Dump the New Year's Resolutions while Exploring Your Potential
- Janet Nash, MSW, LISW-S, RYT-500
- Dec 26, 2015
- 5 min read
Starting off the New Year with Joy, Curiosity, and Compassion
I have to confess that I spent Sunday evening binge watching Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday Sessions. It is a guilty pleasure of mine. Nonetheless, Oprah had on some very thought-provoking guests. Two that especially caught my ear were Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love and Shawn Achor, a Harvard happiness researcher. Elizabeth Gilbert talked about how she used to speak a great deal about finding one’s passion, but received a letter from a woman who went to one of her speaking engagements who explained that she felt like a complete loser because she went from one thing to another without having any commitment to any of it and felt that there was something wrong with her because she couldn’t find her passion. Consequently, Ms. Gilbert rethought her belief that everyone just needs to find their passion. She called those people who are passionate about a particular thing and who are laser focused on it “jackhammers.” They attack their passions at full speed, running down the road as if their heads are on fire. Passion, however, is demanding, greedy, and takes almost everything from you, she says. I have to say that I completely understand the jackhammer mentality. It resonates with me. I am passionate about being a mental health therapist and a yoga instructor. I eat, breathe, and live it. However, Ms. Gilbert called the people who go from job to job to activity after activity “hummingbirds”. She said that she now understands that hummingbirds should not feel less than as compared to jackhammers because hummingbirds tend to lead very rich and complex lives. She said that they “cross-pollinate the world” and keep the culture “aerated and fresh.” Ms. Gilbert said that hummingbirds should give themselves a break, follow their curiosity and take the word “passion” off the table. There is a vitality and suppleness inherent in being open to the world with curiosity and non-judgment. Interestingly, Shawn Achor, the Harvard happiness researcher, said that his definition of happiness is “the joy you feel moving toward your potential.” He explained that you can feel joy even without experiencing pleasure. The example he gave was childbirth which is a painful experience; however, it is one of the most joyful experiences we can experience as human beings. The joy is in the end game – the beautiful baby that was worth the pain. So, after considering all of this and thinking about the New Year, I’ve decided to dump the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. New Year’s Resolutions don’t work because we are not always aware of the real forces that motivate our behaviors. We need to start with a curiosity about, and a deep compassion for, ourselves. I love the idea of compassionate curiosity; allowing things to unfold as they are meant to; having gratitude for what is; finding joy in all things while not always expecting happiness. In the coming New Year, Gracetree has some mind-expanding LIFEshops with a number of vibrant LIFEshop facilitators, all intended to aid you in your exploration of your own potential. You can choose a variety of topics like a hummingbird pollinating one fruit tree with the pollen of another. Or, you can follow your passion like a jackhammer. However you choose to do it, we’ve got some captivating presenters and topics to choose from. May your New Year be filled with joy, curiosity, and compassion.
Good News! On the Horizon
Upcoming LifeShops at Gracetree:
Yoga 101 Series with Heather Hewitt, RYT-200
Dates: Sunday, January 10, 1, 24 + 31 Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm Cost: $50
Homegrown Medicinal Herbs and Teas with Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum, Holistic Clinical Pharmacist, Founder + CEO, Rx Integrative Solutions Date: Monday, January 11, 2016 Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Cost: $35 Men's Yoga Series with Adam Larmi, RYT-200 Module 1: Intro to Men's Yoga Dates: Wednesdays, January 13, 20, 27 + February 3
Module 2: Transitioning into Flow for Men Dates: Wednesdays: February 10, 17, 24 + March 2
Module 3: Finding Your Power for Men Dates: Wednesdays, March 9, 16, 23 + 30
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm Cost: $51 for each Module The Art of Becoming: Spiritual Rebirth with Tara Basu, LISW Date: Sunday, January 17 Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Cost: $25 The Art of Becoming: Yoga and Eastern Thought for Westerners with Tara Basu, LISW Date: Sunday, January 17 Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm Cost: $25 Ask the Pharmacist: Debunking Myths about Dietary Supplementswith Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum, Holistic Clinical Pharmacist, Founder + CEO, Rx Integrative Solutions Date: Monday, January 18, 2016 Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Cost: $35 Personal Wellness Series: Yoga for Stress - Module 1: Body - The Root of Mind with Pooja Malhotra Date: Saturday January 30, 2016 Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm Cost: $35 | $45 if registering after January 25, 2016 Beyond Prescription Medications: Natural Healing, Health, Hope for the Future with Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum, Holistic Clinical Pharmacist, Founder + CEO, Rx Integrative Solutions
Date: Monday, February 8, 2016 Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm Cost: $35
Personal Wellness Series: Yoga for Stress - Module 2: Breath - The Connector with Pooja Malhotra Date: Saturday February 27, 2016 Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm Cost: $35 | $45 if registering after February 23, 2016 Personal Wellness Series: Yoga for Stress - Module 3: Mind - The Story Maker with Pooja Malhotra Date: Saturday March 12, 2016 Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm Cost: $35 | $45 if registering after March 9, 2016 Let's Have Some Applause for Menopause! with Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum, Holistic Clinical Pharmacist, Founder + CEO, Rx Integrative Solutions
Date: Monday, March 14, 2016 Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm Cost: $35 Before, During, and After Pregnancy Retreat with Elizabeth Hulsman, Christy Cotterman, Antonia von Hirschberg, and others Date: Saturday, April 2, 2016 Time: 12:30 to 4:30 pm Cost: $149 Finally, Men's Health! with Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum, Holistic Clinical Pharmacist, Founder + CEO, Rx Integrative Solutions Date: Monday, April 4, 2016 Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm Cost: $35
Visit www.gracetreestudio.com for more information and for pre-registration!
News Bites!
1. Gracetree is offering FREE "Grace-Filled Yoga" classes at the New Liberty Center Mall's Unity Chapel. Check the schedule for new additional classes in January.
Download the Liberty Center Unity Chapel's wellness calendar for yoga classes: http://www.liberty-center.com/portals/0/pdf/Liberty_Center_Wellness_Poster.pdf
2. Look for an article on Gracetree in the January edition of West Chester & Liberty Lifestyles Magazine https://issuu.com/lifestylepubs/docs/west_chester___liberty_2015_12_roun/13?e=0
The Teacher Feature - Adam Larmi, RYT-200
I am a devoted yogi who enjoys his family, his dogs, vegan food, and obviously Yoga! I have been practicing yoga for about 8 years, and received my 200-hour teacher training certificate in April of 2014 in Iyengar style vinyasa. Since that time, I have received a second 200-hour teaching training certificate. I attend workshops and Immersions including Karma yoga, inversions, hand stands, yin, restorative, and on other yoga-related topics and styles. I love everything about yoga from the physical aspect to the spiritual and meditative state that it brings. My practice helps me deal with life, with a feeling of contentment whether it's in a hot vinyasa flow or a quiet restorative yin practice. Yoga is a way of life for me, and I love sharing the practice of yoga with everyone. I hope to share it with you soon.
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