the universe is listening
Have you ever thought of something you really wanted, only to immediately second guess yourself because you feel it’s impossible?
The universe is listening, friends. Whether we desire or despise something, its ears are always open. When we let our dreams go due to feeling undeserving or incapable, the universe complies. When we dream big, recognize we deserve and are capable of something, the universe is on our team.
It was such an honor and thrill to be part of Solstice in Times Square last Sunday. This opportunity was no accident, because even though it didn’t happen the way I thought it would, it all started with a dream [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][doesn’t it always?].
The past couple of New Year’s Eves I’ve made lists of what I wanted to accomplish in the coming year. This year I burned sage to clear the air and start fresh, wrote down things to cultivate and things to release, made a vision board and journaled. It was a nice way to focus on these dreams.
On my list of things I wanted was to dance and perform with a crew, something I’ve been doing since childhood that I’ve been missing after dedicating the past couple of years to studying yoga.
I found myself at hip-hop classes once a week with a teacher I clicked with. I eventually worked up the courage to tell her I wanted to perform [without her asking me first], that I was ready and willing if she heard of opportunities. I told her I wished I had a conch shell to call out to NYC and assemble a crew. I put it out into the universe, and this is how it responded:
My yoga teacher Anya Porter passed along a potential Breakti performing opportunity at Athleta’s Solstice in Times Square, an enormous yoga event. I would be responsible for gathering dancers, coordinating rehearsals, choreographing, choosing/editing music, and communicating between all parties involved.
I had no intention of doing all this extra work besides showing up to learn someone else’s choreography and dance, but here was my opportunity.
Ask and you shall receive, even if it’s not exactly how you planned…
I set an intention as I finally accepted the offer [after much inner turmoil and dialogue] to make this process as smooth and easeful as possible, even though I had no idea how I was going to coordinate around 4 insane schedules, let alone find a space to rehearse in.
Amongst deep breaths and supportive, willing, enthusiastic friends who joined this crew, we made it happen. We rehearsed on each other’s rooftops, in my kitchen, at a community center and in a yoga studio three of us teach for, which graciously offered their space [ask and you shall receive].
I kept the intention for a peaceful process even during stressful weeks. When we met together our worries melted away due to the truly outstanding people involved in this project, and because of Breakti’s mission itself: to spread the joy and love of yoga and dance, fearlessness and compassion. We traded ideas and music and moves. We put a piece together and prepared to perform.
We maintained our intention of keeping things stress-free by starting the day in a group meditation, honoring the solstice and this experience together.
I originally thought, I would LOVE to start a dance party in Times Square. I’ve always dreamt of life being like a music video, where one person starts singing or dancing and everyone on the street joins in. You better believe we made that happen on Sunday, thanks to Breakti and MJ’s funky beats.
We expressed how each of us fulfilled a dream that day: I dreamt of performing with an awesome crew, of sharing my love for dance and yoga with the world [ongoing]. Ksenia dreamt of being in a hip-hop music video as teenager. Natasa dreamt of performing in Times Square on Broadway, and her wish came true via Breakti instead. Casey felt fulfilled in connecting and collaborating with the crew, not to mention here he was breakin’ in front of a sea of yogis after moving to New York on a whim just last year.
Another dream of mine has always been to be involved in some form of effort toward world peace. Enter: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living Foundation, who spoke at the event. Many of us wept immediately in his presence; he was so full of love my heart could have exploded. He said, “Through yoga we can find inner peace, and through inner peace we can find world peace.” I’ll take that as evidence of this big dream of mine en route to fulfillment…
There are stories like this from all of us; I will continue to share mine because I believe in living the life of your dreams and I believe in the power of community.
I dream of supporting you in honoring your hearts desires, of helping you recognize your worth and capabilities of whatever it is you truly want with your whole being.
One of the many reasons yoga is so fulfilling and universal is because it teaches us to visualize what we want to create. It reminds us that we can create what we want, softens us when what we thought we wanted doesn’t pan out the way hoped for [doesn’t judge when we throw a temporary fit because of it], and provides us the opportunity to practice gratitude regardless of it all.
Everyone will find their own means of manifesting their dreams, but here are a few things I do myself if you feel lost in this process:
- Make your intentions seen. My friend Steph paints weekly intentions each Monday, and when I started following her example we began texting photos of our intention art to each other. We tape them on the wall somewhere visible as a reminder that our dreams can be our reality. Thanks for inspiring, Steph!
- Make a list of what you want. I started doing this when I was in a dark rut a few years ago, then on New Year’s Eves, and I’ll do it whenever I get excited about all the things I want to accomplish. I put my yearly desire list on my fridge or in my closet – a place where I can see it every day.
- Meditate on it. Envision it, believe it, feel it as though it is your reality. How does it feel in your body and heart to have this desire fulfilled? Where do you feel it, and what do you feel?
- Remember you are the captain of your own ship. When I feel down, I remind myself that I can create something else that doesn’t feel so disheartening. Yoga has offered me tools to sit with the discomfort for the time being and remember that the uneasy stuff is temporary.
- Talk to people about it, without shame. If and when you or someone else looks at you like you’ve lost your marbles, consider it evidence that you’re moving in the right direction instead of discouraging you to quit dreaming.
- Express gratitude for what you love about your life in the present moment to keep from living in the past or future. Appreciate yourself and your efforts for guiding you in the direction of your heart’s greatest desires.
- Remember YOU ARE DESERVING. Repeat this to yourself daily, even if you don’t believe it right now.
What are your wildest dreams, and what serves as evidence you’re on the path to fulfilling them? What dreams of yours have come into fruition, even if it wasn’t exactly how you imagined?
Read the rest of the newsletter to watch our Breakti performances, the fried rice recipe of your dreams, good music and more.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
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