There are radically different energies, or ways of being, in life. As an entrepreneur I've always been influenced by the startup world (and in reality, this is the general vibe of our culture too) of 'make it happen,' and 'power through.' That's how I began building my business. It got me so very far in life, and it has been the only way I know to get things done. It's an approach that has merits and it produces results. 

AND ... I'm starting to comprehend that there's another way. I recently got back from two weeks in Hawaii (a most incredible place) and in these weeks following, I've been allowing room for that vacation mode to stick around.  I put a halt to the stacked agenda of back to back items (keeping me busy so I feel 'productive') and I'm giving myself space.  I've been allowing myself to feel more fluid, intuitive, and attuned to my place in everything around me. I'm noticing, paying attention to more subtleties, generating my own thoughts more clearly, and receiving ideas of others with more room to process them. 

I'm not going to lie my very own rational mind does not understand what I'm doing, how it's going to 'make things happen,' or when I'm going to 'fit it all in.' And it's because this mode of operating does not fit into a linear, traditional, analytical approach to living - or growing a business. I'm wrestling every day with 'am I doing the right thing?' This mode goes against everything I've been taught about how to grow a successful business.

And maybe that's okay.

Because - - what's crazy is that I've been seeing results. And these results are far more unbelievable and energizing than anything I could have 'pushed out' of me.  They are the dream opportunities that I thought I'd have to work 10 more years to get - like having corporate clients find me and hire me to lead my workshops in new cities, or an inspiring friend asking me to collaborate on a retreat in Costa Rica this winter. That wasn't on my '6 month plan' but it is certainly on my bucket list. So why not go straight to the bucket list??

I truly believe these opportunities are emerging because I've suddenly given them room to be there. And as an outcome I'm being pulled into an amazing next phase of my business rather than pushing out a mediocre, incremental next step. It feels wondrous and often unbelievable to even to me living it.

So I leave you today with this question for yourself - is there anything in your life that you are forcing right now?

Is there a way you can step back for a moment and give yourself space to feel your way back to your intuition ... to allow something to emerge, rather than feel like you have to push it out right now?

This is not easy - trust me, I know. 

Still, perhaps it's worth giving a new approach a try? Even in a single tiny step, it can open your eyes to a different possibility.

Yes, it is a 'woo' concept - AND - embracing this idea has absolutely transformed my business and my life this past year (because my business & I are wondrously intertwined at this point).

The first four months going solo starting Mind Into Matter last fall, all I heard in my head was my inner critic railing against me (I've named her Deirdre) ... subconsciously tearing down my ideas, crashing the party of any celebration, and constantly demanding I work harder, do more, be perfect. I was vulnerable and raw and my innermost self was hating on me for feeling that way.

Then, I picked up "Playing Big" by Tara Mohr and thanks to her exercise on tuning in to what's playing inside your head, I realized what was going down and I found ways to turn the volume down on Deirdre. What was left in that space was acceptance, encouragement, and true LISTENING to myself. I began to trust myself bit by bit, explore my own ideas with curiosity, and put deeper faith into the inkling of vulnerable aspirations that were rising up in my calmer headspace I could now create. From all this inner work, I was able to design and 'birth' my very own first course, Plugged In, this past April ... and when it wrapped up, I experienced the single proudest, most fulfilling, rewarding, and radiant experience I've ever felt.

So, I've felt the power of self love and I know that there is ZERO chance I would still be in business - or creating one that I am overjoyed to be running - unless I had learned to become my own source of love inside. We cannot write off a big concept like 'radical self love' to the domain of gurus, yogis, or monks - - and I know the average reaction to these words might be just that, I used to do it too! I've seen how it is absolutely vital to entrepreneurs, creators, artists, and anyone who wants to bold enough to build a life that lights them up.

So dip your toe into what self love means to you, explore what it feels like when you try it on. Notice the words you use with yourself and pay close attention to how they make you feel ... observing at first, and then making tweaks and adjustments as you realize what's going on. If you feel vehemently against it, that tells you something too. Seek out resources that empower you to get a handle on embracing self love - check out Tara's book, the podcast below, the Headspace meditation app, or set up a complementary session with me. It's a 'one step at a time' kind of process, so find one that you want to take today and go do it!

**For more inspiration, check out this fabulous conversation on the Good Life Project about what it means to embrace self love for building your business and being a human who's truly alive, with Gala Darling.

Time to start feelin' the love baby!