Laura Erdman-Luntz, MA, E-RYT(500) | Yoga | Yoga Teacher Training | Minnesota | Costa Rica | Life Coaching

Your Story

 

One of the greatest gifts of learning about manifesting is you finally learn that you are the creator of your story, your life. You get to write it. Much of your life so far (and perhaps all) has been based on the stories others told you and you believed. Some stories were wonderful and therefore you thrive in those areas. Most of the stories were limiting and have only served us by keeping us small in those areas of our life.

I recently learned first hand of the power of our stories. It seems like it is such an insignificant story, but it represents something so much larger for me. I love coffee. I love the smell and the taste. I stopped drinking coffee the day I handed in my research thesis for my masters. (I was up to a pot a day.) I quit mostly because I was cutting out chemicals from my diet and the only way I could make the coffee sweet enough for my taste was with sweet-n-low. Anyway, I have told this story for years — I graduated in 1996 — you do the math. “I just can’t drink coffee without sweet-n-low”. (Feel free to add a whine and self-pity to that sentence — it was always full of it.) Whenever I tell the story, I also add that I miss it. I love the smell and my husband makes delicious coffee every morning so I smell it a lot. Finally, about a month ago, when I was telling this story for the umpteenth time, my husband said, “You have got to stop telling that story. You have changed so much. Why don’t you try coffee today, right now, with your new consciousness.” I did and I loved it!! I put in a single teaspoon of sugar and I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor. I had told that story for years and it had truly affected me and how I was living.

Granted, the story is insignificant perhaps, but I really got in that moment the power of our stories. What do you tell yourself that is negative about your financial situation? Your job? Your marriage? Your weight? Your business? Your home? Your children? If it is negative or something you don’t like, then rewrite your story. We assume today will be just like yesterday. Today can be completely different if you allow it. You can change on a dime, really. Sometimes it takes longer, but it doesn’t have to. It is really as simple as saying, “I am ready for this to be different.” Then you need to decide what you want, or better yet, how you want to feel, and begin to strive for that feeling. Your story is only a story and it can be changed.

A great start to writing your new story comes from a great book I read awhile ago called, Zero to Zillionaire by Chellie Campbell. She says to write the story of your life so far with only the highlights. Tell about all the wins in your life, all the silver linings. (She also recommends writing your story from the perspective of your losses, but I do not recommend spending any time there — although it is quite illuminating!) Start your day reading of your exploits and see how your day unfolds.

Related Posts:

• Beliefs: Do They Open Doors or Keep You Stuck?
• Life Coaching: What is it?
• Cease to Have Cherished Opinions

Get out of the Box

 

I have been studying the brain lately in reading a book called The Answer by John Assaraf and Murray Smith. Basically the book discusses how our unconscious mind keeps us stuck in our current (usually limiting) way of thinking, stuck in a box. Sometimes the box is pleasant ("My marriage box is lovely!") and sometimes it is mediocre or even very uncomfortable ("My current job is terrible but...I am stuck, I can't leave, I need the money..." -- you know the thoughts!). But it is what we know and there is security in what we know. A step away from the known is scary and we unconsciously (and sometimes consciously) avoid taking the next step. Often we can't even see the next step.

Ready to use your yoga to expand your consciousness? Remember what you do on the mat transfer off the mat and vice versa. Ready to expand out of your box in your job? Marriage? Friendships? You can do it on the mat first. How? Do you always do the same practice or same type of practice? Do you love forward folds and avoid backbends? Do you always want to feel like you’ve worked hard so that your practice “counts”? Do you sit on your mat with no energy and just sit there? Have you done the same 10 poses in the same order for years? Use your practice to break out of the box. Change it up. Do something different! Find a pose you always avoid or one you have never done. Begin to experiment. If you always feel you need a workout, do a restorative practice. If you always do restorative, do something vigorous and get your heart pumping!

Okay, now, does the mere thought of doing something different even for one day bring fear to your heart? That is the sign that you definitely need to do something different!

Ready to Rock Your New Year?:  I have just released my "New Year's Resolutions From the Heart" home study course.  Includes a 40 min podcast with workbook to take you through the three steps for setting Goals from Your Soul:  Letting go of what no longer servies you, Feeling big enough for your dream, and Surrendering with grace and gratitude to the present.  You can also take each step to your yoga mat and add the accompanying podcasts.  Each step has breathing, visualizations and series of asanas to help you.  Ready to rock your new year and let your yoga mat help you?  More information and to order.

Effortless Change

 

 

“The single most important tool to being in balance is knowing that you
and you alone are responsible for the imbalance between
what you dream your life is meant to be,
and the daily habits that drain life from that dream.”
~ Wayne Dyer

Admittedly, this quote is about manifesting, consciously creating your dream. Yet I also use this quote when I consider making changes in my habits, especially when it comes to my yoga practice. Certain habits support who you want to be, where you are going, and other habits keep you stuck in your current place.  I know my yoga practice, meditating, eating well, etc. keep me feeling good and help me grow and evolve.  It is much easier to remain committed when I think in those terms.

Normally when we attempt to affect change in our lives we use sheer will power, making ourselves do something, forcing really. Sometimes the new habit takes root and other times it doesn’t only to leave us feeling as if we have failed. This quote changes everything. What is your dream? How do you want to show up in the world? Do your habits support that dream or drain the life from it? I find, with my heart focused on the dream, it is much easier to make changes in my life, to do what I know supports the dream. In fact, I find the changes come about quite joyfully when I connect them to a higher dream.

Do your habits match with who you are and who you are becoming? What do you really want in your life? Begin to be selective and move yourself closer to your dream each minute of your day.

Ready to Rock Your New Year?:  Join me on Friday, December 16 for New Year's Resolutions From the Heart, a powerful telecass to take you through the three-steps for setting deeper, more profound resolutions to make 2012 your most amazing year ever!  More info and to register.

Ready to start living your Extraordinary Life...Starting tomorrow?

Where are you in your life?  Is it where you thought you would be by this age?  Have you ever thought about what you really want and then felt the courage to go for it?  Ready to make SURE your life isn't the same in Five Years?

I want to invite all of you to join me beginning next week for the full course of The Art of Manifesting Your Dreams!  We will spend 6 inspiring weeks together as I guide you toward the life you have only dreamed of living.

Register now!

Teleclass

In-Person (in the Twin Cities)

I know this course will make a difference in your life.  You will definitely more toward more joy and contentment, feeling a sense of vibrancy you have only dreamed of experiencing.  I am so sure of it, I want to offer you a discount if you register today (10/5/11)!  This discount will last until midnight tonight so be sure to get yourself registered!  (If you want to pay by check -- just email me by midnight to let me know and I will honor the discount!)

Both the LIVE and teleclass course start tomorrow!  Come on, join me!  You know you want to.   

Want to know the most common reason people give me for not taking the course, "Now is just not the time."  I hear all about how the kids keep you busy, work is stressful, you have too much on your plate already, you want to declutter your junk drawer before you come.  (Yes, I have heard that one!)  Okay, so when will be the right time?  Think about it, we are always putting off the good stuff.  Come on, this class will HELP you do all the things you want to do!  It will enhance your life in ways you cannot even imagine....yet!

Register now:  

Teleclass

In-Person

When you register, add the code: iamready to receive a $50 discount!

What makes this series special is yoga!  For each of the 6 sessions, you will receive yoga podcasts (asanas, visualizations, or breathing) to help you incorporate the concepts.  Have you "tried" to be strong enough to do something?  Yoga can help!  Have you "tried" to let go of an old behavior?  Yoga can help!  Yoga is a powerful addition to this process.  

 
Read what popular blogger and founder of FinanciallySmitten.com, Lora Sasiela had to say:  "Laura has been an incredible guide as I manage a huge life transition. Her insights, support, and six-step program have helped me gain clarity and direction on next steps. Her unique and brilliant blending of life coaching and yoga is incredibly synergistic and I love having her yoga podcasts and visualizations to deepen the work in between our appointments. Laura is a gifted healer and you will  feel wonderfully blessed and grateful to be coached by her."

The course is offered both in-person (if you are in the Twin Cities) and by teleclass if you are anywhere else.  Here are the links for more info and to register:

Teleclass

In-Person

Still hesitating?  Have you taken a moment to watch this video yet?  Take 2 minutes and 36 seconds to watch this powerful video and then follow your heart... 

Ready to make SURE your life isn't the same in Five Years? (And listen to this visualization to further inspire you...my gift to you:  In five years....)

Curious, but still not sure?  Here is my new e-book to get you started on the six steps.  Please enjoy it as my gift to you:

The Art of Manifesting Your Dreams

 
Here is to living YOUR Extraordinary Life!

Life Coaching: What is it?

 
I have two spaces opening up for coaching in March...Would you like one of them?  Contact me to schedule your first, complimentary session in February.  Then we will hit the ground running in March!  Are you ready to ignite YOUR life?

What should you expect with coaching?  

• Coaching is done all over the phone.  People are often surprised that I only work by phone.  I find it has so many benefits.  First of all, you can fit it more easily into your busy life.  Second, you can call from anywhere and chatting about yourself from the comfort of your own home is powerful.
• You will begin to see things you haven't seen before:  I will call you on your "stuff", challenge you to see what you haven't been seeing but what was right in front of you all along so you can begin to evolve and grow faster than ever!
• You will feel better:  I will expect you to do things for yourself, to take better care of yourself, and to find joy in life. 
• You will find your Extraordinary Life:  You know, that life that is full of purpose, fulfilling and vibrantly joyful.
• You will have support like never before:  Have you ever had someone who sole purpose is to support YOU?  It matters  not to me what you do, I am here to support who you are.

Staying on Course With Sick Little Ones

(One of my clients recently had a challenge in his life.  His young children were both sick with pneumonia and he had full-time work taking care of them.  He was upset and a little worried because he wasn’t able to do his "practice" to keep his vibration up and maintain his new consciousness.  Here was my response to him...I thought it might help a few of you.)

A large part of a joyful life is being able to flow with what life brings you.  Taking care of your little ones with patience and love takes precedence.  Having said that, what often happens is merely “speed bumps” but can easily become an opportunity to fall back into old consciousness.  You are tired, probably not taking as good care of yourself as you normally do, and old thinking easily seeps in.  Doing what you can (both to study and to take care of yourself) in the cracks of your day is powerful for maintaining your course.  Cleaning a small pile of clutter with a spare 5-minutes.  Or using the 5 minutes to breath and regroup.  Be mindful and conscious and you will have the wind in your sails quickly again!