Why I Don’t Practice Yoga

It’s ridiculous to say since I’m a yoga teacher, but I avoid my own personal practice.

I could get all deep and pick apart my psyche to figure out why, but it’s not that complicated – I resist what will make me feel good.

Because if I feel how I want to feel – embodied, aligned, powerful, content – then I have a lot of explaining to do about my external circumstances.

– How can I feel embodied and justify eating sugar, which makes my body feel awful?
– How can I feel aligned and justify procrastinating because I say I’m overwhelmed?
– How can I feel content and justify the drama I create to distract myself?

It’s just easier to hold myself back from feeling really good.

At least then I don’t have to face all the other areas of my life that are out of alignment too.

For you, it may not show up in your eating habits, workout regime, or relationships. In fact, for most of my clients, the real pain is in your career and your pocketbook.

You either hate your job or you like it but still feel dissatisfied. You’d like to do something – be something – different and bigger someday, but you’re not sure what.

So you stay doing what you’re doing, feeling how you’re feeling, knowing deep down you could change it if you really wanted to…

But the fear of facing what that means about the rest of your life – the other choices you’ve made – your partner, home, friends, hobbies – is too big.

It’s easier to keep trudging along believing what you allow yourself to believe and hope it turns out well.

I get it.

I felt that way when I worked for the government. I had my absolute dream job and everything going for me, but I still felt “off”.

I assumed it was just me. I assumed everyone else felt completely happy and fulfilled, but seeing the blank expressions on the train ride home, I knew it couldn’t be true.

But I was scared of what that meant. I was scared of the ramifications of letting myself mentally wander down that path.

Was there another option?

I was afraid to even tell people what I was thinking because the response usually involved suggestions to find another (similar) job, go back to school, or ask for a raise.

But I wanted something outside of what my friends, family, and colleagues could understand. Which made me wonder – would I lose them too? Would I have to forfeit the whole system that created and supported me if I went for what I wanted?

It was such a big question, I couldn’t face it right away. I delayed for years and took the other steps first – I got a new job, I got more training, I got a raise.

But the more I tried to fix what I thought was making me unhappy on the outside, the more I realized the issue was on the inside. I wanted something I wasn’t living.

If you’ve been feeling that way lately, you’re not alone.

Last week, I rode the airport shuttle with a man who loves his career and the company he works for but wonders if he could do something even more fulfilling. He also told me about his wife who hates her job but resigned to never leave it, even though it drains her vitality and spontaneity.

These stories break my heart.

Not because they’re hopeless, but because there is a way to feel happier and more fulfilled in your career, but most people are too scared to find out.

I’m not suggesting you quit. I’m not suggesting you start your own business. I’m not even suggesting you have to look for a new job.

I’m saying it’s possible to be fully “turned on” in your work – no matter what it is – if it aligns with who you are.

This Thursday, January 22, at 9pm U.S. Eastern time I’ll be hosting a free call to walk you through the 3 steps you must take to either love the job you have or find a job you love.

I’d love it if you’d join me.

Register for the call here: http://goo.gl/ic3gBV

It’s completely free but space is limited.

Love,
Alexis