BREAKING AND ENTERING ..

I love this quote from LuxYoga - from an article talking about the art of moving into challenging yoga postures - but I thought it applies to life situations as well, and made me laugh out loud.

"Move one breath at a time and open from the inside out instead of trying to break into the pose like it's a locked apartment. Every blockage in your body deserves your breath, love and attention"

I am on the path of self actualization - I would like to become more "me" everyday.  That entails letting go of some habits and patterns that no longer serve me, and are at times harmful to my relationships.  I am guilty of trying to "break into" new habits, being impatient with myself and judgmental of my emotions, and lack of progress.  This quote was so helpful - and useful guide to how I should proceed.

Do something Big, Hairy and Audacious

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.  May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." Edward Abbey  

2014.  Can you believe it is actually here?  We have 365 days to write a brand new story.   I believe whether you do something or you do nothing,  time will keep moving on, so you might as well do something.

2013 was the year I dared to live according to the vision my head and the feeling in my heart.  I intended to live the dream.. and I began.  I actually taught yoga for a full year!  I followed my passion and became a  Holistic Nutrition Coach.  Feeding the body, mind and spirit – that is where it is at for me.  

Last year I was vulnerable by choice!  Yep – just threw my authentic self out there, took the risk of being rejected and judged.  Guess what – I got hurt.  I cried. I felt shame, anger and disappointment.  But you know what else? I experienced immense joy, found new depths of appreciation for my everyday life, made some amazing new friends – I cannot imagine life without them.  Even though everything did not work out as I wanted or planned – every experience held something  that was life changing and amazing –that, my friends, was what I was after.

I worked a lot.  Four  jobs to be exact –  and I loved every minute of it.  I became  something of an expert on the Raleigh Food Scene; I leaned about our slow food movement, our food truck rodeos, the chefs, restaurant owners, wait-staff and their passion to bring the best locally sourced food to people like me and you.  I absolutely fell in love, who knew a New Yorker could love the South so deeply and completely.

This year, I want to work less.  I want to designate one day a week, that I am not scheduled to work anywhere.   I have committed to writing a blog, publishing a newsletter, launching some health and lifestyle inspired programs that would  help people reach not only their health goals, but their Totally Groovy Life goals.

So for 2014 –  I will have less fear, as I push past my boundaries. I will ignore the voices in my head and just do it – as many times as it takes, until I find my personal path to success.  I will get to my edge and jump - so that my wings will have an opportunity to help me soar.  Tall order – I know but you know dreams – they have to be Big, Hairy and Audacious.

What are you going to have a Big, Hairy, Audacious year?

What is the Purpose?

    by Sharon MacGregor

The answer is the question

When am I going to learn to STOP telling the universe how things should work out?  Sometimes, I do not realize that I am doing it.  I find myself in a situation, and assume it should go this way and then I spend, a lot of mental energy trying to force what I want to happen.  There is frustration, anxiety and anger in this approach.  Especially since it never, ever works out – plans fall apart, feelings get hurt, time and money is wasted. 

My response, of course is to swing to the other extreme – I am going to shun this situation. Ignore the feelings; denounce the connection or the energy.  That is equally frustrating, because it is a constant battle “to remember to forget” something that is ringing in your soul. 

Eventually, I collapse in mental exhaustion, “I give up.”  Then, as if by magic – some clarity begins to permeate my mind.  Not an answer, or a revelation of what must be done with clear directions on how to do it, but the right questions – What could possibly be the intended purpose of this situation in my life?  How can I serve?  How can I grow?  What are the gifts here?

I find myself in such a predicament, as I aspire to live as my authentic self.  I do not want to be hampered by shame or ego.  I want to follow the desires of my heart.  I can hear the judgment in my head constantly.  “Are you crazy?”   “That is stupid?”  “How are you going to explain this to everyone?”  “People are going to think you are (a)__________ (fill in the blank with several different words).”  I do not want to be guided in my choices by these comments.

I am consciously choosing my actions and my words and checking my intention.  I am focused on getting the gifts, learning the lessons (albeit, eventually).  I am finding that when I act from this place of “allowing”, there is a sweet joy, a comfort and inner strength.  I recognize that the outcome is not for me to determine.  It is for me to be real, to serve, to be a friend, to give love and acceptance.  When mistakes are made and my ego is ruffled, it is for me to forgive.

I have an extraordinary opportunity to express who I am – to do the work of asking for what I want, expressing my hurt, being thankful, appreciating goodness, kindness, sweetness – the attributes I seek to develop in myself.  I can create an extraordinary experience that will last a lifetime.  

So the lesson for me is to constantly check in with myself, be honest about my feelings and my struggles, and always ask the questions about purpose, because they are the answers.

Sharon MacGregor, owner of Serene Serendipity, is an Integrative Health and Lifestyle Coach and Yoga Instructor, working with people who are ready to reclaim their health and live their dreams.  She is a a passionate foodie.  Her approach is to bring balance and connection to all areas of life, so the everyday is fulfilling. This mother of 2, is intent on helping people live the life of their dreams today. www.sereneserendipity.com.  Twitter:  @serenesharon  Facebook: 

What do I truly Love? 5 Ways to find your answer.

Perhaps loving something is the only starting place there is for making your life your own. - Alice Koeler

February is the month dedicated to LOVE.  This month holds the promise, that if we make what we truly love a part of our everyday, each day (regardless of the challenges) will be fully lived and fully enjoyed.


What do you truly love?  If you do not have an answer, do not worry, you are not alone.  The reality is - most of us do not know what we love.  During the course of our lives, other people's ideas about what we should love, and when, and how,  blur and hide our "real" answer.  Eventually, we have no idea what we truly love.  Thankfully, we can find the answer(s) by doing any or all of the following:

• Carry a small note book - each time you say to yourself, "I wish I could do that" - write it down.
• In your note book, record what you like about what other people are wearing - earrings, handbags, tee shirts, boots/shoes -  no plan, no judgement just appreciation.
• Carry a camera or use your phone camera to take pictures of things that catch your attention - patterns, furniture, signs, color combinations, shapes....any and everything.
• Start a Pintrest Board - this is an online "scrapbook"/pin board, which allows you to collect (and share if you like) images of things that you find interesting, as you cruise cyberspace -  www.pintrest.com 
• Visit local places - parks, restaurants, stores, malls - that has "something" special that resonates with you.  Allow yourself time to just sit and take in the atmosphere.

Here are just a few of my favorite, inspiring places:

• ABC Carpet & Home, NYC
• Cloisters Museum, NYC
• Lafayette Village, Raleigh, NC
• The Siena Hotel, Chapel Hill, NC
• Bikram Yoga Raleigh 
• Bookstores - any size, anywhere in the world
• Flea Markets

This is an exciting adventure, that will immediately change our lives, since we will be focusing on all that is good in our lives.  Who knows what the "records" will show by month's end, and how our lives will change as we fill our days with our true loves.

Serene Serendipity - Divine Events and Retreats has set up some exciting "adventures" that makes it easy for  you to explore and uncover your loves.  Check in at www.sereneserendipity.com.

it is a beautiful, winter day, at last!! I have some work to do on a great project that landed on my lap.

www.serenesharon@blogspot.com

New Year, New You, New Groove!

I exhaled at the end of 2011.  I had made it.  I exhaled because I had made progress.  I had accomplishments that mattered to me. I was living my life according to me.   In the past, that exhalation on New Year's Eve, was one of defeated hopelessness, surprised that I had not succumbed to life pressures, wondering if it will ever end.  Fear and anxiety were constant, my life was definitely NOT FUN.

MY LIFE.  It was mine, and I had no control of it.  I was tired of feeling like a rag doll, at the whim of whatever happened during the day.  I wanted to choose how I  experienced my life.  If I could not always control what was happening outside of my body, I at least wanted control of what was happening inside, especially   my reactions to circumstances, and the people around me.  I wanted to be happy.... I wanted some of that "peace that passes understanding" I was hearing and reading about.  I wanted to look forward to each day with joyful anticipation.  So, since I had nothing to lose, I made a commitment to myself to have My Best Year Ever! 

•  I talked to a Life Coach, who helped with a "life perspective re-adjustment."

• She helped me view my life objectively, and showed me where I had choices and opportunities to reclaim control.  I looked at all aspects of my life and rated how I felt about each (some examples are below).

• Friendships and other relationships
• Finances
• Job/work
• Health
• Love and Romance
• House and physical surroundings

• At the start of each day - I focused on how I felt when I opened my eyes
• what was causing the feelings
• what/who I wanted to avoid - the impact of facing or avoiding
• what I was looking forward to

• I looked at the big picture and started to implement small changes.  I identified:  
• what I enjoyed doing and wanted more of
• what I hated/resented doing and wanted less of
• what I ultimately wanted my life to look like.  
• who made me feel great/aweful (how and why)

Just taking a look at my life, and knowing where everything stood, was an immense relief. "Acceptance brings peace"  -  that is the absolute truth.  It is from this perspective, I could see clearly where to make changes, I could understand where the "blockades" were, and where my easiest paths to change lay.

I am happy, even with the challenges that come and go each day.  I have a real life that consists of several aspects of my ultimate dream life.

This year, I wish everyone the gift of a "life perspective-adjustment." This gift will put you on the journey towards living the life you always imagined.

You can find some life assessment forms to help you evaluate you life at Serene Serendipity Life Evaluation Series