“Look Up”: My New Mantra

Two words that are helping me shift from being stuck, frustrated, anxious, and downcast; to light, bright, calm, confident, and uplifted.

Hi beautiful being,

I love the way music and movies frequently speak to me. They are like keys that open my heart and mind for greater wisdom, emotional intelligence, and lovingkindness to pour into. I bring this up because, at the conclusion of a life coaching session, my coach asked me: “As you go forward with this plan, what will help you when your inner critic pipes up and tries to hold you back again?”

As I leaned back for a second to picture this in my mind’s eye, my intuition quickly responded with: “Look up.” This powerful phrase from the movie, Last Christmas, perfectly summed up the disposition I knew will carry me through. “When my inner gremlins growl,” I then told him, “I’ll remind myself to ‘look up’.”

Nodding thoughtfully in response, he wondered, “What will that do for, and inside of you?”

For a few minutes, I proceeded to lean into what look up means to me. A full-being exploration, wherein I “plunged” myself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, into both looking down and looking up. As I looked down in these four manners—not only was my field of vision constricted—my heart closed off, body felt downcast, and spirit became self-focused to the exclusion of others. Conversely, looking up broadened my perspective, opened my heart, lifted my disposition, and oriented me toward others—without excluding myself.

(Feel free to pause and take a moment to explore this for yourself.)

(From Inspiring Quotes)

After I did so, I told my coach, “Looking up makes everything inside of me lighter and brighter.” This was a real breakthrough for me regarding the issue I was stuck on, because fear, over analysis, and heaviness were the obstacles holding me back. What is more, these stirred up anxiety; which then amplified the fear, over analysis (resulting paralysis), and heaviness, in a vicious feedback loop of sorts.

You see friend, although I planned to start teaching yoga online only a couple of months after moving to Europe in February—I still haven’t. While there certainly are good, practical reasons for this. Those have come and gone. Any guesses as to what’s kept me stuck and frustrated? Focusing on what could go wrong. Fretting about all the things I should do to “ensure” success. Fear of failing at this endeavor again (I tried during COVID, with no luck). The thing about that is:

The orientation of my thoughts and energies, directs the way things go in my life. That’s why focusing my attention “downward” on problems, worries, and fears, puts me on a downward spiral. While choosing to “look up” at solutions, opportunities, and possibilities—creates an upward spiral in my life.

Ironically, while I never intended this post to have anything to do with the conclusion of 2024 and beginning of 2025, I just realized it fits the bill. Not in a New Year’s Resolution type of way though. Those aren’t really my jam. That said, over the years, I have found a lot of freedom and wholeness come from adopting a word/mantra—that rings true to my spirit—for a year, or a season.

Full honesty, I didn’t know why I was writing this, except that something in me needed to. But now I know. “Look up” is my mantra to head into 2025 with. The more I lean into this mindset, the lighter, brighter, calmer, more confident, more upbeat and cheerful I feel on the inside.

What do you think, friend? Where did what I share take you? What does “look up” mean to you? Do you have a resolution, word, or mantra for the New year? I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments!

Hugs & Love,

Lang (aka “Dr. Love”)

P.S. Did you know that clicking the “like” button 🤍 helps other people find this post—while bringing a smile to my face? Also, if you think this could aid anyone, please consider sharing and/or “restacking” it. And above all, remember: You are amazing, and I hope you have a beautiful day, and Happy New Year!