The calm beneath // Choosing an expansive existence // $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$

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recommended pairing:
Not from Here, Dye O

Friday, April 2

lightward.com/newsletter

 

The calm beneath

Current feeling: planar. As in having a flat or level surface that continues in all directions. Like that. Like I stretch everywhere, forever, and the point of my focus on that plane is the now, and I am just exploring this vast surface.

I’m not sure what will happen next. My team is maturing and expanding; our projects are too. Abe and I are exploring other media: the podcast, LT, also this @whole30recipes takeover next week (see the what-we’re-making section at the end). Other relevant things: I feel closer to and better with my family than ever. My body is stronger than ever. I feel more like myself than ever.

I’m becoming more aware of the experiences that I’m having, and I’m finding it more difficult to take myself seriously when tempted to frustration and annoyance and the like. Like, I’ve been human long enough to know really deeply that those emotions don’t represent me. Not really.

And that’s making it easier, in a way, to enjoy it all, no matter what.

I believe, honestly, that we’re all made for (of?) joy. It’s a trivial proof, for me, and I don’t know how to articulate this clearly, but it’s glaringly obvious in my head: healthy, vivacious life feels like joy, and creates more life around it; we are surrounded by life; therefore, joy must be the default mode. (Or to put it inversely: I think that a living world in which joy is not the default is absolutely nonviable.)

If life is fundamentally the stuff of joy, it’s hard to stay mad. Or depressed, or outraged, or any of those things. I feel my awareness shifting, back or up or something, to a place where I can hold and behold those emotional interruptions, almost from a place of amusement. If there’s no threat in those feelings anymore, and if I’m not diving into them far enough to impact anyone else, then what’s the harm in enjoying them as they pass through?

I’m not sure what will happen next. Everything’s in motion, all the time, for everyone, and there are movements we contain and movements that contain us. I can’t do everything (what would that mean?), but I can do what’s here, be who I am, and I can enjoy it completely.

:)

 

Wellness for you, and for me

Breathe with me. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose. Now exhale. We humans are MADE to breathe through our noses—did you know that? We have, over time, overused our mouths and underutilized our noses as tools for breathing.

Here are some incredibly important benefits of nasal breathing: 

  • More efficient oxygen absorption

  • Lowered stress and inflammation 

  • Less congestion, clearer nasal airways

So, when you’re at your desk working away, or simply enjoying a Saturday morning, remember, breathe through your nose!

Choosing an expansive existence

I had a powerful conversation with a client recently about the shift they felt when they finally got sick of the feeling of limiting themselves.

Zee (let’s call them Zee) realized that they were choosing to continue buying into the belief of limitation in most areas of their life. These limiting beliefs were subtle yet powerful—these thoughts were dictating exactly how much money they thought they could make, what they did with their time, etc.

As part of their “homework” between calls, I had Zee write down, with specifics, what an expansive life would look like and feel like to them. That prompt invited Zee to really consider every aspect of their life and think about what they actually wanted. It was new for Zee. It’s actually uncomfortable for a lot of people to really consider what their dream existence would feel and look like.

Zee then began surrounding themselves with really intentional, inspiring conversations with their friends for two weeks. Zee talked to their friends about possibilities, ideas, and began to to really feel what was possible for their life. Since we started working together a year ago, Zee has already tripled their income—and after these past two weeks, they are now determined to double their income again. Why? Because Zee is choosing to live and ground themselves in their own expansiveness.

We talked about moving away from self-limiting habits (e.g. negative self-talk, pessimistic relationships and conversations, saying no to your desires and dreams) and developing self-expanding habits (e.g. celebrating small wins, engaging in inspiring and intentional conversations, saying YES to your desires and dreams, practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with optimistic friends, etc). It’s all possible when you start to believe it is.

Are you limiting yourself? Or are you allowing yourself to expand to versions of yourself yet unknown? Yet uncharted? You have incredible capacity to feel good and to spend every day living well—fully and wholly alive. What will you choose right now? Limitation or expansion?

Friend, let your soul, your heart, your mind, your creativity, your energy, your talents, your dreams, let them expand. Let them feel the warmth of the sun and the power of life itself. You are worth it.

I believe in you and your expansion—it is all possible.

Abe

 

Made, making

We are taking over the @whole30recipes Instagram account starting MONDAY! We have some really cool things lined up for the week. Join us, we’d love your support and love as we share recipes & love to 1.5 million humans! :D :D

 @whole30recipes 

Empowered Human Academy

This week’s guest is our dear friend Rich Holton, who self-describes as a listener. As an actor, he harnesses that ability of listening to the world around him—staying close to what life brings to the surface. Based in Chicago, Rich has appeared on “Chicago PD” and renowned theatres like Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Second City.

Rich was our personal trainer for two years while we were living in Chicago, so we got to experience his resilience and dedication to his craft up close. That inner fire and drive he carries is one of the many reasons why we wanted to have him on the podcast. Throughout this conversation we discuss the value of listening, knowing your why, viewing the world as a benevolent place, the message underneath fear, and working out as a way of choosing bravery even when you feel small. We really loved this conversation and we’re stoked to share it with you!

Listen on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

 empoweredhumanacademy.com 

Lightward Together

When we’re forging new paths for ourselves, it’s going to be awkward, scary, and hard. So how can you normalize being gentle towards yourself in the midst of small, yet decisive change? Normalize the wobbling as you experiment with something new.

That’s a big part of why we started Lightward Together—to remind ourselves that we’re not alone by cultivating a group experience centered on empowerment. Spending 75 minutes every two weeks with like-minded people who are also deeply engaged in their own growth is powerful, inspiring, and helps us remember who we are.

If you’ve been curious about these group sessions, then we have exciting news! We’re opening up 2 spots per session—free of charge—for anyone who’s interested in deepening their own empowerment journey. Reply to this email, and let’s get started.

 lightward.com/together 
 

in love,
Abe + Isaac

UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP

 

Lightward Inc, 1321 Upland Dr., PMB 11999, Houston, United States

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