Category: Personal Power

Archetypal activation, Personal Power, Uncategorized

Protect Your Territory

Adrian E Sparrow

Lions know their place. How well do you know yours?

Knowing your place means being 100% clear on what you own. What’s yours to care for, what’s yours to protect, what’s yours to influence …in any given moment or circumstance.

Knowing your place. How well do you know yours?

Lions patrol their territory constantly. Over time, through instinct, habit, and trial and error, they know the where their kingdom ends and where another begins. They roam the invisible boundaries of their vast grasslands for hours on end, ceaseless. Alert. Marking the grass with their scent to remind intruders that “this is my house” and roaring to connect with their pride and let them know “I’ve got this.” They take an aggressive stance – fight when necessary – to keep rogue lions out. Not everyone is welcome here. I get to choose. I am in charge.

Lions know their place. How well do you know yours?

Lions don’t own every square inch of the grasslands, nor would they want to. Taking care of all that? That would never work. Each pride has their piece of the pridelands that is theirs to care for, to protect.

How big is your territory? Do you know where it ends, and another begins? Who is your pride and are you fulfilling your duty to them as leader, as protector, as guide, as influencer?

Knowing your place means being 100% clear on what you own. What’s yours to care for, what’s yours to protect, what’s yours to influence … in any given moment or circumstance.

Patrol. Know your territory, inside and out. Scan your environment, and be aware of what’s coming in and going out.

Protect. Fight for your boundaries. Keep your territory yours. 

Does it sound like grueling work? Lonely, harsh? What’s cool is that lions don’t do the work alone. They usually have at least one other male lion to help them keep the land and pride in order. They’ve got company on those long patrols in the hot African sun, a brother who’s got their back.

brothers

Nah, they’re not alone. It’s not hard work to them, it’s natural. It’s necessary.

Protecting your territory doesn’t have to be exhausting or hostile. In fact, you’ll feel a peace, a power, and a certain “rightness” in knowing your place. There’s more joy to be experienced. More opportunity to be had. It’s natural. It’s necessary.

Lions know their place. How well do you know yours?

 

 

Images sourced from Google images. Main image credit: John van Beers’ 

Personal Power

Feel Powerless? Stuck? These Three Words Will Help You Take Empowered Action

Adrian E Sparrow

The smallest things can make a big difference.

We make life too complicated, forget how capable and powerful we are.

As a writer and professional communicator, I take words really seriously. Sometimes, I see, read, or hear words that have a special kind of resonance…A stunning quality to them that “zings” me.

When I came across these three words the other day, that “zing” happened.

So I will…

Imagine you were complaining about something, like, “I have a big project at work and I have to work late and I won’t have time to workout…(so poor me, this day is gonna suck and I’m never gonna reach my goals with a job like this.)”

What if, instead, you inserted “so I will”? It sounds like this:

“I have a big project at work and I have to work late and I won’t have time to workout…so I will …

Can you feel the pause, the power returning to YOU?

The other train of thought gives your power away to the circumstance. “So I will” is like a stop sign for your brain. As you roll up to that four-way stop, you (hopefully) Stop. Look around. Make a decision. Then proceed.

So I will is the new four-way stop to help you take empowered action!

30-day money back guarantee that this works for anyone, any situation. I’m thinking of my mom who is a full-time caregiver for my dad with Alzheimer’s. She is giving her life to this man and the disease that has taken away a lot of her freedom. But has the situation taken away her power? No, never. Nothing can take away our ability to choose differently.

“I’ve been stuck in this house for a week. I can’t leave to get groceries. I can’t relax in my own home. I’ve lost touch with friends…”

Step one is to catch yourself in this train of thought.

Take a deep breath.

Say “So I will” and insert a simple, empowered step you can take in this moment. Doesn’t have to be life altering. It can be something like, “So I will take 5 minutes to sit down. So I will say a little prayer. So I will ask for help.” (Author’s note: by the way, my mom has never complained about her situation to me like that. I only assume she feels that way and it provided a nice example. She is a true rock star with a ginormous heart for others and she does have people who help her. You’re doing great, mom.) 

Let’s try it with the earlier example about a long work day and having no time to get to the gym. “So I will take a walk at lunch. So I will get up an hour earlier and get my workout in. So I will commit to eating healthy instead and not beat myself up.”

What a difference THREE WORDS can make in our energy, outlook, and outcomes.

Think of a situation that you feel helpless about, stuck in. Try it! “So I Will…”

Did it work? Is there something, some little thing, that you can do right now that changes the trajectory of that situation? It doesn’t have you, you have it! You get to be in control.

You’re a LIONGIRL with a divine nature. You’ve forgotten that you have access to great wisdom and power to create your life, on your terms. Our purpose as a pride is to help each other activate that crazy powerful warrior-spirit so you can do things your way – and be happier and healthier for it.

Archetypal activation, Personal Power

See for yourself

Adrian E Sparrow

My 9-year-old daughter was about to take a shower. I started the water for her and was almost out of the room when she yelled, “Is it warm yet, mom?”

“I don’t know, babe, put your hand in it and see.”

I could have turned around and walked back, tested the water, adjusted the temp, and gave her the all clear. Instead, I empowered her to see for herself.

Tiny example but what a great analogy for the bigger things in life! See for yourself! Take your power back. Stop asking for permission or wondering if the time is right. Put your hand in and see.

Too hot? Add a little cold. Too cold? Add a little hot.

You’re smart. You know what to do. You don’t need to ask anyone to check the temperature for you. Trust yourself. Just put your hand in and see.

Questions for reflection:

Who are you asking or waiting for permission from? Who are you asking to test the water for you? Who do you need validation from?

And what are you scared to jump into? What “just right” temperature are you waiting for? What can you do right now to adjust the temp so it’s ready for you?

LIONGIRL action:

Take a shower. Get the water temperature just right and step in. As the water pours over your head, let it wash away the people and old beliefs that you can’t do it or figure it out by yourself. That you aren’t smart enough, capable enough, worthy enough… Let this shower – and all future showers – be a cleansing ritual to rid you of powerless thoughts. Step out clean and ready to take on the world.

Personal Power

Same damn thing over and over again

Adrian E Sparrow

Do you bump into the same issues over and over again? Have the same fights with yourself or others, struggle with the same problem that you thought was resolved?

“Why the hell is this happening again!?”

woman-sweating-after-workout

While you may feel like you’re going in a circle, consider re-framing it as a spiral taking you upward. Each time you come around the spiral and you encounter the same issue, you are back in the same place, only above it this time. You have a chance to tackle it differently (or the same) but regardless, you are moving higher and higher up the path of the spiral.

spiral staircase

The higher you get (that is the more times you must deal with the problem), the better your perspective. The more learnings you have. The more wisdom you gain to know what works and what doesn’t. The more strength you build to tolerate it – and you can start to make new choices about it.

Tackling a problem takes training and time. Just like strength training in the world of fitness – you need resistance to get stronger. With each press and curl, you build your tolerance, stamina and ability to push yourself farther than last time. In time–not overnight–you see gains.

This is why we run into the same big issues over and over again – God is like a personal trainer in the gym. Our biggest pain points and sources of struggle are training us to be stronger, wise, more tolerant – and ultimately, healthier and happier in our skin.  : )

You are so much bigger than any problem in front of you. Next time “it” rears its ugly head…remember, “I’ve done this before… I’ve trained for this a million times.”  Source your own strength, and see if you can’t breakthrough to a new level.

woman-lifting-weights-at-the-gym

Even small gains are a victory. Celebrate the little wins and keep going up.

Personal Power

5 Ways Paddle-boarding is Like Life

Adrian E Sparrow

1 | Stability – If you’re not stable, you’ll fall off – or have a very stressful ride. Different people need different boards. Make sure your board provides the stability you need to enjoy your ride. You might have to try a few out to find the perfect fit. Find the thing(s) that bring ease and stability into your life. A strong, stable foundation will help you feel more confident to try new things. It will also help you ride the waves more gracefully when things get rough.

“A truly stable system expects the unexpected, is prepared to be disrupted, waits to be transformed.” – Tom Robbins

2 | Falling – It can be scary, at first, to think about falling in the water. Cold. Deep. Fish. Wet. How will I get back on my board? But once you fall and realize you’re not going to die, the next fall seems less horrible. You’re forced to take a big invigorating breath – get the blood flowing/heart pumping a little, maybe even laugh at yourself, and get back on your board. You adjust. Learn. Go out even stronger than before. Next time you feel scared of failing, er, falling, take a deep breath, splash some cold water on your face, look yourself in the mirror and remember You Were Born for This.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

3 | Awareness – You have to be aware of yourself and your surroundings, and your relationship to them. If you’re getting too close to an anchored boat, you need to navigate around it. If you see a speed boat coming, you want to be sure it sees you and you don’t get hammered in its wake. If you see ominous clouds and the wind is picking up, better be sure you’re not too far away from shore/safety. You have to look up and around. You have to be aware of the world around you. You have to be agile and willing/ready to make a move or change direction. It’s like dancing with life. It moves, you move – and vice versa. Having awareness of your internal state and the state of the external world–and your impact upon/relationship to it–helps you become the master of your life, the creator of your experience.

“Every human has four endowments – self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom … the power to choose, to respond, to change.” – Stephen Covey

4 | Kneeling – It’s OK to get on your knees and paddle. You’re not a failure. You’re not weak. If we gave ourselves permission more often to “kneel,” and not have to have it all together, it would take a lot of pressure of ourselves – and others! Lead the way with your authenticity and humility. It’s refreshing and life giving. Also, kneeling is a prayerful position, an age-old symbol of devotion, reverence, and surrender. Consider how often you actually get on your knees and ask for help? Or pray in gratitude? Doesn’t matter your relationship to religion or how “spiritual” you may be, getting low might give you knew perspective and peace to get through the turbulence!

“To ascend the mountain, we must descend to our knees.”  – Craig D. Lounsbrough

5| Balance – Strong core. Athletic stance. Bend in your knees. Paddle in hand. You’re ready for action. Being able to keep your body upright and be in control of your body movement is a key fitness skill – and one that will keep you on the board and happy and dry : ) But balance obviously applies to other areas of our lives, as well. Work/play balance. Kid/husband balance. Family-life/professional-life balance. Friend-time/alone-time balance. Salad/Ice Cream balance. Are you feeling burnt out, resentful? Good chance something is out of balance. Re-calibrate. Say “no” more. Say “yes” more. You’re smart; you know what you need to let go of, and what you need to embrace more of. Find your happy balance.

“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” – Rumi

Personal Power

Do You Dare?

Adrian E Sparrow

Last week I had the opportunity to take a group of awesome #liongirls to a local Ropes Course. Our theme: Be brave, do bold things! Take a risk and go for it. 

We read the safety rules, got harnessed in, and took to the ropes. We each set out for the challenges that appealed to us – high slackline, wobbly barrels, swinging poles, teetering planks, etc. We screamed on some, held our breath on others, laughed at ourselves and each other (nicely), dug deep and found our courage when we got a little freaked out that we might actually fall, and cheered each other on.

“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” — Soren Kierkegaard

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Separate But Together

I loved that we were each doing our own thing (having our own unique experience), but we were all on the ropes course at the same time, intimately aware of where our friends were at all times. Tackling the same obstacles.

Helping Others Suceeed

If we were the first to do a challenge, we would share our tips for success and what to watch out for with the person coming behind us. “Be careful, those things spin! I almost fell” and “It helps to pull the ropes, like this…”

Celebrating Ourselves and Inspiring Others

It was totally OK to celebrate our victories! “Wow, did you see me do that?”  Genuine acknowledgement of our accomplishments feels good, especially when we do something hard that pushes us beyond our comfort zones. In healthy communities, we should be able to express our pride and have others reflect back to us how amazing we are! “Yeah, that was awesome! I’m going to try it now!”

There are so many great life lessons on the Ropes. See for yourself! We have more Ropes Course events planned this summer. Come play the LIONGIRL way and experience your power like never before.

SUMMER OF POWER Aerial Park Adventures – More Info and Sign up Now!

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Personal Power, Uncategorized

5 Most Common Regrets of the Dying

Adrian E Sparrow

My friend Beth is a hospice chaplain. She has the honor of being with people and their families at the end of life. The other day she posted on her Facebook page “The Five Most Common Regrets People Express When They Are Dying.”

I’ve seen lists like these before; and they always make me pause because living #regretfree is big for me. I want to make the most of this #oneshot I’ve been given, and I hope to inspire others rise to a bigger, bolder, happier life, as well.

This time, I was particularly struck by this list of regrets because (1) they came from someone I know and deeply respect and (2) they all burn with the truth of why I started LIONGIRL.

#1 Wishing they had been more true to themselves

womanpraisebeachjpg

LIONGIRL stands for, above all, reclamation of personal power. Knowing who you are and what you’re about, believing and trusting yourself, and boldly expressing YOU in all areas of your life.

We learn at an early age that we need to fit in, align with the majority, etc. to stay alive. Rejection from our tribe, getting thrown out of the village is certain death! We begin to look for ways to fit in, slowly forgetting OUR WAY. Dress this way. Think that way. Look this way. Vote that way. Live your life this way. It’s OK for awhile. Then, it starts to feel bad, things stop working, and you begin to wake up out of the trance and wonder how the heck you got here.

The journey toward a truer version of yourself is one of the most rewarding adventures – certainly a quest I’ve been on for awhile. I used to think that shedding the layers of what’s NOT YOU takes time, patience, and that it has to be painful and serious.

But, LIONGIRL is showing me it can happen like lightning – and it can be fun! Why not? LIONGIRL knows one of the surest ways to access the truth of who you are is through the wisdom of your body. Through physical fitness, especially high energy, heart pounding, sweat pouring activities, we can more easily bypass our mental blocks, trick our “habit to conform,” and literally come alive inside of ourselves. So the next time you feel confused or uncertain about a choice or feel swept up in the river of status quo, get in your body and get in your power. Your body is where your truth resides. Put on your workout clothes, crank up the music, and see what it has to say.

#2 Wishing they hadn’t worked so hard

Lion Pride Sleeping 1 590x300

Lions sleep, like, 20 hours a day. We think of them as all noble and mighty and fierce (YES AND…) let’s face it, they PLAY and LOUNGE and SLEEP a lot. Such good reminders for those of us who think life has to be hard and success requires maximum push all the time.

#3 Wishing they had been brave enough to say how they really felt

lionroar2-620x413

Roar! Feel it, embody it, express it. LIONGIRL aims to inspire girls and women to be bold in their self-expression. Your greatest power comes from knowing who you are, owning it fully, and sharing it bravely with the world.

#4 Wishing they had kept in touch more with people they cared about

hands-in-sand

Our pride. Our people. Connection. Life is better together, with people we love and who love us back. LIONGIRL cares deeply about the community we are creating and the connections we make with each other.

#5 Wishing they had let themselves be happier

lionness and cubs

Why does suffering, fear, negativity, and misery have to be the default? Why do we deny ourselves happiness? LIONGIRL believes we are all POWERFUL creators and that we all have the ability to create happiness for ourselves – regardless of the wacky world around us. LIONGIRL believes in personal responsibility – that is, taking responsibility for your own life and happiness. Our birthright is JOY. Let’s reclaim it, like the royal souls we were born to be.

Personal Power

Strong Like a … ANT???

Adrian E Sparrow

Yes, I’m a lion girl, but lately ANTS have been making their appearance known. Ants in my house, ants crawling on me…(ugh). When something happens over and over to me, I begin to look at it not merely as a coincidence or annoyance, but as a MESSAGE.

Ant appearance #1: A few weeks ago on April 1, we went out to lunch for my daughter’s birthday. From out of nowhere, the people in the booth across from us began to gasp, pick up their glasses, and swiftly scoot out of the booth. I looked over, made eye contact with the mom of the family, and silently mouthed, “What happened?”

“Ants” she mouthed back, in disgust. She shuffled her family to another booth while the restaurant staff tried to remedy the situation.

Lesson #1: Ants get people’s attention and ants make people move, FAST. Ants demand some sort of action.

Ant appearance #2: “Mom, there are ants in the pool room,” said my kids a few days ago. “Ok, tell your dad, he needs to sort that out,” I said.

“There are ants in the pool room,” I told him. “Can you take care of them?”

He assured me he would. I’m honestly not sure if he ever went out there to spray them or not. I, personally, have not gone out to see if they are still there. Not my job. Someone else will do it. Outta site, outta mind, right?

Lesson #2: Don’t ignore ants. They are are persistent. They will find holes, they will find what you leave behind. And they always bring their buddies. 

Ant appearance #3: In the kitchen baking cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday party. I look down, ants. I see one, then I see many – Oh, Lord, all over my kitchen floor. EEWWW! Coming in from under the dishwasher I believe, which shares a wall with our pool room. I immediately cuss my husband for not dealing with the ants in the pool room because now they are in the kitchen!

Since I’m baking I don’t want to spray toxic fumes, so I pour baking soda all over them. (It works, you should try it…an old wives tale trick, I think, learned from my recently departed old cousin Gladys.) Then I sweep and mop. At least my kitchen floor got clean in the process.

Lesson #3: Problems will persist if not dealt with. And, yes, it is your responsibility, not someone else’s. Find alternative solutions; you might be surprised how effective they can be. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. You are well-equipped in the moment.

Ant appearance #4: Literally, one hour ago. Sitting at my desk doing research for LIONGIRL. Totally absorbed in the content I was finding – getting so inspired with new ideas and directions, and also, truthfully, a little overwhelmed. I have so much I want to do – how will I ever get it done? All by myself? The ideas and visions are so powerful and good, but how can I do it?

God, please show me where to start? What can I do right now? 

My left shoulder blade begins to itch. I feel something crawling on my back. I reach back to flick it (whatever it is) off. Better. A few moments later, I put my hands on the keyboard to start typing and I see a little black ant crawling on my right thumb!

One lone ant. I flick him off. At first, I’m agitated. Seriously? Ants in my office now? I look around to make sure there aren’t more on my chair or under my desk. Nope, just one little ant on my hand.

Then, it happened. Light bulb moment. OK. Got it. This is a sign. So I Google “Ant Medicine” to learn the spiritual significance of ants.

Lesson #4:  You never just see one ant. Where there is one, there are many. And, together, they are mighty! I might feel alone, but there is a force of many behind me!

You are stronger than you think! Sure things are tough right now but KNOW that you will soon be reaping the rewards of all your hard work.
-Ant

Source: https://www.spirit-animals.com/ant-symbolism-ant-meaning/

Here are some excerpts from my Google search:

“When Ant Medicine grabs your attention it is asking you to cooperate with your tribe (co-workers, family, projects, etc.,) in unity and patience. Ants are resolute and unwearied little creatures. Although they are tiny, they are indeed mighty. They have a strong skeleton on the “outside” of their body (exoskeleton) with specialized muscles that give them their strength. Ants can carry 30 times their weight, which would be equal to a 150 lb. person carrying a bulldozer on their back at 19,500 lbs.

The typical way to stop ant medicine is to literally stomp on it or fumigate it. If an ant is stomped on, it will emit pheromones that will draw more ants to the area. In short, ant medicine is unstoppable, tireless, patient and unified.

Source: http://www.drstandley.com/animalmedicine_ant.shtml

And one more:

“Ant’s message is about working non-stop toward your goals and forging ahead for the Good of the whole. Are you working on a project that benefits a larger audience? Have you been ignoring your tribe? Ant medicine cooperates with the tribe in harmony and wisdom toward a common goal, knowing that patience will be rewarded. Have you been cooperating with yourself on your own personal projects?

Encountering an ant you should consider that all good things come with time, and effort. Work with diligence, with conviction, and work with others in order to forge your dreams and turn them into reality. Despite their tiny size these little spirits are immensely strong, great strength of will and accomplishment can come even in the smallest of packages.

However, remain aware that nothing can be accomplished without the unity of the whole. Think about how your own contributions in your career, your family, and day to day life fit into the larger picture. No matter how small your task, or your contribution, it is still essential.

Source: https://www.spirit-animals.com/ant-symbolism-ant-meaning/

My favorite part is that ants have a strong exoskeleton on the outside and specialized muscles that give them crazy superant strength! Imagine a human carrying a bulldozer on his/her back!

LIONGIRL aims to unite a powerful pride of women who are absolutely strong on the outside – physically fit, healthy, and so very ALIVE in their bodies – but who also have “specialized muscles” on the inside that give them superhuman power. These are muscles of the heart that burn not with lactic acid but with compassion, empathy, respect and love for all Creation.

Let’s be unstoppable and tireless, patient and unified like a colony of ants. But ants probably won’t sell t-shirts. So, here’s to our pride of strong women, working together for the good of the whole, roaring for the things that matter to us and to the world.

#liongirl #liongirlpride #newkindofpower #roarformore

Join the pride here. 

P.S. In looking for a picture for this blog, I googled Ants and in the middle of all these ant pictures is a lion. WHAT?! So clearly there is a tie between ants and lions. Google says so, so it is so.  

ants google search

 

 

 

 

Archetypal activation, Conservation and Causes, Personal Power, Uncategorized

See the World Through a Lion’s Eyes

Adrian E Sparrow

Man must make two connections. He must reconnect with the earth and he must reconnect with the stars. 

– Credo Mutwa, lion priest and guardian of Africa’s sacred knowledge

I cannot pretend to know what it’s like to be a lion. I cannot pretend to know what they think, how they feel, or how they see and experience the world.

But I can imagine.

And it starts by reconnecting with the earth and with the stars, as high priest Crudo Mutwa explains in the quote above.

The earth and the stars will always bring us home to our hearts — to that place of peace and surrender and humility, where joy is imminent and everlasting.  The place where time stops racing, anxiety and fear cease. Where audible exhales give our overloaded nervous systems permission to relax.

Your inner lion (or lioness), who is deeply connected to the earth and stars, is longing for a relationship with you. Will you step in a bit closer and get to know the world through his/her eyes?

LIONGIRL has created a free, 8-week virtual SOUL SAFARI to help you reconnect with the earth and stars and, in turn, awaken your brave, courageous, and oh-so-powerful lion heart. As we roam the inner wilds of our sacred pridelands with other lionhearts, we will begin to activate a new kind of spiritually-grounded power that will most certainly open up a new world of possibilities – for your own life and for the world.

Warning: You may never see the world in quite the same way again! Let’s journey together! Click here to get more details and save your spot in the Land Rover.

Developing a beloved relationship with one’s inner Lion enables you to see, feel, touch, intuit and imagine the world in a deeply connected and sacred way. I believe this is how we save the lions…by first saving the lion in us.”

– Adrian Sparrow, found”her” of LIONGIRL