Don’t panic.

Stop panicking.

Sit down! You’re making a scene!

What are you doing?! I said don’t panic!!! GARGHHH!

If you’ve ever had a moment of panic, you can relate to the scenario above… either receiving said “advice” from someone else or (in most cases) yelling it at yourself in the midst of panic.

In a state of panic, your body tenses up, your chest can feel tight, you can have trouble breathing, and a host of other physical symptoms worthy of the warning label on a No Doz pill bottle. We’re overcome with fear and anxiety, so much so that we can even feel paralyzed by it.

When we tell ourselves to stop panicking, it’s like covering the spout of a boiling teapot. It’s going to find a way to explode, and it’s probably just better if you let the steam out than trying to plug it up.

So why do we insist upon trying to tamp down our panic, when our body is obviously telling us to let it out?

If you’re panicking, the worst thing you can do is tell yourself not to. Besides the fact that it will be totally ineffective, it will put even more pressure on you, causing further panic. Read: great big explosion in the least appropriate place…

So what do you do instead? How do you let that anxiety out without freaking the eff out? When panic sets in, here’s my course of action…

Way, way down

I know, I know. I talk about deep breaths all the time, but there’s a reason for it!

Deep breaths will help calm your racing heart and stop you from hyperventilating as well as increase the release of calming, happy-making endorphins.

Try the 5-2-5 count exercise. Breathe deeply, filling up your belly for 5 counts. Hold the breath for 2 counts, then gently exhale for 5 counts. Concentrate on the breath the whole time.

Focusing on the breath instead of how freaked out you are can definitely help calm you down as well!

Where’s the fire?

When you’re feeling a bit calmer, you can move on to this next step: finding the fire.

In cases of panic attacks, there’s not always a trigger. Sometimes they just come up uninvited and all we can do is ride it out.

If you’re experiencing a state of panic that’s not a full-blown attack, however, it’s likely that there is something that provoked it. Look back and ask, Where’s the fire?

Finding the cause of your panic is the key to doing something about it and, thus, preventing it from recurring. Go over this list of questions as a start:

1. Where was I when panic set in?
2. Who was I with?
3. What was I doing?
4. What was I thinking about?

Write down your answers and see which one makes you feel the most anxiety, then ask:

What about this place/person/situation causes me so much stress?

Once you’ve whittled it down to one, blazing stress-trigger, you’ve found your culprit. Or, it may be the combination of a few of your answers.

You have to find the fire before you can put it out. Don’t try to bypass this step, hoping it’ll just go out on its own. You don’t want to end up with a bigger problem later on!

What can I do right now to alleviate this stress?

You’ve found the fire, and before it starts burning you up all over again with all it’s panic-producing flames, you’re gonna find your extinguisher. Here’s how:

What is one step you can take right now toward fixing this problem?

Write it down so that, if this same stressor comes up again in the future, you can look at this list of action steps to take instead of going through the process again.

Do it!!!

Extinguish that baby with a hefty dose of action.

If it was where you were that brought on the anxiety, move.

If it was who you were with, talk to someone else from now on, or look for a way to spend less time with them.

If it was a situation you’re dreading, take that first step to getting it out of the way or find a way to get out of it if that feels better to you.

There’s no cure for anxiety like action. The more inactive you are in your life, the more your body will alert you to the fact that you just weren’t meant to be stationary.

Is this recurring?

If you feel stricken by panic often or your level of anxiety is worsening, there’s something that needs to be addressed. Be it a panic disorder or a situation that’s bothering you, something is out of line in your life.

See a professional if you feel like it’s getting out of hand and taking action isn’t solving it. They can get into the nitty gritty with you and help you find the fires you might not even see.

Believe me, my little teapots, I speak from personal experience on this topic. Address these issues before those fires start joining in ranks and you boil over.

In other news…

Great, big, juicy changes are coming to Strong Inside Out, but I have very good news: those changes are going to be geared toward YOU!

I want Strong Inside Out to be the most helpful, inspirational, and motivating site for each one of you, but I’m going to need your help. If you have a couple minutes, I would greatly appreciate your input!

I’ve made up a brief survey on Google Docs that will help me better understand you and what you need from me. Please take a little bit of your day to tell me more about yourself to help me help you.

If you don’t see the form below, click here to tell me about yourself!

It’s all completely confidential and anonymous so have no fear of speaking freely. ;) Thank you so very much for being a part of the future of Strong Inside Out!

Here’s to a bright and shiny one…

With hope and fire,

Amy

pic credits (in order): Sarabbit, ursonate, motone, sk8geek, The U.S. Army

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post Don’t Panic appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

I did it! I traveled for 2 months straight without getting sick!

A little allergy action (Midwest, you’re killing me!), but beyond that, I’m up to speed and my energy hasn’t faltered that much at all.

In fact, I’m hearing this in every city:

“How do you have so much energy right now?”

…usually in a fascinated, envious tone… like Ursula telling Ariel that she has a beautiful voice.

Good news! You don’t have to steal my immunity in a proverbial seashell to store around your neck, my half-octopi friends! Ok, too far with the Little Mermaid metaphors…

But seriously, there are quite a few habits I owe to my health maintenance, even when all odds were against me, and you can use them in your own life to stave off immuno-compromise (that’s trainer-y talk for coming down with something).

Here are the keys to my immune system’s success:

Refuse to Get Sick

I simply refuse to get sick. It’s a commitment I’ve made to myself.

I won’t give in to it. I won’t open myself up to it. If it comes for me, it will have one hell of a fight.

Decide to stay healthy, and you will likely have an easier time at it.

I know, it’s a little woo woo and all, but it helps to have this attitude toward your health. If you choose not to get sick, it can inform every choice that affects your health from here on out become that much easier.

Commit to staying healthy.

Superfoods for Superhuman Health

Even when I wasn’t eating the healthiest before I launched The Suck It, Temptation! Challenge, I was still making sure to get my bare minimum of superfoods. Because I put these foods at the top of my priority list, I made sure to keep all my vitamins and minerals in check.

Here are a list of my favorite superfoods that make me feel, well, super:

Kale – GAHHHH I love kale! I have a slight obsession with this dark, leafy green. It’s my Popeye’s spinach… just ignore that spinach is listed directly under this.

It’s a nutrition powerhouse, rich in calcium, magnesium, B6, vitamins A, C & K, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Not enough for ya? The amount of fiber in this curly leafy can help lower your cholesterol, too.

Spinach – This green pretty much has everything in it. Ready for the laundry list of awesomeness? Here’s what you’ll get with your saag paneer: vitamin A (especially lutein, which is THE carotenoid responsible for eye health), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron,vitamin B, calcium, potassium, vitamin B, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. Seriously, it’s just so good for you.

Eat it raw in salads, or throw it in with just about any dish you’re making. It’s nutrition benefits are actually maximized when cooked (but not overcooked, mind you- that will leach all the vitamins and nutrients out). Aim for a quick steam or boil, or toss it into a stir fry after the burner’s been turned off (the residual heat from the ingredients will wilt it just enough). The only regret you’ll have is not throwing in more.

Berries – tons of fiber, a little sweetness, and very low on the glycemic index, berries are my go-to fruit for snacking. Besides the fact that they won’t break your sugar bank, they are full of antioxidants, phytochemicals and flavonoids that will help keep your immunity fighting strong… like, anti-cancer strong.

Greek yogurt – This helps me get rid of travel bloat AND increase the good guys in my gut with a probiotic boost. It’s also loaded with protein. Trainer win! Stick to the organic ones when possible.

Broccolini – The long, slender cousin of broccoli, broccolini (also known as broccoli rabe) is a little easier on the digestive tract if you find that brocolli… ahem… produces unwelcome gases in your system. Broccolini also tastes better in my opinion, and has an impressive nutritional profile: one serving will get you your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C, and will get you a hefty boost of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin K. The real immune hero in this veggie is the beta-carotene, though, which is also great for your eye health. It’s delightful simply sauteed lightly with some extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Delish!

Bananas – Bloated from a long flight? Yeah, me too… x 30. I can always count on bananas to help get the excess water out of my body thanks to miracle mineral, potassium. Pair some monkey fuel with a few big glasses of water and voila! No more airline cankles. These also serve as my energy bars if I’m left starving before a bootcamp, and they pack in a ton of vitamins (especially C and B6). Bonus: they come in their own compostable wrapper!

Ginger – I’m a bit biased to ginger because when I was little, my Great Grandfather used to give me candied ginger as a treat when I visited his ranch. Though he probably wasn’t thinking of all the immune-boosting benefits of ginger, I’m glad he instilled that love for this spicy root in me. In Chinese culture, ginger is a super-sickness-fighter. Every time I start to get the sniffles, my Mom tells me to go grab a hunk of ginger and add it to some tea. It’s an acquired taste that’s worth some work acquiring.

It was especially helpful on this tour because–in addition to being an immuno-superstar–ginger is an anti-inflammatory. In other words, those sore muscles from all those bootcamps recovered faster due to the compounds found in ginger. It’s also great for calming nausea from long airline flights or train rides!

Garlic and Onions – Bad breath? Who cares if you’re gonna live forever?! Garlic is full of polyphenols and bioflavinoids which makes this guy a “head” honcho in detoxification. Studies found that a small daily dose of garlic and onions helped boost enzymes that remove toxins in the blood cells of healthy women. They’re also big time in the cancer/heart disease prevention field… not to mention you’re taking care of the vampire threat while on the road, too. Nyuk nyuk nyuk

Extra Credit:

Need a quick does of immune-fighting veggies and fruits? Head to your nearest hippie grocery store and grab a green juice. Make sure it has MOSTLY greens in it and is juiced fresh or at least on-site. My favorite blend is kale, lemon, ginger and apple. If you have a juicer, the loverly Farnoosh Brock just released a book all about the benefits of juicing. (non-affiliate link – she’s just awesome)

Hey girl… I work out

Even if your main goal for exercising is to look as good as Ryan Gosling without a shirt, you’ll enjoy this added benefit: working out regularly boosts your immune system, making it easier to fend off germies when they come for you.

Even on tour, I make sure to work out at least 4x/week as is written in The Hot Body Code.

It’s important to recognize that you can go too far with this tactic, making you more of a poor, unfortunate soul than a big, strong King Triton (last Little Mermaid reference, I promise!). If you veer into overtraining, you can compromise your immunity instead of strengthen it.

If you’re finding that your body isn’t getting a chance to fully recover between workouts, or that you’re constantly tired and weak, cut a day out of your regimen, or maybe replace it with a good ol’ yoga class or even a walk. Yeah, I said it. Chill out! It’s not a more-is-better scenario here! It’s a balance-is-better scenario.

Night Night Is Non-Negotiable

I sleep at least 7 hours a night (that’s my magic number, though it differs for everyone). This is non-negotiable. Only once along my tour route did I put my sleep in jeapordy and that was because I just couldn’t pass up to do 2 Minneapolis bootcamps… both at 6 am on consecutive days… with a Movement Meetup on the night of the first.

I couldn’t say no to my girl, Lisa Van Ahn, who offered up the 2nd Minneapolis bootcamp. Your power of persuasion is strong, my friend!

When you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t have time to recover from its everyday routine, let alone if you’re active and challenging yourself in your workouts. I can’t stress how important a decent amount of sleep is. Without it, your cortisol producers will go on overdrive, kicking the stress hormone up in your system, which can cause all kinds of funkiness you don’t want (weight gain, sickness, more stress, etc).

Can’t manage the 7-8 hours at night? Take a 20-30 minute nap in the daytime to fill in the gaps. It can help you keep your immunity revving AND increase focus for the rest of the day.

Give your body a break and make sure to get enough shut eye.

No Playing with Fire

I don’t do recreational drugs ever anymore. Not ever. I’m high on life… and sooo nerdy.

I haven’t had one drink on this whole tour either, simply because I know it makes me feel like crap the next day. I need to perform at my best and I know that having a hangover and taking substances that alter my state of being diminish my well-built immune system.

When I weigh the pros (sure, it’s a little fun to get tipsy and it might make social situations less awkward) with the cons (headache, nausea, weakness, lethargy, and a gateway to sickness), the scale tips largely in the favor on NOT drinking.

Picking and choosing my battles here, guys.

And A Little Magic…

When sickness threatens, I nip the symptoms in the bud.

I am VERY careful about what I recommend supplement-wise (when was the last time you read me recommend a supplement?), so know that this really works for me:

If I start feeling yucky, I reach for Source Naturals Wellness Formula (non-affiliate link). I swear by this stuff. Ask my training clients. All of them swear by it now, too.

You take 6 of these all-natural, extremely nasty-smelling-and-tasting pills full of immune-boosting herbs as soon as you start feeling off, and I swear, it works wonders for me. It’s loaded with ginger, garlic, echinacea and a ton of other herbs and vitamins that do just the thing to nix the threat of sickness before it turns full-blown nasty.

Now, please note that I am not a medical health professional. These simply work for me and I want you to stay healthy, but I can’t go ask you to take them without seeing a real doctor first to make sure you’re clear to take them. These herbs aren’t for everyone; make sure they won’t interact with any current conditions or medications.

****

I’m finally driving back to LA for the event on Saturday and the OC event next Saturday, and I even though I’m happy to be bringing the movement home, but it sure ain’t gonna stay there.

Coming up in the next couple of weeks, I’ll have an exciting opportunity that has been years in the making. I’m so excited to share it (literally) with you guys. Also, I’ll be revealing the 30th city of The 30×30 Project Tour. Stay tuned!

For all you Angelenos, I certainly hope to see you at the event on Saturday! You can read more about it here, and see all the details for the OC event here.

Here’s to health, home and of course, HOPE…

With hope and fire,

Amy

pic credits: refuser, kale, sleepy head, matches, magic

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post The Immunity Post: How to Travel for 2 Months & Not Get Sick appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

As we near the end of The Suck It, Temptation! Challenge, I have something to share with you.

I started the challenge because I was eating like crap. I was taking every opportunity that came my way because my mind was in when-am-I-ever-gonna-get-this-chance-again mode.

And I’m pleased to say that I am back down to (pret-ty close to) the size I was when I left just by moderating my opportunities to 3-4x/week, and adding sprints to my weekly regimen.

I’ve picked and chosen my battles wisely, delighting in some of the local delights in each city I visit, but not going overboard and trying everything.

Here’s the thing: I didn’t just do this just for size. It was a part of it, but it comes down to the fact that I was feeling like what I was eating: crap. Waking up and feeling bloated and lethargic was less-than-motivating when going in to a foreign community to teach a fitness class, let me tell you.

I have issues with weight, just as most of us out there do. I don’t think there are many of us who pack on pounds and don’t get affected by it mentally.

It’s startling, not just from a health perspective, but from a self-worth perspective, when you look in the mirror and see change that you deem negative. It reminds you that every choice you’ve made in the past has led you to this point.

And then the shame and guilt sets in.

Today, I looked in the mirror, initially proud of what I’d physically accomplished in a month with the challenge while touring, and then, I felt a tinge of disappointment when I looked at an area that wasn’t as cut as it was when I left, which opened the floodgates of internal berating for every, single off-plan morsel I’d enjoyed over the past 2 months…

I can’t believe you let yourself go like that. You didn’t need to eat that. Why can’t you just stop and think of what you’re doing to your body before you stuff your face?!

Look at you now. Personal trainers have more self control than you. Where do you get off telling people you’re a fitness expert?

You should just stop eating until you look like the other skinnier fitness bloggers out there. If you really wanted to be an example, you would restrict yourself more.

And that malicious, violent voice shocked me enough to stop and realize how ridiculous this spiral was. I’m in shape. I am not overweight, and even if I was, I don’t deserve anyone talking to me this way, not even me.

Everything I stand for goes against this destructive self-criticism. The voice that tells me I should stop eating? That’s the unhealthy voice. That voice won’t get my anywhere but backtrack years of personal development.

I made eye contact with myself in the mirror, and I said:

“It’s just weight.”

And that’s the message I want to leave you with today: It’s just weight.

Your weight is just one minor part of your being. It doesn’t make you who you are, positive or negative.

Getting healthier is a goal we talk about often here on Strong Inside Out. I fully believe in the power of getting healthy from the inside out. Just be careful of the healthy, encouraging voice transforming into one that threatens to criticize you into a dangerous place.

To keep yourself from fueling your inner hater, remember your root goals. If you’re active and eating healthy or simply want to start, remember why you’re doing it. You’re not changing your lifestyle just to look hot. It goes deeper than that.

If you’re getting healthy to boost your confidence, focus on that. Focus on how confident you feel after really pushing yourself in a hard workout. Focus on your baseline confidence level and how it’s affected by a consistent workout schedule. Focus on why confidence matters to you.

What I want to tell you–all of you–today, is that no matter where you are in your fitness journey, you are worthy of love, from others as well as yourself. You are not a bad person in any way because you feel you have some work to do. You are not worth any less.

You are a living, breathing, feeling being, and your weight is a small extension of that.

When that voice starts piping up from the bleachers, tell her to sit down and shut up, or even better: kick her the hell out and fill her seat with the encouraging, supportive voice that your healthy journey began with.

Tell your unhealthy, hateful voice to suck it, just as you told temptation to do this month. By doing both, you have a winning combination, my friends.

Challengers, you have a bonus email coming your way in a couple days. I’d love to hear back from you when you get it! Stay on the lookout!

Beyond that, 30×30 is about to wrap up until the very last bootcamp that will be announced within the next couple of weeks. If you’re in SoCal, you can catch #28 and 29 this weekend and next! Click here to see the Los Angeles event details. Click here to see the OC event details.

I go back to “real life” next week, but it’s going to be drastically different than when I left.

I’ve realized how important this movement is as it’s gained ground in 18 states and 5 Canadian provinces (and counting). There are so many people out there who need this movement. There are so many people who need to know that there’s a way to release their pent-up pain.

The importance of holistic healing in the form of finding an outlet for the struggle is one that NEEDS a louder voice.

And I’m happy to be the one with the bullhorn.

More details to come as the future of Strong Inside Out starts dramatically shifting… right…

NOW.

With hope and fire,

Amy

P.S. Welcome, Synergy Fitness Bootcampers! Thanks so much for coming over to Strong Inside Out. I had a great time with you all in Austin, and I hope you keep strengthening with us here in this online community!

pic by puuikibeach

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post It’s Just Weight appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

We’re talking about BHAGs today!

No clue what that means?

Jamila Payne from Soul Purpose Company is here to tell us exactly what that means and how she carried her “best year ever” into her now-extraordinary life. QUEEN of BHAGs right here!

BHAG stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goals, which is something we know very well here at Strong Inside Out. I’m always talking about dreaming bigger, taking action and living the life you deserve. Today, we’re getting specific.

Here’s what you’ll find in this 8.5-minute interview with my very good friend, Jamila:

• Jamila’s story including her best year ever and how it’s led her to find her purpose
• The 3 Top Tips to take your life from ordinary to extraordinary
• Goodies for Strong Inside Out readers!

Without further ado, here’s my girl, Jamila Payne:

What’s Your Big Hairy Audacious Goal?

Are you spending your time making some else’s dream come true instead of living your own? Having a life you love is easier than you think.

In 2010, I began a quest to have the biggest year of my life and to my own surprise it happened. I took an exotic vacation, wrote a book, ran for public office, and eventually moved to South Africa. It was so amazing I had to figure out how to keep it going.

I was tired of my ordinary life and I knew I had the potential for something greater. The question was – how could I make it happen?

Let’s get this straight. I’m just a normal girl with big dreams.  No backers or family stash but my upbringing won’t determine my outcome. I began with a simple thought – I want to shift my opportunities from ordinary to extraordinary. I know sounds crazy right? But I was just crazy enough to make it happen and you can too.

I know, your dream seems far in the distance but they’re not. Here are three steps to accomplishing a Big Hairy Audacious Goal:

1. Decide what success looks like. Screw the traditional path. Anything is possible. Want a power hour of yoga or meditation in the morning? How about travelling the world? You make the rules. But get clear about what the end goal is and determine a concrete way to know when you have arrived.
2. Recognize the opportunities. It just takes one small step. Once you begin moving towards your goal things will happen, people will support you, help and resources will show up. Just try it and see.
3. Make the goal real. To move from dream to action you have to have a plan. Backwards map from your desired completion date. Ask yourself – what needs to be in place for this goal to be real. Don’t over think it. Clarity happens from taking small actions and the more actions you take the more clear you’ll become.

So what are you waiting for?  Let’s get hairy.

Jamila Payne is an author, entrepreneur and specialist in modern marketing strategy and execution for mission-driven businesses. As CEO of Soul Purpose Company she runs an accelerator for women in business that want to increase their income and impact. She wrote the guide on How to Have the Biggest Year of Your Life. 

Don’t forget to go to SoulPurposeCompany.com/Amy to get your goodies!

Thanks so much to Jamila for taking the time to talk to us about BHAGs today. Now, it’s your turn!

In the comments below, tell us:

What will you do today to implement Jamila’s 3 Top Tips for making an ordinary life extraordinary?

Looking forward to hearing all about your action-taking!

*****

Where’s 30×30?

On the last leg of the tour now. Come on out, sweat it up, and raise some hope!

Chapel Hill
Thursday, May 9th at 9 am

Charleston
Saturday, May 11th at 9 am

Austin
Sunday, May 12th at 9 am (before Mother’s Day brunch! Get it!)

Los Angeles
Saturday, May 18th at 9 am

Costa Mesa
Saturday, May 25th at 9 am

FINAL 30X30 BOOTCAMP
????? (to be announced soon!)

To see all the details about each bootcamp, click here to see the map!

See you soon, friends!

With hope and fire,

Amy

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post We’re Talking About BHAGs! (w/Jamila Payne) appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

Everyone’s experienced it.

That dreadful feeling of walking into a room of people you don’t know.

You’re the new guy. You’re the one new eyes scan for signs of weakness or recognition.

You’re the one who’s being judged for worth-of-breath-expelled, and if you fail, you’re sentenced to the torture of roaming the room alone with that uncomfortable semi-smile and hopeful eyes…

You swallow loudly, already portraying yourself nervous and, therefore, not confident.

And the choice is made in that moment: faces turn back to their own groups, writing you off as an awkward conversation.

You’re excluded.

Maybe not consciously. Maybe they didn’t say to themselves: I’m not going to talk to this person because of x, y or z.

But it doesn’t make you feel any better because the end of it is, you’re rejected, isolated, ignored.

The whole process is downright awful. That horrible feeling of unworthiness, regret for not having acted differently or maybe for coming at all.

We’ve all been there.

So why do we continue the cycle of exclusion?

Chances are that you’ve been on the other side of this, too. You’ve been the one to exclude.

You’ve made fun of someone. You’ve rolled your eyes at the new person. You’ve actively ignored someone who isn’t “up to par” to your social circle for whatever reason.

It’s very high school, isn’t it?

You know what I’ve realized? That horrible clique-y part of high school doesn’t end when you throw your cap up in the air. It’s nice to think we can all leave those tendencies to exclude behind, but I’ve found in my own experience that life is very high school.

So if we know how much it hurts to be on the receiving end of the cycle, why do we become the excluders?

When you’ve experienced being excluded, there’s a certain satisfaction in doing it to someone else. You feel better knowing that you’re not alone in that pain.

Knowing this dark truth, it’s your choice if you want to end the exclusion cycle with you.

Here’s what I’ve found since joining the blogging world: the inclusion cycle is just as contagious as the exclusion cycle.

To go out of your way to encourage and support someone always comes back to you. If you choose to include rather than exclude, it creates a ripple effect that spreads further than you may know.

In 2011, a well-established fitness blogger decided to include me into his circle and encouraged me to start a fitness blog that is now Strong Inside Out. Now, the ripples extend through my actions as I try to help others as much as I can, and I’m hoping that those I help choose to take on this same motivation.

Good begets good. Inclusion begets inclusion.

So why don’t we all start today to begin this cycle, if not just for the pure fact that we know it will start coming back to us?

Here are the basic steps for starting the inclusion cycle:

1. Become aware of the way you react in social situations

Depending on where you grew up, what your social status was in school and is now, and many many other factors we won’t even try to delve into here, you will automatically react to social situations in a certain way.

Instead of judging your reactions, simply begin to become aware of them.

What do you think and do when a new person enters the room or comes to dinner for the first time?

Is there a certain “test” a person has to pass to start being heard as a person (instead of as the new guy)?

Is your tendency toward inclusion or exclusion, and why? What in your past led you to react this way?

Again, it’s very important to remember that we’re not placing judgment on these discoveries, nor are we trying to change them just yet.

Awareness is the first step in the process. Take note of your tendencies before moving on to try to change them.

2. Redirect

If your tendency is toward inclusion, that’s great! Thank you for making us all feel more important and welcome around you. You may want to skip to the end of this post now. :)

If your tendency is toward exclusion, however, we’re going to work to start redirecting your thought process today.

This may take some time and practice, but it’s worth it if you hope to be that person you always hope to find when you enter a social situation for the first time.

To redirect your exclusive thoughts, first become aware as you did in the previous step. Then, simply ask yourself :

What would I hope for if I was that new person? How can I make this person feel welcome?

Take a second to put yourself in that person’s shoes. That anxiety and hope that they’re feeling, that searching…

Would you really want to further their discomfort, or would you ease it if you could?

Here’s the cool part: you can.

3. Actively include and encourage others to do the same

If life is like high school, let’s bring in the analogy of the kind, popular girl. I’ve talked about her before: the girl everyone wants to be friends with, the girl everyone wants to be.

You can be that girl/guy. You can be that person that makes people feel better just by being around them.

How?

Go out of your way to include people who look like they’re searching. Be the person to break the exclusion cycle.

By welcoming people and being open and inviting, you are in turn encouraging them to do the same, whether you know it or not.

That warmth and welcome you extend to others will save one person at a time from feeling excluded, rejected and alone. This may be the first time in a long time that this person has felt included. We all know that positive action is contagious; this person will feel more inclined to treat others as you treated them, knowing how much it changed their own experience (especially if they have gone through the contrary).

Whether or not this person will take action from this feeling of inclusion is out of your control, but you’ve done all you possibly can do, and that’s all it takes to change one life. That’s a movement.

So what about you? Are you going to start the inclusion cycle right here, right now, with you?

Let me know that you’re taking a stand against cliquiness and exclusion.

Take one of the steps below…

1. Click to tweet this: Refuse to make one more person feel excluded and alone. Break The Exclusion Cycle http://bit.ly/15j0Vkt @StrongInsideOut

2. Not a tweeter? No prob, Bob. Join the Inclusion Cycle-Starters in the comments below: What motivates you to break the exclusion cycle? Helping others feel less alone? Helping others know that they matter? Paying it forward? Write it in the comments.

Together, we’ll start this cycle spinning, and with enough of us, it just might catch.

****

Check in time!

The Suck It, Temptation! Challenge

One more week to go in the challenge, boys and girls! You’re past the hard part and now you should be feeling the habits forming. Ride it. Let it take root! The 90% Principle will help you stay sane and balanced in a world of people who see only black and white. Let this be your little secret… or not. ;)

The 30×30 Project

Sadly, this leg of the tour is wrapping up! Just a few more locations before we start off to the next steps for Strong Inside Out. If you can, please come out and join us for the final few bootcamps. Here’s where you can party for hope with us:

Chapel Hill
Thursday, May 9th at 9 am

Charleston
Saturday, May 11th at 9 am

Austin
Sunday, May 12th in the morning (before Mother’s Day brunch! Get it!)

Los Angeles
Saturday, May 18th at 9 am

Costa Mesa
Saturday, May 25th at 9 am

FINAL 30X30 BOOTCAMP
????? (to be announced soon!)

To see all the details about each bootcamp, click here to see the map!

It’s almost time to go back to normal life.

…though I have a sneaky suspicion that it’s going to be far from normal when I get there.

With hope and fire,

Amy

photo by [Daniela Brown Photography] 

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post Break The Exclusion Cycle appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

I’m writing from my amazing fully-furnished, luxury apartment, courtesy of Oakwood Apartments Worldwide. Thank you thank you thank you to Ana, Phoebe, Rob and Matthew at Oakwood for donating 4 nights at their centrally-located, fully decked-out Midtown location to The 30×30 Project. I am beyond grateful.

For more information about my beautiful NYC digs, click here.

I’m in NYC for the first time in 10 years, and I have to say that I’m experiencing quite an array of emotions.

I rode the Peter Pan bus in, arriving 45 minutes behind schedule because the driver had to do a “bus safety check” (i.e. stop at Burger King). I was already anxious about being back in the city where all the s*** hit the fan for me.

10 years ago, I was in a very dark place. My memories of this city consist of sobbing uncontrollably while my wide-eyed college roommates stood looking at each other, helpless; long nights drinking bottles of cheap wine; and walking home every night while talking on my phone for safety in a BAD part of town…

I came to New York, expecting over-stimulation, rude, abrasive people and days locked up in my room just to get some peace and quiet… because that’s how I left this city. That’s what I remember.

As the bus turned down Columbus Ave from Harlem, memories wafted back like a wave in the face as we drove by my old dorms on 79th, and continued down my old walking route to school.

My head swam in anxiety, sadness, and… relief?

As I looked out onto all these memorable places and routes, I felt a deep sense of relief for not being in that darkness anymore. The sensation shocked me enough to break me out of the act of projecting, which I was doing without realizing it.

I started simply taking in the city without projecting my past onto it. I checked in to my beautiful apartment, which is pretty much the opposite of my windowless bedroom in Bushwick-before-it-was-hip that I lived in before. Nearly everyone I talked to on my way through town were all very warm and courteous.

I walked all around Greenwich and the West Village from Midtown in the rain on Monday just because I wanted to take in the city. Instead of feeling over-stimulated, I became inebriated with the life and culture of my surroundings.

The parks seem more beautiful and green this time around. The architecture more striking. The people more engaged and downright fascinating.

I discovered some near-perfect coffee shops to work in with welcoming, helpful baristas (my favorites so far being McNally Jackson Bookstore Cafe and The Coffee Foundry). And I became inspired all over again…

When I stopped projecting my past onto my present, my experience became a beautiful surprise.

Have you found the same to be true for you?

Many people who have a history of trauma, depression, anxiety, or otherwise bad times, can project their past onto situations or even people, which keeps them from actually experiencing the present.

In fact, we’re all guilty of this, mental issues aside.

When was the last time you walked into a situation and were surprised that it didn’t turn out like you thought it would? I talked about the idea of opening up your perspective in Explore Happiness & Remake Your Life. Today, let’s talk about how you can avoid projecting, and allow yourself to experience life anew.

Why Projection Happens

When you project your past onto your present, you are inviting that experience into your life yet again. If you, like me, have a darker past, it can keep you from seeing the good in your present surroundings. It can keep you from being surprised… which is why most people do this in the first place.

It’s a subconscious decision to project; your mind says, “Ok, we’ve been here before and it was crappy. Don’t expect anything better this time around, you’ll just be disappointed.”

Don’t be mad at your subconscious. She’s just trying to protect you, overbearing supervisor that she is.

What your subconscious doesn’t realize is that projecting can cause more harm than protection. If you work so hard to put your past behind you and move on to a better, happier life (as all of us here at Strong Inside Out work to do), what good does it do us to dig that past back up and throw it back into our present?

That’s exactly what’s happening when we project.

Common scenarios in which projecting may occur for SIO readers:

• Trying to get healthy after a history of overly strict dieting or exercise
• Talking to a new therapist or support group
• Trying a new workout regimen or method
• Walking into a crowded room as an introvert, having been teased or otherwise unwelcomed in the past
• Starting a new relationship

The Path to Presence

The only way to stop projecting is to become aware of the fact that you’re doing it at all.

How do you know if you’re projecting, or if you’re actually taking in the situation for the first time?

First, stop any cycling that may be happening in your head by taking a deep breath in slowly and letting it out even more slowly. Find your calm, then ask yourself these questions:

Am I comparing this situation to my past situations?

Am I looking for things to be like they were last time?

Does my perception rely on tangible facts, or is it tied to emotion that isn’t rooted in this moment?

If your answers lean more toward the affirmative, you’re most likely projecting your past onto your situation in the present.

Take another deep breath and look around.

Bring yourself back into the present by centering yourself on a few of the things going on around you right now.

What does it smell like? Is it cold, hot, windy, raining, dry? What does it sound like?

If you’re projecting on a person, root yourself in how this person makes you feel NOW. Don’t worry about what the future holds, or what they did in the past that upset you. What are you getting out of this now?

Use all your senses to become mindful and root yourself in the present moment.

The Fast Track to Kicking Your Projection Habit

If you find that you’re constantly projecting, your past is obviously still affecting you today. Have you dealt with what happened to you?

Even if this wasn’t what others would deem a traumatic experience, if it’s still bothering you, it was traumatic to YOU. It affects your world.

If this sounds familiar to you, I highly suggest that you find someone to talk to and an outlet for the energy that your past brings up.

You have to deal with your past in order to move forward.

It’s so scary. Believe me, I know.  There’s just no way around it.

As frightening or daunting as it may seem, taking the reigns to deal with your past is empowering. The simple act of making the choice can get you halfway there.

So do exactly that today if you haven’t already. Talk it out. Get it out. Let me know how it goes.

*****

30×30 is hitting Philly and DC this weekend! Are you coming? Check out the details on the map by clicking here.

Also, we’ve added Austin to the list! Texas, you ain’t quite done with me yet. ;) May 12, hope is coming for y’all. Details to come very soon…

The tour is already wrapping up. Rather than getting sad about it, I’m choosing to dance about it. Care to join me?

Cool! See you soon. ;)

With hope and fire,

Amy

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post Reflecting on Projecting appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

I was running a little late to the bus station in Hartford, Connecticut today after a bangarang class of 52 bootcampers!

After sweating out everything in me, talking with everyone and listening to their inspirational personal stories, and a few days of rough and tumble meet & greets, I think my brain went into zone-out mode as it tends to do. I become kind of half-awake as I make my way slowly where I need to go.

In my delirious state, I stepped into line for the bus going to NYC, dropped my bags and leaned against the railing to take in the beautiful Sunday afternoon sun. As I did, I noticed a girl to my right with her bags, talking on the phone, whom I had failed to notice before plopping my bags down.

I think I just cut her in line.

As soon as she hung up, I asked if she was going to NYC, and she replied that she was. I apologized for cutting her off in line and offered  her place back in line to her.

“Oh it’s fine,” she said graciously. “You’re only one person.”

I smiled a bit to myself.

I am only one person.

My mind wandered back to years ago when being only one person kept me from taking any action at all. I’d use it as an excuse not to change my own life, let alone anyone else’s.

What does it matter? I’d think to myself. I’m only one person.

A lot of people I talk to at Movement Meetups get overwhelmed with the idea that they “have to change the world.” What they don’t realize is that if you change your own life, you are changing the world.

You don’t have to be the voice of whatever you believe in if you at least take action, to be the one person who chooses to act differently.

There is no difference between you and the world-changers except action.

Today, don’t put off doing something just because you’re only one person.

You, my singular friend, are changing the world right now, just by you being here breathing. Take that breath and infuse some fire into it.

Your action step is this:

Be the one person who changes one other person’s world today.

Give up your seat for the person who looks tired… even if they’re not handicapped or elderly.

Buy coffee for the person in line behind you.

Commit to volunteering a couple hours to a cause that matters to you.

Be the change today.

If everyone who reads this post takes this one action, we’ll have a mini movement on our hands. It all starts with just one person: you.

Let the world know you’re coming. Click here.

****

30×30 is in its final 10 cities! Man, how time… er… distance flies!

New York is not quite sold out tonight, so please tweet me (click here) or shoot me a line on facebook if you plan on coming and I’ll let you know if it’s full or not (full details about the event here)! If it does fill up and you’re left sans bootcamp, don’t fret: there are 2 more options to join me on The 30×30 Project tour in NYC…

The Movement Meetup will be at 7:30 PM tonight at the Starbucks on 8th ave and 39th. Come on out and learn how to join me in this movement!

PLUS: I am doing a bonus run club on Wednesday to kick off lululemon athletica Meatpacking District‘s first run club ever! Come join me in this honor of taking New Yorkers through a fun run with corrective core work on Wednesday night. Meet us at 408 W 14th St. (at 9th ave) at 6:45 PM and get your run on!

What else is happening in The 30×30 world? We’ve got Philly this Saturday (Movement Meetup on Friday night). We’re literally closing down streets for this event, so don’t miss it! Sunday brings a kick-ass Cinco de Mayo 30×30 event in DC! You’ll regret skipping out on this run around The National Mall capped off with HIIT to get your margarita-sipping, guacamole-dipping day started! Possible Mexican food Movement Meetup to follow… Chime in here if you’re down!

On a side note, I am very excited to announce that Austin, TX is hitting the 30×30 Project Tour Map! Details are being discussed, but the basics are this: Sunday, May 12th at Synergy Fitness Bootcamps. Texas, I bet you thought I was done with you! Not quite so lucky, my friends. ;)

I’ve got the final bootcamp a-brewin’ to be revealed here in the next couple weeks. Stay close.

Suck It, Temptation! Challenge-takers, hang in there. We’ll check in next time!

Let’s bring it tonight, New York.

With hope and fire,

Amy

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post You’re only one person appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

Someone said something to me today that nearly knocked the wind out of me.

I’m staying in New Hampshire at the moment, readying myself for a four-in-a-rower starter this Friday (Dedham, Rye, Hartford, NYC), and chilling out with my soon-to-be-family.

Across the street lives a man that my fiance has been very close to his whole life. Almost like an uncle.

He’s out in his yard daily, trimming, mowing, weeding, etc. He’s always moving about… and he’s nearly 93 years old.

As we walked out to the car today to get somewhere that has wifi, we caught this neighbor as he was headed out to do some hedge-trimming. We strolled over to talk to him and he asked us about our work situations.

As Rick explained what he was doing (his amazing podcast and coaching), the neighbor seemed to space out a little bit… which honestly happens more than not with people who don’t quite understand the technology.

But then, he looked back at us–at me–straight in the eye, and said:

“In 93 years, I never once found something I have a talent for.”

My heart dropped to my feet, and I think every bit of air left my lungs, too.

This incredibly sweet man just expressed all the pain of a lifetime of regret in one sentence, directly to me.

The idea that someone can spend their whole life never finding something they can dive headfirst into. A life of working a so-so job, never feeling that deep satisfaction and fulfillment of “This is it.”

So let’s get down to what you’re aching to skim to: how do you avoid getting to your 90′s, never having realized your talents?

Here’s the sucky part: I don’t have a straight answer for you.

No one’s journey will be the same.

All the people we look up to who are doing incredible things, found out their passions and talents organically, but that doesn’t mean that  they just stumbled over them. Their talents come from growth and work and openness.

Here’s my thought on what you should do to find your talent:

Demolish your idea of talent.

Many times, all the advice you’ll read (yes, including this advice you’re reading right now) will get you absolutely nowhere. Why? Because it’s not personal. It’s not made for you.

Your talents aren’t their talents. You won’t discover them the way they discovered theirs.

What I want to do today is show you why certain ideas of discovering your talents are downright wrong, and how to expand your perspective so that you can start living your potential.

And hey, if it doesn’t work for you, I’m sorry I couldn’t help. But the important thing is that you keep looking. You keep trying.

“Talented People Are Gifted”

People always think that the people who are good at things just had it easy. They were born with it.

Talent isn’t always a gift. Sometimes, it’s kindling that needs to be lit and nurtured to grow into a roaring blaze.

I’d like to ask John Coltrane what his music sounded like when he was a kid. I’d like to ask Meryl Streep if she skipped out on classes because she was “gifted.” I’d like to ask Robert Frost to show me his writing from middle school.

Talents take work to develop into gifts. If you’re not good at something that you love, get better at it. Practice, hone, take a class…

But don’t use the “I wasn’t born with the gift” excuse, because most of us aren’t. Some of us are just harder workers than others.

“Talented People Don’t Give Up”

“Never give up,” they say. I tend to disagree.

I don’t give up on things that are important to me, sure. The way I’ve found the practices I’ve honed into talents, however, is by giving up the ones that don’t hold my interest. That’s how I’ve found out what I’m good at and what matters to me.

I’m pretty sure I’m undiagnosed ADHD, so this may have something to do with my methodology, but hopefully you can learn something from my inability to focus on many things at once.

You see, I’m not very good at multi-tasking. If I start getting interested in something else, I’ll leave the thing behind that I was working on before. Sometimes I’ll come back to it, but if I’m not interested, I’ll just move on.

This is my way of finding out my “passions.” If I get intensely interested in something, I will focus on just that one thing, honing it and bettering myself at it. This is how I’ve found my “talent” for training.

Many of my personal heroes say similar things: giving up the things that you lose interest in allows you to find the things that truly matter to you, and develop those into talents.

Don’t be afraid to give up on something if you’re not feeling it. You can always come back to it.

“Talented People Are X, Y or Z”

No. They’re not. You can’t just throw people into categories like they’re a file in your tax records.

We are all innately talented. And yes, I know this goes against everything I just said, but hear me out.

Talent is what you make of it.

Some of us are talented mothers. Some of us are talented at making people feel better. Some of us have a talent for avoiding confrontation.

You don’t have to be artistic or perfect at something to be talented. The fact that you are a unique human being means that you have something that is completely your own.

Discovering what that is may take time.

Open up to the reality that you are unique and allow yourself to meander around in that. Explore what this means and how you differ from other people.

Exploration can open up any self-pigeon-holing you may have been doing subconsciously. Allow yourself to open up to the fact that finding “it,” may be in an aisle you have yet to look down.

Just because you never have doesn’t mean you never will.

And just because you always thought you should have, doesn’t mean you really should.

Open up the idea of talent. In fact, crack it open with a jack hammer and explore all the delicious seeds within. Let it grow into anything it wants to.

*****

As we said our goodbyes and walked away from the neighbor, I felt like this blanket of sadness had been placed on my shoulders.

This man had waited his whole life for talent to discover him.

But what if he had created it? What if, instead, he had looked for it, or honed what he loved into talent?

You all know as readers of Strong Inside Out that I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to waiting for things to happen for us. I am the proponent of going out and making it happen for yourself. That same idea applies here to talent.

Don’t wait your whole life for your talents to find you. Go out there, explore, discover and hone your own.

The Suck It, Temptation! Challenge Check-In

To all 70 of us in the challenge, we’re just over a week into it and you’re probably feeling cranky and hating my guts a little bit. I’ll take it. ;)

This is the yucky part that needs to be overcome in order to get to the awesome RESULTS part. Keep thinking of all the ways you’ll feel better if you just keep going. Hold that close to you when it gets tough.

If you haven’t received 2 emails, comment on your original “I’m in” comment and I’ll make sure your email address is all good!

What’s next for 30×30? It’s a big week for the movement! Friday is Dedham, Saturday is Rye, Sunday is Hartford and Monday is NYC! Click here to see the full map and all the details.

Hope to see you in person soon!

With hope and fire,

Amy

pic by Tom Marcello

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post Talent Is Overrated: The Myths of Talented People appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

Ever wonder how to progress your bodyweight workout without adding equipment?

Well, today, my good sir, we are going to show you exactly how to do that.

My buddy, Vic Magary, is in the house! While I was in Columbus, Ohio, Vic and I teamed up to show you the full gamut of 3 common strength moves, and how you can progress from novice to pro.

Why, you ask, should I worry about progression? I like my same old workout.

Whether you’re exercising for physical health, stress relief or just because you like it, you’re bound to visit one of these exercises in most strength-based workouts.

If you are consistent with your workout regimen, the moves you learn as a beginner will become too easy for you. Your body will become accustomed to the work you’re doing and will adapt, which makes further change nearly impossible if you continue the same program.

Progressing your movements will keep your body guessing, and offer new ways to push your body and continue to get results, or simply engage more muscle groups. The more progressed each of these movements get, the more muscle groups will be firing during the exercise.

No matter if you’re starting, or have been training for years, we’ve got something challenging for your level right here in these videos. Check ‘em out!

Push Ups

Pull Ups

(sorry about the sound! notes below the youtube video)

Squats

Now, how do you put all those together for a full body workout? Here are some examples of strength circuits for every level:

Beginner

2 sets, resting 30 seconds between each move

• decelerating push ups from knees – 10 reps
• bench squats – 10 reps
• Decelerating pullups – 8 reps (use something stable like a bench or chair if you’re having a tough time jumping to the top)

Intermediate

3 sets in circuit style (back-to-back, only resting 30-60 seconds at the end of each 3-move circuit)

• full push ups (or from knees) – 12 reps
• ass-to-grass squats – 12 reps
• Chin ups – 12 reps

Advanced

4 sets in circuit style back-to-back with no more than 60 seconds rest between each circuit

• pistol squats – 8 reps each side
• dive bomber push ups – 8 reps
• L-sit pullup – 8 reps
• 100-meter sprint (like a bear’s chasing you!)

Make sure to check out all the amazing work Vic is doing for the online fitness world over at VicMagary.com. He’s got some awesome freebies and tutorials that you won’t want to miss if you’re a strength junkie like me!

Got any questions? Leave them in the comments below!

Vic and I will be happy to address any concerns you may have.

I hope these simple (but not easy) exercises help you get stronger inside and out today. Let me know how your pistol squats go!

30×30 is hitting the East Coast! Toronto tonight, Dedham on Friday, Rye on Saturday, West Hartford on Sunday (with a location change I might add), and NYC on Monday! Click here to see the map for all the details. Looking forward to sharing this movement with you all in person!

With hope and fire,

Amy

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post Progress Your Bodyweight Workout! (w/Special Guest Vic Magary) appeared first on Strong Inside Out.

When I set out to travel across North America, I didn’t know what to expect. I expected some things that didn’t come through, but then other things I hadn’t expected pleasantly surprised me.

I’ve learned so much over this past month (yes, it’s only been a month!) that I wanted to take some time to share my lessons with you guys.

Here are 3 lessons from the road…

Something’s Gotta Give

You may or may not know that I have a history of stress eating. I started the first 30-Day Challenge because I wanted to rid myself of the habit of mindless nighttime eating… and it worked!

But on this tour, when nothing is routine and all semblance of control must be set aside to allow what happens to happen, I’ve fallen back into bad habits of reaching for instant gratification foods when I feel like I’m losing control.

Since I’ve kicked mindless nighttime eating to the curb, I’ve been getting all that stress out in the form of exercise instead. I’ve upped my days per week working out in my normal LA life, but on the road, I won’t lie: it’s tough! I’m doing each and every bootcamp with all y’all, but it only equals out to about 3-4 bootcamps a week.

Coming from 5 or so workouts a week including yoga, and add on the stress of travel and event planning, I’m like a little teapot with a gunked up spout.

What I’ve realized is that something’s gotta give. Because my old, comfortable habits are to eat to make myself feel better, I immediately veered toward that when I wasn’t acting mindfully. Now that I am bringing myself back to the present, I am choosing to add in more runs and yoga classes so that I have a healthy outlet for all that stress and lack of control.

This week has been the beginning of it, and the challenge will help me stay consistent. I’m even keeping a food journal again!

I’m telling you all this to let you know that, even if you successfully give something up for a few months (or even years), you must stay mindful if you wish to keep it out of your life.

Even trainers fall back into bad habits. :)

Do you feel the threat of old, negative habits looming over you? Here’s what you can do to avoid them from sneaking back into your life:

• Get a handle on your stress in positive, healthy ways like physical, creative or therapeutic outlets. Find a way to expel that energy that forces you to deal with it in a cathartic way.
• Center yourself in what’s important to you. Why did you give it up in the first place? What will happen if it creeps back into your life?
• If you feel yourself slipping, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to a person who knows you well or even a professional to help you get back on track.

The most important thing you can do when you feel like your habits are gaining on you is to acknowledge them, and deal with it immediately. Don’t push them away or deny that it’s happening. You can do something about it right now if you choose to deal.

Be clear with what you want

There have been a couple of stops along my way so far, that I had weird feelings about. I saw that the location wasn’t really promoting the event, and correspondence was a little lax.

I tried to tell myself that it would work out. I tried to tell myself that they were doing me a favor and I should just be grateful for the space, then I kept my mouth shut.

When I got there, all my fears were justified. People who work at these locations even asked me what I was doing there as if no one had told them what was happening…

And I can’t entirely blame them for it.

I’m a hippie. I avoid confrontation like the plague.

I still have issues asking for what I want, and letting people know that they’re not doing what I asked. These locations that didn’t show up (physically and metaphorically), may not have realized that I flew in just to teach their community and coordinate with them.

From now on, I have vowed to be clearer with what I want and what I envision for the events. I’ve created a simple guideline that I think you may be able to benefit from as well:

• When you’re setting up something that means so much to you, you must be clear with what you want.
• You must not be afraid to ask for the things you need (rather than hoping that you get them in the end).
• You must not hold back if you feel you’re not getting what you need; you have to address the problem.

You are worth standing up for. Speak up.

The yearning to DO bigger is universal

Throughout this tour, I have heard similar feedback at every bootcamp and Movement Meetup I’ve hosted:

I want to do something bigger than me.

The Movement Meetups are all about how I went from story to movement, and I love being able to sit with people as we discover what their own personal movement is as well.

But I want this to go further than that. I want to help the world change the world.

I want to help you all as much as I possibly can, and I want to hear from you if this is something you’re interested in because I may explore it in a way that is more beneficial for all of you.

In the comments below, please chime in:

Would you be interested in a book or program that teaches you how to create your own movement? If so, what aspects would you like me to cover?

I’m hoping to carry this movement further than just this tour. Hopefully that will be with you.

I can’t wait to meet all of you on the East Coast here soon! We have Montreal this Sunday (Movement Meetup on Saturday for those of you who were planning to come out that day instead), Toronto on Monday night, and Dedham on Friday! Click here to see all my upcoming tour locations, dates and details.

Here’s to another 14 locations just as great as the last 16! See you out there.

With hope and fire,

Amy

pic credits: teapot, speak up, dandelion

Copyright secured by Digiprove

The post 3 Lessons From Halfway Through The 30×30 Project Tour appeared first on Strong Inside Out.