Tuning Into Wisdom

Posted on April 1, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 19 Conversations

I had a dream last night.

And in that dream a wise woman I’ve long admired was in my home, a sleep-over planned.

Pajamas, soul-satisfying conversations and laughter all present and accounted for.

It was the most perfect of nights, until that moment I asked the question closest to my heart.

She closed her eyes, deep in thought…then plumped up her pillow and pinned me with a look.

“You’ll figure it out. Trust yourself.”

And with that profound statement, she turned over and fell fast asleep.

I awoke with a start; the clock blinked 4:14 a.m.

On the fourteenth day of the fourth month 2013 I will turn 50 years old.

My wise woman is right.

I can trust myself.

And so can you.

A Sea of Awareness

Posted on March 24, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 5 Conversations

Not asleep, not quite awake,
such is the magic of yoga nidra.

I heard the question,
“What is your heart longing for?”

I let myself sink. . .

into a longing
where no words lived.

And there in that liminal space
I explored a new world.

Suspended in a sea of awareness.

Invoking the Rebel

Posted on March 21, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 17 Conversations

Back in my art school days, there were always students trying to emulate the über cool New York art scene. Their clothes, their attitudes, and most especially their art cried out, “Look at how arty and cool we are!”

I laughed because somehow I knew that trying so hard to look cool and be a rebel did not a rebel make.

One of our professors used to tell us often,

“You’ve got to know the rules to break the rules.”

Their mindset however was more “break the rules to break the rules” or rebellion for its own sake.

It seemed a superficial rebellion, and I wasn’t interested in that.

So I kept my head down and did things my way. I didn’t waste my time fighting against them or the ‘rules’ but instead focused my time and energy on what I wanted.

I became a covert rebel, flying under the radar, free to do what I wanted and it worked pretty well.

Fast forward to present day; I’m in the midst of rebranding and it’s not an easy process. In a way, it feels like I’m rebranding my life, not just my business.

You see, I’m about to turn 50 and while there’s no midlife crisis happening, there is a transformation in process and what’s coming up everywhere I look is the rebel.

Could it be at the golden age of 50 it finally feels right, and even necessary, to lead the rebellion?

My rebel’s always been there, in charge and committed to living my core values of freedom and integrity, but is it time for her to step out and into the spotlight?

“A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” – Thomas Jefferson

And then I found myself wondering if we all have a rebel inside.

So I asked this question in my communities. . .

What does it mean to you personally to be a rebel?

Here’s what I heard in response:

Being a rebel means,

following my own nose instead of the crowd’s nose
being myself and following my own rules
being me, not who they think I should be
acting from my place of being, not the societal standard
being willing to question, disagree, and choose a different path
it’s about integrity, showing up with all my values intact
living in what I want instead of what society tells me I should want
making my own rules, always checking in to see if my values and integrity are in line
moving beyond the social norms, the shoulds, etc.
listening to inner guidance instead of outside rules
living life truthfully
having the guts and tenacity to go after my dreams
letting my quirky freak flag fly

I was moved by the vulnerability and courage of these thoughts, and it seemed more true than ever that we all have a rebel inside.

“With rebellion, awareness is born.” – Albert Camus

Hungry for Rebellion

Posted on March 18, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 15 Conversations

“Being yourself, being who you are,
is a successful rebellion.” – Unknown

Brene Brown says,

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of everything we are hungry for.”

A rebel is the embodiment of this, taking a stand for what’s important, what they hunger for.

It’s contrary to the widely held view that a rebel fights against something.

Instead it’s the fight for something that fuels their fire.

With so much pressure to confirm, has your rebel become dormant?

Suppressed and shut down by the push to:

go with the flow
never rock the boat
be seen and not heard
keep your head down and stay safe

The primal fear of being kicked out of the tribe is powerful. We do so want to belong, but at what cost?

The cost is that you sell out on what you desire, what you most hunger for in life.

It’s a cost that eats away at your soul.

Do it long enough and you hardly notice. . .

Until one day someone speaks of rebellion in a new way and your ears perk up. Your heart flutters, the spark comes to life, rekindled as the old way is challenged.

That day has come.

I’m asking you to see yourself as a rebel, a *deva-lutionary willing to question the beliefs that have long kept you in the dark.

It’s time to wake up, to rebel, to become relentless in this pursuit.

You can do this.

* A deva-lutionary is committed to questioning the beliefs that have kept her in the dark. She changes the world by looking inward, igniting a revolution from the inside out. She rebels for that which is important to her, not for the sake of rebellion itself.

A deva-lutionary has the heart and courage to be herself without apology, a warrior willing to do what it takes to play in the light.

A World Without Maps

Posted on March 17, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 1 Conversation

“All I ever wanted was a world without maps.” – Michael Ondaatje

Notice the Good

Posted on March 15, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 24 Conversations

“I have noticed that people are dealing too much with the negative, with what is wrong… Why not try the other way, to see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?” – Thich Nhat Hanh

I’ve put my attention on noticing the good.

This noticing gives me a different feeling than the practice of gratitude.

Like a shiver running up my spine. Or a tingle of delight.

Gratitude often feels forced, like something I should do.

Yes, I know it makes a difference.

Wait…does it make a difference if it feels like a should?

Not so much.

I want a practice that feels real.

One that feels human, and connective. Satisfying.

And simple.

I don’t need a list of instructions:

do it first thing in the morning
no wait, do it before bed
write it down
meditate on it
share it
no wait, keep it to yourself
savour it
be authentic
no wait, list 5 things every single day

I just want it to feel good.

I want to look around and notice the goodness of life, as if I were wearing good-coloured glasses.

Like a child playing “I spy with my little eye.”

I notice the good. . .

that first sip of coffee in the morning
a whiff of spring in the air
connecting with a stranger
a heartfelt thank you
the love bombs that come and go
that not-quite-asleep-am-I-meditating-or-dreaming state
closeness, connection, comfort

Noticing the good feels good.

It’s healing, and like a meditation practice simpler than you think.

When you notice what’s working, what’s inspiring, what’s enjoyable – your experience of it expands.

Noticing is an inside job. That makes a difference when you let it out.

So I’m noticing. And practicing, because sometimes the simple practices are the most challenging.

Keeping it simple, keeping it real.

Noticing the good.

Leaning Into Discomfort

Posted on March 13, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 17 Conversations

Welcome to the discomfort zone.

A place you visit infrequently for all too short periods of time.

Today however, we’re going to get comfortable with discomfort.

Is that even possible?

It absolutely is when you lean into discomfort instead of resisting.

It takes leaning into it intentionally because mostly, we’ll do anything to avoid discomfort.

“Discomfort means you’re doing something that others were unlikely to do, because they’re hiding out in the comfortable zone.” – Seth Godin

Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.”

I say discomfort is a result of doing something new.

Every time you say yes to something new, discomfort arises.

And resistance is never far behind.

Your resistance will look like reasons:

why you shouldn’t move forward
why it was a bad idea in the first place
why you should go back to what you were doing before.

So many reasons lulling you to sleep and inaction.

Your lizard brain is like that; it will say anything to get you to stop.

Except, you keep having these thoughts and dreams. . .

Dreams so wondrous they make your heart race.

Trust those dreams, and yourself to take the next step.

Continue reading →

What Would You Do with One Day?

Posted on March 11, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 25 Conversations

What would you do with only 24 hours left to live?

That’s the question my friend Jack asked recently.

What would you do with only one day?

Would you gather your loved ones and spend the day together?

Would you try to cram in as much living as possible?

Would you. . .

eat your favourite foods
call your friends and family
surround yourself with flowers
dance with abandon to your favourite music

Or would your last day be more introspective?

meditating
writing love letters
reading a beloved book

Like Jack, I honestly don’t know how I’d spend those 24 hours. Although, I suppose my examples give you an idea of what’s important to me.

I only know the question helps me clarify how I want to live right now.

Unleashed. Intimate. Connected. Free.

What would you do with your one day?

It’s About Time

Posted on March 5, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 19 Conversations

It is time to disrupt your beliefs about time.

1. “I’m the one that’s got to die when it’s time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.” ― Jimi Hendrix

It’s time. . .to do more of what you want.

And feel how you want to feel in life.

Stop trying to live up to someone else’s expectations.

Stop comparing.

Start living YOUR life the way YOU want.

2. “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” ― Mark Twain

It’s time. . .to stop worrying about the future and what might happen.

The future isn’t real.

It’s completely made up and you, my friend, are the author of that story.

Start saying something new for the life you say you want.

Continue reading →

A Letter from the Future

Posted on March 4, 2013May 25, 2014 by Sandi Amorim 16 Conversations

Dear One,

Watching you the past few months brings up tears of happiness and pride.

And I am proud of you, for it would have been much easier to quit.

You, however, are not a quitter.

You persist.

“Persistence guarantees that results are inevitable.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

You commit with your whole heart and then do what it takes to follow through.

Just one of the many things I love about you.

Your passion and persistence are like arrows to my heart.

The way you weave your feelings into words. . .well, just slay me now.

I’m crushing on you.

Lovin’ you up, all the way from the future.

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Igniting revolution from the inside out.

personal development