Contentment is actually a practice
Contentment is actually a practice
Plus, an opportunity to support our K-12 educators
Contentment is something that we’re supposed to practice, not something that naturally falls on us.
In yoga, Santosha means Contentment and it’s part of the 8 core yogic practices that creates a more positive relationship with ourselves.
Often times it’s easier to keep going than it is to pause and say, something feels off.
This month’s muse is from my non-violent communication training with teacher Judith Hanson Lasater. She refers to contentment as,
“The fierce willingness to be present. Being present actually means reconnecting with consciousness. The thing that is the truest and the thing we most ignore.”
Connecting to the universal consciousness or what is known in yoga as the Cosmic Mind, is a subtle opportunity to listen. And for me personally, I couldn’t hear or listen these past few weeks until something finally clicked...
We are effective communicators, when and only when we are effective listeners.
And the way to be an effective listener is to listen for FEELINGS and NEEDS.
And the way to actually hear FEELINGS and NEEDS is to be very intimate with your own feelings and needs.
Only then can we make strategic requests for how to get our own needs met. This is the formula for non-violent communication.
Interestingly, it’s the same formula in marketing.
But I’ve noticed that when the general term marketing is used, it lends itself that we’re talking about selling whatever it is that your services are.
Not entirely wrong but it seems like the word just throws people off.
But really when I use the term marketing, at least in my terms in mindful marketing, it’s just a way to communicate.
And so when you start thinking of what you’re going to do for your “marketing strategy,” you can’t create your plan until you truly understand the FEELINGS and the NEEDS of the people your business serves.
Listen to them, and create from that space.
Use marketing as a tool to communicate effectively with people. Not to “market your service,” marketing your service is a by-product of this communication approach. And a strategy is simply the approach you take to communicate. There are many approaches, a shared one last time, at the end of the day.
How often are you sharing, conversing, and creating content that truly meets the needs of your people? And how often are you listening and meeting your own needs? Use that as your practice this month.
In today’s Contentment Corner you’ll find:
🧘🏾♀️ Mindfulness + Writing Virtual Community
🍎 An opportunity to listen and learn how to support our K-12 educators
🤸🏿 Yoga at the Pier in Seattle
♡ What is Content Marketing for Conscious Business?
Talk soon,
For your mind
🧘🏾♀️Mindfulness + Writing Virtual Community: Donation-based for all types of writers: authors, bloggers, copywriters, screenwriters, dissertations/research. Truly anything.
A few months ago I ended a conversation with my therapist saying “I’ve been really enjoying writing my blog. And even owning up to the phrase, I am a Writer.” The Universe heard my call and soon after the founders of A Very Important Meeting reached out to start holding space. Catch me there on Sundays at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. See the full schedule here and sign up!
🤸🏿 Free Bilingual Yoga with me at Pier 62 in Seattle, WA: Starts July 20th at 6 pm
For your heart
🍎 Healing Schools Project is offering a virtual mini-retreat for educators, school leaders, and their supporters to acknowledge, reflect and process what is needed. It’s been A YEAR for many of us, but especially for educators and students. Join them on July 28th to heal in community. Please share with other educators as well! This is a free/donation-based event.
For mindful marketing
♡ What is Content Marketing for Conscious Business? (OMM Original) In this context, marketing is actually, in a way, the complete opposite of what you think marketing is.
For your soul
👜 3 Emotional Stages of Moving Abroad or just Moving
🌚 The first song on this playlist always feels good but more so on this Full Moon