Seth Godin has some great ideas.
According to him, to change the world all one has to do is Challenge the status quo, build a Culture, and Commit to the cause.
So how does that translate into my life?
Here I am espousing this idea, do I have proof that I have tried it? Though I am still in the baby steps of my journey I have found a few ways to implement these ideas in to the fabric of my life.
Challenge the Status Quo
At 21 I packed all my bags and moved to New York City to become an actress when everyone said it couldn’t be done and it was a waste of time and talent. Spending seven and a half years in the Big Apple it turns out I didn’t have the stomach for it. The drive was no longer there, and trust me, without the drive to be an actor in NYC it just isn’t gonna happen. What did happen however is my life changed for the better. By making the decision to take that initial leap of faith, to challenge the ideas of my family and small town community, by trying something new, I set into motion a course of events that I couldn’t have imagined I would have been a part of seven and some odd days earlier.
By meeting one person who introduced me to another person who introduced me to another person I found myself on the doorsteps of Sonic Yoga. As many of you know that part of my journey is the most pivotal to date. I became the studio manger of a successful and grounded yoga community, I blossomed as a teacher, I learned more about myself on the yoga mat than I did in any other previous environment. I had a home, friends, a cat, dancing till dawn, plans for sunday brunch, the respect of my peers, and every now and again a cute boy who was willing to make out with me. And yet, I decided to challenge the status quo a second time by walking away from it all.
I had this itch to try something new. To live my life as a wanderer. To teach yoga the world over. To jump in feet first and change the world one community at a time. To be like the yoga rockstar teachers we read about in Yoga Journal without waiting ten years to build a massive following. I didn’t want fame, I wanted to make a true difference. Not much of a plan some people said. Most however expressed versions of pride, elation, and encouragement.
As soon I made the scary decision to leave there was a series of events that unravelled in front of my eyes. An opportunity beyond my wildest dreams was offered and I simply packed my bags, got on a plane, and moved once again to a place that I knew nothing about. As I write this I am sitting on a beach listening to the waves and enjoying a cold tropical beverage. This is the life-!! A teacher dear to my heart, Jeffrey Duval, said once “make room for the Universe to move.” Oh boy, was he ever right. ;0)
Build a Culture
What kind of culture am I building? One that revolves around Understanding at every opportunity, that encourages people to show Compassion, develop Insight, a culture that begs the question, “How can I Love and Contribute?”
In my yoga classes I ask people to step outside of their comfort zones and explore the edges of their practice. I do this by offering options, by asking people to make noises and laugh, allowing themselves to be silly and then perhaps they will continue to embrace their playful side once they leave the mat.
I often have my hands all over my students too. Not only am I big on adjustments, I just don’t think we are touched enough. We need more positive physical moments. Holding hands, a hug, playing footsie under the table, leaning your head on a fellow humans shoulder, a gentle massage. We live in a hyper sexualized culture when it comes to marketing and yet there is still this taboo around physical intimacy. I believe that if we offered our loving hands to each other, if we embraced in a compassionate hug, a pat on the back, if we actually encouraged each other to feel comfortable in our collective skins then we just might change the world.
Staying Committed to the Cause
So far so good. I am teaching in a new city, one that has been super receptive to my style and philosophy.
I try to “be the change I wish to see.” That’s it. I try and live it, breath it, and mean it. I look people in the eye when I speak to them. Build them up. Offer a loving hand, a hug, or a shoulder. I listen.
By doing these things I learn more from my day to day encounters than I ever considered possible. Opportunities to contribute seem to materialize from nowhere. I feel valuable. I even start to feel lucky and grateful that this is my life.
It has not been easy. I miss my friends from home and my tribe in New York. I miss my cat and my apartment. I miss my art studio space and the chance to paint to loud music at all hours of the night (these days I am sharing a house with a young child and her mum) I miss a bit of autonomy but what I have gained just blows me away.
Who knows where the wind will take me next, but here in the now I am happy and healthy. There are hugs, there is yoga, there is the beach, laughter, and full moon parties. There is a small tribe that is expanding in all directions and it turns out they were just looking for someone to lead. I am so happy the Universe entrusted this particular job to me!
Three Steps
Sound like an easy plan to make a radical change in this reality we call life. Interested? Watch this 18 min TED talk with Seth Godin to find out more. I hope it inspires you, as it did me, to take your ideas to the next level and leverage people with passion to truly change the world-!!
(Click here to see full TED talk)
