Sasha Marie Stone

When you’ve tried everything and nothing is working

I’ve been in conversation with someone recently who feels completely discouraged with life. She has no money, no job prospects, and feels like she’s tried everything, yet nothing is working out for her.

I’m sending her resources to help shift her mindset. I’m supporting her however I can. And I realize…

I was there too.

Not too long ago, I felt like it was time to throw in the towel with my life coaching practice. I felt like I’d tried everything, and nothing was working for me. I was massively in debt from repeatedly attempting expensive social media sales funnels and even more expensive marketing trainings that were bringing in paltry results at best.

And it didn’t make any sense to me. The clients I had worked with had all achieved amazing results. I felt like life had led me into coaching, that it was my purpose. Experience had proven I was an effective coach and that I could really serve people, so why was life screwing me over like this??

If this is what you want me to do God, then why aren’t you helping me out?!?!

Right when I was ready to give up–literally researching an entirely different career path–life intervened.

Small signs and clues started trickling in. I discovered that 2 coaches I admired never used social media to build their coaching practices, because, “it just didn’t work for them.” Whoa.

Then I attended a workshop (that I almost said no to because I was feeling so discouraged!) that shifted everything for me. I saw that my problem had nothing to do with coaching, but with my insistence that there was only one way to make a successful career out of it. I bought into the misunderstanding that the only way to be successful and non-location dependent is to be internet famous. That is one way, not the only way.

When I looked at the evidence though, my practice was most successful when I was simply serving the people that were coming toward me, or whom I approached directly. This is what worked best for me because it’s what felt best for me. So I was able to be fully present with the people in front of me, doing what I do best, and they could experience their best as a result.

What didn’t work was gripping tightly to one methodology and one vision of success, without allowing space for other possibilities. Not only that, I didn’t like the methodology. I found it time consuming and draining. I wanted to be in conversation with people, not obsessed with the minutia of a facebook ad campaign.

So I did just that. I let go, and I let life guide me. I decided to simply have my eyes wide open and allow myself to be guided to those that were calling me in, be bold in my invitations, and serve them powerfully.

Within 1 month I had signed 3 new private clients, earning the highest fees I had ever charged.

Game changer.

You see the thing is, there is no truth to “I’ve tried everything and nothing works.” It’s impossible to try everything. What is everything? And how do you know nothing is working? Sometimes what’s working is the immensely important learning of what doesn’t work!

The key is to notice where you’re gripping tightly and learn how to let go while still being in action. It may sound tricky but it’s really not. It’s beautiful, and it’s what will allow your life to feel like it’s flowing exactly as it’s meant to. Because it is.

Where in your life do you feel like you’re holding too tightly? Where would you like to experience greater flow?

Would you like more support with this?

On Saturday, May 27 I’m leading a complimentary workshop here in LA called Release to Rise: How to Let Go and Let Life Propel You Toward Your Dreams, and you’re invited! It will be a powerful and transformative experience.

I have 7 spots available. Want to come?

You can RSVP right HERE.

Love you, Sasha

The Power of An Apology

I’m sorry.

Those two words can mean the world to someone when said with deep sincerity.

Yet, we resist it all we can. We jump to our own defense. We justify our selfish actions and spiteful words in our minds and outloud. Anything to feel right and make someone else wrong.

And why? What does that really accomplish? What is so difficult about simply saying, “I’m sorry” when you’ve done or said something hurtful, something that caused another unnecessary pain?

Lately I’ve been making a point of apologizing whenever I’ve been mean or snappy with someone I love. It’s a simple mistake to make, we get grumpy or annoyed, we lash out. Yet there’s no need for it. Then I say, “I’m sorry, that wasn’t cool.” And it softens all the edges and opens space for real dialogue, a sweet hug, a good laugh, or whatever is called for.

I’m hoping that the more I catch myself after the fact and make the effort to apologize, the easier it will be to catch myself before it happens and speak lovingly instead. So much better for everyone.

I had an experience recently of receiving an apology that did nothing short of change my life. It set me free of years of unspoken pain and confusion.

The apology didn’t come of its own volition. After much reflection and deep inner work, I made the bold choice of making my pain and confusion known. It felt that what I was asking for was somehow complicated or perhaps even impossible. In the end, I realized, I only wanted a sincere heartfelt apology. When it came, I was so ready to receive it. And it set us all free.

Who in your life can you set free with a sincere and simple apology today? By the way, I’m sorry but is not an apology. In order for it to be real, you have to be ready to let go of all justifications. And guess what? It’s not just for their benefit, it’s for yours too.

Happy Healing!

Lots of Love,

Sasha

Some things are NOT worth waiting for

After completing a fairly detailed review of 2016, here are some of my favorite takeaways…

This is good-bye:

Bangs. They are a terrible idea for my hair! (Hopefully this lesson will stick this time around.)
Hot/cold friends.
Trying to figure everything out on my own.

Yes! More please:

Interviews and leading workshops
Soaking in hot springs and walking in Joshua Tree
Investing in support

One of the most eye-opening aspects of this process was learning that some of the most valuable things I did this year I had been waiting to do, such as investing in a spiritual counselor. This is something I knew would help me but I put it off for years. I kept trudging through on my own, waiting for the “right time” and the perfect crisis to take the plunge.

Some things are definitely worth waiting for, like big travel adventures, buying a house, or saying I do. Things that are not worth waiting for are those that lay the foundation for a happy and healthy life.

Don’t wait! Do them now! Without energy, joy, self-love, and well being, nothing else feels good. You will continue to seek more of this and less of that until you learn to prioritize your emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness on a daily basis.

Anything that supports your emotional, physical, or spiritual wellness will benefit you right now, in all areas of your life, forever. So there’s no point in waiting for the right time. The right time is now.

“I almost don’t understand how I functioned before the program. I don’t know how I dealt with the stress and with the overwhelm of taking care of my kids, working and everything else. I don’t know how I did it. I don’t know what I did before this program and how I got through life. Honestly, it changed every single thing.” – Jordan Kramer

Jordan is talking about The Sacred Art of Self-Care program which she completed last year. She is happy she didn’t wait any longer.

Here are some things you need to know about the program:

It’s designed specifically for women, to meet your needs and unravel the constructs that are keeping you stuck in stress and overwhelm.
If you participate fully, your life will change. Everyone who completes the program experiences transformation that is unique to them and their specific life circumstances. The same will happen for you.
Upon completion, you will wonder, “What was I waiting for??” But that’s ok, you did it now and that’s what matters.
You will walk away with a new approach and perspective to your daily life, one that prioritizes your pleasure, values your desires, and keeps you centered no matter the chaos that might be swirling around you.
You can participate in this program from anywhere in the world.
This is a small group program, 8 women maximum, offering unparalleled personalized support with weekly group coaching calls, unlimited email access to me, and a private facebook group.
The program starts January 14, is 8 weeks long, and this is the only time it will be offered this year. You will have access to all the material forever and there is no guarantee that it will be offered again next year. Why wait?
In order to participate, we must first have a conversation to ensure that it’s a good fit. To schedule a call, email me TODAY at [sasha@sashamariestone.com]

Talk soon.

Love, Sasha

P.S. You can hear more about Jordan’s story in THIS VIDEO.

[feather_share]

3 Keys to Loving Life in 2017

How are you feeling as 2016 is coming to a close? Dying for it to be over? Excited for the New Year? Dreading the New Year?

I know 2016 was a rough one on a global level. It was pretty challenging for me too, but even in the midst of the chaos I experienced immense growth, progress, and fulfillment so I’m able to look back with love and appreciation. As you prepare for 2017, I want to share with you the three of keys that make loving life possible no matter what.

Key #1: Always look back.

What?? Aren’t we supposed to keep forging ahead and leave the past behind?

Yes, but if this is all you do, you’ll constantly feel behind, like you’re not doing enough, not achieving enough, not making enough progress. You might be completely missing all the ways that you are kicking ass!

So, in addition to setting goals and writing to-do lists, create a practice of looking back and writing down all that you accomplish and achieve in every area of your life, because it all counts! I recommend doing this on a monthly basis. It’s a game changer, I promise.

Key #2: Get cozy with what you want.

Life is not about what you should do. It’s about what you want to do. Stop fighting it. Your desires are a key to your intuition, your passions, and your purpose. If you ignore them, they’ll just keep finding new creative ways to get your attention, and chances are, you won’t appreciate their tactics.

Key #3: Get help.

There is a lot you can accomplish on your own, but it absolutely pales in comparison to what you can create with the help, support, and guidance of others. This is by far the most monumental discovery of my life. Here are some of the ways I supported my progress in 2016…

Joined a group coaching program for my menstrual health issues.
Hired a spiritual counselor to help me work through some deep pain and trauma from the past that I knew was hindering me in the present.
Worked with an awesome business coach to move my life coaching business forward.

I was already working independently in all of these areas, but what I have achieved by investing in my health, spiritual well being, and business was leaps and bounds what I was accomplishing solo. And no, I didn’t always have the money, but not everything happens in the order we ideally imagine or falsely believe it must. You simply have to decide what it is you really want (see Key #2).

When you think about 2017, are any of these on your desire list?

More time
More inner peace
More fun
A deeper connection to yourself, to your inner world
Feeling more effective
Feeling more productive
Greater confidence and self-love

If you answered YES to any of the above, consider supporting your desires and catapulting your progress through The Sacred Art of Self-Care Immersion Program. It begins on January 14, 2017 and only happens once a year.

Because every year has its up and downs. Regardless of what’s going on around you or inside of you, if you have a strong undercurrent of love and joy, you carry with you a deep knowing that it’s all part of the journey, and everything’s going to be alright.

If you’re curious about the program and want to know if it’s the right fit for you, simply take the very easy step of emailing me [sasha@sashamariestone.com] and letting me know. From there we’ll set up a time to talk. Only 7 spots remain.

Lots of Love and New Year’s Blessings!

Sasha

[feather_share]

It’s Time to Celebrate Your Inner Weirdo

The other day I was catching up with a good friend, and we found ourselves laughing hysterically about the stress and anxiety she feels daily over her white kitchen cabinets.

That’s right. Her kitchen cabinets.

Why, you may ask, would such an innocuous subject be the source of so much anguish? Doesn’t she have anything more important to worry about??

Yes! She absolutely does. And that’s why we were laughing so hard. The truth is my friend has a very demanding full time job as an executive at a major entertainment studio, she’s also a phenomenal mother, a loving partner, a supporter of her in-laws, a contributor to many worthy causes, a yogi, an incredible sister and daughter, a devoted friend, and so much more! Honestly, I could go on and on.

She stresses about her kitchen cabinets because…she’s a weirdo. And by that I mean one of her magical super powers is that she’s incredibly clean and organized. Because of all the major demands on her time, cleaning now hangs out somewhere at the bottom of the priority list and this STRESSES HER OUT!

The problem is not that the cabinets are horrendously dirty (seriously, they’re not). The problem is also not that there isn’t enough time to get to it. The problem is she’s not fully embracing her desire for cleanliness and insisting that as a family they hire someone to take care of this.

So that she can breathe freely knowing it’s complete and that she can be fully present in whatever she’s doing as a result. Cleanliness makes her feel good. It gives her pleasure, and therefore contributes to her energy level and the wellbeing of everyone around her.

How often have you made yourself feel bad for your uniqueness, or for wanting something that people around you might deem as strange or indulgent?

When you do that you double down on your stress. Stress for not having it plus stress for feeling bad for wanting it in the first place.

It took me a long time to fully embrace, and then celebrate, my unique needs and desires of life, and of course it’s still a work in progress. But honestly, life is so much better when you fully acknowledge your desires and curate your life in a way that fulfills them.

The truth is, as women, desires are directly connected to our intuition and to our path in life. When you ignore them or try to make them unimportant, you’re ignoring key aspects of who you are and who you are meant to be in this lifetime.

For example, I LOVE mornings. I find them to be the most lovely and magical time of my day, but not for work or productivity. For my own personal me-time. The mornings are when I do my spiritual practices, yoga, exercise, grooming, and of course eat breakfast (I actually eat 2 breakfasts, like a hobbit). WEIRDO!

This means I wake up early (around 6:30am), but don’t actually start my work day until 10am. This is bizarre to so many people. If you don’t start work until 10am, why aren’t you sleeping in? Or, If you wake up that early, why aren’t you starting your workday earlier? Or, Must be nice, to have a life where you can luxuriate for 3.5 hours every morning.

Yes it is! And I created it that way on purpose.

I actually have no idea if people think these things. These are my own judgments that I created based on ideas I had about what life “should” look like. That is, until I tuned into what I wanted life to be like, and created my schedule accordingly.

I would never tell you to do the same, because this is my unique desire. I’m in bed at 10pm in order to have these fabulous mornings. Same for my friend. I would never tell her she’s wrong for stressing about her cabinets. This is her unique desire, so instead of telling her to get over it, I encouraged her to embrace it and do what’s necessary to make it happen (in this case, hiring it out which is an awesome solution!).

Living life according to your desires is actually much harder than it might sound. We are highly conditioned to live a certain way and to think a certain way about what’s important and what isn’t. Conforming to these beliefs causes far more stress than you realize.

Sooner or later you find yourself feeling unfulfilled, exhausted, and disconnected from your true self.

I believe it’s essential to your health, wellbeing, and happiness to know your desires intimately and start living accordingly. I believe nurturing your desires is an essential component of what I call Sacred Self-Care.

Sacred: Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a spiritual purpose and so deserving veneration.

Self: A person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.

Care: The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.

Once your desires become a guiding light in your life, your entire experience of life begins to transform.

I love how I structure my days now. I really listened to the rhythm of my body and soul and created a life that is true to me. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a process of getting to know myself better, getting to know what felt good and what didn’t, then taking the appropriate action to bring these desires into reality.

What about you? Do you feel disconnected from your desires or that it’s time to start living your life more in alignment with what makes you happy?

If so, I invite you to consider what it would be like to create a daily life that feels nurturing and in alignment to who you really are, to your true pleasures and desires, to what makes you the most dynamic, productive, and happy version of yourself.

This is what we do in The Sacred Art of Self-Care Immersion Program, an intimate group program designed to help you live a more peaceful, pleasurable, and prosperous life!

This year I’m accepting 8 women into the program (as of right now, 5 spots are open). It’s an 8-week course, beginning on January 14th (lasting a lifetime), and only happens once-a-year.

If this sounds like the kind of experience you want to create in 2017, email me [sasha@sashamariestone.com] and let me know you’re curious. From there, we’ll set up a time to chat to see if it’s the best fit for you.

It’s time to celebrate your inner weirdo!

Love, Sasha

P.S. Learn more about the course and past participants’ journeys of transformation HERE.

[feather_share]

From crisis to action

Times of crisis often spur us into action to take better care of ourselves, our relationships, our finances, our hearts, our community, our environment, or our world. You might feel called to start working out, eating healthy, being kinder to your loved ones, taking a dance class, volunteering, protesting, being fearless in your business, asking for a raise, or starting a meditation practice.

Sometimes, that call to action can be accompanied by a feeling of regret: “Why did it take me so long? If only I had done this sooner? What have I been waiting for?”

The answer is…IT DOESN’T MATTER. What matters is you’re feeling it now. What matters is that you heed that call, ride that wave of energy, and make the changes you desire. Who knows why it didn’t happen before. Regret is a waste of time and energy that will only serve to hold you back and cause more regret down the road.

You’re feeling the call now, so go for it.

Is this resonating for you right now? In what ways are you feeling called to action? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Sasha

P.S. Are you feeling called to connect inward, to love and trust yourself more? If so, I invite you to consider attending You Are The Compass, coming up on December 10 in Los Angeles. Get more info and RSVP HERE. **This is my LAST FREE WORKSHOP of the year.**

[feather_share]

When one person heals, we all heal

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you reflecting on today? Perhaps you’re looking around and bursting with gratitude for all that surrounds you – your family, your friends, your home, an abundance of delicious home-cooked food (or amazing take out). I’m exceedingly grateful for all those things too, and I also find myself being thankful for what’s happening on the inside.

Adulthood for basically everyone involves multiple healing journeys. It could be recovering from a breakup, working through childhood trauma, discovering a new career path, or letting go of an addiction. As we grow up, and grow old, the opportunities to heal are endless. As we move through them, the richer and more colorful our experience of life becomes.

A good amount of energy and focus for me this year was (and continues to be) devoted to a physical healing journey that also led me to healing of my energy and some deep emotional trauma I wasn’t even fully aware I was carrying. The “dis-ease” rests in my reproductive organs and affects my menstrual cycle, which for women is a hotbed of emotion and affects everything from our energy level to our relationships.

I am extremely thankful to say that I have steadily been recovering and my symptoms dissipating. This is due to supporting the process of healing from as many angles as possible: nutrition coaching, natural supplements, acupuncture, and spiritual counseling to name a few.

The body is a remarkable system of balance. When it’s off balance, it lets us know through illness, weight gain or weight loss, injuries, skin problems, and so much more. With the right support, it’s absolutely incredible how the body can recover!

This Thanksgiving, I invite you to reflect on your body. Be thankful for all that it allows you to do, to experience, and to enjoy. Be thankful for everything it’s withstood, and all the ways in which it heals. Be thankful for everything it teaches you.

Do you know that when one person heals, we all heal? We are all connected energetically, simply by sharing this time and space. If you feel blessed with abundance this season or simply in the mood to be generous and do something kind for a stranger, please consider supporting my friend Gabrielle Olko in her healing journey.

This beautiful soul has a brain tumor that doctors have deemed inoperable. But her bravery is boundless and through the help and kindness of those around her, she can continue seeking treatment through an Ayurvedic clinic in India. Read more about her story and donate HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for you!!

Lots of Love,

Sasha

[feather_share]

To be a woman

Deep breath…

To be a woman is to be gorgeously complex and radiant in your vulnerability and imperfection.

To be a woman is to experience a wild kaleidoscope of emotions on any given day. To have a massive capacity for joy, despair, love, rage, envy, jealousy, compassion, grief, and hope. To feel so deeply that all experiences are enhanced and life is made rich, exciting, and constantly changing.

To be a woman is to be powerful beyond measure. To dictate the energy of any room you walk into, any space you inhabit – your household, your community, your country, the world. To be able to pulsate with pleasure and move through life with your own inner wisdom as your primary guiding force.

To be a woman is to be a deep well of receptivity. To spark, attract, and expand creativity, inspiration, and magic. To thrive in community and in sisterhood.

These are gifts that exist within all women. Yet not all of these gifts are celebrated. Not all of them are understood or embraced. In fact, many of these gifts are feared, ignored, or flat out rejected.

The answer is not to act more like a man. Your power lies in being fully woman, and most of all, to be entirely and uniquely YOU.

There are many ways to connect with your feminine vibrance and flow, your deep well of power and creativity, your wisdom and joy. I encourage you to explore and find a pathway that resonates for you.

May I offer you an opportunity now?

I have 3 spots remaining in this Saturday’s workshop, You Are The Compass. If you can’t make this weekend, there’s another one coming up in December. You can RSVP for either one right HERE.

Let’s keep rising together.

Love, Sasha

P.S. Not in LA but still resonating with this message and wanting more? Contact me and let me know.

[feather_share]

What are you trying to prove?

Lately I’m noticing that many people are on a constant unconscious quest to prove exactly the opposite of what they want to be true. There’s a tendency to stack up all the evidence that supports the belief that you suck, that you’re broke, that it’s not working, that the world is a dangerous place…

It appears we are all brilliant detectives and can find the evidence that supports whatever we want to prove. Unfortunately, what we’re often trying to prove is a limiting belief that somehow keeps us stuck in misery. The good news is, you can use your inner Sherlock Holmes in your favor to find all the evidence that supports how awesome you are, and elevates you to a state of optimism and excitement.

For example, I’ve been working with a health coach on a hormonal imbalance issue that comes with a plethora of undesirable symptoms. Since working this particular program though, most of the symptoms are gone. In fact, ALL of the symptoms are gone except for one. That is HUGE progress and is making a major positive difference in my life.

Yet, on our last coaching call, I was moaning about how discouraged I felt, and how it all didn’t make sense, and why is this happening?? Why did I feel this way even with such major progress? Because I was focusing all of my attention on that one remaining symptom rather than on everything that’s going splendidly. Thankfully, my coach pointed this out, and when I examined all the evidence that suggests that I’m doing so well, I felt uplifted, motivated, and encouraged to keep moving forward with the protocol.

It’s interesting isn’t it? If I stayed focus on that one thing that hasn’t been healed, I would be tempted to throw in the towel and just forget about the whole thing. Instead, by shifting my focus to everything that has transformed, I felt motivated to keep going.

This same theme came up repeatedly with my coaching clients over the past few weeks. Limiting beliefs such as “I’m unfocused. I’m lazy. I’m destined to be alone forever” popped up. And you know what? We could probably find evidence to support all those ideas. But what’s the point of that? Instead, upon further examination we found the opposite to be true, and the result was boosted self-esteem and the motivation to stay on the path.

Looking for the evidence that supports what you want or how you want to be is far more productive than looking for evidence to support what you don’t want or what you don’t want to be true about your character. It gives you positive reinforcement, and positive reinforcement is a far more effective motivator than negative reinforcement.

By the way, this works for how you view anything. Your boyfriend, your husband, your wife, your boss, your mother, your local grocery store, the state of the world today. There is evidence to support that they are awesome and that they suck. Guess which one makes you feel happier?

Now, my love, this is not about denial, which is a beast. If your boyfriend is a tyrant, it’s not going to serve you to find all the ways he’s a sweetheart. If you are suffering from extreme sleep deprivation, it’s not going to serve you to find all the ways that you are well rested.

Do you see? In the above cases it doesn’t make sense because evidence that supports the positive is not in service to you. It’s not in your best interest to ignore that someone is abusive or that you’re never getting enough sleep. But, if you’re somehow holding yourself back from happiness (that’s why it’s called a “limiting” belief), then it serves you to give yourself an energy boost by proving that you are gorgeous, that you are productive, that you are motivated, that you are a hard worker, that you’re a success, etc.

I’m curious, what are you trying to prove? Where in your life can you look for evidence to support your awesomeness (or someone else’s) and let go of the constant search to prove otherwise? I dare you to brag about it! Right here in the comments! Or if you’re feeling shy, at least do so in a journal. Either way, it’s time to stop putting yourself down and start celebrating instead.

Happy hunting!

Love, Sasha

P.S. Want some help tapping into your inner guidance? Come to You Are The Compass, a complimentary workshop for women.

[feather_share]

Getting focused on your life projects

I know it’s been awhile since I made an appearance in your inbox to share thoughts, insights, and events. I took a hiatus from writing over the summer to devote my attention fully to my life coaching clients and to moving to a new home.

I’ve come to believe that it’s super valuable in life to get clear on 1 or 2 main “projects” for a given period of time (seasons are nice, quarters work too), and allow yourself to focus on those projects exclusively and release the rest. Generally, this creates massive momentum in your areas of focus and releases you from any energy draining sense of guilt that you “should” be doing something else.

And just to clarify, the necessities of life such as self-care and relationships are given priorities that factor in no matter your additional projects (and there are times when they will be their very own projects).

So, after my summer of focus and clarity, here’s what I’m loving about life these days…

Creating my new home space in Silver Lake! Some major Marie Kondoing went down for this move, and is still in progress. More on that in a future post, but if feels great to clear out and surround myself only with what sparks joy.
Being able to walk 2-minutes to my local yoga studio. Class is at 9am. I walk out the door at 8:55am. So awesome.
Doing deep work with my life coaching clients on their personal projects. So much fun to co-create magic and witness transformation in action.
Preparing for some exciting events this fall: Girls’ Night In in October and You Are The Compass in November.
Wearing sparkly dresses on any given day of the week.
Working with incredible people to continue to learn and grow in all areas of my life: professionally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Guisados tacos.

What are you loving about life these days? What are your main projects for this fall season?

Love, Sasha

[feather_share]