The Great Persuades

Good morning!

I've come to realize that we are a nation seeped in persuasion. Let's start with the obvious -- advertising. It is an advertisers job to persuade you that their product offers the best solution to your problem, right? This means they have to convince you that you have a problem in the first place. If the "problem" is that you're thirsty, the answer is to have this particular soft drink. If the "problem" is you're single then then the answer is to join this online dating site and find your soul mate. Never mind if no matter how you alter your profile, the only results you achieve are winks and flirts from unphotogenic men who live well out of your weekend travel zone and don't want kids. Somehow, you might be persuaded that said product can still offer you the solution you want and you know what, maybe it can! It just hasn't happened yet.

Images offer subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle messages of persuasion. The obvious one is the consistent retouching of women's facial features in photographs which erase evidence and signs of aging. By digitally covering up spots, removing lines, plumping lips, adding hair and shrinking waistlines, for starters, publishers and advertisers are persuading women and men into believing something's inherently wrong with the natural aging process.

So those are some examples that are on the societal level. Let's think about what happens on a smaller scale. In relationships of any variety, from business colleagues to friends, spouses to strangers in a customer/customer service representative situation, there is usually a whole lot of persuading going on and it's up to you to be aware it's happening.

We see each other through our own eyes and through our own experiences from the past that color the perceptions we form and conclusions we draw about another. Don Miguel Ruiz talks about this in The Four Agreements, how we all essentially are living our own dream and when it comes to relationships, nothing a person thinks, feels or does is personal because we are really just like characters entering into scenes written by other people. In some ways that is comforting but it can also be stressful, since it means we are really completely powerless over other human beings and their choices or outlooks.

Your job as a free thinking soul is to choose whether to accept or reject people's persuasions. It can be so difficult sometimes, right? Someone says something about you that's negative or projects a result onto you that is damaging and you have the power to take it or reject it, to agree or disagree. A lot of attempts to persuade another person of something is harmless, people just going about their business wanting to be liked, wanting to be appreciated, to be right, and wanting to win your favor. If it's more than that, you really have to be on guard and be ready to reject what someone throws at you if it isn't true.

Think of yourself as a blank screen onto which someone is showing a film from a projector in the distance and you realize you have nothing to do with the story being shown.

Be grateful for the people with whom you don't have to do any persuading and from whom you're not the subject of a convincing crusade. Love is special and sweet like that when you don't have to prove it and it's just there for the sharing and experiencing. I became freer as a writer when I stopped trying to feel like I have to persuade you to like my writing. Same goes for my teaching intenSati and acting or singing -- basically I am doing it with three clear intentions, which are, to be my best in the absence of comparing to others, to ENJOY the experience and to help someone else. Done. No campaigns necessary, although it would probably help me to think about my messaging if I want to increase my reach eventually!

I will be focused today on my own internal messaging and let the great persuades being generated all around me to fall to the pavement like the rain drops outside my window on this particularly stormy NYC morning (Good thing I'll be toting my exceptionally large umbrella and am allowed to wear jeans and sneakers to the office!) that makes most of us want to remain curled on the couch. I encourage and support living free of trying to persuade anybody else to like you and maybe even just relaxing into a mindset of usefulness and a heart-set of gratitude.

To close:

"We must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John F. Kennedy

Best,

Lindsay

Stepping Up

Good morning!

I used to teach intenSati at 6:30am and a little later, at 7am, for Equinox Fitness. I tried hard and showed up for months, including in the dead of NY winter, but no matter what kind of talk-myself-into-the-game thinking I applied or how many new students I met and grew to enjoy, I never thoroughly loved teaching class that early. I had these beliefs -- that my body does not like to get thrown into high-cardio fitness before dawn and my mind does not want to hear dance music before I am awake enough to know if I was listening to Usher or Rob Base. I remember a student running into me one morning and telling me she loves my class but just doesn't like practicing at 6:30am and I thought, Yep, me too.

Seeing as I'm the teacher and the idea is the teacher really wants to be there teaching, I knew that I had a bit of a problem!

I also remember how ugly I felt. I was always half asleep, in a rush and lucky if I found a minute to apply a little concealer and gloss. I basically just threw my hair up in a pony tail like I was going to soccer practice but then -- AH! There's a mirror and a room full of students looking at me! -- and I couldn't escape negative, self-centered judgment. Eventually, my morning classes were dropped from the schedule because my numbers were hovering at around 10. There were a few contributing factors -- some of which had nothing to do with me or my teaching skills - but in hindsight I think the biggest one is that I just had too many conflicts about showing up.

At the same time, I would teach on Saturday afternoons at Lex/63rd which I loved and would also sub around town, including at the Columbus Circle location to Patricia's packed classes of 70+ students. I did a great job, which really helped build my confidence, and I would float out of class thinking "Well, they love me at Columbus", which in hindsight makes me seem like David Hasselhoff tooting his popularity horn because they love him in Germany. Look, whatever works...

What happened to poor David Hasselhoff? Nevermind.

Columbus Circle EQ began to be endowed with more goodness for me, as it was already the place I first discovered classes with Patricia about 4 years ago. That's why I chose to do my ankle rehab at Pro Sports PT -- I wanted to be inside a space I trust and already associate with wellness. It's also close to Central Park, where me and my students co-create so much goodness and light during Central Park intenSati.

After I had my surgery, I completely stopped doing anything physical in the morning. No stretching, no ab work, no yoga poses, nada. All I wanted to do was roll out of bed, which I couldn't even do, mind you! -- and blog over breakfast. I'd see people on Facebook getting jazzed for 6:30am class, I thought to myself, these people are crazy! Sunrise Sati seemed like a distant memory.

Well, we are constantly changing, aren't we, and as I started doing my phys therapy at 7am, I also started getting a feeling that I'd like to try again. So, what did I do yesterday morning? I took intenSati with Darbi at 6:30am before my pt session, of course! This is how I've learned to approach things -- I look at my thoughts and see where I need an attitude adjustment or at the very least an attitude assessment. I knew that something is up with my not wanting to get UP and move in the morning. Something about this belief that I'm too rickety-crickety at only 33 years old to do a morning session seemed like I may be pulling a self fulfilling prophesy as opposed to accepting a truth.

So, I suited up in my cute, royal blue intenSati shirt, brought my body and unmake-UP'd face to class, and just said to myself that today is a new day, I am open...

Well, something pretty amazing happened for me inside that class yesterday. I felt INCREDIBLE! My body felt alive, well, energized and strong. I was able to do all the moves no/low impact style on my ankle and this was just the second time I was practicing indoors without the boot or a chair. People were taking water breaks and I was holding plank pose, push-ups felt doable, I was sweating very quickly (another thing that used to bother me was I didn't warm up fast -- maybe that's in the mind, too!) and I was sexy. Yes, I was sexy sans make up at like 6:45am in the morning! Shaking it with all the students like we was in da cluuuub :)

I've been in a serious holding pattern, folks, and let me tell you this -- I don't wish for anything like a major surgery or immobilization of a lower extremity for you at all, however, and perhaps you know this from something you've experienced, it does wonders for the gratitude meter. I appreciate just being able to walk, to get up and go the bathroom at night without having to crawl there (which I would do because coordinating on crutches at 3 am was not within my skill set), and living in a new space of freedom that feels different then anything I used to feel. I'm sure this "pink cloud" won't last forever -- well, actually, who knows, maybe this a gratitude imprint and it'll stick for GOOD -- but it's here now and I love it. My positive mood lasted all day at work. I saw a major difference between how I could used to show up on a rainy Monday morning. I was very focused and efficient.

One more thing -- I really felt the love of the other students in the room. I felt it. I also felt it from Darbi, who I'm shouting out to right now for the incredible amount of positive support she's given me since the operation. I even felt it from people who I didn't recognize but recognized me from the nights I taught the big classes in Germany, I mean inside Col Cir EQ, when I subbed. People are proud of me for sticking with this healing process and doing what I need to do so I can teach, dance, run, skip, hop, balance, play sports and wear HEELS again.

Likewise, I am equally inspired by and proud of the intenSati students and teacher Leaders who are creating such abundance in themselves and their lives. By going confidently in the direction of our dreams, achieving milestones, and finding happiness, we help free each other to do the same...

Which brings me to my closing section and ending on an even higher note. Starting this Saturday I am teaching again at Equinox!! It's not at 6:30am, it's at 9am, but it is inside the Columbus Circle location! SO, by all means, please come to class! The series I'm doing is new and it's all about getting back in the saddle. Yee haw. The affirmations begin, "Yes (YES), I am feeling better (GREAT)! I am back and I am better than ever (CHAMPION)!!" I hope you're ready to affirm your commitment and/or return to all the games YOU want to play.

Thank you for reading and have a great day today. You deserve it!!

With xo and deep gratitude,

Lindsay

Big Pictures

Good Sunday Morning!

Yesterday afternoon, I auditioned for a reading of a new play called Ideal Beauty by Danielle Sonnenberg and got a part! I am SO GRATEFUL and will start rehearsals October 2nd. The show is Wed., October 13th. I will give you more details soon.

From Oct. 2-Oct. 13 I will not be blogging because I will need my mornings to learn my lines and rehearse. I am grateful for the realization that I don't have to pressure myself to write and rehearse AND work a full time job. No to cram jamming my life, thank you! Rather, I can maintain a big picture view and know I will write again down the road.

How's your big picture looking?

When I was laid up on crutches, I did my best to see the big picture which helped me considerably with practicing patience. Short term fixes, instant gratification, immediate results -- this is the language of the little picture. The big picture welcomes the view of the explorer and the determined hiker who scales mountains to peaks where the view is promising and unobstructed.

A few weeks ago I asked one of my closest mentors why sometimes when I feel deep gratitude or joy or love, I simultaneously feel twinges of sadness at the same time. The love I feel on a gorgeous day spent outdoors in nature or when I'm with friends and family, when I'm engaged in one of my passions -- moments of bliss. :) If the twinges do enter, perhaps it's because I know that at any moment the circumstance in the material world that is "causing" me to feel so good can change.

Deep inside we all know that anything can change on a dime and loss can happen in any minute to any of us, right? This, no matter how much we try to create stability or permanence...

Maybe people fall into three categories. There are people who are so afraid to lose that they don't allow themselves to enter deeply into the positive emotion they could feel. Two, people who do let themselves go there to some extent but are so afraid and freaked out about losing it that they can not fully appreciate and enjoy the experience. Three, people living so totally in the moment and present that they can just sit in the positive emotion without any fear or worry that it might not be here in two minutes, two days, or two years.

I am in category 2. I think. I get into category 3 sometimes, too. Heck I think in some areas I'm in 1. I'm an amalgam of all three! Category three is why people say that dogs and babies are the most enlightened. :) This is opening a whole can of something and I will definitely revisit this topic at some point, again, down the road.

I don't know where to go from here -- anybody have a music video to suggest? :)

I've got one:

"It's enough for me, baby. It's enough for me. Oh, heavenly day." -Patty Griffin

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay

Turning Points

Good morning!

One of the reasons this blog exists is to you give you and me the inspiration, motivation, uplift, heart and consistent presence of mind to go forth in the direction of our deepest dreams and accomplish what we desire.

The voice of fear appears as negative self-talk and dis-courage-ment. When you listen and believe it what happens? You get distracted and off course, right? You pull back and stop taking the actions you need to take to get to get where you want to go. You don't feel WELL because you are looking at other people who are doing what you want to do and you conclude either one of two things: 1. Yes, it makes sense that they're there doing it, I see why they're at that level! I see why I'm not. 2. No way, I am SO much better than that person and the world is unfair because she's succeeding at this and I feel like I'm in the Universe's armpit. Wahh (and peeuu).

The alternative, well, one of them at least, is the voice of confidence. The voice of faith. The voice of belief. I went to see The Town last night and it's impossible for me to watch a film without studying the acting because I want to be a successful, lead actress. I was watching and enjoying some of the performances. The lovely Rebecca Hall is in the lead role. We look a little bit alike! :) She has a lot of layers, I like her, and I could see myself doing well enough in that role. Then I looked at the bank robbers -- led by Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner (awesome) and was like, now THOSE are the kinds of roles I can play, too! Kamikaze bank robbers taking names all over town (Charrrrlestown) and being funny, hot and relatable at the same time. Yeah!

I turned to the person I was with and basically reiterated this thought, how based on what I know about my acting work throughout the years I think I'm going to be doing some work that reveals the, ah, darker side of the human condition. He believed me. I think. More importantly, did I believe me?

Do you believe in yourself?? If not, are you willing to go forth and build belief?

I woke up this morning and felt the strong, palpable desire to thrive and succeed as an actress. Then I listened for the loud doubt. Still there.

Yesterday, a friend of mine shared a few ideas about the power of surrendering. Releasing doubt. Releasing fear. Releasing worry -- all these qualities my teachers encourage me to let go of on a daily basis. That is surrender, right? What I want to achieve feels much bigger than me and contains quite a vast canyon of variables -- there are people, places and things over which I am COMPLETELY powerless. So, if I want to succeed, and I do, YES, something I must accept is that it's not going to happen from inside tight little protective quarters that keep from me from engaging with all the variables. Rather, it happens from joining in on all the fun and totally accepting what I can't control while embracing what I can -- my talent and abilities as well as my attitude.

People often mark turning points in their lives, either evidenced by strong internal shifts or external events. These are moments when we pause and look inward to ask ourselves if we really feel we have what it takes or if we want something bad enough to go for it. I just had this image of jumping in the sea and joining all the underwater marine life yet somehow being able to breathe deeply in and out, no problem...

I've heard it said that desire + belief is blissful while desire + doubt is like a certain kind of torture! I think that's accurate. :) So, in the interest of FOLLOWING YOUR BLISS I wish you and me the gift of living in desire + belief, not to mention results and accomplishment, which I'm fairly certain stems from claiming that attitude first.

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay

The C Factor

Good morning!

Today, I embark on a new phase of my healing process. I emailed my doctor and asked him if I can take off the walking boot and transition to the lace-up brace. I think 12 weeks was the initial projected time and it's been 10 weeks since the surgery. He said I can take it off! I will bring the boot in my bag, just in case, but I am COURAGEOUSLY going for bootless living starting NOW. I of course feel nervous but also very excited and free!

I hereby establish and intend for myself the continued healing and full recovery I desire and deserve. Please enjoy this affirmation for yourself and I would be so grateful if you said it once with me in mind:

I am now strong and steady from the ground up. I balance with ease. My body -- from my crown right down to all 10 tippy toes -- is healed. I am agile, flexible and able to do all activities with grace and power. I am grateful every single day for the gift of my amazing and beautifully restored body!!

Thank you!

*

Something amazing is happening in my life right now for which I feel incredibly grateful -- I am making a lot of new friends. People I've met through work, intenSati, groups, Facebook (ha), Good Commons, classes, and other friends' introductions. I have to look at this and as I've learned to take responsibility and seek my part in everything that I experience, I would like to officially take some responsibility for this creation.

I saw myself drifting from old friends and needing new people who reflect and nurture the person I am becoming and want to be. I desired it and through that desire, I asked for it! I made it through feeling lonely by doing my best to accept and be with how I felt. Then, I'd imagine myself with new friends and communities of people that are HEALTHY, VIBRANT, STRONG, FUN, TRUSTWORTHY and sing "I LIKE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE" :)

I demanded more from myself so that I really lived with and possess the qualities of the people I want to attract ("be the change you want to see") and I am just very grateful because now I am seeing the changes I desired right here in front of my own eyes.

I was reminded yesterday by one of my new friends that with any new relationship, which to that I will add experience or commitment, you run the risk of getting hurt. She reminded me that you've got to be willing to jump in and take risks because the rewards can be so plentiful and abundant. The alternative is to just live in fear of disappointment or failure. It really is about COURAGE -- that's definitely going in my intenSati series next month! -- and yes, it takes a lot of that quality to be happy and live in love. I could not be more inspired right now by people in my life who are demonstrating tremendous amounts of courage. They are such pillars of strength.

Have an awesome day!! LOVE IT! YOU DESERVE IT!

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay

A Simple Fix

Good morning!

I was reading an article by Richard Dawkins about the evolution of the wild wolf into the domesticated dog through both natural and artificial selection, which I found fascinating. I knew that all dogs share a common ancestor which is the wolf, but I had no idea how that change happened over time. It turns out that natural as opposed to artificial selection was more involved from the start, that "much of the initial domestication of the dog was self-domestication" and only eventually did humans get involved.

That's probably a good thing. Can you imagine trying to breed a tamer wolf before the universe got started on the job? That probably would've been a lot harder than making maltipoohs, shitzer spanials, or German frise's...

I bring this up this morning because I want to reinforce the importance of the kind of growth and evolution that happens inside you that you don't control. I think a lot of people these days are accustomed to Working on Themselves. Ok, I'll start with myself. :) I am cut from that cloth and I am still wondering what's been most effective over the years and why.

There's therapy, life coaching, breakthrough seminars, 12 steps, Oprah, pills and other ways to CHANGE or evolve into the kind of person you think you want to be or should be, whether it's someone who eats healthier, quits smoking, achieves great career success or finds happiness after years of misery and depression. Millions of dollars are poured into the industry of change by external means, which I know is probably not news to anybody reading this blog.

This is outdated data which I'll update but in the meantime, according to a Marketdata Enterprise report from 2005, “The total self-improvement market (incl. revenues of weight loss programs) was estimated to be worth $9.59 billion in 2005. The market grew more than 24% between 2003 and 2005. We expect 11.4% yearly growth through 2010, to a value of $13.9 billion.”

That's quite a number. Thousands of dollars into solutions and fixes and what is the success rate?

Then there are religious folks who believe a higher power can perform an act of grace that changes you from within to be more like God so that, "in the middle of our struggles, he radically transforms our hearts by His grace, so that we are able to think, desire, act and speak in ways consistent with who He is and what He is doing on earth." Oh, boy. Trying to integrate a spiritual component into the change process was scary for me at first because I came from an atheistic background. I was a secular and non-practicing Jewish woman citing my adherence to my religion as a reason not to embrace non-Jewish teachings, prayers, practices or rituals.

I became open over time and I think this is the case with a lot of people -- when the pains hurt very bad and hopelessness of any variety kicks in, so too does the willingness to try something new. I remember times I would've crossed myself if I thought that would be the quickest way to bring about some Higher Powered relief. That said, I am coming up with some sort of fusion of spiritual practices that I think are doing something for me, much as I feel like I'm doing the spiritual growth version of opening my own fusion restaurant. I am not really sure at all what I believe these days and allow that to be OK...

What does make me sad is when people, out of their own desperate feelings, try outlandish fixes and pour money into organizations led by tricksters of the trade or do dramatic things to change something external about themselves, usually appearance, in order to feel better and hopefully behave in a better way. I know people who think if they got a tummy tuck they would then have a greater incentive to eat less because they'd already be thin and therefore less depressed and inclined to binge. That's complicated.

What if the quicker fix is no fix?

I am not suggesting do nothing, in fact, I'm not even sure what I'm suggesting because I am only asking not answering. I just feel like there is something in the wisdom of not trying so hard...

I've never heard this song before, "Oh, what a beautiful world. This is the life for me. Oh, what a beautiful world. It's the simple life for me...Don't try so hard." What a beautiful song, wow.

It can be so challenging to just be but I suggest trying it for a few moments, trusting in the process that goes on inside you without any aid other than your stillness.

Have a beautiful day and as always, I really welcome your thoughts, comments and feedback.

With gratitude,

Lindsay

Go Waka

Good morning!

It's apple time. Today's special dedication is to the honeycrisp. I just sliced a fresh one (local but not organic), into my flax seed hemp oatmeal and cooked it with almond milk. It's a cool morning in NYC and I am cozy on my couch with the window ajar. It's becoming so easy to feel a little perfection in the morning and for that I am very grateful.

Speaking of apples, I came across this very easy recipe for baked apples and fennel!! Budget friendly, too. :)

What to share, what to share, what to share...

I met this guy for a drink (club soda, I am sober 16 months, woo hoo) the other night and found myself describing how much I do in my life. He seemed interested and was asking me about my various pursuits (acting, writing, singing, working as an EA to a TV exec...) when he said the dreaded H word.

Wow, you really do have a lot of...hobbies.

That's what my parents would say no matter how many times I tried to explain that they're all career pursuits so when anybody mentions that word I feel like I'm going to break out in another h word -- hives. Still, I know that I do, do, do, a lot lot lot (I love that song!) and as I write this morning I'm going to bring two all important words back into rotation: patience and persistence.

If you've got a lot of balls in the air and you feel like you're constantly in Do Mode, do yourself a favor and just remember to be patient with yourself and others. Breathe in and out from deep down in that soft belly place. Keep affirming yourself and by all means, let go of whatever isn't serving you. You need your strength!

The other P -- persistence -- is KEY! Patricia Moreno just had a baby girl (all are well, home, healthy and resting) after years of persistence and staying in the game. I went last night to intenSati at Equinox taught by Monique Dash, a group fitness instructor who is subbing for Patricia, and I know how persistent she is which showed because last night's class (the first one I took with Mo) was awesome! Then, this woman I've never met came up to me after class and started showing me the scars on her knees -- she had gone through multiple surgeries and now she was recovered and jumping around like a rock star. She reminded me that the positive attitude is more than half the battle and she kept saying, You will get better! You will get back to being in the best shape! I was like, Who are you pretty Angel? Thank you!

Today I am looking forward to doing my best at work and then my voice lesson tonight. Then, Waka Waka, by some great gift of the Universe a guy I only know through mutual friends on Facebook and have never met is sending me 2 free tickets to see Shakira! You can bet that when I am there tonight, I will be taking notes!

Have a great day! "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life YOU imagine!" Go Waka! :)

Best, xo Lindsay

Saving and Prospering

Good morning!

In the interest of being healthier in the area of personal finance, I am embarking on a 30-day commitment to record every dollar I spend. From that point I will have all the information I need to create a budget. In the meantime, I do not need to pressure myself to make any major changes, only to refrain from borrowing money or spending what I don't have by using a credit card.

Without awareness of what you're doing it's pretty near impossible to make changes. I manage my own money at this point, so I have nobody interfering with how I'm handling things. That kind of freedom can be a good thing or a liability, depending on how you look at it, and I think I want to keep considering it a freedom.

My brother sent me a Wall Street Journal article called "The Lost Decade for American Income" and it talks about Americans' reliance upon government benefits as well as community and family to weather these tough economic times. One factoid I'll share with you concerns adults in the age bracket I'm in, the 25-34 demo, and also children under 6 years old:

The number of 25-to-34-year-olds living with their parents rose 8.4% to 5.5 million in 2010 from 2008. Within that age group, 42.8% fell below the poverty threshold—$11,161 for an individual. The report also showed a steep rise in child poverty, to 23.8% for kids under six in 2009, compared to 21.3% a year earlier. -WSJ.com

So nearly half of all 25-24 year olds living with with their parents are below the poverty threshold. I lived with my parents from time-to-time throughout my early and mid 20s, so I can empathize, and although I was working and was above poverty levels I depended on them for resources. Throughout the years, I've also lived with roommates -- up to 4 at at time -- in small rooms like one which was a converted closet with a sleeping loft. The building overlooked Abindgdon Square Park in the West Village, which is lovely, but my home was a bit of a drag. I had to walk through the hallway to get to my room. There were smokers living above us and the fumes wafted into the halls, so I would constantly reek of it, it was disgusting. Yet at $500.00/month, I was able to have my Gwyneth Paltrow and SJP fantasy.

That's the thing about money, fantasy and reality -- I think it's amazing to me how people, myself included, become carried away by dreams of excessive, extreme amounts of wealth, which, most would probably admit isn't necessary. Also, by becoming fixated on one's own financial achievements, it's easy to become oblivious to what's going on throughout the country or, worse, blame the victim when it's the institutions that comprise Wall Street and Washington that rendered it difficult for hardworking, honest and very capable Americans to find jobs. I used to pay much more attention but over the last 6 months, I've drifted away from focusing on the economy and listening to stories about how people are affected by insufficient job opportunities or housing foreclosures.

Stress is an obvious side effect of not having a job, being unable to pay your bills or receive proper medical care due to lacking health insurance, or having to give up your home. Being in an environment like your parents' house when you're an adult can make you feel like a child again or create new tensions that are just distracting you from your pursuit.

I can remember how important it was for me to practice gratitude at that time, rely on support from healthy strong friends, stay focused on my progress and do my best to just mind my own business as opposed to interfering with my parents. I think exercising as a means to let off steam is essential and I am so grateful I practice and teach classes for people.

Prosperity Affirmations by Toni Stone:

Emphasis is part of prospering. Today, I place emphasis on what is a blessing and what empowers more good life everywhere.

Relinquishment follows having. I gladly share what I have had instead of hoarding it because change and relinquishment is OK with me today. I am ready for what's next.

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay

Always On Time

Good morning!

I love to tell stories. When I was growing up, my family had dinner together almost every night and the rule was there would be no TV on while we ate. We would just talk. Well, I filled in the space with my daily reports about school, sports and whatever else I was up to, as my brother waited patiently for me to hand over the mic, which would usually be by about dessert (which we didn't have most nights but I'm just giving you a sense of time). By the time I was finished, so were most of our plates clean and attention gone...

Things haven't changed much as I realized when my family of four was breaking the Yom Kippur fast last night at Lansky's Jewish deli! I just really like to go on and on and on and on, whether I'm describing the state of affairs at work, relationships, friendships, etc., or sharing something I'm conceiving or dreaming about for my future.

I also love imagining what other people's lives are like. I swear when I saw this man on the bus yesterday (photo above), I immediately felt like I knew what he must be thinking and going through. It was Yom Kippur and he was on his way to temple and missing his wife terribly. He glanced down at his empty finger wondering if taking his wedding band off for the first since her death 2 years ago was a big mistake. Where is she now? He doesn't want to rush his time here on earth but simply can't wait to see her. Forgive me, Edith, I'm putting it back on when I get home tonight...

What has strengthened me over the years is reframing the story of my life so that I am the hero. intenSati helped me so much with this and I am deeply grateful. When I first started taking class 4 years ago, I saw myself as a victim of my past and present circumstances. What I learned to do was say those were the greatest challenges of this hero's journey and from hereon in I am going forward. I am a survivor, I am a warrior and I am on the rise...

Ha, that reminds me of the time one of my soccer coaches wanted to name us the Plainview Phoenix (phoenixes?) and it caused an uproar because none of us young girls wanted to be known as weird, satanic fire birds that come back from the dead. I think we went with Hurricanes from that point on, or perhaps that's what we were and we just kept what was already established as our name (I forgot, it's been a while.). We are from Plainview, we're hot, we cannot be stopped. We are the hurricanes and we will blow you away! :)

Whether or not you feel like you're someone who is ready for a center stage seat on Vh1's Storytellers, you probably like to tell your share of tales. The point of my post this morning is to begin to help you become more aware of what stories you've got going on upstairs and whether or not they're serving you or even true.

Who do you think you are?

At work last week, a coworker who only just recently became my cubicle neighbor observed how well I do my job and complimented how "organized" I am. I almost let out a big guffaw because I've had to make so many concerted efforts over the years to become a more organized person that I forget they've actually worked. My first thought is I'm still the disorganized girl who, upon opening a locker or storage unit of any time, will be hit on head or foot (depending on the height of said storage unit) by its contents -- ouch -- when in reality I'm a different person now. It feels great to be seen as the person you've wanted to become!

It's wonderful to start really small. Begin my creating new affirmations for traits you want to possess. If you're always late, start affirming you are someone who is always on time...

Speaking of arriving on time -- Patricia Moreno and Kellen Mori had their beautiful, healthy baby Olivia yesterday at around 2am. There was a lot of waiting involved and anticipation can always make you want to rush things. There are so many lessons to be learned from this miraculous family creation, but I think one is that Olivia Mori-Moreno arrived just on time and perfectly. There is no need to rush the Universe, which is the granddaddy of time tables. Everything is truly always on time.

Have a beautiful day today and enjoy the sunshine!! I hope to see you soon in Central Park for intenSati class. I can't wait to be out there celebrating life while working out and hope you join me!

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay

Slowed Down and Moved To Fast

After a very busy, abundant and hectic week, I am allowing today to be so relaxing and peaceful. I also felt moved to fast for Yom Kippur in solidarity with my Jewish family. I'm not supposed to be working either so I'm not going to post until tomorrow, however, I am sharing this poem by Doreen Valiente for your enjoyment:

Listen to the words of the Great Goddess who throughout time has been known by many names.

Assemble in a sacred place of your own making when the Moon is full, and any other time you have need of My aid.

Know that My love will make you free, for nobody can prevent your worship of Me in your mind and your heart.

Listen well when you worship, and I will teach you the deep mysteries, ancient and powerful.

I require no sacrifices or pain, for I am the Mother of all things, the Creatress who made you out of My love, and the One who endures through all time.

I am the beauty of the Earth, the green of growing things.

I am the white Moon whose light is full among the stars and soft upon the Earth.

From Me all things are born, to Me all things, in their seasons return.

Let My worship be in your hearts, for all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. _

You see Me in the love of man and woman, the love of parent and child, the love of humans to all My creations.

When you create with your hands, I am there.

I blow the breath of life into the seeds you plant, whether of plant of child.

I stand beside you always, whispering soft words of wisdom and guidance.

You need only to listen. All seekers of the Mysteries must come to Me, for I am the True Source, the Keeper of the Cauldron. All who seek to know Me, know this...

All your seeking and yearning will be in vain unless you understand the Mystery that if what you seek is not found within, you will never find it without.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I will gather you to my breast at the end.

Blessed Be.

The Great Goddess

Source: Charge of the Goddess (Doreen Valiente)

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay

The Other Side

Good morning! One of Patricia's intenSati affirmations -- the one that kicked off 2009 if I remember correctly! -- went like this,

"Fear? So what! I'm gonna shine!"

There is also a book Patricia recommended called Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway By Dr. Susan Jeffers, a psychologist and best selling author.

I just want to touch quickly on how to even know or recognize that you may be feeling fear. Awareness is everything and I know for me, if I am not sure it's fear then I can't begin to deal with it appropriately. Yesterday, I received an audition notice for a musical and I got very excited at the thought of performing. However, I got very nervous at the thought of auditioning! How did I know it was fear? My body temp went up thinking about it, when I began rehearsing at home last night my voice was tighter than usual at first, and I just started getting some thoughts into my head that were none too encouraging. This morning my first thought was maybe I should wait a little longer as I train my voice with my new teacher. That's fear.

My last acting coach was great at encouraging us to make auditioning into something the performer should actually embrace and enjoy. One of the books on our syllabus was called Audition: Everything An Actor Knows To Get The Part by Michael Shurtleff and it teaches elements of auditioning and performing that cut right through an actor's fear. Auditioning is an opportunity to perform, after all, and even if it's in slightly awkward circumstances and you're standing on the edge of either being accepted or "rejected", it can be enjoyed if you choose to see it in a positive way.

So, this morning I suggest taking just a few minutes to look at something that brings up some fear. There's you and there's your fear. Recognize the fear and know that your are separate. As we say in intenSati, we are the thinker and not the thoughts, so it's the same thing here. I am the actor but not the fear! Hey, stare it down!

Then -- cause we're not done yet -- do a sweet visualization of yourself succeeding and shining in that exact circumstance that kicked up a little fear in you. It only takes a few moments to do this and you've definitely got the imagination to do it so have fun. I'm going to do mine right now and really see, feel and hear my voice soaring and my best and brightest creative self performing tonight at 6:50pm.

Take it to the places you're afraid to go because you know there are amazing things on the other side!!!!

Best,

Lindsay

Making Do

Good morning!

I just learned that using a paper towel as a coffee filter actually makes better coffee in the less-than-stellar coffee pot I own. Who knew?! I've resigned to basically plucking coffee grinds out each morning based on whatever issue there has been with my pot and/or filters and today, when I was out of them and just when I thought I'd have to (gasp!) wait until I get to work to enjoy my cuppa joe, I tried the paper towel trick (thanks, Mom) and Voila! YUM!

"Here I am standing tall. I'm free of all the hate in the world. Here I am. The future's bright. I see a light. The light in your eyes. Voila!!"

There is a very exciting thing happening at the moment. Well, there are a lot of very exciting things happening, yes, but the one I'm speaking of is this -- Patricia Moreno, the brilliant woman who created intenSati and wrote the book The intenSati Method: 7 Principles to Thinner Peace, is at full term with her first baby. She is unbelievable in her leadership right now, demonstrating to us all how to live in joyful anticipation as she waits for baby Mori-Moreno to arrive! Yes, she is making do with her baby being overdue -- let's just all take a moment and pause and send some love to her, Kellen and Olivia!!!

Meet one of my deepest and truest inspirations, Patricia Moreno:

"Dancing is singing with your body! Dancing is speaking with your body! Dancing is saying and choosing what you want to feel!" - Patricia

I love that combination. I'm trying to think of the song we did it to in class but it's escaping me at the moment! :)

Who knows what can happen when you decide to make do, as long as your heart is in the dance...

Have an amazing day -- you deserve it!

Best,

xo Lindsay

Thank U!

Good morning!

"What I visualize (DESIRE), I magnetize (ACCEPTANCE)! I feel it (PLAY FULL OUT)!"

"I am ready to feel great (READY), willing to feel great (WILLING), able to feel great (ABLE), right now (NOW)!"

These are just a sample of the affirmations (and ATTITUDES, don't mind the caps, it's just to emphasize importance of feeeeeeeling it) I shouted when I taught and practiced intenSati this weekend on Saturday in Central Park and Sunday at 19th St EQ with Darbi.

Now we can cue a little doo doo doo doo music because I had a series of events this weekend that got me Jumpin' Jumpin' and dropping a little teaser on my Facebook status. Did you see it? The one about having a synchronicity of the mother load variety?? YES!

Let me back up just a little bit. I am a total synchronicity catcher. Synchronicity is the term introduced by Carl Jung in the 1920s to indicate certain events that are unlikely to occur but do and take on a meaning in your life:

Jung coined the word to describe what he called "temporally coincident occurrences of acausal events." Jung variously described synchronicity as an "acausal connecting principle", "meaningful coincidence" and "acausal parallelism". Jung introduced the concept as early as the 1920s but only gave a full statement of it in 1951 in an Eranos lecture^[3] and in 1952, published a paper, Synchronicity — An Acausal Connecting Principle, in a volume with a related study by the physicist (and Nobel laureate) Wolfgang Pauli. (Wikipedia)

For me, a synchronicity is a sign. I take them as nods and winks from the Universe meant to encourage and affirm that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Yesterday morning, I wrote about a few ideas for self care. One of them was to pet a dog. This is brilliant stuff, folks. :) (Sometimes you just need to restate the obvious.) Anyway, I mentioned yellow labs and golden retrievers being wonderful and yesterday morning, after leaving a group of friends I met in Soho, I was walking up Laguardia and in succession, the first two dogs and people walking them I encountered, were yellow labs. The second one was a 9 week old puppy on a leash who stopped me (no stare down necessary) and started playing with my boot. It was just too cute.

That's not the motherload synchronicity. That was just the preview. We're still in previews, yes, but I won't be annoying and give 7 more before the feature. Here it is now:

I go to Darbi's class at 19th and sit in the chair as I've been doing. I had no intention of getting up because even though I'm full weight baring now on my leg and walking around the city, I figured it's best to practice any intenSati standing up on my own before doing it in class. I've started a little in my apartment but not much. Anyway, we're doing this series and something just kicks in for me when we're saying, "If I really, really want it, it's proof that I can have it!" and I just started remembering how often I've said that but not really been sure it's the case. How is desire always proof of the intention fulfilled?

Well, when there is some version of Michael Jackson's "Gonna Be Startin' Somethin'" pumpin' on the stereo and a packed studio of students, there's not really time to think. Or debate. Or wonder. You just GO. So, I went, in my head and heart, and I was just like SOCCER. I had blogged about earlier (as you know if you read my post yesterday) and being outside in the park on the Saturday, not to mention seeing fields full of players practicing on my way to Long Island the other night for Rosh Hashana...I had it on the brain and obviously now that I can WALK I was feeling particularly excited about my recovery and healing.

So, I just went to town and saw myself in full out soccer mode with health restored and my whole body feeling great. Me at my goal weight, injuries resolved and my body in perfect balance.

At about 2/3 of the way into class, something amazing happened. I just stood up from my chair and started working out on both feet (boot still on). I got teary with relief but I was just carried away and I felt amazing. I was completely in the zone. When people were doing a round of 8 warrior pushups I held plank pose for a few minutes! When everybody was jumping I held steady and powered up my mind again to see myself in that action. When I stood up in ready, boy did I feel READY.

During the closing meditation, I released some more emotion (if you follow that link, jump to 4 minutes and watch what it looks like to release and shift on a dime! :)))) and after class I stayed and stretched out.

Ok, maybe that was another preview...

I'm sitting, I'm resting, I'm letting everything just go and into the studio at around 1:00pm walks a young guy with a...SOCCER BALL. He puts it at his feet on the far side of the studio and starts dribbling. In and out, cut, dribble dribble, change direction, dribble dribble, change direction...

I kind of felt like I was in a dream. This guy looked great and moved incredibly well on the ball. I have never seen anybody practice soccer in the Equinox studio besides me and Dexter when we were training for the I Love New York co-ed soccer team we were on together a year ago when I got hurt again. Yet, here was a player. After watching him for about 10-15 minutes, he came to the water fountain we started chatting. Turns out he was a west coast transplant who played in college then professionally after -- I think he said he played for Holland or in Holland, he lived in Brazil for a while (sorry, didn't get all the details) and he was an outside midfielder.

Well, if this were not already enough, it gets BETTER! I told him that I was recuperating from surgery and it turns out he had the exact same surgery as me. Ligaments torn and reattached with dissolvable screws. He showed me his scar. I had to see the proof (as if someone would make that sorta thing up) and yes, it looks exactly like mine, only less pink. He said his ankle is incredibly strong now and he can do everything on it!

Then, he offered to toss me some balls so I sat down and volleyed them back with my strong lef leg. Dink. Ok, it's been a while. Then I did i a few times with my boot -- NOT SMART -- so I stopped doing that right away. I headed the ball a few times, but he suggested not jumping back into heading if I've been away from it a while. :) I figured he was right since I have to be at my desk this morning at 9am and sharp as a tack.

He was kind enough to offer to work out with me a little bit in the studio gym when I'm ready. I'm ready NOW! Yes, maybe someone would say it's not that big of a coincidence because it is a gym and plenty of people play soccer but no, I think it's a BIG coincidence and I am still marveling at the timing.

I haven't played soccer in a year and a half. The point of this (long) post is not so much the magic of the Universe, which I welcome, embrace, affirm and appreciate, but the way we get HELP from the most unexpected people and in ways we can't imagine. It's also about PASSION. Nobody can understand your passions and what makes you tick. That's probably a good thing -- its yours!! The most exciting thing to me is the freedom you have to do what you love without having to explain why. I don't know why I'm so in love with soccer, I just am, and I feel so alive and happy when I'm around the game and people who love it, too. You don't need to know why certain things make you so HAPPY but if you know that they do, then by all means, can you get out there and do it?

Wow, 7:15am already and it's Monday morning. Time to get going. I wish you well today and hope you stay open to synchronicities and opportunities for more joy in your life! Have a great day......

Best,

Lindsay

Try Tenderness

Good morning!

When I played soccer, I spent a lot of practice time working on my touch. The point was to have as soft a touch as possible, to be able to catch a ball on my instep laces without a sound and bring it right down to my feet. From there, I could look up and out to see where to pass or dribble into space. As I heal the ankle I injured playing the sport for those with a great touch, I'm learning a thing or two about the value of my own and others' soft touch.

I massage my leg, foot and ankle and while I still can't seem to do it nearly as well as my physical therapist, I'm doing alright. I've gone for a few massages -- even just 10 minutes at a nail salon can do wonders for the back, neck and shoulders -- and I've been given hugs just when I need them most. Aww. I think about half of my students hugged me yesterday after class, which I admit I loved. Now I'm addicted, so much so that I almost embraced a group of kids dolling out free hugs near Central Park yesterday but I passed.

I've reacted twice recently in a very acute way to almost being in car accidents. Both were near misses and it frightened me so that I had a pretty hysterical emotional reaction albeit, thank god, nothing major on the physical front besides a little back pain. The second time happened only a few days ago and it's no doubt related to a hypersensitivity from being on crutches for 8 weeks. When I was calming myself down after, all I could think about was how nice it would be to have physical touch and comfort right now, to just be held while my body relaxed and my mind eased. I wonder how many less Ambiens and Zanax (neither of which I take) would be sold if people simply had someone they trust hold them.

It's a little bit of an awkward thing to be 33 and in such awareness of the importance of touch. I feel a bit like I have the neediness of a 3 year-old, but that's being a little harsh. I spoke to my close friend and Sati student last night -- she, the doting mother of a 16 month old -- and we were in agreement. Adults, from time to time, need the same degree of maternal, physical affection as that little guy did to help him drift off into Dreamland.

So, I've compiled a little suggestions list if you are looking to increase the power of human touch in your life either for healing:

1. Get a Massage: I've mentioned that you can get a chair massage at most nail salons. The one I went to on 50th/3rd yesterday cost only $12 and she gave me 15 minutes. Here is a great list of places in NYC to get a massage with every price point.

2. Take a Bath: A simple hot bath with Epsom salts does wonders for your body. Put a glass of really cold water with ice cubes, one candle, a magazine or book. 15 minutes. Wonderful!

3. Buy comfortable bedding: My bedroom is pretty sparsely decorated at the moment but it has this quilt, this "so not me" Pottery Barn quilt I bought when I moved in a little over a year ago, that I now absolutely love. I know it helps me sleep. Find something for your bed that just cues you to settle down. It's also worth it to splurge on great sheets with a high thread count and soft pillows as well.

4. Spend time with a cute dog: So, I don't own a dog yet and rely on friends of mine who do (Shout out to Lola -- I love you!). I've also mastered the "Can I pet him, please?" look I give strangers walking their furry friends without seeming like I'm staring in a weird way. I can show you that one day. Maybe that will be my first video blog. It's a nice way to meet people, too. I know it's as cliche as apple pie but the Golden Retrievers and Labs are without a doubt the friendliest dogs I encounter. Ghandi Retrievers and Labrador Theresas.

5. Try A Little Tenderness: So, it can feel a little awkward at first but I strongggggly suggest finding ways to have a more gentle touch towards yourself. My hands became really sore and callused from the crutches so I do this little hand massage each day with Burts Bees hand salve and it does wonders in only a few minutes. I mentioned that I massage my leg/ankle and I do that with Lubriderm cocoa butter and Vitamin E, which are very good for the skin. I also give myself cranial massages after work. It's easier to reach my forehead than my ankle.

Ah, Ducky.

So, yes -- rest up and try a little tenderness. You deserve it!!

Have a great day everybody!

With xo and gratitude,

Lindsay