime you feel inspired
to comment, argue, contradict or offer other ideas.
What's more, we're thrilled to welcome your insights
on getting through the world masterfully in our new
blog called Corporate Yogis. This is a real-
time blog
where you'll find little comments from the balance
team ongoing throughout the month. The theme is
Welcome OM - a suggestion that everyone's ideas are
welcome fodder for moving along the path of the
worklife journey.
On another road trip in search of corporate yoga
insights, CNBC recently made a pit-
stop with us - that's a live link to
the segment. Also tonight we'll be on
segments
in Squawk on the Street and potentially on
High Net
Worth so
tune in from 9-11am ET or set the DVR and don't miss
it!
Be well(come),
Tevis Gale
Trower
Founder
Balance Integration
| « Lead Better - Bring It OM! » |
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Bring It On! Bring It! or Bring It OM!
You get the drift. Slang debates aside, consider this
expression of
welcome a leadership skill. Let's face it - life is
full of surprises and nowhere do we observe
surprises more than in pursuit of our objectives at
work. Unlike the resignation, hidden resistance or
powerlessness that can be imbued in acceptance, the
ability to open the figurative door to whatever is arriving
Try the following steps:
- As you finish reading this article, allow a deep
breath and feel a welcome or well-come
sense in your heart. An audible sigh as you
exhale can enhance your sense of well-being and
well-come. This is different from the hard
lines of acceptance, it has a softness and receptivity,
- As you finish reading this article, allow yourself to
take a breath and feel a welcome or well-come sense
in your heart. This is different from the hard lines of
acceptance, it has a softness and receptivity, as if you
are allowing a guest into your home to delight and
play with them.
- Whatever does arrive or happen, stay with the
sense of well-come. Especially if you find the event or
person not to your liking, or the news disappointing,
see if you can stop yourself from hardening to it by
breathing well-come into wherever you feel the
clenching start.
- As the event or news unfolds, observe how you
stay receptive and open. Observe what the reaction is
of those around you.
- After the situation, meeting or interaction
concludes, take a look at your own energy and ability
to transition to whatever is next.
- Rinse and repeat.
In general what you'll find is that welcome breeds
welcome. Receptivity breeds creativity and
participation. By allowing yourself to bring whatever
happens into your reality, others around you will be
less likely to manipulate or conceal reality in hopes of
winning your approval. Responses will be based on
actuality, and it will become possible to innovate in
situations that might otherwise be staid or
Even better, that old clenched jaw, lower back, or
stomach? You wont have it. Period. And that's
definitely a welcomed change.
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| « Think Better - Like a Pearl » |
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The flip-side of summoning the bigness to welcome
what comes our way, another powerful tool is wielding
the ability to feel welcomed no matter where you go.
You've probably observed it from time to time in
others: that ability to feel graceful and at ease no
matter where or what is happening.
The secret is that this is not a genetically coded
ability only some of us are given. In general, this state
of being is a disposition
to cultivate actively. Sure there are moments that
we all lose ourselves to fears or anxieties about
judgements of others, feeling out of control, or
worrying about being truly wanted along for the ride,
but with practice it's possible to minimize those
moments and tip your own inflow/outofflow ratio.
By cultivating an ease within ourselves, we actually
become more welcomed by others. Think about it:
that anxious mess of a person you know - how often
do you wish you did not have to be with them or that
they would just CHILL? Reinforcing our essential
connection to our OKAY-ness is KEY and these below
steps are a great way to practice.
- Always Begin NOW - Imagine the chair
you are sitting on welcoming your weight. The
computer screen welcoming your gaze. These pixels
celebrating your attention.
- Make It Personal - Feel your clothing
caressing your skin, the light in the room delighting in
your form and shape, the air smoothing your face and
hands.
- Be a Moveable Feast - When you do get
up to move through your day, feel the floor beneath you
like an unfolding welcome mat, the walls around you
like a picture frame around you as work of art, and
every conversation as welcoming and responsive.
- Wear Your Welcome - Watch how you
cultivate welcoming in interactions with both
inanimate and animate objects (ie. people). Watch
the lost energy of unwelcoming people and let them
be your teacher.
This simple Jedi mind trick puts you in the frame of
mind of FLOW - being absolutely more than at ease
with what is. In this frame of mind you are the
compliment to every situation, every element. And in
being that, you become a contributing instrument to
the symphony of your own life.
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| « Feel Better - Becoming Well » |
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Heading to the Berkshires to assist renowned
meditation teacher and YogaJournal Wisdom
columnist Sally Kempton
at Kripalu this weekend, among the multiple
causes for excitement, not the least of which were
fresh air, early to bed, healthy eating and heartfelt
conversations.
Given that going on retreat for most of us is at best a
yearly activity, everyone there expressed a sense of
excitement and anticipation for relief.
But wait - is it impossible to achieve at home? Every
desired element listed above is FREE and is a matter
of active choice making. As sentient beings and
responsible adults, it's ridiculous that we wait for the
environment of retreat to act on our highest good!
Look at the choices you can make differently and
choose at least one to act on each day. Is it eating on
time or with more life-supporting food? Is it going to
bed a little earlier? Is it taking a moment to breathe
deeply - no matter where? Is it making sure to
engage in at least one positive, meaningful
conversation a day - no matter how short?
Feeling better means welcoming your essential
needs, physical, mental, emotional, and making
empowered choices in response to them. From that
three minutes you allocate to breathing deeply and
gazing softly out the window to actually cooking a
healthy meal you make for yourself with love, the
actions we take in support of our own lives can be as
time-conserving or time intensive as our creativity
allows. Make your own list, then do
something/anything to support the life within you.
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| Save The Date - Fall Corporate Yoga Training at Omega! |
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What started out as a simple dream to take yoga's
tools into corporations is now a 6 year old
company with global presence and over over 360
trained teachers serving clients ranging from
American Express to Yahoo.
Whether you'd
like to be a part of the corporate yoga
adventure or just want to learn how you can bring yoga
into your organization, come join us at Omega for a 5
day immersion in Corporate Yoga.
From September 14-19 we'll explore the following:
- The yoga/work connection
- Legalities and liabilities
- Communicating and applying yoga philosophy
and tools on and off the mat
- How the workplace necessitates an adaptive
process to WORK where people WORK
The September dates mean Fall will JUST be getting
under way - a fantastic time to build new skills as a
professional and renew your own sense of connection
between work and life.
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Soul Tripping
Aside from being a powerhouse of "YES!", NYC-based
yogini extraordinaire Sadie
Nardini has done enough action-oriented navel-
gazing to share an insight or two we all can take heed
from.
Her new book Road Trip Guide to the Soul: A 9-
Step Guide to Reaching Your Inner Self and
Revolutionizing Your Life spares no chance to
remind you to take the trip with purpose and know that
if you're really travelling, you're bound to get lost. In
fact, it's a great reminder that you gotta get lost to find
anything really worth having.
Take the trip...
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