“Let the things that enter your life wake you up…

Life’s work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep. The only way to do this is to open, be curious, and develop some sense of sympathy for everything that comes along, to get to know its nature and let it teach you what it will.

It’s going to stick around until you learn your lesson, at any rate. You can leave your marriage, you can quit your job, you can only go where people are going to praise you, you can manipulate your world until you’re blue in the face to try to make it always smooth but the same old demons will always come up until finally you have learned your lesson, the lesson they came to teach you.

Then those same demons will as friendly, warm hearted companions on the path.”

This is the difference between demons and angels, my friend. Angels are welcome visitors and bring good news. Demons deliver a story or lesson that you are not yet welcoming. Both are here to be of service and love to and with and for you. And you, yes you, are here to be of service to them. What, you thought all this beauty in the world was just for your personal growth and development? Oh no, there’s more at play – – – your ancestors, the spirits you can see and cannot see, the food and trees and mycelium networks and lifeblood systems running through everything – – – we are all connected.

We are all here, learning, and at our best, supporting each other.

If you’re working a corporate job you hate, there’s a reason.

You’re in it to make the money (don’t let the money make you…) to pay the bills to buy the thing to support yourself or your family.

So use that hell as a training ground. Use it as a spiritual dojo. Use it to uplevel your skills and talents so that when you do you own thing, you’ve got tips, tricks, tools and resources to keep you out of the system for good.

Go into that last minute meeting your boss called on a Friday afternoon completely loaded with tools. Create a spiritual arsenal (oh yeah, I went there).

Count her eyelashes as she’s lecturing you. Keep a frozen smile on your face. Breathe. Count your breathes. Inhale up to seven, hold, exhale down to seven, hold, repeat. Remember that you are bigger than this. Remember that the only reason she’s lecturing you in this way, is because she, too is afraid. She’s afraid of the system and she’s reacting and lashing out at you because she’s a tiger in a cage. Have compassion for the caged tiger.

Smile, and nod, and agree if you must. Preserve your energy. Table everything until later. Tell her you’ll make an action plan. Tell her you want to learn. Say whatever you must, and follow up with it as you must, in order to maintain your calm and your sanity. Excuse yourself, if you must. You aren’t chained to her desk. Get up. Get out. Take a walk or a breather or ask for a reschedule.

I’m telling you this because I’ve been there. I’ve learned this hard lesson, many times over. I’ve been “called in” to my bosses’ office more times than i can share with you.

This particular story is true. This is the story of me being called into my female bosses’ office at a life insurance company I worked for a few years back. This is the story of her telling me I was wrong for modeling for a local business because it was inappropriate for my job. What would my potential hires thing? What would my managers think?

And the photo she was upset about? That’s the photo I’m sharing with you now. This ridiculously sweet Valentine’s day photo.

She was wrong. But, I was in the game, and I was playing to win. I had a house and student loans to payoff. I wasn’t going anywhere. And luckily, I was far enough along in my career, and in my yoga and meditation and therapy and coaching and CrossFit practices to be able to understand her. She was scared. She was only reacting in the ways she knew how. Compassion for the trapped tiger.

At the end of my time at this job, she shared with me that she wishes she could quit and become a full time college basketball coach. That was her dream. But, she had a spouse and a kiddo to support, and wouldn’t let herself do that just yet. I hope she does someday.

Life’s work is to wake you up. Let the problems and stress that enters your life WAKE – – – YOU – – – UP.

<3 Emily Otto – Corporate Rebelle