Put Your Greatness Out To The World, Despite the Doubters

When you put your greatness out to the world and you encounter doubters ... keep moving forward!

A few weeks ago, I announced to fellow committee members who I co-manage a Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, group with in my home town, that I would be moving on next season to start a new CSA. Four years ago, I manifested creating a CSA in my community. Besides desiring fresh organic produce, one of my other intentions was to learn the ropes and apply those skills into forming a new CSA closer to my own community.

For those of you who don't know, a CSA is a relationship between a community, a local farmer, and a landowner to allow for city residents to have direct access to locally grown produce. Community members purchase shares from the farmer, who cultivates and harvests the land, providing fresh produce to members for approximately 22 weeks, distributing it at a designated site in the community.

After the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and reaffirming my manifestation of forming a CSA upon completion of my Baron Baptiste, "40 Day Program", I finally put it out there. I put it out to the universe that I wanted to start a CSA in my community.

After sending that message out, I got more than I bargained for.
Not only was I forming a CSA in my own community, I was also forming a CSA in my neighboring community... just because the universe was calling for it.

Yes... you heard me correctly... 2 CSAs for the 2014 season.

And I was EXCITED!!!

I was excited that the site owners heard my presentation and saw the communities desire!
I was excited that the farmer was supporting my potential to get this started!
I was filled with gratitude that the core people in my life were so supportive!

But last week, when I showed up to pick up my produce, I ran into a few committee members and I ran right into their fear. They said:

"Two CSAs? That's a lot of work."

"How are you gonna run two of them?"

"You're gonna need a lot of help. Are you sure you wanna do this?"

And for a split second, doubt streamed in.

I felt the knot of doubt in the pit of my belly. I saw it as clear as their words. And as I breathed into that knot, it unraveled. I filled that space with love for myself and for my community. And as quick as the doubt had rushed in, I swept it out with love, answering them in the following way:

"I am not afraid to lead a group of people to their greatness. Besides, it's a community group. If the community really wants this, they will support it by showing up and contributing to the CSAs mission. I am excited!"

And in that moment, I retrieved not only my excitement about starting these new CSAs but I redeemed my greatness!

I was not going to let words of fear, doubt, and negativity shoot my greatness down before I even got started.

Shifting fear to excitement has always been a concept I referred to in the yoga classes I teach and it is something I continue to practice in my life. In that moment, I was aware that this concept truly works. In that moment, I was powerful, determined and yes, filled with excitement.

In that vain, I keep teaching, I keep living, I keep writing, and I keep showing up.
And I show up BIG!
Even if people are fearful of my work.
I keep showing up fearlessly.
And I keep moving forward...

Life is short, so get messy!

If you live in Staten Island, NY and are interested in participating in a 40 Day Program, contact 5 Boro Power Yoga. 

If you live in Staten Island, NY and are interested in joining one of the two CSAs forming, join us for a community meeting on October 16, 2013 or email us at SouthShoreCSA1@gmail.com. 

If you are interested in forming your own CSA, read my BLOG on MIND BODY GREEN: 
HOW TO START A CSA (It's Easier Than You Think!) 

PASSION

True happiness comes when you are doing that which you are most passionate about. 

A few weeks ago I took a course with Deborah Williamson, the founder of Wild Abundant Life (and an amazingly passionate person) that forced me to look at what my passion is. I am fast approaching the BIG 4-0 and simultaneously I am starting to shift into a new pathway in my life. So moving forward in the next 40 years or so from the approach of “knowing what my passion is” will certainly ensure a happy and successful journey. In the past, I have pursued my passion, however it is a bit outdated and has lost its vibrancy. And that’s ok! I am certainly not the same person I was 20 years ago, so the same passion I had back then just doesn’t fit.

So how do I know what my passion is today, right at this moment? There are so many things I love about life but it has been a bit of a challenge for me to pinpoint my exact passion. I seem to have so many! 

Here are 3 questions I have been contemplating to attempt to answer the BIG question: What is my passion?

1. What people, places or things bring your core passion to the surface?

2. What activities, interests and experiences arouse your core passion?

3. What noble pursuits do you (or can you) have that allow you to experience your core passion more often? 

I am not a religious person but I started thinking about iconically passionate people and immediately Jesus came to mind. Think about it. Jesus was the ultimate passionate person. He loved going around preaching the word of God and shared that message no matter what people said about him. He was so passionate that despite being threatened with death, he continued in his life's work because he felt in his heart it was the right thing to do.  

While I toy around with this notion of what my own passion is, I have been in inquiry as to what passion looks like in modern times.  All I had to do was look around me to take notice of all of passionate people around me doing some really amazing life work! All of them are living their passion:

Devine Interventions is a genre-blending trio out of NYC that fused Hip Hop/Reggae and Soul with infectious harmonies and a laid back, witty and progressive style. They are well known for their live street/subway performances and acoustic sets in clubs and cafes around the city. They troll the NYC Subway system daily to spread their passion of music and peace to anyone who will listen. Despite their struggles to be heard, they keep moving forward with love in their hearts knowing that people who are listening receive joy from their efforts. Through Facebook, my friend turned me onto them and then one day ironically, I stumbled upon them on the "A" train, where we had an amazing conversation about their noble pursuits! My favorite song they perform is "A Brighter Day". 

Support Devine Interventions by checking out their website, go see a show, friend them, or if you happen to see them on the subway one day, just listen to their magic and drop a donation in their cup! 

Farmer John Krueger is the owner/operator of Starbrite Farms in Andover, New Jersey who provides fresh, organic produce to city folks in New Jersey and New York via numerous Community Supported Agricultures (CSAs). John is passionate to own his own farm as he has been cultivating the land he rents to service over 20 CSAs. Over the past few years John has attempted to save the down payment to purchase the land he currently rents. The landlord is forging forward willing to sell the land to anyone who will buy it before John is ready to make the purchase. John's passion is to keep farming, purchase this land and move forward on his journey to bring amazing produce to the people. Despite his struggles, John has transformed fear into excitement, collaborating with CSA members with various skill sets to generate revenue to purchase his farm. Some ideas include graphic designs for tee shirts and a fundraising gourmet dinner, with a famous chef on the farm. But it will take motivated people like you to make this all possible! What came to mind for me is a yoga day on the farm: a yoga practice and then a community dinner to follow. Hmmmm...

If you wish to collaborate with Farmer John to create a community event or raise revenue to purchase the farm, reach out to him at: kruegerjohn@earthlink.net

What I have realized about the above named passionate people is that they all exhibit the same qualities:

1.       They LOVE what they do.

2.       They keep MOVING FORWARD, despite the hardships.

3.       They SHARE their gift with others.

4.       They spend every moment of their free time DOING it.

5.       They feel JOY when they are in creation.

If you are at a plateau, perhaps realizing that a big shift is needed to revitalize your being, start considering evaluating your passion at this moment! Get into inquiry about your passion and see if it's time for an update!

Life is short, so get messy!