Competition over collaboration?

This weekend was a good challenge for me. These bigger semi-annual events are still quite new for me. I started doing the aura photography at events last summer. I’ve now built up a bit of a circuit, having 3 monthly events that I generally participate in every month. But at different times of the year, some larger events take place and I’ve been exploring these as means of brand awareness, reaching new clients, and just learning more about this field of work and how I can most authentically, powerfully serve others with my gifts.

Before I get any further, don’t forget that tonight at 7:30pm, after our 6pm gentle yoga class, we’re having our first Mindful Monday Sip & Share! This unique monthly event is completely free and designed with the intention of creating an open, welcoming space for us all to connect, explore, and learn together. We hope you will join us for this enriching experience. Let's come together, sip some tea, share our thoughts, and embark on a journey of collective learning and growth. Please RSVP by clicking the link below so we know how many to expect:

[RSVP Here]

Many Paths Wellness participated in the Peace of Mind Expo this weekend. It was 2 very long days and a Friday afternoon setup, with quite a drive to boot. For these larger events, I typically have a larger entry fee and have to pay someone else to help me with the booth, so I have been exploring ways to maximize the short window and booth space to (hopefully) make it worth it. Truth be told, I have been a little nervous about these bigger events, especially since this event/part of business is all still somewhat new to me and I’m learning as I go.

I can say that the event and hosts had really great energy this weekend, and I so appreciated their energy as I was working through my own internal challenges. The hosts were super encouraging and upbeat, very supportive and set a good tone for the energy of the event, which was great. There were 80+ vendors. We had quite a steady stream of people come through throughout the weekend, with the exception of a few low times. While this event has been held up in PA for years, this was the first Peace of Mind expo in GA, so I felt the turnout was pretty good overall.

Before the event, I learned that they had actually allowed a second Aura Photographer, due to the expected demand. And, by the time I became a proud Lifewave distributor, they had already found a rep for the Lifewave line, which meant that, due to its MLM structure, I couldn’t promote it at this event. So I would lie if I didn’t say that at moments, I felt some huge waves of fear about my ability to make this event financially feasible. I generally align to collaboration over competition, but there are still moments (like this one) where the feeling of competition and ultimately, fear, do try to take hold.

You see, FEAR, like other emotions, is a messenger. When it shows up, we have 3 primary options:

1. Possibly not even notice or acknowledge it – just letting it hang out in our energetic field and becoming the magnet for more fear and the like. It sets a frequency within us, reverses the flow of lifeforce energy in our root chakra to drain our energy, and keeps the energy within us from flowing and supporting our highest good.

2. Buy into it, believing the perceptions, feelings, stories that it is bringing up. This also continues to reverse our lifeforce energy and drain us, keep us from lifting up into or aligning with our highest good, and creates a conscious shift in who and how we show up (think victim mentality, woe is me, or “feeling beat” energy). OR

3. Become conscious of it, acknowledge it, explore it, and let it go. In this case, it becomes something which serves us, happens for us rather than to us. When we notice fear has come up, we are being invited to explore it, learn from it, grow from it, become conscious of it and our choices surrounding it.

This fear that popped up inside of me was telling me things like, “Oh, I’m not going to make enough money from the event, making this a financial loss instead of a gain…” “Why am I working myself so hard to get nowhere” “If there’s another aura photographer, I won’t get enough business and they’ll get more.” “The other aura photographer is better at this than me.”

It was showing me my weakness: not feeling (good) enough.

Does this ever show up for you? I’d know you’re probably lying if you said No… hahaha ;)

BUT were these stories, these fears, these thoughts really TRUE? That is the best question.

This is where I am so grateful to my yoga and meditation practice, for it has helped me become more aware, more conscious of what I’m thinking (so much of what we think/feel/believe everyday is subconscious!). I was able to see these thoughts and feelings as they arose, as the “witness” we talk about in yoga. I was able to face them with clarity in my own heart and mind, and even from my higher self to meet them, see what they were bringing for me to learn and grow through, and intentionally release them.

I learned many years ago that “competition” doesn’t serve us nor does it serve the people we’re showing up to help. I used to literally lecture State and Local workforce professionals on the importance of collaboration over competition! More on this another time, but while there can be some truth to the perception of “losing business” to others, what is also true and important is that collectively we’re growing, serving, showing up authentically as ourselves, and acknowledging that even with the same general product, we are still so uniquely different.

I soften my response to the fear when I think about our own energy, our vibration, our aura: I deeply believe that we all have a purpose and unique gift within ourselves, when we are being truly our Self. Instead of choosing FEAR, I choose TRUST. I choose to believe in myself and what I have to offer the world. I remember and believe that I am here for a reason, that I will connect to the people that are meant to find me and need my unique self/perspective/gifts. I choose to align to the energy of abundance, which means that there is enough for everyone.

AND, in order to do that, I must show up fully, authentically myself. So that’s what I did.

I didn’t pout, worry, give myself a pity party when things got slow. Did I acknowledge it, pay attention to it? Yes. I kept the awareness of it not to feed the FEAR but to sharpen my own conviction, my own confidence in myself, my own authentic self. I wanted to learn from it but not allow it to change who I was or how I was choosing to show up and serve. Deep down, I knew that I was enough, I am enough, that I have something beautiful and powerful and beneficial to offer to others and that if I held onto the fear, that energy in me would not attract those who needed me to show up for them.

So at the end of the day, how did we do? We made it! We not only made the mark to make it financially feasible (not in the red, yay!), but we showed up fully, authentically, and were able to serve those who found us. It was 2 very long days, and I give so much thanks to Jo-Jo for enduring these two long days with me (thank you, Jo-Jo!), and even being a sounding board as I talk through what all of this means, how to sharpen my own consciousness and grow through the experience.

At the very end, Atena and I even traded services! In truth, our devices, while from the same company, are different versions so the experiences are slightly different. Atena is also a skilled psychic; she captures a snapshot of you and gives you the photos with her psychic interpretation. I enjoyed her insights.

My approach and software is slightly different. I approach this with my decade+ of practicing, learning, teaching the human energy field from both a scientific and spiritual perspective. I’m supported by my intuition through the session, which is also highly interactive. You get to see your energy on the screen while we take a minute to tune into your authentic self, get to see how the energy changes in your aura and/or chakras as you change your thoughts, and explore what the energies represent while you see what that means for you. It’s an exploration honoring that you are the driver; the answers are within you; I’m simply the guide and supporting you. I think the aura readings are so incredibly powerful for this specific reason, which is why I recommend the readings over just getting the photo or report. And surprisingly, though it costs a little more and takes a little more time, overall, most people who came to us ended up getting a reading rather than just getting the photo or report. Is this not a testament for magnetizing your authentic self and attracting that which you believe in and align to?

All in all, both approaches are unique, beneficial, and needed for different people! And by allowing myself to align to collaboration over competition, we both were able to befriend eachother and even learn from eachother in ways that we otherwise would not have.

Would I have loved to make more money? Of course! Who would’t?! BUT if I take a step back and acknowledge everything that I am learning, how I am growing from these experiences, how many people I AM able to help by showing up, as well as the stage of my business and how it is steadily growing… when I look beyond just the money, I see that it is all beautifully in divine order. It is challenging. Aligning to your true self and life purpose is not always EASY, but it is SOOOO worth it!

Coincidentally, I also got to reconnect with an old friend - the person who happened to be the Lifewave rep at this event! He came from far to be here and we hadn't really connected since the old company we both loved deconstructed their distribution structure. I was not surprised when I learned that he was also supporting this new technology - I really love it, as it aligns to my beliefs, understanding, and needs. (If you're curious to learn more, check out www.thisisitinfo.com, my affiliate link www.lifewave.com/manypathswellness, or just text me to help you get the best deal for you or answer any questions). I can easily tell you why I love this technology and explore how it may help you, too.

So now, I’ve enjoyed a little extra sleep and lazy morning with coffee as I reflect: taking time to process, learn, grow, be. What a blessing all of this is. Much gratitude.

Sometimes, even when we think things aren’t going the way we want or need, it just takes a step back to reflect and notice that, actually, the universe does have your back. Don’t be tricked by the illusion! Get back on your mat (literally or mentally!) and find your truth, raise your own consciousness so you can also show up authentically. The world needs you.

I have more events coming up, and would love to find ways to bring this into other settings – such as Yoga studios, Workshops/Trainings, Schools & students (homeschool groups too), and especially corporate life. If you know of individuals or groups who would be interested in exploring and learning more about their ENERGY and how that reflects how they are showing up in life, please share my info or connect us. Thank you so much.

And if you sadly missed this particular event, we'll be doing another round the second weekend of December, so put it on your calendar today!

In the meantime, notice when/how frequently/why fear shows up in your life. Where are you noticing it? What is it trying to show you? How are you responding?

I hope to see you soon.

Many hugs and much love, xoxo

Jess

P.S. If you enjoyed this, and want it to come straight to your inbox next time, sign up for my newsletter! As always, I appreciate your support :)