Photo by: Sasha Juliard
I’ve returned to Ohio from a fantastical experience of Wanderlust Aspen Snowmass and feel so full. Presenting the Elemental Cleanse was, of course, a thrill, but even more thrilling was the gift of participation. I fell in love, again, with yoga. The diversity at Wanderlust is incredible. I experienced everything from the bliss of a sweat drenching rock explosion with Johnny Kest to a magical tear inducing meditation with Kundalini legend Gurmukh. Polarized by the extremes of the practices, yet realizing a greater message of empowerment and success exuding from all the teachers presenting there.
I don’t know, I guess presenting at a festival like Wanderlust could go to your head, but I’ve always been the person to simply tackle a project and move on. It’s part of the reason I started practicing yoga, to learn how to navigate my mind, honor myself, and love myself. I’m still working on patting myself on the back and accepting compliments. I’m still working on releasing my need to be perfect. If yoga does nothing else for you but allow you to see yourself and accept yourself in a new light of success, I think it’s done it’s job.
Wanderlust left me thinking a lot about what success means and how I how this classically conservative Midwestern meat and potatoes girl has become modestly successful in the spiritual industry of yoga allowing me to do what I love for a living. Here are my rules for success.
Know what you want to be when you grow up. Living the life of your dreams is quite practical. Simply know what you want. Dream it, envision it, and live it.
Avoid the corners. The box is broken. Live in a bubble of your own creation.
Be okay with adversity. If everyone likes you, you are not innovating or leading. Worse yet, you’ve surrounded yourself with people who are not challenging you to grow.
Fail often and daily if possible. If you aren’t failing, you aren’t learning. I know it’s scary, but you will get used to it.
Work hard every day, but let your work be your joy. It was Yogananda who professed work to be the finest form of meditation. Lose yourself in it.
Share your knowledge, your time, and your wealth. Give freely and often.
Pamela Quinn is the founder of Elemental OM, the author of “The Elemental Cleanse,” a teacher of Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Ayurveda. She has dedicated her life to helping yogis fully and completely embrace the yogic lifestyle. You can learn more from Pamela at www.elementalom.com or simply email questions to Pamela@elementalom.com. Pamela is socially connected through Facebook at www.facebook.com/pameladquinn
