Episode 17

Our Strengths = Our Gifts

In this episode we begin to peel back the layers of self doubt, remind ourselves that we came here with powerful intention, and uncover our greatest strengths.

About the Host:

Jani Roberts is the Owner of Alignment Essentials, a health and wellness company spanning the fitness, self-improvement, and mindfulness spaces. She is the creator of the Warrior® Workout, Moving Meditations™, Inspirational Conversations™ and all of the Alignment Essentials programming content. In addition, Jani is an International best-selling author of the book, Navigating the Clickety-Clack, How to Live a Peace-Filled Life in a Seemingly Toxic World.

Jani has over 40 years of experience in the health and wellness field. She owned and operated a large gym franchise in Florida, as well as a boutique studio for several years where she specialized in health and wellness related services, products, preventative health education, personal training, small group fitness classes, private nutrition and health coaching.

She has literally trained hundreds of thousands of instructors around the world, and she was the featured choreographer and performer on numerous training DVDs. She has presented for dozens of large Health and Wellness brands such Nike, and Adidas. She holds several certifications through ACE, AFAA and NASM.

Jani travels extensively as a speaker and presenter sharing her Alignment Essentials wellness tools and helping people find more joy in their lives and is currently training at the Shamanic Institute of Healing. 

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Transcript
Unknown:

What? Life isn't supposed to suck. Get out of here. Life is supposed to be good for me? I don't think so. Truth? Did you know that you have the power to create your own reality? True? Did you know that you can live the life that you've always desired? Holy? That's right. And that's why we're here. Are you ready? Unless you're on Joy overload, you've come to the right place, it's time to get out of your own way and start creating more of what you want, and less of what you don't end up with the excuses. I'm your host, Jani Roberts, let's do this.

Unknown:

Welcome back warriors. Thanks for joining us again, today. We appreciate you and we want to kick this podcast episode off acknowledging you and your strength. You know, strength is so connected to determination and commitment. This is a feeling or emotion that is sometimes overwhelming to each of us. Because we feel as though we need to be so strong physically so strong, emotionally and mentally. And it takes a lot of energy to be strong, right? Particularly when we're trying to force this strength. So what we want to talk about today is the strength that is the property of being physically strong. And that in comparison to the mental strength, there's really several shades here, meaning, so when I talk about physical strength, you could say, Yeah, I can bang out 30 Push Ups 100 Push ups, I'm so strong physically. Okay, cool. That's awesome.

Unknown:

You may say, I am so mentally strong, I can compute, I can calculate percentages in my head while people are yelling at me. I can multitask in that way. I'm so strong mentally, I'm able to focus to that degree. Let's ask ourselves, quietly, take a deep breath in. Let it go. Just become fully present before I asked you this question. What is your greatest strength?

Unknown:

Because we want to identify where we could perhaps do some work. But we also want to acknowledge what we really truly are mastering. So what is your greatest strength? And if that feels fuzzy or blurry to you, no worries. Think about these categories? Are you creatively strong? Do you have a powerful strength for originality? Perhaps you are extraordinarily open minded or detail oriented? Perhaps his strength is your curiosity. You always question or flexibility, it's so easy to work with you. Or to live within your own mind because you roll with it. You're just able to be flexible, versatility.

Unknown:

I've always thought of myself as a little bit of a chameleon like to try to adapt to whatever my surroundings are. Perhaps that's something you can identify with, or just the opposite.So what is your greatest strength? This sounds like an easy question, but not necessarily. So grab a piece of paper. And let's jot these down and be playful about this, you know, no one's looking. Right. So perhaps, you feel as though you have a strength that you've never verbalized before, you'd never really acknowledged it, it's surfaced, and then you just kind of push it away, you put it in a corner, for example, it's a you are quite natural artists, you can pick up a pencil and you can sketch things without a whole lot of effort. And you've never really taken a class, just something that comes very easily to you. I would consider that a strength, big time. And we're going to talk about how we nourish our strengths in order to discover more about who we are what we want, and really tune in and tap into our true desires.

Unknown:

Our strains say a lot about us. So again, what do you think there?Do you know?If the answer is no, I have no idea.You are definitely not alone.And this is the time to figure it out. Let's find out what those are. Because your strengths are gifts. And you uniquely bring them and we all have them. So even if You are unable in this moment to identify your strength, this practice will get you there. And again, this is important, this is not that, you know, fluffy stuff that we're just dabbling it, no, you came here with powerful intention, whether you're fully awake to that intention or not, is okay. You know, it's a bit like dialing into that radio station, maybe you're, you know, on at 8.5. And it's all really going on at one at 1.5. So we just need to tweak a little bit, we need to adjust, and we need to discover. So our perspective may change probably will.

Unknown:

Therefore, our strengths will move around a bit. But again, yours are unique. And it's extremely important that you do identify them. Because again, your strengths, say a lot about who you are. Maybe someone asks about your strengths, like I am, in this moment, or this has happened before, and you feel nervous, it's kind of like you're being interrogated a bit. If I'm interrogating you, you know, in this moment, that's certainly not my intention. But I am pushing you a bit out of your comfort zone, if this is not something that you've really taken a look at.

Unknown:

Let's go a bit more casual route. When somebody asks you, what do you do for a living? You might feel like they're asking you traditionally, what are your strengths? You're a teacher. Okay, cool. Why did you choose that career? Probably, because you thought you had some strengths there, you were a good communicator, you love kids, you loved learning.So people do want to know if you know your own strengths, because it's inspiring. what others can do so can I.

Unknown:

So we want to share this and we want to ask others and become aware of what their strengths are, where do they shine? What's their magic? Some people may feel that what you think of as your strengths are not from their perspective, that's their work, that's their business, maybe they don't think you're realistic in identifying your strengths. Again, that's their work, not your business.When you look at what you've chosen to do for a job, it's important to feel as though you are growing in that think of the job interview, when we first go in, we are perhaps very excited, then sometimes we get into that job. Hmm, not so much excitement anymore. We don't feel the passion, it's not what we thought it was going to be. So okay.

Unknown:

Because we may find that we have more strengths, more gifts to bring to the table than it really required in this particular position. And the only way we would actually recognize that would be to explore the position. So we don't have to stay there forever. We don't have to do that job permanently. That's a choice. And I know that can get a little sticky. When you feel like there's no way out. But there is there always is, particularly if we can work this practice of identifying our strengths. But think about how you've reacted. If someone has ever asked you, what do you do for work, I can remember a period of time in my life where I really wanted to make it sound juicy. You know, I think I really was coming more from a place of ego and I wanted to impress, I cared more about what people think than I do now. And I don't mean that at all with disrespect, just the opposite.I have nothing to proveto anyone. And neither do you.

Unknown:

Each of us have gifts. And we came here again with powerful intention to use those gifts to share them to learn from them. This is a discovery process. So again, the work that you're currently doing here with us through alignment essentials. And through the practice if you're currently working the practice with us, or perhaps you're listening for the first time and you've been drawn here to you know, sift and sort a little bit, see if there's something here of value to you. It's designed to help you examine how you feel. That's what we do. That's why we have that foundation on teaching of nothing is more important than that you feel good. Because that in turn, will enable you to discover your strengths. Not so much as an employee or business owner or an independent contractor. But as a human being.

Unknown:

Your ability to deal with difficult situations or maintain your sanity your peace is your strength.This work that We're doing together and enabling ourselves to stay in a better feeling place, the majority of the time is a strength, a valuable, powerful strength, particularly when we're constantly bombarded with difficult or what may seem like impossible situations. Now, we've talked in the past about the tendency that we all have to attack and defend. I felt like someone's coming at me, I get defensive. And I start spewing those defensive thoughts. My defense back toward you. Our ability to resist attaching ourselves to what others feel think, see, claim is truly a way to protect a very powerful strength and each half, we just release that desire to defend deep breath.

Unknown:

So if someone is doing something, I'm watching the Olympics, I'm like, Whoa, what an example of physical strength. Well, what an example of mental focus and mental strength, we have a lot of different belief systems around this word strength or strong when someone is standing in their power, standing in their truth, representing completely an enlightenment with what they believe to be true. Wow. That, for us, is a true example of strength, I have no doubt, I am clear, I am knowing that I am standing in my strengths. And I will stand here as long as I need to. And I will maintain an open mind. And I will be open and receptive. But I am clear about my gifts and my strengths. This provides an enormous amount of support for us this understanding, this ability to remain firm, to stand in our power. So when we had that confidence, are we we are relying right? On this the strongest part of who we are, feel safer, feel more connected, we feel less vulnerable.

Unknown:

And we're able to really dig deep. And look at what's important to us in our lives. What, what is the bigger picture for us, we're able to align ourselves with a purpose that extends beyond ourselves beyond our ego. And we're able to find a relationship and unite with source with creator. And just a reminder,when you aren't feeling strong. When life happens.You can always,always ask for help.

Unknown:

The greatest sign of strength asking for help. And you don't have to go to another human being, you can go directly to source, we have the ability to sit quietly and simply ask for strength and understand that whatever bumpinessand we all know some of the bumps are a lot rougher than others. Whatever those are, that we're experiencing in the moment, we will move through themwe have the strength to do that, we are going to release the feeling again of weakness or vulnerability. And we are going to tap into our strength into our truth of who we really are.And when we do this, we are coming from a place of love.We are coming from a place of love when we are standing in our power or strength. And the ego has no place here. We've removed that darkness. And we really literally likehit the hit the light turned it on. And that light is our strength. That's our knowing. That's our connection.

Unknown:

And this is where that feeling of peace comes over us when we take that deep breath. And we're in the middle of the madness. And the doubt tries to creep in the vulnerability. I can feel it right behind me. Starting to turn up within me. I can pause and I can tap in. I can ask for help.

Unknown:

So we know that well. A lot of times when we hear the word strength, people think of it as a physical kind of strength. We are way more than our physical bodies. In this work we understand we have a clear vision of who we truly are, and in order to heal our minds have thoughts that no longer serve us, we must release ourselves from the physical limitations and direct our thoughts to that inner warrior our inner being.We can direct our thoughts, direct our minds.It's in this meditative state, where we really start to expand our strength.And any perception of limitation or weakness or fear or any of that bullshit is released and let go.It is simply not real, it is simply not true.And we're okay with feeling little twinges of it because that just reminds us to tap in, ask for the help step into our power.And let that go. Let that old pattern perhaps go call on who we really are. Remember who we really are. And let who we used to think we werefade away and just let it go. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful work. Now, having some go twos. Now working with something like the moving meditation for strength, for example.This really helps us to connect the mind and body.

Unknown:

And there are, you know, other tools that we can use as well. But we want to really be the vessel of connecting with not only our own strength, but that of others want to see in them where their gifts lie, not their weaknesses, we don't need to point those out. But focus on where do the gifts lie. You know, it's rare that everybody's good, you know, one person is good at everything. Everybody is, you know, good at the same thing. Isn't that a beautiful gift.So I can take my strengths, I can blend them with your strengths, oh, magic, when we hold back, but we have to offer the world, we're in danger of being emotionally detached, we can become really stagnant. I have certainly done that where I'm not, I don't feel inspired to do anything.

Unknown:

This work allows us to let that love in. Tap into our real intention. And if there's something that's not working, if there's a thought that keeps coming up, we need to pay attention to that. We really work on that in the course because we have to pay attention to our thoughts because that's what creates our beliefs. If you remember from our early episodes, this is foundational to our work.

Unknown:

We tend to give more of our attention what we don't want. Something is not working in the world, we just keep looking at it. And then we're so shocked that we are feeling the way we're feeling or getting more of what we don't want. This is why we begin our day every day in our practice finding something to appreciate because this walks us right into strength. Naturally, we're going to feel strong we feel in control of our thoughts. When we feel like our thoughts are thinking us we don't feel very strong. Try this at night, identify something or someone that was connected to something that happened throughout your life experience that made you feel so powerful.And just sit in that feeling. Sit in a place of gratitude for the person or people or situation that provided the opportunity for you to tap in that way.

Unknown:

Put that gratitude out there. Focus on what is working and watch your words, words matter. Feel free to be more creative with your language. practice speaking words of courage, encouragement, inspiration, empowerment. This is an opportunity to help others feel their strength. And we do it authentically. Compliments recognition.Authentic compliments go a long, long way. You will instantaneously feel more powerful when you help another step into their strength. And another another way to go. If you're struggling a bit is going a little deeper. Spend a little more time when you're visualizing and meditating each day. And if you're not doing that, reach out to us and we will help you because this is important. This is not an option. We must we must learn to quiet the mind.Only then will we believe we're actually worthy of being strong. And sometimes we just have to trust in Go for it. Follow the intuition. Listen to your inner being follow that guidance. Allow it to evolve organically not forced, check in, spread the love guys encourage others to continue to look at their strengths. As you continue to look at yours. You're already demonstrating this simply by being here listening to this podcast, you are experiencing a powerful desire to stand more clearly, in your power in your strength. I'm always searching to do that more and more and more and more. And it's not a feeling of, I'm not enough at where I am in this moment. It's just why not? Why not. This is our natural state of being when we are living in a place of appreciation and gratitude, we feel stronger. This is why we identify how we feel. In the practice, what's your word for today. And it's okay if it's shitty, if it's sad, if it's weak, because that contrast and that acknowledgement and that respect.

Unknown:

That action to honor how you feel and allow yourself, give yourself permission, have the strength to do that, to experience an emotion or feeling that is uncomfortable, is a strength. This is how we sift and sort to our desires.Have the conversations with others. Share your journey. And surround yourself with other like minded people who accept you particularly for where you are in this moment, without judgment, as you do the same for them. This is a way to serve. And we are here to serve ourselves and others. Another powerful step is to create a sacred space. Love yourself.

Unknown:

Step away from the crowd, quiet the mind, on your body with your food choices. Try to get as much rest as you possibly can take what is a struggle and leave it on the altar. During meditation, leave it there, just hand it over to your higher self. You've got this you will be spreading the love wherever you go. And nothing is more important than that you feel good. Put your feet in the dirt and capture that good chi that strength from Mother Earth.Move your body, step into that physical gift of strength. Honor that doesn't have to be crazy. You don't need the 100 push ups. You just need the mind body connection. Because when the physicalemotional, mental, all that strength comes together, when there's a unity there. There is nothingthat we cannot collectively create.

Unknown:

You are stronger than you know. And I will hold that space for you until you know it. And if you already know it, then get out there and spread that love. share those stories of strength. I'd love to hear about them. Until next time, guys, seeing you standing in that power as strong as you know. You truly are keeping it real. Nothing but love. We'll see you next time. Talk to you soon. Peace.