I’ve been having an amazing time at it lately – reminding myself that I’m a human being, not a human doing and that it all works out. It always does.
Saturday was the 21st anniversary of my brother Todd’s untimely death. I wrote about it here a year ago and according to the analytics, it was the most read of all my blog posts.
Todd was definitely with me on Saturday. I was staying at my sister’s in the west Village. Went out in the morning for breakfast, which included the ordering of a sweet treat. I saw a piece of coconut cake at Amy’s Bread that caught my eye and I ordered it. But when I got back to Christine’s and opened up the bag, pleasantly to my surprise, they forgot the coconut cake and put in a magic cookie bar instead. Wouldn’t you know? They were (are) Todd’s favorite! Coincidence? Synchronicity!
Then, onto Equinox for intenSati, an exercise class that rocks my world. intenSati (meaning intentional mindfulness) combines high-intense physical movements (like kick boxing and martial arts) with spoken aloud positive affirmations (like “I am strong,” “I am powerful”.) My words on this blog can’t do this program justice – you must experience it. You burn up to 800 calories within an hour and leave feeling physically and mentally charged.
Saturday was a special intenSati because I teamed with its creator, Patricia Moreno, to give a talk about positive psychology and SOcial-eMOtional Leadership before she led us in an actual workout. (Patricia & Louis event announcement). I told the story how we’re conditioned for negativity, how learning to switch our neurobiological tendencies takes intention and attention – one reason why we la la love intenSati.
Then, the workout, which was zooped up a notch, for sure. The series that Patricia created started with the first affirmation: I AM A SOMO LEADER! Imagine that: 100 people screaming I AM A SOMO LEADER! As you might imagine, having been just a dream several years ago, I was freaking out with joy. Savoring it here, on my blog, now with you, activates the same feel good neurotransmitters. Wowza! Vibration getting higher.
THIS is positivity. This is KNOWING energy. Karma. Forgiveness. Forward movement. Gratitude. Love. I choose love.
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Here are the notes of one of the participants, Norn Cutson. Figured you may like to see what he took from (and added to) the lab. (Scroll to the end to see the amazing series Patricia created just for this event.)
CONSCIOUSNESS LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION.
“What we expect, we experience”
(as Robert Anton Wilson says, “What The Thinker thinks, The Prover proves”)
ties back to AS ABOVE, SO BELOW
Why we love intenSati: it gives us a Mind Workout as well as as a Body Workout
(a Spirit Workout too!)
NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY – “Something’s WRONG with you! We need to FIX it!”
“We focus on what’s WRONG rather than what’s RIGHT”
Its all in the approach: “Is this a Potential OPPORTUNITY or a Potential THREAT?”
FIGHT OR FLIGHT
adreneline/cortisol – stress hormone
serotonin/dopamine – positive hormones
oxytocin – the trust hormone
(women release it after sex; men do not)
“collaboration, cooperation… not competition”
EMPOWERMENT – learned optimism
DOMINATION – learned helplessness
the difference between visualizing “I’m gonna win” & putting it in the present tense: “I win”
Nature/Nurture
What is genetically set for our happiness? – 50%
How much is circumstance? – 10%
The other 40% is WHAT WE DO.
The Pessimist believes in luck.
The Optimist knows they create their own.
“We create stories all the time, whether we know it or not.”
What’s your win?
FEEL THE WIN!
[At this point, we went around the room & EVERYONE got a chance to share a recent WIN.
Many were touching.. I especially liked the woman who told she'd saved a life by donating a kidney... which did not stop her from kickin' ass in class!
My win was, "I'm an UNCLE!!!"
Coz I feel Sprout is our whole family's WIN... & a WIN for The World, coz she's gonna do GREAT THINGS.]
Negative Experiences are VELCRO™… they STICK & imprint in our consciousness.
Positive Experiences are TEFLON™… they slip away & are only dimly remembered, if at all.
Start a GRATITUDE RITUAL
List 3 good things that happened that day before bed
As a Leader, its our obligation to PRIME PEOPLE FOR POSITIVITY.
Ask, “Did you do anything fun?” “Anything good happen for you this week?”, etc
Let people know that you WANT to hear the positives,
We share the negatives because they are usually more entertaining, & sharing positives leaves us vulnerable.
POSITIVE PEOPLE ARE SUCCESSFUL (not the other way around)
By fostering a POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, a Leader develops MORE LEADERS.
Then it was Patricia’s turn!
Here are the affirmations:
I’M A SOMO* Leader (PERSERVERANCE… *Social-Emotional Leader)
I AM in the Flow (JOY)
I AM Fierce and Focused (IT IS DONE – combo of ENTHUSIASM & triple snaps)
This I KNOW (SUCCESS)
It’s all working Out (GREAT)
I release my doubt (RELEASE)
I choose to see (WILLPOWER)
What’s right about me! (ENTHUSIASM)
MY Future is pulling me (WILLING)
I AM playing big (PLAYING FULL OUT)
I AM Prepared for Victory (PERSISTENCE)
I AM here to GIVE (DESIRE)
