I need a detox.

My social media feed, personal conversations and exchanges on the streets echo the same sentiments. We’re tired. Sick and tired. We’re terrified. I get it. The day after the election, I went to my Facebook feed to find solace, but as I got sucked into all the negativity, anxious feelings seeped in again.

Tears flowed as I saw images of swastikas and heard stories of hate crimes on the rise (post election) and kids telling parents they’re scared they might have to pack up and leave the comforts of their home. One openly gay millennial posted on FB that he is scared for his safety and his rights to love openly. He asked for some words of comfort to calm his anxiety.

In the face of this, we have two options:
1. Be part of the change and spread light in the world.
2. Be part of the problem and fester in the dark.

I choose to move forward.

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Here are several things I did to get myself out of what I call the #PostElectionPTSD:

1. Be of service: Many folks tell me they feel helpless. We all have the power to shift that energy.

I reached out to a few people I mentor who felt mired in depression. We spent time simply talking about their feelings and mine. It turns out trying to help them has helped me even more!

Still at a loss at what you can do? Put your money where your mouth is. Donations to organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood have spiked since the election, so donate to causes you care about!

2. Spend time doing more of what you love. What brings you joy? Reading? Exercising? Binge watching a Netflix flick? Do it!

I love cooking, writing, designing (see flowers on right), spending time with loved ones and yoga. Actually, I’m going to yoga tonight at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco — yes, yoga in church! It’s a special session taught by renowned instructor Darren Main and the benefits go to Yoga for Change to benefit at-risk youth! All we have to do is show up with a mat and donate $20. Double yeah!

3. Gratitude. Counting and writing down the things you’re grateful for rewires your brain to look for them and brings awareness to all the awesomeness in your life.

4. Sing, laugh & dance. No explanation needed. My guilty pleasure is Googling “Adele news” to see what’s up with my favorite chanteuse. Sounds creepy, I know, but HELLO, how can you not love her?

5. Share kindness/kind news. The first thing I did after the election was write this bloggity: “The KIND of America I see.”

Now it’s your turn — let’s flood people’s social media feeds with positivity.

I started to feel better when I saw this Instagram post:

Calling all creatives: get creating! I had an idea and a challenge as I deal with this #PostElectionPTSD. I’m a creator. If I’m not creating, arranging, writing or doing something creative, I feel stifled. It also helps me relieve stress.

So write, design or create something that brings light into the world and share it with your network and me! Alternatively, I urge you to share something positive you’ve experienced or heard on your social feed or in real life. Would love to spread the kindness y’all are seeing: Tag me: #PostElectionPTSD @toanlamtv @goinspirego

If you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, let’s change what we see, say and think. According to a study by the University of British Columbia, good news results in better people.

I believe this so much, I left my successful TV news career seven years ago to discover and share positive stories — and their impacts have been more uplifting than any storybook out there. We all have the power to spread light.

Please take a moment to share your light with me. Together, let’s set the internet on fire with kindness, compassion and love. Don’t forget to share the good you’re seeing in the world with me! #PostElectionPTSD @toanlamtv @goinspirego

Onward and upward,
Toan

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The post A Call for Creative Lights in Wake of Post-Election PTSD appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

Besides the yoga, led by witty teacher Darren Main, many other aspects delight the senses: the live music, the stunning Gothic architecture and the energy from the community of more than 500 people who pack alongside the pews to get in a little “Namaste” during their busy week.

It’s a sanctuary for my soul.

Classes start with a little meet-and-greet with someone you don’t know. Then, there’s time to pause and reflect through a weekly message. One recent message was centered on creating peace around you — super appropriate for a wild, wacky and way out-of-control presidential contest our country is experiencing — I promise not to get all political on you.

Brother Jude Harmon gave a quick forward that resonated with me deeply. He asked us to be “instruments of peace,” to see the light in others.

“When I got here early, I saw some of you running up the hill to save your spot,” he said. “I saw the excitement and light in you.”

I couldn’t help but think about how children — often our greatest spiritual teachers — embody this light more than many adults. With wonderment, awe and sparkle in their eyes, they find joy in the simplest of things.

Last week, I witnessed two kids at different tables say hello to each other. They introduced themselves and started playing together — unabashed, no preconceived notions, no judgments. They were just being themselves in the present moment and having fun.

I wondered why more adults aren’t like this. When did so many of us lose this natural state of being?

I admit, it’s hard sometimes to see the light in those who are not pleasant. Some folks are downright negative and rude. I believe everyone is our teacher, here to share different experiences with us. Yes, that means good and bad experiences, too. I’ve been trying to practice this compassion and see the light in others this past year.

So how do we actually practice peace and be instruments that create harmony and community unity?

1. Shift your perspective: Recently, I was driving to a friend’s house when I encountered a very negative lady. I was about to make a left turn when a woman driving on the opposite direction sped up to make a right. It was my turn to go, but I saw that she was in a hurry. So I waved at her to go first. Red in the face, she started yelling expletives even though I had the right of way. Instead of letting her negativity ruin my day and raise my blood pressure, I shifted my perspective and thought, “Wow, something bad must’ve happened to her today or at some point in her life to be so angry.” I sent her love with a smile and wished her the best from my heart. My hope was that the light in her when she was younger would somehow find its way back.

2. It’s not about you: Most times someone who’s angry has had someone else do them wrong and they take on this negative attitude. Or they could be having a bad day. Try not to take it personally.

3. Acts of kindness: Everybody has the power to make someone else’s day. But what I realized is ultimately the giver is the recipient of the biggest gift: that tingly, good feeling of generosity. It also tends to have a domino effect. No matter who you are or how much you have in your bank account, you can change the energy of another person simply by being kind. Smile at someone randomly. Do something thoughtful for someone.

People say I have the gift of lifting people’s spirits and shifting their perspectives through communication/storytelling. Here’s one example of how I was able to help some friends in grief. I’d love to hear how you helped make someone’s day — Tweet/FB/Instagram me….

Two of my friends’ fathers passed away within the past couple of weeks. People who know me know I love telling stories and connecting with people, so I used my gift of communication and storytelling to spread kindness. I sent them this video I produced about dealing with grief. I interviewed a dear friend, Marianna Cacciatore, a grief expert who believes grief leads to generosity and love. There’s no better gift than the gift of your time and talents.

What can you do?

Onward and upward,
Toan

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The post How to Look Past Negativity and See the Light in Others appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

Kim Shand, a nationally-renowned yoga expert, knows that life is not always fair. Born with severe scoliosis and vertebrae not fully formed, her prognosis was bleak. Doctors thought she would be paralyzed. She was expected to have stunted growth and a long list of medical complications. They wanted to pump her little body with medicine, screw a metal halo into her skull and brace down her back.

At age five, Kim’s parents introduced her to yoga and strength training. Her life changed physically, mentally and spiritually. She says her body self-corrected and miraculously, cartilage grew around her under-formed vertebrae.

Then in her early adulthood, Kim life fell off-balance after her father and uncle passed away and after losing her job. You’ll be amazed by how she bounced back and rediscovered yoga and is inspiring tens of thousands of people to take control of their health.

It’s hard to believe from these pictures and video that Kim endured such a painful start in life.

In a special edition of Go Inspire Go’s “Tea with Toan,” we met Kim on the mat in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to share Kim’s inspiring and empowering story and life lessons that will inspire you to rethink yoga and rethink your life.

Instead of living a life full self-pity, Kim grounded herself on the mat and embraced the challenges — which in turn stretched her possibilities beyond the limits of what seems humanly possible.

Through yoga, Kim’s life mission is to inspire as many people as possible to be present enough to listen to their bodies. “I am teaching people how to take responsibility of their health and lives. They have choices,” Kim explained. “The health care system in America is broken. We need to empower the country to regain their health.”

Kim believes yoga should be accessible to everyone, that’s why she gives away “as many free yoga videos” as possible on her Rethink Yoga website.

At Go Inspire Go, we love ripples… many of her students are giving back to her by helping her produce many of the free videos you see on her website.

I’ve experienced Yoga with Kim in person and often start my day getting into the rhythm and rhyme of Kim’s yoga videos.

Her uniquely calm melodic voice and energy are as soothing as they are strengthening. You can’t meet Kim or experience her yoga videos without feeling recharged, refocused and ready to receive and seize life’s lessons. We’d love to hear your thoughts about how yoga has changed your life in the comments section below.

Make it your GIG to Be in. All the Time.

1. Move Your Body, Mind and Spirit: Free Yoga on Rethink Yoga’s YouTube channel
2. Download the FREE 31 Days/31 Poses ebook on RethinkYoga
3. Share this video with others who need to Rethink Yoga

What can YOU do?

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The post Rethink Yoga. Rethink You. appeared first on Go Inspire Go.