#levoleague

Mantra for July - Cultivate Connection

This morning as I was on a long walk with my labradoodle puppy, Zoey, I looked over my right shoulder and saw the rolling hills of Austin from the pedestrian bridge downtown. 

It isn’t common for me to stop and pause, I felt like this moment was one to capture and also one to get connected. I immediately turned off my music, set a timer for 5 minutes, and parked myself on a bench to sit and be still. 

As I began contemplating I heard the sounds of birds, the breath of runners, and realized the vast space in the environment around me. I realize that having strategic pauses in my life get me the most clear in choosing the next step to take on my journey albeit with my business, side-hustle of Own I.T., a LLC and non-profit to enroll and evolve rising leaders in the cybersecurity industry, and most importantly (and often the last on my list), personal direction. 

I LOVE the beginning, middle, and end of the month. It is a reminder for me to reflect, shift, set goals, and create intentions and actions for what I want to have happen.

If ANYTHING were possible, whether is it obtaining a new skill OR starting the relationship you want, a more improved one with yourself, finances, or a significant, the time is now to create.

After walking Zoey for 3 miles, I chose to take some alone time to focus on goals, doing the little and big tasks I’ve put off the rest of the week, and getting clear on the list of achievements to celebrate from the previous week. 

Saturdays are my day off. I choose to work on projects and it takes an act of Congress for me not to schedule the day fully or set timers on myself. So today I choose to only schedule a double-sweat and time to spend with friends, everything else is creative and extra.

I decided to take my creative juices on a walk to downtown, to enjoy Houndstooth coffee, and tackle the projects and “adulting” responsibilities I’ve been holding off on. As I was standing in line thinking about how good the Taco Deli breakfast taco (Jess Special, avocado, eggs, and also named after me) would taste, I got clear that the month of July for me is about connection. 

That means everything I do will be to allow space and create from the intention of connection. I notice how segregated I try to lead my life...yoga girl over here, cyber Bey over there, diva hustler boss babe there, and lastly, 27 and running from personal romantic relationships over there...yup, I admit it, getting “tied down” at 27 actually brings me the most fear. You see, I know that in my life when I get uncomfortable or are avoiding significant transformation or change, I travel. Ever since the end of February when I discovered I wanted to quit my first job, move to a new city, start a new job, and launch a non-profit, I began traveling A LOT. Now that this is no longer a secret, I feel free to share that the luxurious lifestyle painted on social media is not aligned with reality or how I actually am dealing with challenges and triumphs through this transition and monumental growth phase in my life. The past week I began cleansing. This looked like removing dating and social media apps from my phone, eating cleaner, sweating more, and getting present to the input and output in my life to live in a more conscious and intentional manner.

I have always wanted to blog. What held me back was the opinions of others or impact from others reading the hidden truth. This is a space and access to vulnerability. My intention is connection and this vehicle is the most authentic way to allow family, friends, and others a window into the personal discoveries, obstacles, and possibility created in my life. As I began a movement, Own I.T., I chose not to share my story or even own that I founded this idea until a full year later. Brene Brown’s work speaks to that when we own our story, authenticity and vulnerability are present and profound through sharing.

Now, I choose to share. Share the greatness, get you connected to inspiration, and offer resources through personal discoveries that give you access to freedom in your life.

How to Set Monthly Goals:

Choose a word - CONNECTION

Make a GRATITUDE List for the upcoming month

Celebrating birthday - NYC with ZTA sisters, Austin with friends

Level 2 Baptiste Yoga teacher training - time with Cat and Julie

First Quarterly Review for Work, Successful first 90 days

Time with family on the 4th

Two weeks traveling

Being in New York....(did I mention this already?)

Define a skill you want to master - Kayaking, Dating, Professional Performance / Pauses (consistency for creative, execution, and reflection time)

Set vision and goals 3 categories (Personal, Professional, Health)

Personal

Go on 3 dates weekly (friend, prospect, mentoring)

Outline curriculum and integration of Own I.T.

Launch global movement in the most organized chaos and fun way possible (dev. advisory board and also personal support)

Professional

File for LLC / non-profit

Gain corporate sponsors

Plan Own I.T. October in Houston, Austin, San Antonio

Teach YOGA at an amazing studio in Austin

Health 

Sweat daily - Try new XT weekly

Eat clean and green - less sugar and carbs

Sleep for 7.5-8hrs daily, take power naps if necessary

Connect / Reflect on progress week

Set micro and measurable goals

July is my birthday month. A new beginning to a new year of life. I choose to inspire greatness. To connect spiritually and be present to capture life moments around me, and to get clear on vision and direction of the legacy I chose to create and leave in the world. 

If you allow others to waste your time, it is your responsibility, not theirs.

How well do you respect your own time? When someone shows up late and delays your following meeting from starting on time, does it effect how your show up with your mood or attitude? Do you often feel that there is that one person albeit a co-worker or family member who continues to show up late and disrespects your time based on their needs vs. your own?

Too frequently we give over our power, our time, our energy, our attention to people or things that do not serve us. Instead of placing blame, saying it’s their fault or making judgements about them or the situation, give yourself the gift to OWN your time and your attention.

Take responsibility for your response and the choice vs. reaction that you have.

Many people ask me how I balance a full-time job, teaching yoga, personal projects like launching a non-profit, pursuing business school, volunteering for my sorority, etc. and my response recently has felt like the “I’m slowly dying and get me off of the struggle bus / hot mess express train.” That space lacks responsibility and choice. Coming from that struggle state lacks faith, which is a belief and corresponding action (according to the work of Lightyear Leadership). 

I choose to create boundaries and live in a beautiful state of choice, action, faith, and possibility. I am living a bad ass life that is FULL of living and give up the attitude of “I’m slowly dying and defeated from lacking vibrant energy attitude” that I call the slow death struggle approach. Life is meant to be celebrated. The ups. The downs. The people and memories that make the journey worthwhile.

If you notice others owning your time or wasting it, whether it’d be family, friends, co-workers, significants or love interests, choose to take it back and OWN YOUR OWN TIME. Treat it like gold. You are precious. Your time is precious. You are meant to create and share your gifts with others. Your legacy is important.

Saturday mornings are my absolute favorite as it is the sign of a week coming to an end, an opportunity to sleep in, and do those things with those you enjoy most.

I get to teach yoga on Saturday nights at a phenomenal Baptiste inspired yoga studio, BIG Power Yoga. 

Saturdays began to shift for me as I had a difficult time relaxing. In the past I have overpowered my body by running too many miles, planning out every minute of the day only to be setup for failure of not getting all of the extra things done, the complete OPPOSITE of what Saturdays are meant for.

This article on daily tips to help manage stress help me pause to think about what I can do moment-to-moment to reduce stress.

I had a work colleague say to me this week in an e-mail that they “hoped my week was as hectic as theirs.” This made me question how society could view success in the work place due to how busy or stressed you are....it does not mean you are being productive to be in a corporately competitive game of one-upping your stress from others.