TRYING to Make It Work? Qigong practice helps

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Vicki Dello Joio

Argghhh! I’ve felt so stuck this week trying to put together my calendar, my commitments and my work priorities. It’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle that just won’t fit. I try arranging, then rearranging until I finally give up and walk away — just put it off til “later”. And whaddaya know? I wake up the next morning and the problems are still there, visions and projects that just don’t fit together properly.  Then I get lost in the wasteland of “I don’t know what I’m doing!”

So what DO I know? I know that each of these projects and commitments matter to me. I also know these blocks, even though I’m getting sore from bumping up against them, have some kind of f*#@in’ reason to be here.

I’m not sure whether it is stubborn obstinacy or brilliant dedication but I still believe there is information in these blocks and a solution that I just haven’t seen yet.

In a recent blog, I spoke about energetic ways to eliminate power struggle without becoming blaming and argumentative or just giving up and “losing heart”.

Now as I look at my internal power struggle about which project goes where in my calendar, I see it is time to try to grab hold of what my qi practices are teaching me.

Vicki Dello Joio, founder of The Way of Joy: A Spiritual Fitness Program, is a teacher, speaker and performing artist. Integrating over 40 years of Chi Kung practice with other martial arts as well as her work in Yoga, Feldenkreis, physical fitness and theater, Vicki has developed a dynamic set of tools to increase awareness, transform obstacles into opportunities and enhance creative potential. Book: The Way of Joy, CD: Short Meditations for a Busy Life.

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  • Cathy Winsor

    Wonderful. I’ve had lots of trouble with boundaries in my life and it’s been a hard fought battle to identify them. Basically I’m trying to clean out my house and my mind of things that are holding me back in so many ways. This is not easy as I’m always getting in the way of myself. I use your exercise to chill out and take just one dumb thing at a time. Great blog.

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      Sounds like a good plan, Cathy. Boundaries have been my Achilles heel forever, and therefore became the central chapter (heart) of my book. I am always fascinated by how, when we own all of who we are, strengths and limitations, we can come to a place of greater power, peace and presence. A perfect outcome for the kind of spring cleaning you’re talking about.

  • Jeanmrains

    Dear Vicki,
    Your sharing your own dilemmas is a great gift to me. I feel hopeful and amused as I listen to you describe your own head banging episodes. It reminds me that I’m not alone but am sharing in the general dilemma – we’re all spiraling through material our whole lives and your honesty keeps it down to earth.
    I am so looking forward to your devising a class focused on conscious boundaries – boy would I like to dig into that with help and companionship.
    Love and gratitude, Jean

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      Glad to be on the path with you, Jean! And yes, it will be great to explore boundaries in some more depth.

  • Joanna Conrardy

    Dear Vicki, I’m delighted to find myself on you communication list. Last Sunday in Albuquerque, I had to leave as you were starting your class at Nahalat Shalom. I have since found your website and am grateful to find such down to earth food for thought and the particular TaiChi movements to help center and find more clarity in moving forward.
    Certainly look forward to your next visit to Albuquerque and acquiring your book and CD in the near future. I used to think it was somehow cheating to have boundaries, and am now learning (sometimes the hard way) that self definition is important, but tricky. That is the part I’m learning – another OJT experience. All those little choices!
    So happy to have had the opportunity to meet you. Sincerely, Joanna

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      Hi Joanna,
      It is interesting to hear you used to think of boundaries as “cheating”. And I have a question: what is it in particular that you find “tricky” about self-definiton? For example, is it hard to own parts of who you are, are you concerned about getting boxed in or something else?

  • http://vincaheart.com Vinca Heart

    I wanna try to make it work…I am so glad you are in my life to inspire me:-)

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      You go, girl. As for inspiration, you should talk…lemme count the ways!

  • Ruth Spencer

    Vicki, it’s always so comforting to know that others are trying to cope with the same, or at least similar problems. As for limitations and boundaries I became aware of some of mine by chance when someone tried to push my buttons way to far. I have since learned that limitations need to be accepted and respected and boundaries need to be set. Strength and good feelings do follow when awareness is activated.
    Thank you so much, Vicki, for the great work you are doing. Ruth

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      Yes, getting your buttons pushed does give motivation for setting boundaries, Ruth. Strength and good feelings are indeed the positive consequence. I need to remember that every time I feel resistant to claiming my boundaries

  • Sandra

    I really appreciate the concept of setting boundaries to dissolve barriers. I have a real visceral experience of either being too merged with others or creating the emotional barriers to protect myself. Thank you for giving me a way to work with this issue in a way that feels so “right”.

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      It is my pleasure and an honor, Sandra. I am fond of the concept myself, and even though I “created” the phrase, it is a journey I continue to take

  • JudyStoneGoldman

    Just a few days ago I was in the same place, really floundering and fighting! I’ve made some progress in the last 24 hours (which makes me happy) but I’m close enough to what you describe to be really grateful for your words. Boundaries, balance, limits – all topics I’ve lived with, struggled with, grown through, and revisited over and over. When I set boundaries from a place of calm acceptance, I feel so protected. When I set them from a place of frustration or anger, I am left tight and dissatisfied. I always benefit from listening to your experiences in these realms.

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      I love how often we speak the same language, Judy. And yes, I would even go so far as to say that I believe boundaries are a key to joy and fulfillment. It’s a central concept in the system I developed and became a pivotal chapter in my book, where I look at, among other things, how boundaries function on several levels…

  • Angelina Romero

    Wow Vicki I often struggle with the same things…..too many projects and how to fit them into my schedule, also setting boundaries. Thanks for the exercise at the end of your video. Enjoyed this blog post! ~Angelina Romero

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      Thanks, Angelina. So glad you dropped a line!

  • http://www.facebook.com/IntuitiveEnergyHealing Laura Young

    What a fabulous exercise! I did it along with the video and immediately felt the frustrations I was holding in my body dissolve. Thank you so much for showing that! I also appreciate the discussion of boundaries – very important message!

    • http://www.vickidellojoio.com Vicki Dello Joio

      Fantastic, Laura. It sounds to me like you have a great sensitivity to how energy moves. And yes, boundaries contain and direct energy in very specific ways!

  • http://louiseedington.com Louise Edington

    Just what I needed this morning! I had a very intense EFT session yesterday AND I have a lot of things going on (sick chicken, possible big opportunity and possible house move) so this helped a lot to release the tension and frustration for me. I shall do this again today. Thank you Vicki!

  • http://www.facebook.com/priestess.tarot Priestess Tarot

    I haven’t watched the video yet, but I do totally understand the proverbial broom up the rear end to sweep the floor on the way around! Take it easy and perhaps do one project one day, another project on day 2, 3rd project day 3, back to project 1 on day 4 ? Or sort it by doing some of one in the morning… elephant task style! :)

    Good luck, Vicki! :)

  • http://memorieswithpride.com/ Susan Berland

    No pressure, but I need that class! :) I’ve been working on connecting to my feelings so I can connect to others and that sounds just like what this class offers. I’m ready!

  • http://www.fourquadrantliving.com Dina Colman

    I’ve never noticed your tag, “a spiritual fitness program” – love it.