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Sometimes Taking a Step Back is Actually a Step Forward

September 9, 2016 By Monica Stone 3 Comments

It’s been awhile since we’ve talked.

It’s not you. It’s me.

I’ve been on a bit of a sabbatical longer than I’ve wanted, but I can see now it’s something I needed.

Have you ever just had so much on your plate that you don’t know where to start, so you just decided to not do any of it? Then, you hate yourself for not doing anything? Usually I can find a starting place, but this time I couldn’t.

I started this blog to teach the gifts of yoga. Yoga has changed my life in so many ways, and I knew that I wanted to give people nuggets of yoga that anyone could do – at any time – to help you find little bits of silence in your crazy day. Bits of solace that you didn’t even know were possible. Bits of inner peace that you could use whenever you need to change your mood and mindset. Little bits of yoga that make big change!

So many people are intimidated by yoga and meditation. They think they can’t meditate because they can’t quiet their mind, which is THE REASON you need to meditate! It’s just about starting where you are.

Or, they think they can’t do yoga postures because they’re out of shape or not flexible, but yoga postures are just shapes!

Have you ever seen people dance to the YMCA song? Can you do that? If you can do that, then you can do yoga! If you can do the Y, then you’re more than half way to tree posture!

I digress.

So, during this time of creating products, writing blogs, designing my website, scheduling social media, and teaching yoga classes, I became seduced by the world of online marketing.

I was following all of these successful entrepreneurs that had these blueprints on how to make money online……

You have to create a tagline. You must have a massive email list. Send emails on this day and this time. Just target one person. How will you stand out? Purchase Facebook Ads. Start a Facebook Group. Create a landing page – oh and buy lead pages from me so that I make an affiliate commission! Schedule your social media. Be on Twitter. Be on Periscope. Be on Facebook. Be on Instagram. Don’t even bother being online if you’re not doing a live broadcast. Start a podcast. Create a free opt in for every piece of content you do. Be on FB live. Be on snapchat. Start a youtube channel. Be everywhere! Set unattainable goals because you need a damn hard challenge! Do webinars. Get testimonials. Make sure you have the countdown timer on your website & emails to create urgency.

The list goes on and on and on and on and on….

Honestly, with all of this information, and not enough time or money to make it all happen – I felt like a failure. I love every second of creating and blogging, but these expectations made things depressing and unenjoyable.

During this time I also found out I was severely anemic. I actually got admitted to the hospital, and had stay the night while I received a blood transfusion, and an iron infusion.

It was then that I took my sabbatical. I was so frustrated at myself for not moving forward. But let’s be real, I was having a real medical problem that was causing an energy drain.

I kept reminding myself that I needed to take care of myself first, and I am right where I’m supposed to be. At the same time, I was trying to figure out where I was supposed to go.

Days would go by. I would think about the days when I was so excited to write a blog post. I remembered the days when I had so many ideas I couldn’t keep my mind straight, and would have to record my thoughts on my iPhone because otherwise they’d get lost in the tornado in my head! I was just hoping that one day my vision would return. That it would just click & I’d be back to creating.

So, I took a step back. I focused on my health. I had some surgery to remove a massive fibroid tumor, which was the reason I was so anemic in the first place.

I’m a little over 3 weeks post op (the full recovery is 6 weeks), and I’m slowly starting to feel my inspiration creep back in as my energy returns. I’ve been reading all of my old posts, and reminiscing on when I started my website.

I want to be that person again. The girl I was before I became brainwashed by the world of online marketers.

I really really miss when things felt exciting and simple. And, when I say simple – I don’t mean easy. I mean when I would even look forward to exploring the challenges.

So, I’m going back to my roots!

The blueprints are going in the trash! I’m just going to blog about what lights me up inside. I’m not going to care about pinnable images, youtube videos,  or headlines that convert!

I’m less interested in how to blog posts and more concerned with being REAL!

I’m NOT tweaking my emails and posts into sales pitches! Yeah, I have stuff to offer. You know where to find it.

But, First and most importantly – I’m here for you as a friend. Human to human. Yogi to yogi.

copy-of-copy-of-copy-of-copy-of-a-yoga-mat-to-connect-with-your-inner-hippi

I’m still trying to get clarity on my vision for this blog, but I’m trusting the process. It’s not easy for me to say that. I feel like I’m going against all of the rules of running an online business by admitting I’m in a slump. But, if I didn’t do that, I’d be lying. I wouldn’t be authentic or true to myself, and if I can’t be true to myself – how can I ever be of service to you?

 

So, I’ve decided to do some real self-reflection, and it’s going to be so much fun!

One of the books we read in Orlando Spiritual Book Club was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (that’s my affiliate link). I’ve decided to do the happiness project myself, and maybe you can do it with me!

I’ll be discussing it in my FB group if you want to join the community – but feel free to do it in the comfort of your privacy, too!

We’re going to work on a theme each month, which will start on October 1st. Whether or not you purchase the book, I’ll talk you through it.

But first, we’re going to come up with our commandments. Gretchen Rubin has 12. I have 16. Think of these as morals and rules you’d like to live by. A list that you can always refer back to when you feel lost or stuck to help you find the light.

happiness-project

Here are mine…

  1. Be Monica.
  2. Surround myself with positive, open hearted, and loving people.
  3. Trust the process.
  4. Enjoy the process
  5. Let go & forgive.
  6. Be honest & transparent.
  7. Live simple.
  8. Listen first.
  9. Find humor in it all.
  10. Fail forward.
  11. Show gratitude & take time to appreciate.
  12. Start before you’re ready.
  13. Keep moving.
  14. Do what I want to do. (Not for the approval of someone else).
  15. Say no when it doesn’t feel right.
  16. Break the rules when necessary.

So, what do you think? What would some of your commandments be?

Hugs & Kisses Forever (and ever),

monica xxo

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Daily Life, Happiness Project, Spiritual Book Club Tagged With: Spiritual Book Club, The Happiness Project

Monica Stone

About Monica Stone

Monica is a lover of all things yoga, a vegetarian, an avid tea drinker, and never gets sick of soup and noodle dishes. She teaches yoga, practices daily, and runs a Spiritual Book Club in Orlando, FL. She likes to challenge the strict rules of yoga, and makes it accessible for everyone - especially people who suffer from daily life and work stress.

« How I Found Out I Was Anemic & Why I Broke Vegetarian.
Are Spiritual Hypocrites a Thing? »

Hi! I’m Monica

Monica StoneWell hello there! I'm Monica. I'm a yoga & meditation teacher (and junkie). I teach yoga practices that are quick and effective for the busy person who just needs a few minutes of quiet time in their day. Click around and you'll find quick meditation tips for calming the mind to simple stretches to relieve stress and tension. If you are sick of being intimidated by yoga or just confused by all of the different styles out there - then this page is for you. Yoga helps me daily & I know it will help you too! I'll show you how! Welcome to The Yogi Movement :)

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Testimonials

  • Jaime ShearerJaime ShearerYoga Student Since 2012

    Monica is dedicated to her own practice and the true path of yoga - the one of personal experience - which makes her an outstanding teacher. She is warm and easy to talk with, and she allows the student to have their own experience on the mat. She explains postures and breath in ways that are understandable so that the student "gets it." She makes yoga real and tangible in ways that truly serve the student. Work with Monica. You'll be glad you did.

  • Jacob AbercrombieJacob AbercrombieYoga Student Since 2011

    have always wanted to try yoga, but was always nervous. Monica took that fear away and made me feel like i was the only one in class with a room full of strangers. She is able to work with multiple students during the same move and still make it a personalized class for one.

  • Serena JonesSerena JonesYoga Student Since 2010

    Monica has been a highly influential teacher to me. She creates a safe environment for learning and practice. I have always felt grounded in her classes, and she pushes me beyond my own expectations. She inspires and motivates! I can't imagine my life without sharing a path with her!

  • Angela OrofinoAngela OrofinoYoga Student Since 2011

    Monica is a caring, wise, thoughtful, and talented yoga instructor. She has an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and spirituality of Ashtanga yoga. My previous yoga experience had mostly just been at my local gym. Luckily, last year I found Monica. She has been guiding my practice at least once a week since then. As a newcomer to Ashtanga yoga, Monica made me feel comfortable and had the patience to teach me the basics. She also encouraged me to start an at home practice so that I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of Ashtanga. Monica is always encouraging and lets me know in subtle ways when she feels that I am ready to move deeper into my practice. I feel that the growth in my practice over the last year has been tremendous. Not only do I notice the change in me but others around me do as well. I am so grateful to have found Monica!

  • Sasha TamarSasha TamarYoga Student Since 2012

    I’ve come across many a yoga instructor over the years, but Monica stands out as genuinely amiable, as she glows with an infectious inner light, and highly devoted to and passionate about her practice. Her dedication to Ashtanga as a lifestyle is very clear, and creates for a contagious motivating force. Every time I’ve practiced with her, she eagerly transmits her devotion and passion of Ashtanga and meditation to everyone in class; she makes the most fledgling beginner feel at home, and simultaneously challenges the more advanced students. While I only practice Ashtanga with her, I know she provides therapeutic yoga sessions as well as meditation. And, if her methods of guiding students out of the Ashtanga vigor into the more meditative savasana are indicative of her meditational techniques, I’d recommend her to anyone

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Have you ever heard of the 4 seals of dharma? They are the 4 things that make you a buddhist, and all emotions are painful is the first one. That sounds crazy! What about love and happiness? How is that painful? Well haven't you ever had love and lost it? What if you got a brand new car & then got into a car accident right after? Or simply, what if you won an award, and then a few hours go by? The high goes away, right? All emotions lead to pain... but here's why it's actually a good thing... keep reading...
Two years ago I quit my day job. I didn't have a plan, and I started losing money fast! I did everything to run and grow my business, but it was so hard on my own. I don't suggest not having a plan. All of those people who preach quitting your day job do not tell the whole story. Let me help... !
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