Behind our Obstacle is a Shadow Story of Desire

by Nicole's Blog

Last month’s video blog asked you to create intentions for the New Year and I shared my 2014 intentions with you as well. How are you doing with this process and are you still on the path?

If you have hit some road blocks, like me, guess what?

You still have work to do. Yeah for us! Meet these challenges and get interested enough to change your patterns and create a new story. This really is the fun part of creation.

Without judgement, give yourself permission to process the obstacles and go deep within to work with the powerful, Divine energy we have access to at all times.

The platform for this month’s video is this quote by David Krueger, M.D., from my Yoga 2 Life Coach Training Program.

“Every story of an obstacle has a shadow story of desire. The obstacle contains, yet conceals, the desire. What you seek is camouflaged in what you fear. The secret hiding in the open is that an obstacle is the unconscious mnemonic of desire – it reminds you of what you want, but makes it safe to want if you’re afraid.” ~ by David Krueger, M.D

In my last video, I told you that my main

intention for this year is to live more fully from my heart and in that to find the miracles in all things.

As I say this

I am running up against road blocks in terms of being present to show up in this way due to being “too busy” and my back just went out.

I haven’t had one day off since New Year’s Eve. Interesting right? Thank you Universe for pointing out my patterns of resistance, my obstacle and my hidden desires.

Can I live fully in my heart and be too busy at the same time?

Do these carry the same vibrations? How does being too busy make me feel? Do I feel like I’m living fully from my heart and finding miracles?

I offer empowerment workshops teaching people how to see through their negativity, their language patterns, and move into their desires AND now it is time to share my tools and show you how I can start to clear myself!

In this video I break down this quote into pieces and I really discovered some PROFOUND things:

First round of discovery (in the video)
Obstacle = Too busy (this language is dis-empowering, as if we have no control, change this to abundance and bring back control of your schedule)
Desire = Abundance without having to do so much; Just being
Fear = This is lazy and I’m not deserving of easy abundance(ah ha moment, as we say in coaching, and my shift of perspective)

Going one level deeper (not yet discovered in the video)
Desire = True connection and deep intimacy with people
Fear = Vulnerability; Getting my heart broken; Am I worthy?
Obstacle = “too busy” shields me from my fears

What I truly want is true connection and deep intimacy with myself and others and that requires my full attention, presence, time and space!Can I live more fully from my heart and in that to find the miracles in all things when I experience true connection and deep intimacy with myself and others?

I’d say so!!! Rock on Hanuman! Having fun doing the work.

Our intrinsic value: HUMAN BEING not HUMAN DOING!

Sending you infinite love and light as this journey of awakening unfolds,
xo
Nicole

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Overcoming Obstacles – Finding Gratitude Through Deep Stillness

by Nicole's Blog

Whenever we are faced with obstacles on our journey, they are actually amazing opportunities in disguise to create stillness, to go within and to find gratitude for all things.

With every obstacle that arises we have a chance to see the shadowy parts of ourselves that lay hidden beneath the surface.  The fluctuations of the mind, the ego, and external forces create a landmine of distractions that can keep us from going deep within to listen to our soul.  We all know how easy it is, when faced with obstacles to judge and to move outside of our alignment toward self-destructive, punishing behaviors and thoughts of our wrongdoing. Or we can distract ourselves outwardly by socializing, searching for people to rally around our ‘being right’, or help those who are troubled so that we can forget about our own issues.

As described by the ancient philosophies, the truth is that the way to harness our power is to create stillness. 

In stillness we magnify our power by listening to silence. Silence gives us a glimpse of the free, unconditionally loving spirit within. It strengthens our intuition, which is our ability to see the inner world, in contrast to using our eyes to interpret the ever-changing outer world. Creating stillness is what most of us need and what most of us despise.  Stillness can be perceived as uncomfortable, frightful, lazy and lonely.

Let’s not forget that we are spiritual beings living in a human body and not the other way around.  The love for others and ourselves originates from our connection to Source energy.

“You are not a troubled guest on this Earth, you are not an accident amidst other accidents, you were invited from another and greater night than the one from which you have just emerged.” ~David Whyte

In the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali, (1.14) it is written, “control over the mind’s fluctuations comes from persevering practice and non-attachment”.

These two guiding concepts of Abhyasa (consistent practice) and Vairagya (non-attachment) help us to find meditation. Although they seem like opposites, effort and surrender, they work as compliments to find this peace within. Peace does not come without practice.

For me, the most effective way to design a practice is to create a sacred space right next to my bed. 

This way before I start my day, or before I go to bed, I have no excuse, but to stop at my altar.  I have adorned my altar with many representations of beauty, people, deities, rocks, stones, crystals, scents and elements of nature. I now have a meditation cushion to curb my excuses that it’s just not comfortable.

I also have slowed down significantly to find prayers of gratitude before my daily rituals like eating, yoga, or healing sessions to tap into my Source energy for guidance and love.

If the mind is heavily distracted I learned through the Law of Attraction to acknowledge all of the things that I am grateful for through stream of consciousness. This will turn my attention away from negative thought patterns and will line me up with Source energy. From Source, I can more easily drop into meditation.

For my meditations, especially if I am restless, I turn to wise meditation teachers to steer my silence through their guided meditations. 

Some of my favorite teachers are Deepak Chopra, Rod Stryker, Richard Freeman and Jeddah Mali.

On a final note about those feelings of discomfort, I want to share an analogy that I love from a Shaman I trained with in Peru.

Imagine for the first time you have just stepped onto an airplane.  Bad weather appears outside. The plane gets bumpy and is jolted. Major fear arises. You think are going to die. You reach for the barf bag in the seat in front of you and get sick.  The second time you get on the plane, you feel the jolt and you know what is causing it and the feeling of sickness may have dissipated.  After several plane rides you know the territory and you feel more safe.  Now, you can fall asleep on the plane with no effort. You completely trust and surrender that you are in good hands. 

The next time you sit down, remember that everything that’s new has its obstacles and that’s what provides the biggest growth. Sit with your fear and send it love.

This year has been one of the most challenging years of my life, with the biggest obstacles AND it has also the most expansive on all levels of my being.  Finding my meditation practice has transformed my life.

In pure love, light and joy.  May you find peace this Thanksgiving season and find meditation in all your days to come.

Blessings,

Nicole