Have you ever felt shame for feeling fear? You are so not alone. Yet, being afraid doesn’t mean you are weak or less resilient and courageous. It simply means you are human.
Nobody on this planet is immune to fear. Fear is ingrained in our genetic make-up. We are programmed to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
In simple terms, this means that your brain often interprets change as equal to pain.
Therefore, your brain is sabotaging your progress, assuming it protects you from danger!
✖️ it tells you that CHANGING your diet equals pain. ✖️ it tells you that CHANGING your workout regimen is too hard. ✖️ it tells you that CHANGING your relationships is too much work. ✖️ it tells you that CHANGING your lifestyle is too inconvenient. ✖️ it tells you that CHANGING your habits is too uncomfortable.
In short, this part of your brain (called the critter brain) doesn’t care if your intention to change benefits your well-being or if endangers it. As far as your brain is concerned, ”changing” means danger; danger means pain, and pain means possible death. Ouch!
Next time you feel afraid to change a habit, remember that feeling fear is part of the process. Your brain is programmed to shut down your motivation in order to PROTECT you.
Your fear is a self-protective mechanism that mother nature has created for us in order to keep us alive. Similarly to working out, your brain needs time to adjust to doing the extra mile/pushing one more rep, and feeling safe at the same time.
Small changes create great results because your brain doesn’t see them as threats.
On the contrary, if you push too hard and too fast, your immune system shuts down, and this leads to emotional and physical overwhelm. Slow and steady always wins the race!
So why feeling fear is a good thing?Because it is a signal that you are doing something outside of your comfort zone, and that you are stepping into the unknown. No great inventions would have been possible if we were not afraid to challenge the status quo and change our ways of thinking and being.
Next time you feel afraid, congratulate yourself for the bravery to try something new and evolve from your old “you.”
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
The sad reality is not that fewer people achieve their resolutions that those who don’t; the sad reality is most people don’t even try!
We are approaching the last calendar month of 2018 and right now is the best time to reflect on our accomplishments from the past year and set the goals we want to keep pursuing from January: in order to fully master their ultimate potential for success and reap the seeds of their fertilization.
Having a successful year requires a commitment, active engagement, cohesive planning, and a hard rock motivation!
No one can make your life successful for you… and no one is responsible if you don’t take action and ownership: not your parents, not your spouse, not your boss, not your upbringing, or your financial situation.
It is only up to us to dig into our minds and pull out the one Idea that will make us wake up every day with a purpose and joy. Ask your heart: “What do I want?”
Often, the answer ties to “time:” more time for yourself; more time for your family; more time to travel; more time to explore your passions? No, we don’t need more time for the things we love. We need less time for the things we don’t.
Choose what you truly, truly love doing and pursue it full heartedly. Success is just a natural outcome of hard work and passion for making a difference with your gifts. – Everything comes in a place when we are in an alignment with our soul purpose. When you have an Idea what you want in life, you start to become patient with your current circumstances… because you become aware that nothing is inalterable.
– Of course, it is not wise to suddenly quit your job and start traveling the world, if you haven’t saved enough money for it…But it is a matter of attitude, discipline and preparation! – Once you have a plan for the things you want to achieve that bring you ultimate joy, you start showing up for the commitments you currently have with a different mindset: you start controlling your environment and not let it control you!
Statistics repeatedly remind us that the percentage of the world population that keeps their new year`s resolutions after their initial enthusiasm is, not surprisingly, quite low. The January craze is so short-lived because it doesn`t include a solid foundation that can continue creating the framework of the intended goal once the “new year” motivation has subsided. ••• Creating a clear vision for the upcoming 365 days requires time for contemplation and a designated plan with a strategic structure for its execution. The reason why so many people report failing to keep their spontaneous (and heavily Media influenced) new year’s resolutions is because they create them on an impulse that tends to be void of deep cohesive mind, body&soul connectivity to making it happen. •••
Nothing can deteriorates you from your path if you keep moving forward toward its success. It may take longer than intended but usually this gets divinely compensated by the added opportunities for growth we encounter by coping with the setbacks. As with everything, your mindset is in command to how it perceives experiences. There are no “good” or “bad” experiences, after all. Our subconscious mind declares them as such. •••
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Hope you now feel inspired to write down all of your goals for next year in your journal/or on your phone and visualize what (changes) must be done on your part to make it happen. *** No more time to wait. Let’s make this new year our time to be happy and love freely: ourselves, our friends, our partners, and those we meet.#2019D
I’ve always loved to dance, since I was four-five years old. Nevertheless, dancing, for me, is more than the activity of moving your body to (or even without) music. It’s our inner rhythm, our compass, our most natural self-expression. And it’s in all of us. Everybody is designed to move freely and be in balance with their body.
It is unnatural to be static, sedentary and in a misalignment to our somatic intelligence and mind&body connection. The way we feel about ourselves is imprinted in our posture, poise and grace. For all genders. When one feels confident and connected to their emotions, their body directly synthesizes that cellular information and displays it through their movement.
When I started my wellness blog, I hesitated to share my story. I wasn`t sure If I should be that vulnerable online with so many people who don`t know me, and even more challenging, with those who do!
I realized, however, that my own transformational story is the very reason I “heard” and followed my calling to become a motivational speaker, writer, wellness blogger, and – as of now – a health coach. In addition, the mission of my platform is to show that vulnerability is the first critical step toward healing.
As Peter Nivio Zarlenga said, “To come to be you, you must have a vision of Being, a Dream, a Purpose, and a Principle. You will become what your vision is.”
During my undergraduate studies at the University of Washington (from where I graduated in 2018, with a double major and honors in dance), I was first exposed to the healing properties of dance therapy, mindful eating, meditation and the practice of journaling to metacognition-enhancing prompts.
Gradually, yet steadily, my whole life transformed! I built strong confidence in myself; learned how to listen to my intuition; gained the courage to become an entrepreneur, and (most importantly) followed my passion to create a spiritual business that weaves my intrapersonal and interpersonal skills (based on my degree in International Studies and previous educational experience in Cross-Cultural Communications and Sociology), and my love for dance and mindful living.
Finally, the spiral has come to a completion and I have the privilege to create a platform that serves to encourage and inspire all of you to say “YES” to your dreams, your needs and desires.
As Joseph Campbell wisely: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”.
“Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” — Victor Hugo
The reason I named my brand Dance Fit Ideas is because dance symbolizes my passion for helping people be more connected to their emotional, mental and physical health. Fitness is more than an aesthetic value. In fact, it begins with our intention to be fit, in the very idea to change, become better and feel more aligned to who we are, and who we can become once we become truly connected to our ultimate potential.
If you are looking for ways to become more empowered, more confident, more loving, more giving, more centered, more grounded, more appreciated and more successful – in all areas of your life, subscribe to my blog to receive weekly motivation and resources how to achieve all of your fitness and wellness goals.
And if you need more assistance, please consider the coaching programs that I offer.
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Love, scientifically speaking, is not more than an illusion created by a mix of chemicals and hormones that produce the fuzzy feeling we feel in our heart for another person.
Yet, philosophically speaking, there is more to love than the “feeling” we associate with its presence or lack.
Love is a choice. Love is a daily commitment to validating that choice with our actions. Love doesn’t fade, even when the sexual attraction begins to subside. Love is caring and always present, even when we hurt, or experience pain. Love is omnipresent. It exists in and for all of us. Love is our state of consciousness and is our responsibility to access and spread it generously to those we encounter.
Spread some love and share this article ❤
A common misconception is that love just happens to us without us doing anything to attract it to our life. True, it is very possible (and frequently occurring) to meet a stranger that emanates magnetizing charm that pervades our imagination and succumbs us our hormonal state to a state of abiding arousal, also known as infatuation.
Yet, technically speaking, we owe that attraction to the exchange of pheromones and our fantasy-subconscious that is responsible for our perception of the ‘other’ as a highly compatible lover: which, by itself, does NOT necessarily translate to long-lasting partnership compatibility!
In other words, in order to attract a relationship that lives beyond our present state of lack (as, very often, we get attracted to people that possess a quality we want, but don’t have) we must enter a state of mind that is already tuned to self-love and compassion. 📍📍📍 We cannot attract (or even witness love, even if is there in front of us) if we don’t feel as we can/want/or are ready for it. •••> Love is everywhere around us. It is not a container that ever goes empty.
And You, dear reader, have an equal share.
Before you start dating please first ask yourself:
Are you ready to attract a thriving, loving relationship that fills us up from the inside out?
A relationship that is not conditional and is ever-flowing?
A loving relationship that is not selfish and is healing?
If the answer is YES then you must love yourself first before loving someone else. If the answer is NO then you must love yourself even more before loving someone else.
Here are my personal practices for self-love.
Gratitude. Every day find a time in your day to be grateful for having a heart that can love and be loved by others. Live your life as you already have the intimate partner you desire. How would it be to have them in your life? How would you feel? How would you act? Imagine the excitement you will feel spending time with them or responding to their text message. Now send all of that ecstatic vibration back to your heart and thank the Universe for sending love your way, every day.)
Spending time doing something you love. That’s an activity that is uniquely yours but I recommend you to do an activity that is independent of external stimuli and you can do by yourself. Check out my curate your happiness ritual article.
Exercise and eat proper nutrition for your body.This one is SO important! You need to feel connected to your body to release stress and connect to your creative power (the same chakra –Svadhishthana – associated with our sexuality, fyi!). Eating an alkaline diet will help you to stay hydrated and more in tune with your body and heart. Loving your body brings you self-respect, confidence and healthy sexuality.
Practicing yoga is a gentle and loving way to energize your body and release stress.
—💛❤️💜 The more love we feel for ourselves, and for the world around us, the more love we will attract to our lives. Do you love yourself enough? Take a moment to reflect and be very honest with yourself…
~ With Love and Care,
Ana-Maria
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
What We See VS What We Choose To See Are Two Different Dimensions Of The Reality We Create In Our Minds.
A glass can be half full or half empty depending on our perception. A situation can uplift or downgrade our efforts depending on which outcome we focus our intention.
Believing in yourself is a process that requires patience and kind self-talk.
Our vision is a direct result of our inner state of “seeing” the world. When we focus on searching for the good in all circumstances, the good will appear. But first, it will test our patience. What we see in others is a reflection on our own behavior and personality traits.
Everyone poses some overt darkness. It is we when we invite the light that we can forgive those who have harmed us and peacefully detach from them. It is when we choose to seek love in us, that love responds and is reflected back on us.
What we attract is a mirror of our state of consciousness and empathy for the world and its injustices and pain.
When we feel compassion and acceptance – we attract compassion and acceptance back to us.
————————————————————————————————————————————-
That applies to our body image. What you see in the mirror is a reflection of your inner state of being. If you feel confident and accepting of your shape – you will project it in your outer appearance.
————————————————————————————————————————————–
According to the Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of the semantics of this word, confidence is “the quality of being certain of your abilities or having trust in people, plans, and the future.” That certainty that we can deal with everything that happens in our inner and outer hemisphere is symbolized by our embodied language. When we emulate trust, acceptance, and love for ourselves and the people around is, it is effortlessly radiating through our physical appearance.
On the other hand, when we are stressed, anxious or scornful – our posture tends to hunch down, our face gets tense, our stomach feels tight and our hormones easily go out of whack. One of the most significant boosts of confidence is physical exercise, combined with positive self-talk, meditation and an alkaline diet. You cannot only heal your mind, without taking care of your body too.
Shifting your mindset towards the creation of a positive relationship with yourself is an ever-changing journey that often stumbles upon challenges that will test your will-power.
It requires patience, compassion for the struggle that comes with it, and a strong desire to change. And it first begins in your p e r c e p t I o n…
I genuinely applaud you if you’re the kind of person that never faces self-doubt.
However, statistics show that most creative souls experience an immense amount of self-doubt and creativity blockages.
In reality, creativity is an ever-flowing source of inspiration.
it is when we COMPLETELY let go of the inhibition to be creative when we can unleash our already inbred creative power.
Below are my three pillars of tuning in to creativity – the creativity we all humans have inside us, regardless of our “left”/“right”-side of the brain predispositions.
I. EXPRESS
We express our creative talents differently. Some of us like to play an instrument, to sing, to paint, to cook, to write poetry, to take photos…
Once we find it, we must connect to it and recognize it as our source of intrinsic and omnipresent passion.
When we are passionate about our creative mark, inspiration follows us everywhere we go.
We begin to “breathe” our art, to exhale creativity and tune in with its medium of expression.
II. HONOR
The opposite of passion is stagnation.
And stagnation stems from fear: fear of not being good enough, creative enough, skillful enough, experienced enough, worthy-of-calling-yourself-an-artist enough.
And that’s why so many people live their lives in regrets for not following up on their childhood passion to play the piano, be a painter, learn how to sing, take more dance classes, etc.
There is this stereotype that if one hasn’t been working on their gift from an early age they are doomed to abandon their needs for creativity and wait for another lifetime to pursue them.
And that’s, in short, the shame of following up on an idea what creativity is, without honoring your unique life situation.
Whether you have been an artist all of your life, or you suddenly wake up one day in your 40s, with the desire to sing/paint/play an instrument/etc, honor that need.
III. CULTIVATE
When you find what makes you feel joyous and creative, you have to begin showing up for it and set time in your life to just do it.
