I’ve been on quite a ride the last three weeks converting my web site. Have you ever gone into a new project with high hopes, hit obstacles and wondered how you ever made it to the other side? Maybe you’re just getting into a new project or smack in the middle of it. Here are some tips I learned as I danced my way to a new web site. If you’re changing your diet, knowing these stages will help you on your path too.
An extraordinary, patient web guy is helping me switch my iWeb site over to a wordpress membership site. Sounds easy enough but when you factor in he’s living in Thailand and experiencing numerous technical glitches, it’s been hell. There were some moments I wanted to give up. (He probably did too) But the stronger part of the human spirit wants freedom. Freedom from whatever obstacles are holding us back or keeping us down.
Gabrielle Roth taught me in the 5 Rhythms Dance class that there are 5 stages any project will go through. If you give up at any stage you won’t be successful. I see how these steps played out with my website. It got me thinking about people who come to me wanting to switch to a vegan lifestyle. Apply these five rhythms to anything you’re going through right now and see where you are in the dance.
The first rhythm is flowing. You see something that sparks your interest and start moving toward it. My friend, Ed was totally jazzed about his membership site and I started to flow with his ideas. Flow is fun, it’s easy and you go into it with the spirit of an innocent child.
The second rhythm is staccato, a sense of disconnected parts coming together. It’s still fun, hammering out feelings and ideas. With the website it meant gathering all my passwords, getting the pages in order and sharing the sequence I wanted.
The third rhythm is chaos where you feel like you’re on the outside of a tornado being spun all over the place, out of control. I felt this when my original website was down for four days and each time I called my host server a different rep would throw out ideas that gave me hope, but in the end didn’t work. On the other side of the world, my web developer was doing everything he could but still running into glitches.
The fourth rhythm is lyrical where you’re able to breathe again. Chaos has ended and you see the light at the end of the tunnel. You’re flowing and know in your bones that everything will be ok. I felt this today when my web guy emailed saying he figured out the problem and would be downloading the entire site tonight.
Then we get to stillness, the fifth rhythm. Nothing to do, feeling like you just slid in to home plate. (That is, until the next adventure begins.)
Think about anything you’re setting out to do. Whether it’s having sex, reading a book, uploading a new site or beginning a vegan diet. You’ll most likely find yourself in each of these rhythms for a time. If you’re deciding to change to a whole-foods, plant-based diet, these tips will help you do the dance.
1) When you first get the idea of going vegan, ask yourself why you’re doing it. Is it for ethical reasons, to lose weight, for the environment, to slow down the aging process or what? Keep your goal in mind as you enter the initial, bright-eyed states of wonder and excitement. Your goal will help you through chaos.
2) Get all your ducks in a row. (Just don’t eat them) Study exactly what you need for optimal health. Fill your fridge with enough nutrient dense food and eat enough calories to keep your energy high. Get the right equipment to make food preparation easy and fun.
3) Plan for detox symptoms and breaking food addictions. It may feel like chaos when your friends invite you to your old favorite restaurant and you don’t find anything that aligns with your new goals. Millions of dollars are spent marketing high fat, salt and sugar products and unless you live in a cave, you’ll be exposed to powerful seducers tempting your brain’s pleasure centers. Give yourself a fighting chance by getting support and motivation from someone who’s been there and can guide you to the other side.
4) You’ll know you’re in the lyrical rhythm when your heart skips a beat as you spot the first purple bok choy of the season. You’re torn between gazing at the beautiful leaves or letting it blend with coconut water, mango and frozen bananas in your new vitamix. You’re past detox and now feel the energy that comes from eating clean, colorful, live foods.
5) Stillness comes when you wake up in the morning after a good night’s sleep. You know you’re giving your mind and body the best, high vibrational food you can. Peace of mind comes with compassionate choices.
Gabrielle Roth left us earlier this year, but her teachings continue. Find a dance class near you or read some of her books. Her work has been a big support to me on my path. If you want the name of my web developer, (someone I highly recommend) send me an email. If you feel like going vegan and need a hand to hold during the process, I’d love to be of service.
(The photo was taken at the Seattle Center Fountain. Cool feeling, huh?)
I love how you compared your new website to the 5Rhythms. I’ve never put these rhythms into the context of a new project/ adventure…it’s helpful!