And so, as in all good stories, I saved the best for last. I am currently beginning a new phase in my yoga chapter with teaching at the YMCA, in a pathway toward eventually teaching yoga as an alternative therapy to domestic violence survivors in Cochabamba, Bolivia. As my vision has only clarified since coming back to the United States and thinking of my loved ones in Bolivia on a regular basis, it has come to my attention that the ways in which I am able to serve the community while working at the YMCA are giving me hands on training to work on my goal to inspire and empower survivors of trauma wherever I go and whatever I do. For example, working with students who would not otherwise have access to water while teaching SPLASH classes has given me the opportunity to pull aside and dedicate more time to students who are struggling emotionally, whether on or off of the spectrum, and let them know that someone is willing to validate their feelings and show them that they care. In smaller swim lessons, I am able to work with students at their own pace and provide positive reinforcements to allow them to find their own solutions to problems and celebrate victories, large and small. And in our Early Learning Community (ELC) swim lessons, I am able to work with classroom teachers and the program director to ensure that potential trauma response moments are addressed immediately and communicated effectively and in a way that is beneficial to the student and their families, Although my current class offerings are geared toward adults, I am in the early planning stages to offer children's yoga to the preschoolers who currently attend Gym and Swim classes with us, and I can't wait to begin the journey to provide yet another resource to children who are just beginning to learn self and emotional regulation. Notwithstanding my preconceptions about what lifeguarding would entail, I have also had many "come to church" moments with adult patrons, discussing everything from life histories of being raised in generations that tolerated violence and even hearing a sexual violence disclosure that was one of the first times that the survivor shared her story with anyone. In my current yoga classes, I am offering a spiritual practice focused on the seven chakras, and beginning each class with intentions that focus on creating a safe space, valuing the dignity and honor of each human being, and providing a place for a mind, body, and spirit connection that is holistic in its approach to accompany individuals to find their own way to healing and peace. It is my intention to always live my life from a place of integrity, transparency, and holding true to my convictions of character while working on creating the best possible version of myself, and I am happy to say that I have found the opportunity to do so in my current journey, with the goal of doing so for the rest of my life.
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And here is the update on how my goals are shaping up:
It's about to get real. This is a PSA for anyone who does not want to read about the inner workings of someone else's life, and prefers to live in the fairyland of rainbows and unicorns...not that I am saying that unicorns are fake...just the subject of another blogpost ;). I have really been focused on changing my mindset with regards to resources and abundance, and recently had to come face to face with the reality that I was living in a space of lack for much longer than I realized. If I believe in a God of abundance, and I do, then I need to also subscribe to the idea that I have everything I need (and that whatever I need will be provided for me). I realized that I was more focused on the "stretch" part than anything else, perhaps a throwback from being on mission and coming back feeling emotionally, physically, and even financially depleted. As I mentioned in my blog regarding goals for the year, financial freedom is on the list. If I had committed to staying in the US for an extended period of time, then I needed to be able to live in such a way that allowed me to breathe while offering care to a loved one who means the world to me. As admirable as society sometimes makes a sacrifice look, if I am not taking care of myself on a basic level, then I cannot give from a good and healthy place to someone else. I am happy to say that, although it is still a work in progress, I have been able to save for travel that is near and dear to my heart, buy groceries in a real and sustainable way, and make a 10 year plan for meeting my emergency fund goals. And all of this because I took a real look at what was available to me in resources coming in and out, and in having faith that if I am living true to my calling of God's will in my life, that He will provide. As a bonus while working part-time gigs as a lifeguard, and eventual swim instructor, I have had the opportunity to see the inner workings of emergencies as well as assisting those in a time of most need. Beyond the physical requirements to complete the work lending itself useful to my "physically fit and free" goal referenced here, it really got me thinking about two main things: 1 - how my time spent as a lifeguard/swim instructor could give me opportunities to further my personal mission 2 - how to better spend my time so that I am working directly towards my further goals, mission, and vision Check back soon for an update on another endeavor to further my personal mission while getting tangible practice for empowering and inspiring survivors of violence! In keeping committed to my promise of sharing 3 new blogs within a three month time period, I am sharing my 10, 10, 1 that some of you may have seen before, and giving an update on how my goals are shaping up.
Here is the Throwback Tuesday part: I have crafted a 10, 10, 1, setting up goals for the next 10 years in a tool that is referenced in Rachel Hollis' book, Girl Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals. To this end, I set out to define my values, to make sure that they are real and current, and to make sure to include all that carry the most weight in my life. Here they are, in an order that can change on a daily basis, while still remaining true in my heart, soul, and spirit: 1. I am running an exceptional domestic violence shelter in Cochabamba, Bolivia. 2. I give God the glory. 3. I am authentic, balanced, and transparent. 4. I hold the children of the world in my heart and treat them with the dignity and respect that they deserve. 5. I empower and inspire survivors on an daily basis. 6. I am physically fit and free to do anything I set my mind to. 7. I constantly challenge myself mentally to reach new heights. 8. I have emotional strength and resilience; therefore, I give and receive love with ease. 9. I have financial freedom, and I live in a way that is sustainable and supports the resources I have and those of future generations. 10. I set and achieve measurable goals. Affirmations to Spark Recognition and Realization You will notice that the goals are written in true affirmation style as this has been proven to stimulate the brain to believe that they are real, possible, and true, so that if they are not truly actualized at this point, that they will be within a realistic time in the future. My Main Goal is Still the Same You may also notice that these are all things that I am currently striving for, however, the formula in 10, 10, 1 is to choose one goal that you are giving your true focus towards for this year, and then another for the next, and so on. If you are a reader of this blog, then you will know that I am extremely passionate about opening a domestic violence shelter in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and so I have listed this as my focus goal for this year. It is a goal that I am still striving toward on a daily basis, and all of my goals are in support of this goal. What is my personal WHY, or motivation, behind each of the remaining goals? First and foremost, I give glory to the One who gives me life, and this will always be central to me. In order to reach my goals, I must follow my values, hence the "authentic, balanced, and transparent" goal. It is important to me to always honor the dignity and respect of all people, including children, and to seek to spread the message that they are true and full humans, even if they are smaller than us. The same can be said for inspiring and empowering survivors, which is something that I can and must do in any circumstance and in any environment. Included in my goals is also the four quadrant evaluative tool of the spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental areas (and since I have already included spiritual above, I added in financial to help provide a foundation in this area as well). Finally, I included in a goal about setting and achieving measurable goals to make sure that all of these are realistic and can be completed in a set period of time. Sharing My Goals With My Loved Ones I am sharing these goals 1) to be accountable and transparent with my loved ones and 2) to inspire you to create goals and dreams of your own, so that we may follow our individual callings to become the best versions of ourselves! Stay tuned for an update on how my goals are shaping up! |
AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
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