This human experience is no joke. I believe that our primary purpose in this lifetime is to learn and to grow into our limitless human potential through the experience of love. As we walk this path, our life brings us different circumstances and inner awakenings to support the fulfillment of this mission. We awaken more fully into our authentic self, to our inherent talents and abilities, and to the true calling of our heart’s deepest desires.
While this all sounds beautiful and may resonate at the deepest of levels, let’s be real; the process of personal growth and awakening is anything but comfortable. It requires taking risk, stretching our boundaries and—dare I say it—being vulnerable.
Yikes.
And for most these things are scary, often activating a physiological experience that often feels unbearable.
Personally, I did not know real discomfort until becoming an entrepreneur. The opportunity for growth, and putting trust and faith into action has been a next level experience for me. The ability to stay committed, to trust that the universe has my back, and to believe in myself, has offered me the opportunity to find my own strength and validation. I have had to push through anxiety that at times seemed surreal.
But what I know is this … pushing through the discomfort and overcoming my own preconceived limitations is rewarding, empowering and liberating. The voices, the emotions and the visceral experience of stress and fear are most often great indicators that I am on the right path. God would not have given us big ideas if we were not capable and worthy of creating them. Interestingly enough, peak performance studies have shown that the first stage of Flow, or “being in the zone,” is struggle.
The longer I am here on this planet, the more certain I become that the best thing I can do is get really comfortable with being uncomfortable. In order to do this, to truly surrender to the strength of my body, mind and Spirit, to trust and believe in myself and to know Source has my back, there are things I do daily to build my own personal container for breaking through fear and setting myself up for success. Below are six ways to find your edge—six tools to support you in pushing through preconceived blocks and limitations.
1) Dare Greatly
Continue to do things that push your boundaries and limitations. Every day. Do something that makes you feel naked and vulnerable. Whatever it is, there is no “too big” or “too small.” It could be going out on a date, it could be sending the pitch letter to an influencer you’ve been eyeing, or it could be simply sending a text to a loved one saying you are sorry. Take risks, be bold, and dare greatly. Life is short; there is nothing to lose.
2) Ask For What You Want
Whoa. Imagine that. To wholeheartedly and deservedly ask for what you want without limitation, with positive expectancy and without attachment to the outcome. It is fascinating how many of us were trained to believe we cannot have what we want, and this has become so ingrained that many people aren’t even able to identify what it is they actually do want. Perhaps the best place to start is by slowing way down and attuning to the message your heart is sending.
3) Love Harder
Love is the energy that creates miracles. When fear arises, there is only one thing to know—we are out of the natural flow of the universe. When we can re-align with the energy of love, then transformation occurs. First, envision someone or something that evokes the feeling of breathtaking, unconditional love and surrender. Then take this feeling and channel it to whatever or whomever you believe is triggering discomfort. If you feel fear, love the fear. If you feel angry, love the anger. If you are facing a challenge, love this opportunity the challenge has brought forward for growth. Love yourself. Love your enemies. Just love, you will be surprised how things unfold.
4) Sit Longer
Not at your computer. On a cushion. Close your eyes and be with yourself. Here is an opportunity to SLOW DOWN; to be with the discomfort in the most powerful way. Not running from it or projecting it out into the world. I started practicing Transcendental Meditation nine years ago when I lived in India and it is incredibly empowering to sit with uncomfortable feelings, disengaging the bomb by rising up to meet it. The point of meditation is not about clearing the mind—that is effort. It is about learning to observe and direct the mind, and it is one of the easiest, most powerful, most effective ways to return to a place of stillness and to reconnect with your inner creator.
5) Cleanse
I became addicted to cleansing after my first experience in India, when I literally felt my cells vibrate and release unconscious mental, emotional and physical suffering. What was on the other side was peace, freedom, empowerment and limitless potential. For me, this was the experience of Flow State. I call it ”Living in the Vortex.” I started my company and created my products with the intention of sharing this with as many people as possible. Cleansing has the miraculous ability of supporting us in purging unconscious blocks and limitations, in letting go of false realities of control, and putting us in a beautiful place of receptivity and empowerment. Jeremy Mandile of Mandile Marketing is also a frequent cleanser., “Cleansing empowers me to stay at the top of my game. It sends my energy and efficiency off the charts and gives me the laser focus I need to perform at my best,” he recently told me.
6) Find Your Edge
Taking physical exercise it to the next level with real exertion is a great way to push through limitations of the mind and body. I love my daily Ashtanga Yoga practice and the Santa Monica stairs for this reason. The majority of the most successful people I know have a daily exercise regimen. The body is the vessel we were gifted with. It is the vehicle we were given to live our purpose and to co-create with God. The stronger it is, and the more properly it is cared for, the easier and more fluid all other aspects of our being will flow.
I’m not sure the human experience will ever cease to provide us with situations that trigger uncomfortable emotions and disturb our peace. However, the more we can sit in the discomfort and learn to allow it to serve us rather than control us, to transform these experiences into awakenings and personal betterment, the easier the experience becomes.
A closing thought to ponder—the body experiences fear the same as excitement. Perhaps when those adrenals get activated, and the emotional barometer perceives fright, there is an opportunity to shift the inner conversation to one of positive expectancy and the knowing that your Soul is exhilarated at the idea of you listening to the whispers of your heart, of taking a leap of faith and moving in the direction of co-creating and living the life you are meant to live.
Peace. Love. Blessings.