self improvement

1. Waiting until you’re “ready.”

Guess what. You’ll never feel ready. But that’s okay. Because you still are ready. If you are being called to do something (whether that be a calling you hear from within or someone else entrusting you with an opportunity), you are ready. If the moment has presented itself, you are ready. If you weren’t ready, you wouldn’t hear the calling. You wouldn’t feel pushed in that direction.

Just because you don’t believe in you doesn’t mean that someone else (or The Universe) doesn’t. The stars are already aligned. The perfect moment is now. Action expresses priorities. Begin anywhere.

Your ability has very little to do with the skills you are worried about. Instead, it has everything to do with your readiness to act. Just do it and you’ll be doing it.

2. Using mind over matter.

The body (surprise!) actually knows what it’s doing. It’s very wise. And you are very smart and have a great brain, but the truth is: the body is pretty great and moving and functioning the way it’s supposed to.

We get in the habit of using our minds over our matter by thinking we can control it in so many little ways throughout the day: by feeding it the wrong way, but not resting properly, by keeping odd hours, by not being active enough, and even by the way we carry ourselves throughout the day. Our yoga practice is a huge opportunity to learn to take cues from the body rather than overriding it and doing what we think is best. Because it’s not. Trust the wisdom of your body and the rationality of the brain.

3. Comparing yourself to others.

Competition is a myth. No one possess your special set of gifts that you are responsible for sharing with the world. And the people you compare yourself to alsopossess unique gifts that only they can share with the world.

Where is your self-esteem coming from? You’ll run into trouble if it’s always coming from an external source. Don’t waste your precious time on this Earth trying to be someone else. Because who then will be you?

Don’t concern yourself with being better than someone else. Be better than you were yesterday. 

4. Dwelling on people that have hurt you.

It’s very easy to dwell on past pains in order to justify feeling hurt, bitter, sad, angry, jealous, afraid, lonely, etc. These are just ways we tell ourselves we are not good enough or not deserving of what we want. Which is really our ego telling us that it’s afraid and if we stay in a low place of pain and hurt and bitterness, then we can avoid moving through negative feelings to get to the good stuff. To get to the place where we are free and open and loving no matter what has happened.

We resist forgiveness because it is scary. It is scary to forgive others and it is definitely scary to forgive ourselves. Our ego wants to stand up and be all defiant and point fingers so it can stay in a low state of consciousness where the individual is separate from the Universe.

But when we stop dwelling on those who have hurt us, we are able to see them as reflections of the same Light, the same Universe, the same spark of special love magic awesome sauce that you have within you. And all of a sudden, those pains don’t matter that much anymore. Because you’re getting closer to the G-O-D and that’s just way more fun than being mad at someone.

5. Delaying your dreams in favor of being “realistic.”

Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity. It’s is handy excuse for not taking the responsibility for manifesting your dreams. It’s a limiting belief that sounds like a good idea when you’re too scared to play the big game. Why not be scared and do it anyway? Why not be audacious with your own life? Who says you are in charge of “rationally” capping off what you are capable of?

It’s not easy to go after your biggest dreams. And it is definitely scary, but seriously,why get too comfortable being comfortable? Taking a huge risk to achieve your dreams may not always be smart, but it is definitely wise. 

Your dreams shouldn’t be realistic. They should scare the hell out of you. But you should do them anyway.

6. Waiting for someone to “make you feel” better.

No one can make you feel anything. They can’t make you feel happy, sad, strong, relieved excited, inadequate, lonely, or prepared. Or ANYTHING.

It’s on you, homeslice. Stop giving other people the responsibility of making you feel better and then getting bummed when they let you down. It’s not their thing. It’s all you. If you want to have a nice day, then have a nice day. 

And with that, I’m off. Happy weekend, loves. What habits will you kick today? Comment below or click here to tweet it loud and proud!