“Have you woken up 2 days in a row uninspired? If so, Change your life! “- Lululemon
“Roger that”- Dr. T
This a phrase in the Lululemon manifesto! So simple but very profound. Simply put, get after it in a way that resonates with you and is life giving. Like Jack Canfield said in his book, The Success Principles, “The one lesson and most important principle of all is that the only person responsible for the quality of your life, is YOU. If you want to be successful in your terms, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything that you experience in your life.”
In the past, I have woken up countless times uninspired and blaming the world or others for my misery. Waking up feeling uninspired was so draining on me that others started to take notice. I know one thing I needed and searched for was encouragement and inspiration. Truthfully I had it within, but often times forgot to look within. This is why we need to surround ourselves with quality relationships.
One day, I randomly went into a Lululemon store in downtown San Diego and found myself shopping for some new clothes to wear to a job I was not proud of and found myself talking about life with the store manager. She was a super bubbly, down to earth young woman heading in the direction of being a high school teacher. Her eyes burned bright when she spoke of her goals and where she was headed. Plus she seemed super content in the moment simply folding clothes and talking to me. She was present! She asked me what I did for work and I chose to kind of talk around the fact that I didn’t like talking about my job, but it was obvious I was not pleased with it. I rationalized that I made ok money (not really) and that I loved the people (sort of), and that I was lucky to be in San Diego (I would be here anyway). The store manager I remember looked at me and said “the cool thing about life, is you have the power to change it,” BOOM! This lovely lady went back to folding clothes, smiling and talking about what I was up to in terms of training.
I sat with her words and realized that I was rationalizing so much and more importantly, I did have the POWER to change. I needed those encouraging words and a reminder. And so my SWEAT LIFE obsession began. I felt inspired to go visit my now mentor, friend, and someone I look up to so much, Dr. Kelly Starrett who challenged me to start my own business right away and get out of the “pump and dump” world of traditional physical therapy. He told me,” stop kidding yourself.”
“Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.”- Lululemon
When I made the decision to make a change, the first thing I realized was that change had to start with me. I had control over my reactions to the work I did. I had to start being more gentle with myself during this process of creating a change. Everything was not going to happen all at once, and the first decision needed to be with me being honest about what I wanted and needed. I needed to shoot straight with myself!
Flash forward 2 more years, I had started my own business, Movement Rx and started teaching with MobilityWOD, which is owned and run by Dr. Kelly Starrett and his beautiful wife Juliet. I also started coaching a wounded warrior Crossfit class, writing a book, freaking meditating to help change my mindset and enjoying the heck out of the things that matter most: freedom to create and flexibility with my family. With the encouragement from the lovely people at the Lululemon store, my husband, and Dr. Starrett, I felt empowered to start all of this. When I walked into the store, my glow shone brighter and brighter and could not help but want to give back to these lovely people who were so incredibly encouraging. I also kept buying their clothes because I resonated with the culture and wanted to support it. My company’s attire is basically Lululemon due to the rigor of our work and workouts.
Throughout this transition, Lululemon was a constant support. The manager I initially spoke with moved to pursue her dream of teaching in high school and I made new friends with some of the new staff members. Being asked to be the new store Fashion Valley Ambassador was a no brainer decision and I felt so honored! I love representing a brand/company and community that walks their talk, takes care of their own and exudes what being unfiltered and present is all about.
One of my favorite phrases on the Lululemon manifesto is, “this is not the practice life, this is all there is!” Get after it, and get after it now in the present. You do not have a second life, so wake up and be inspired to start to make a change.
#TheSweatLife
