The Art of Lightwork + Making Money

As you begin to read this post, I already know there is a part of you that is ready to serve. That wants to help others heal, feel happier, and make a difference in the world. Perhaps you’re a teacher, a life coach, or a yoga instructor. Whatever your title, there is a communal sense of wanting to elevate, expand your reach, and be known for making a true impact on us all.

I feel this because that’s me at my core. Every since I was young, I knew I was meant to have a bright future that would involve reaching out to the masses. I had no idea of the context, but it was going to be special!  Life had an interesting way of showing me how when I lost my way in my early 20s. I didn’t fit into the post college mode and I couldn’t seem to find anything that brought me fulfillment and joy. So I found drinking and other activities that would distract me until one day even that wasn’t enough. It led me to get help and figure out what it meant to love myself like I did when I was young and discover my purpose. I was realigned with my desires for greatness and also realizing that I was to help others that lost their way. I pursued life coaching and teaching meditation as my new career and there was no greater feeling than giving people permission and space to feel good. In time, I found that bringing in my love of metaphysical + spiritual studies could help people even further and as a coach it was a magnetizing blend.

And so as you read all of this, it sounds quite simple. Girl gets lost. Girl finds her way. Girl helps others. Girl has a thriving career. All is freaking fantastic.

I wish it was that easy, but it wasn’t. It took me a few years to be able to be full time doing the work that I loved. It also meant several failed attempts that left me shameful, broke, and scared.

The biggest one was when I left my Corporate job on the eve of my 30th birthday (2 + half years ago) to be a life coach full time. I was living on a Manhattan budget with 4 months savings and no steady clients. I had just started reading about the law of attraction and watching Abraham Hicks videos and I thought if I just believed and wanted it bad enough, everything would fall into place and I would attract everything I needed.  I was so confident that I booked a trip to Vegas before starting my new venture as well as a music festival weekend in Atlanta. It was all going to work out because I wanted it to.

I had it all wrong. By the time I was 2 months in, I was living on oatmeal, eggs, and the Starbucks gift cards my Dad sent me every week.  I found a side job as a host for an event company that paid me under the table. I would shove leftover dinner rolls into my bag and walk 2 miles home instead of paying for the subway. I hardly slept and I was deep in fear.

The crazy part was that fear didn’t so much have to do with not paying the bills as much as it involved the embarrassment of my failing business. I had my sights set so high and was confident in my relaying to everyone how wonderful and prosperous this would be. I saw so many others in my industry boost about making lots of cash and how easy it seemed. I didn’t understand why them and not me. I was disappointed that I wasn’t making a difference and helping people transform; and further, I was frustrated that I wasn’t making a fruitful income like I hoped for.  Eventually, my money ran out and with much defiance yet no other options besides moving in with my parents, I got another Corporate job.

It wasn’t until that role that I started to see my mistakes with manifesting and how I was treating money. And as often as that job didn’t always feel fulfilling, it did support me. And it gave me the security to continue to live in NYC, try things out in my business, and most importantly, take it responsibility and seriously.  It also brought me to my mentor Gabby Bernstein and her Spirit Junkie Masterclass. Eventually, I was able to leave that job and it was because my business had taken on a clear direction, steady following, and the work was becoming too much to manage between both roles. I also learned to value and respect my money, not just plead with the universe to give it to me. There has to be an ebb and flow of giving and receiving, along with a sweet note of gratitude for abundance to really come into our lives.

We all have different journeys and if you’re ready to serve others or start your own business, realize that it will happen in a way that is truly defined and tailored for you.

Here are just a few things I learned along the way:

It’s okay to have high standards. However you have to earn them first! Personally, I just wanted the sweet style of life without taking the time to create the foundation for it to happen upon. The first step is to feel and harness your desires and then backtrack to build the arc to house them. While the coaching work I wanted to do came from a pure, good place, it wasn’t enough to just want to help people, I needed to put in the effort as to how and then embody it. That sets the tone and then more can come from there!

Redefine what success looks like. There are many people with online businesses that showcase more about their earning capacity and high-level opportunities than actually talking about what it is they do to help serve others. And there’s no judgement in that. The thing to realize however is that if you want to have an online business, it doesn’t mean you have to now also be a millionaire. Maybe you’re a stay at home mom and would like to make enough to fun the family vacation or perhaps you actually like your day job and doing acts of service on the side bring you joy. Remember that how other people handle their business is not the way you have to! Focus on the passion aspect first and then you can bring the money aspect in.

Remember why you started. Most often, the reason many of us start a business or become a life coach or healer is because there is a problem that we can help solve. We awakened to it in some way and it drives us to our core until we do something about it. Though somewhere along the way, the whole thing became capitalized and it’s turned more into a money game than a self help phenomena. Trust that you will be supported financially if you love what you do and you’re clear on how you wish to implement it. And you deserve to make as much money as you want or need. I encourage it!

It’s not until you get into a space that you are aligned and confident around finances that you’ll really be able to do the work that you need to do. I had to learn that before I could successfully run my own business, I had to bust through the money stuff so I could feel open and expansive and ready to help others and serve in that oh so big way.

All of this I had to learn on my own, but that doesn’t have to be the case for you. Take time to access how money plays a part in your life and how it holds you back. Do you let it be an excuse that stops you from being great? Or does it limit your potential to express your talents? Whatever the case, I’m happy to know that there are people dedicated now to helping you through the chaos of cash, so you can be happy, at ease, and doing work you love. I mainly have to give it to my home girl, Amanda Frances, who’s Money Mentality Makeover is literally changing the lives of entrepreneurs and giving people permission to live an abundant life while doing really beautiful heart centered work. You can learn all about the program here!  And because I’m so onboard with all of this (and kinda jealous I didn’t have this 3 years ago but you do!) I’m offering my Cosmic Moon Course, launching this Spring, absolutely free! The Moon course gives you the opportunity to learn about how the Moon relates to Astrology, how the cycles work, and even how to apply your new money manifesting skills to New + Full Moon rituals! It’s a 4 week digital program that is so much fun and I’d love to have you onboard!

I’ll leave you with this money meditation, trusting that the clarity, ease, and respect of abundance flows through you naturally, that you allow in the help to elevate higher and to know that all is working out for your highest good.

So good right? And when you sign up for Amanda’s course, let me know about it too! Email me at danielle@daniellemercurio.com so we can celebrate the next chapter!

Still not sure if the course is right for you? Check out the free training on earning money as a natural extension of your being!  Click here for access!

Holding space for you to have a life and business filled with inspiration, happiness, and most of all love. I know it’s know easy sometimes when all you want to do is help people and there is so much back end, however it can be done. I believe that by sharing my vulnerable moments, it will help you too. xo

My Lesson in Surrender at Kundalini Yoga Graduation

Just one week ago, I completed my Kundalini Yoga Teacher training. It was a culmination of many hours, classes, daily meditation, readings and workshops over the span of 6 months. There was ego defiance, moments of bliss, connections with beautiful, spirited souls and yes, even tiredness for those morning Sadhanas we had to attend at 4:30am. And I did it. I completed something that was bigger than me and when you go through an experience as such, your world starts to expand too.

I was gifted with the spiritual name Sahej Anand, which means “lioness who finds bliss in the present moment and spreads joy to others”. It rang so true to my soul. A big part of my awakening 5 years ago was learning this radical concept of being present and feeling a sense of obligation to raise awareness to others as well. All in my best efforts to deliver with a smile of course!

And on my final day of Kundalini teacher training, I received my test from the universe. To really see if the spiritual teachings could be applied when reality hit. It was an early morning start, so I took a cab to Golden Bridge, where my training was being held. In a daze, I slipped out of the vehicle and up to the lofty yogic space. It was only a few moments until I realized my phone was no longer with me. I went into a sheer panic. Not my phone. Not now. I was able to track it and see that it had made it’s way over to the East Village, however there was nothing more I could do but wait. In my distraught state, I couldn’t participate in the group activities and instead curled up in a ball on my mat and replayed how upset I was that this was happening. And what disturbed me more wasn’t so much the fact that I may need to buy a new phone and the added inconvenience. Nope, it was the pure realization that I was addicted to being connected to an outside source at all times…

At that point something started to shift. I realized I was upset because of MY problems, MY desires, MY needs. When the meaning of this whole training really had nothing to do with me. It had to do with something far greater, and to find the discipline to step to the side of my ego to explore it. From there, more voices started to come through, reminding me of my spiritual name. That all that really matters is this present moment. The rest will sort itself out. In the meantime, I simply had to surrender. Surrender to the idea that I knew better. Surrender to things going my way. And ultimately, surrender to thinking I knew what was best for me. So I let go. Hard.

The next thing I knew my body rose up into meditation and I was smiling the whole rest of the morning. I felt the pure joy of what it was like to be completely one with spirit and to not have any worries of any outside circumstances. Quite simply, it was bliss.

My Kundalini sister who had been graciously tracking my phone, alerted me to a change in it’s location. It was still chilling in the same spot, however the word “rebirth” appeared in it’s place. I knew it was the Angels way of signaling me that I was accepting my lesson and everything was going to be okay. I demonstrated that when in a crisis I could apply my spiritual linkage to see me through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(screenshot that was taken at time of sighting, presently if you search on Google maps this can’t be found…)

Shortly after, a woman named Sophia rang my friend’s phone to assure me she had my device. She thought I had left it at her after party, which clearly had not occurred being at yoga since the early morning. She went on further to say that she’d be near Golden Bridge and would drop it off that afternoon. Just like that, my phone had found it’s way home to me. I didn’t have do a thing.

And again, this is more than just losing a phone. It was a lesson in surrender and being truly present. That nothing is rightfully yours until you can truly prove you’d be okay without it. That goes for anything, relationships, money, food, jobs… you name it. The universe is the driving force and when we can be the passenger and not bark out the directions from the back seat we come to find that we can be delivered exactly where we need to be. I fully believe my phone was returned to me only because I made the choice to be okay without it and to trust. To be able to sit with myself in the present and not ruminate the possible scenarios in my mind.

I invite you to use this as an opportunity to see the areas in your life you may be too attached to. Where you may think you know best and if anything were to get in the way you’d be a mess. Realize that divine intervention is a gift. It’s an exploration into the unknown, a deeper side of your being you may not have seen otherwise. It can be so exhausting to always have to be the one in control. So what if there was another way? And all it required of you was to trust? When we flow into that stream of faith, we open up the space for possibilities. And with such a vast and infinite universe we live in, I’m pretty sure an opportunity or two will land it’s way on your path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am all a glow at my Kundalini Yoga graduation!  Sat Nam. xo

Ever have an experience like mine? I totally want to know! Share it in the comments!

Interested in trying Kundalini Yoga? My friend Gabby has an amazing virtual classes! Check it out here.