despicable_me_2

“Lightbulb!”…Recognizing The Importance of Honoring Your Self!

despicable_me_2Have you ever felt not worthy?  Maybe you lacked Self-love or maybe you didn’t surround yourself with goodness at the time.  Who we surround ourselves with is who we become.  If we surround ourselves with downers we begin to feel down.  If we surround ourselves with happy, joyous, and delightful people we become more happy and joyful.  If we were to eat junk food every single day we would begin to feel down and ucky.  When we eat healthier we experience delight and Self-love.  Honor Your Self!  Surround yourself with goodness.   “The first step toward awareness is being willing to look at yourself and your life without judgment or self-criticism.” (Iyanla Vanzant)  Awareness opens the heart to new possibilities.

In “Despicable Me”, Gru was surrounded by downers. In the beginning, his only friends who seemed to laugh were the adorably playful Minions. His entire life he dishonored himself. As a young child, Gru was criticized, judged, and believed he wasn’t good enough. He was smart, bright and wanted to be accepted. Since Gru was constantly searching for acceptance from others he gravitated toward evil because he lacked Self Honor. Self- Awareness is key to peace! It opens the mind and the heart. When Gru met sisters, Margo, Edith, and Agnus his heart became brighter. He said, “Light bulb!” not knowing at that very moment his heart opened to new possibilities. His life was about to change in more ways than one….and for the good.

Gru – the main character was not grounded and did not surround himself with goodness. Let’s celebrate and help Gru honor himself while recognizing the importance of honoring ourselves as well.

The Minions – little guys full of laughter, huggable, and playful. They reminded Gru to smile.

Victor (a.k.a. “Vector) – The villan. He put all his energy into being evil and trying to make his daddy happy. Not himself! He too, lacked Self-love and Self-Awareness. In the end, he found himself alone.

The 3 Girls… Margo, the oldest was wise, Edith, the middle sister was curious, and Agnus, the youngest was cute, playful, full of imagination, and always happy.

Let’s hug into ourselves and honor who we are while shining bright and celebrating life. Let’s connect with our “Light bulb!” (Energy Circuit) Surround yourself with friends and lets celebrate the beauty of who we are. Connect with your breath while inhaling and exhaling. Deepen your breath in order to stimulate the energy created. Make a wish for yourself! Celebrate who you are. You are worthy! (Wake Up Mountain) Let’s wake up and smell the joy of life. Life is GOOOD! Stand tall, proud, and feel the earth below you, solid and feeling heavy. Pulling in positive energy. (Down Dog) Melt Your Heart! (Dolphin) Open yourself up and SMILE. Honor your strength and playfulness. (Lighten Up) despicable_meGround yourself into the truth of who you are. Become aware of who you are. (Fish) Lie on your back. Go with the flow…inhale, then exhale, softening your skin and opening your heart becoming more aware of the connection with all others surrounding you. Are you surrounded with goodness? (Take Out the Trash) This is a very powerful cleanser that makes you shine from the inside out. Inhaling and exhaling rapidly will help you take out the trash. Feel present! Honor Your Self in this breath cleansing pose. (Serious Crow Playful) In Serious Crow Playful let’s hug into ourselves, into our center, melting our hearts, squeezing together, shining BRIGHT! (Baby Got Back) Suddenly we all feel giddy, full of laughter and full of love. We are surrounded by Grace, by the love of our friends, our family. Spread your toes and pull in all that yummy, good for ya kind of energy, allowing it to flow through you. Make an imprint on the earth. (Mountain Range Laughter) Root your feet into the earth and rise up into your breath. Bring your hands to your mouth and smile with your imaginary harmonica. Bit by bit begin to laugh, slowly at first, but then go ahead and let loose. Allow yourself to let go. Lift your smile up to the great big sky and tilt your head back giving gratitude to all the joys which surround you. (Twist and Target) Gru said, “Light bulb!” when he first saw the 3 sisters, Margo, Edith, and Agnus outside of Vector’s home. They were selling cookies. What Gru did not know is when he had his “light bulb” moment he also opened his heart to new possibilities. Choose the color of your light bulb and let it SHINE. (I Am What I Am) That’s right! You are who you are and be proud of who you are. (Savasana) Take this time to tune in to your Self. Take this moment to honor your Self and be with your Self….breathing and resting peacefully….each time you breath allowing your light to shine more and more with each breath.

More to Explore

  • Salutations

    TerrificCharlotte’s Web is a celebration of the quiet virtues. It reminds us to keep a soft tender heart, accept our true nature, and value the unique gifts of our friends. The two main characters of Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte and Wibur, highlight the awareness of our own unique inner story.

    Charlotte, the spider, represents our highest self who provides wisdom and help from above. She reminds us that we are never alone. She provides a higher, bigger perspective from her vantage point high up in the rafters. She brings a calm wisdom into an anxious situation, bolstering Wilbur’s self image by spelling out his best aspects. She represents our INHALE.

    Become sensitive and aware of your breath.

    Wibur, the pig, represents our vulnerable self that is at the center of our awareness. Wilbur is consistently caring and engaging. He forms a bond with Charlotte because he sees her beauty. He is accepting and compassionate and joyfully celebrates life. He represents our EXHALE.

  • Grounded….an Adjective, a Noun, a Verb…Redefining for Real

      Can getting grounded bring me back to balanced working order, the way nature intended me to be? Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) defines GROUNDED as mentally and emotionally stable: admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious grounded [?gra?nd?d] adj sensible and down-to-earth; having one’s feet on the ground I do aim to know where I belong…

  • Yoga & Mindfulness is good for kids? Prove it!

    For the research lovers and naysayers, the believers needing back up, parents wanting proof and the educators pursuing funding, this is for you…  IAYSM Research Bibliography A comprehensive listing of research articles and papers compiled by Adenia Linker IASYM Bibliography final Qualitative Evaluation of a High School Yoga Program: Feasibility and Perceived Benefits-Conboy et al…

  • Going Grounded (not postal) at the Post Office

    bigstock_Local_Post_Office_61490We teach kids and teens how to find humor in every day life and how awareness leads to amusement in even the most mundane places. This event took place this morning and it’s what I taught in my Grounded class this afternoon. I shared the story, taught the poses and we had an awesome, authentic experience. The kids were inspired to write down their own personal stories and the poses that prepared them to handle real life with ease. They loved using the pose stickers to illustrate their writing. Find all the details about these poses and more in our box of 84 Grounded Elevator Series Pose Cards. Enjoy! 

  • Roadmap to Lucidity

    Or
    The map to LUCIDITY
    Inspired by Yoga Sutra 1.33 which reads:

    maitri karuna mudita upeksanam sukha duhkha punya apunya
    visayanam bhavanatah cittaprasadanam

    The map to LUCIDITY?
    YES! Have you heard?
    Takes four states to get there~
    Not that absurd.

    The first is of FRIENDSHIP
    toward those who are happy.
    Even when you feel distant,
    resistance and slappy.

    The second is of COMPASSION
    toward those in distress.
    Tough when annoyed,
    imposed on and stressed.

    The third is of JOY
    toward those who are good
    through roadblocks of useless
    and misunderstood.

    The fourth is of EQUANIMITY
    toward those who are foul
    who are lacking in virtue,
    and react with a growl.

    Here in our mapping
    Four residents are mentioned.
    How we perceive them
    Is our fierce contention.

    Our attitudes we go for
    From composure to kind~
    Get us closer to LUCIDITY
    Where we STABILIZE our mind.

    Memorize these four~
    And observe in daily life.
    During times of quiet,
    Noise, and even strife.

    So buckle up~
    And prepare for a ride~
    To align your attitude,
    And try the untried.

    Close your eyes~
    Feel the state you are in~
    Soften your heart~
    your throat, and your skin.

    Drop your breath
    right into your heart~
    It’s made up of LOVE~
    And that’s where you start.

    Inhale with the thought~
    May I be friendly~
    Exhale with the thought~
    May I give friendship.
    .

    May I be COMPASSIONATE
    with your next inhale
    May I give COMPASSION
    with your next exhale.

    Inhale with the thought~
    May I have JOY~
    Exhale with the thought~
    May I give JOY.

    May I have EQUANIMITY
    with your inhale.
    May I give CALMNESS
    with your exhale.

    When someone comes to mind
    Offer these prayers
    No matter their issues,
    Their stains, or their stares.

    May you be LOVING~
    May you be LOVED ~
    May you be PEACEFUL~
    May you give PEACE~

    Your states of envy and mean
    Get smaller each time~
    Intolerance is removed
    You get closer to SUBLIME.

    Once your mind is CLEAR,
    And you’re CENTERED and FREE
    Skillfulness in ACTION
    Will be … Will be~