Everyday Rituals: Sharing Success

My last blog for October and my series on Everyday Rituals. I hope it's helped you think about your own rituals and maybe make new ones!

Sharing Success

I have seen a lot of success and met many individuals who are notebook successful. I have realized that the most successful people are those who truly trust the people around them. I strongly believe that success should be shared.

I remember at first feeling quite fearful to start pursuing my dream of creating a dance company. I knew that Los Angeles, maybe more than any other city in the United States, is full of dancers, dance studios, and people trying to make it. However, after I took the first step, I quickly realized there is more than enough demand to go around for everyone! There are so few of us actually trying to go after our dreams just due to fear that we allow a huge monopoly by the few who dared to take the plunge. If all of us who took the plunge to follow our passion did so with a spirit of camaraderie, I strongly believe that the world would be such a better place.

Sharing with my wonderful students!

Sharing success creates more opportunities and more success. But by closing the door behind us after us, we are stripping our community from the potential to grow. If we have seen success at any level whether through spirituality, relationship, motherhood, career, or anything else, it is our responsibility to leave the door open behind us and let others in so they may open more doors, By paying it forward, we can create an infinite formula to success! Can you imagine that? A world full of people following their passion, being successful, and creating more and more opportunities for success such as the first telephone, the Internet, cell phones, televisions, a Black President!!! We are creating the future of the world every day, so why not make it with a world full of happy, successful people by learning to fearlessly share our success?

How do you share your success?

Everyday Rituals: Finding Love in Every Situation

This one is one of my favorite Everyday Rituals!

Finding Love in Every Situation

This may sound a little corny but it has personally helped me through many situations. Once I realized the power of positive energy, I committed myself to transforming my characteristics to embody positivity by turning away from negativity. I had to fight emotions of anger, jealousy, victimization, intolerance, pity, hatred, bitterness, etc. But then I realized that we are ALL one! The homeless person crossing the street, the friend that only complains, the coworker that shows off all her new Louis Vuitton purses, the uncle who never agrees with you – they are ALL A PART OF ME! I could have just as easily been born into that person's life and body. They could be suffering from circumstances that I was blessed to never experience.

Love everywhere!

This simple truth reminds me to see the best in every person and to see the best in every situation. Sometimes we feel that no, that person is wrong and I am not backing out from this argument – but guess what, that is your ego and pride talking. Once we let that stubbornness go and try to embrace LOVE in that situation, we will automatically try to understand and accept. Even if we disagree, we accept and understand. This has a stronger effect on you than it does on the other person, because it relieves you of your ego and any negative emotions that come along with it. Finding love does not mean always agreeing, and it does not mean you have to spend time with that person every day. But what it does is help you refine feelings of humility, tolerance, acceptance, and understanding. 

Everyday Rituals: Daily Thank Yous and Knowing that Everything will be Fine!

Aside from the Everyday Rituals I learned from The Four Agreements, here are some other rituals inspired by my experiences, people, books, movies, and life in general!

 

Daily Thank Yous!

Every day I go out to my  balcony and look at the nature around me. I appreciate the trees, the colors of the sky, the sun on my skin. And I literally say Thank You for everything I have – the delicious coffee I am drinking, the food I am able to enjoy, the dream that I get closer to each day, the family and friends I am blessed with, the people that made me smile yesterday – nothing is too little or big.

 

Thanking traffic for allowing me to experience this wonderful view!

I used to pray for things, asking for more instead of merely appreciating what I had. Now, I simply say Thank You not only for what I was blessed with yesterday and today, but also for what I will be blessed with tomorrow. I have created such a habit of being grateful that I do it as a reaction! For instance, I recently got distracted while driving and saw the car in front of me just in time to brake and avoid an accident. The first thought that came to me was THANK YOU! If I have a really long day and feel exhausted, and one of my private sessions calls to cancel, I automatically say 'Thank You' to the universe. When I come home to my beautiful little cat, I thank her for the love and peace she brings to my life. Saying thank you can be the reason you smile more every day! This kind of positive energy is free and it surrounds us. This will automatically help you to focus on the good!

 

Know That Everything Will Be Fine

When you stop worrying, you will be amazed at how everything works out! It always does! And when I mean stop worrying, I don't mean pretend to not worry by not talking about it, yet constantly worrying about it in your thoughts. Really BELIEVE that everything will be just fine, have faith in it! Clearly this will not work if you are just sitting on your couch all day, every day, not worrying about your bills. But if you are taking action towards your goals every day, then let go of your worries!

 

 I cannot tell you how many times in the past two years, I started to worry about not making enough for rent next month. But right away, I tell myself 'Don't worry Amna, you will be fine! Everything will work out!' That helps me clear my mind so I can create goals to help me make money this month, such as teaching at gyms, contacting more schools, etc. And the next month arrives and I am able to comfortably pay for all my bills! Wow!

Clearing my mind thanks to nature's gifts!

 

I have created goals without even knowing how I would achieve them. Yet, I knew it would happen if I just put effort towards that goal everyday. I challenged my comfort zone just by the power of knowing it can be done. When you know the finish line and have disciplined yourself to take action everyday, you achieve the goal! And once you achieve it, what's next? Saying thank you.  Thank You is my next reflexive response. Gratitude and Faith is further ingrained into my belief system, and it has allowed me to avoid being paralyzed by worry.

What do you say Thank You for?

Four of my Everyday Rituals, Inspired by the Four Agreements

Inspiration comes from everywhere and differs from person to person. I really love love love to read and some books I have read influence my everyday life. I mentioned The Four Agreements last week, so I wanted to share some rituals I have created from my belief system:

• Be Impeccable with Your Words: Words are powerful. If you don't have something good to say, don't say it! It will harm you more than it may harm the person who receives those words. With negative words come rejection and fear. Instead, take responsibility for what you put out into the world.


• Always Do Your Best: This does not mean don't take a break ;) This just means that if you really want something, put all you have into it without fear or hesitation. There are many times that I do something and realize that I could have or should have done something differently. Sometimes that breeds shame or regret because I know I could have done better, and that resentment follows me no matter what I try to do next. However, I remind myself now that I did my best at that time and every lesson I learn keeps changing my best to a higher level. The importance is in applying the lessons learned today, instead of imprisoning our willpower with regret and self-abuse.


• Never Assume: I still have to work on this because we are so programmed to make assumptions! Often times we 'feel' someone may not like us or that someone did something just to offend or backstab us! These assumptions have us as the main center of attention when the real reasons are much bigger than us! Entertain the thought that whatever someone did is usually a reaction to themselves or their beliefs. This is so relieving to realize! Practice this one every day. It will help you keep your soul and thoughts free and positive.


• Don't Take Things Personally: I have to check myself often and remind myself that situations are not always aimed at me! When people say things or act in a certain way, it is a reflection of themselves. And it has nothing to do with you! When people hurt us with their words or actions, they are lashing out to protect their belief system and their world. Most of our negativity stems from actions of others' -  our bosses, coworkers, family members, friends, and even strangers. We need to stop being reactive creatures. Instead, be proactive and in control of our reactions, thoughts, and beliefs. Instead of suppressing negative reactions, we can train ourselves not to even have these reactions by understanding this huge truth!

Do you share or struggle with any of these beliefs?

Life Changing Moments Conclusion: Knowing what you believe in

I would like to take a step back to point out an important part of what makes me happy and who I am today. The point of tearing myself apart was to figure this out - who is Amna and what does she believe in?

 I feel it is necessary to have a built-in GPS system before you can make decisions in the real world. If you don't know your North from your South, then you are headed in a very scary direction where 40 years from now, you will be asking yourself - HOW DID I GET HERE? If you don't have your core philosophies rooted within you, you may not be making wise decisions.

Being fearless without wisdom is dangerous and that is a risk I can never recommend for anyone. Do some reflection. Find your inspirations. Find out what you believe in. And practice those beliefs in EVERYTHING YOU DO! EVERYTHING! Whether it is in how you cook, drive, talk to a stranger, or most importantly, THINK! You have to be what you believe in even when no one can hear you or see you!

Once you have created a lifestyle to master that way of life - you become very intimate with your beliefs. It is a never-ending journey... I aim to be better at this state of being every single moment. It is a fight to create those positive habits but eventually these habits will become so natural that you won't even have to think about it. I promise!

I have too many beliefs and too many sources of them to list them all. But if I could just point out a few names of people and sources to get you started on your journey, it would be: Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King and The Prophets of the major religions – learn about them as people and start practicing the characteristics you admire in them. Aim to be like the ones you idolize – they are people just like you and me. Do not put them in such a high pedestal that you cannot even fathom to be in the same place. Set your bar high and challenge yourself to be THE BEST every single day. As for books: The Four Agreements, Tuesdays with Morrie and The Last Lecture.

If you only have time to read one book, I would strongly recommend The Four Agreements. It is a quick read and inspires four life changing concepts that could really help you see your life in a completely different way. I never realized the power of perspective until I read that book!

So now you know my journey. Tell me about yours.

I truly believe that the greatest thing that is yours is what you GIVE!

• Here is a picture of me where I volunteered at a Women's Empowerment Boys & Girls Club event to teach Bollywood dancing and share my story:

• I am part of School on Wheels program where we tutor homeless children once a week. It is a great program. Donate one hour each week of you time to give back and appreciate your blessings!
• AMNA Dance is supporting a great domestic violence volunteer event next week called SAHARA, where Amna and her students will be performing.
• Here are some pictures of my family and I singing carols and sharing some laughs at Senior Homes during the winter holidays, a ritual we do every year now: