Your Powers are Rooted in Your Core Values

Today marks a special milestone for me as I dive into Creating Opulence—not just as its creator but as a participant in the practice I’ve designed. It feels exciting to approach this process with the new activity and reflection book in hand. Previously, I was simply moving through the motions of the dance, but now, this book is helping me ground the concepts in a tangible way. Working through it today is giving me valuable insight into how I can guide others to use it effectively and bring this transformative journey into their own lives.

It’s Superhero Monday, and the first JEMM in this series is all about "Activating Your Powers." Before stepping fully into your inner Hero, it’s essential to connect with your core values. These values serve as your compass, especially in moments when life feels clouded or uncertain. As you find the courage to step forward as your Hero-self, you’ll face challenges that test these values, offering you an opportunity to affirm what truly matters to you. By reflecting on what you stand for, you gain clarity about who you are as a whole, strengthening your resolve against anything that might tempt you to stray from your path. In staying true to your core, you empower the inner Hero to shine through.

"The key takeaway here is that abundance isn’t about forcing or striving for it—it’s about tuning into your deepest values and aligning your efforts with them. By doing that, you attract what you need to fulfill your mission, which may include financial abundance, but also an overall feeling of purpose, joy, and fulfillment." - passage from "Creating Opulence"

Hero vs. Anti-Hero

I’ll admit, there have been moments (especially in the past year) when I’ve questioned whether I’m truly on the right path or living in alignment with my deepest core values. Sometimes, in heated debates online—whether with friends or strangers—I’ve found myself wondering if I’m helping bring clarity to important issues or unintentionally creating more division.

If you’ve ever felt this way, if you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve strayed from your Hero’s journey and stepped into shadow traits, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect. To help with this, here’s a list of values often associated with what I call the “Anti-Hero” or shadow-self:

• Self-Interest: Prioritizing personal desires, power, or revenge at the expense of others.

• Control: Seeking dominance or influence, often driven by fear or insecurity.

• Moral Relativism: Justifying harmful actions by believing the ends justify the means.

• Manipulation: Using deception or coercion to achieve goals.

• Hubris: Acting out of arrogance, believing oneself above morality.

• Destruction: Destroying or exploiting for personal gain, rather than building or protecting.

• Cynicism: Viewing humanity as weak or undeserving, leading to a lack of compassion.

If you find yourself resonating with any of these traits, take a moment to reflect with honesty and self-compassion. The fact that you’re even questioning your motives or considering how your actions might affect others tells me you’re not truly embodying an Anti-Hero. Actual Anti-Heroes—or shadow-selves—rarely pause for self-reflection or seek to improve. This moment of awareness may simply be calling for a course correction: more active listening, deeper empathy, or re-centering yourself in your core values.

Circling Back to Your Core Values

As I have gotten to use ChatGPT a lot last year to help me revise some of my writing, to brainstorm, and honestly, as an outlet to express my thoughts and visions, it has gotten to really know me and what I want to do on this planet with the life I've been given.

I started writing out my own values earlier today, such as loyalty, integrity, honesty, compassion, empathy, and respect for others and the environment. I then wanted to see what ChatGPT would say were my main Core Values after a year of learning about me and my projects, and this is what it wrote for me, that I then added into the activity book for "Creating Opulence":

Part of working through the first section of the Hero chapter, I wrote my Origin Story yesterday. Having this list of Core Values by my side was incredibly grounding—it reminded me that my journey has always led me back to these guiding principles. Reflecting on them has reignited my passion for what truly sets my soul on fire: dancing with others and advocating for the sustainability of our planet.

As I’ve engaged in a deep envisioning process of stepping fully into my dharma and living a life rooted in authenticity, an exciting idea struck me over the weekend. I’ve decided to organize a soft launch of an ecstatic dance event, inspired by the themes of the Chinese New Year—the Year of the Snake. This event will not only celebrate transformation and renewal but also mark the beginning of something deeply meaningful that I want to share with others.

Over the last two months, as I’ve focused on finishing the JEMMs, I’ve naturally stepped into the flow of curating dance embodiment events. These experiences bring together movement, connection, and intention, and I’m excited to share them. My plan is to launch these events here in Toronto and, as I journey to the tropics, continue to offer them wherever I go. This feels like a beautiful way to connect with others and spread the energy of dance and transformation across the world.

I hope this inspires you to write your own Hero Origin Story to start this new year - to honour your past and how it has brought you to this moment, and to reflect on where you want to go. You are welcomed to reflect on the questions below to help you structure the story of your own inner Hero.

1. What is a pivotal moment in your life that shaped who you are today?

2. When have you felt most aligned with your true self, and what were you doing in that moment?

3. What challenges have you faced that tested your core values, and how did you overcome them?

4. If you were to describe your Hero-self in one sentence, what would it be?

5. What strengths or unique abilities do you already possess that you can use to create positive change?

6. How can you take one small step today to live more authentically or align with your mission?

When I begin offering the JEMMs to others, the goal will be for each participant to step fully into their Hero-self—to gain clarity on what they stand for and how they want to contribute to the world. This isn’t solely about economic impact but about recognizing their unique role in the interconnected web of life we all share. The vision is for us to show up as our authentic Hero-selves while holding space for others with openness and non-judgment.

As I emphasize in the JEMMs, the more you practice offering this acceptance and compassion to yourself and those around you, the more it becomes second nature in all your interactions. Imagine a world where conscious individuals embody their inner Hero and inspire others to do the same—that’s the kind of transformation our planet urgently needs.

Thank you for reading to the end. Just know that the Hero within you is stirring, waiting to be awakened. The world is ready to support you in your mission—you only need to take the first step.

One Love!