If you’re like most, the idea of horseback riding while naked gives you pause. However, according to both legend and history, there once was a women that embraced the idea whole-heartedly because the ends would justify any means required. Her name, in case you’re wondering, was Lady Godiva.

You’re probably more familiar with her surname as it relates to indulging in chocolate more than to being a symbol of feminine badassery and resilience.

For those unacquainted with Miss Godiva, here’s the skinny: She was an English Noblewoman with a sympathy towards the less fortunate. She begged her husband to stop imposing such high taxes on the townspeople. He refused. She kept asking. Finally he said that if she rode naked on a horse through the town’s streets, he would stop taxing the people so much. He thought he’d put an end to her requests. He was wrong. She called his bluff and rode in the buff, covered from head to toe in her gorgeous long hair. Her husband kept his word: the unfair taxation stopped!

While no literal nakedness occurred, I too called a bluff by going all-in to the “buff” with only my Belief in Myself to clothe me. Here’s what went-down: After moving to Los Angeles, while only knowing one person that qualified as a friend in the City Of Angels, I decided to open my own business. Mind you this was during a recession and at a time when people were saying “no” more often than not to any sort of luxury services such as the private Pilates sessions I offered.

After nearly nine months of burning not only the candle at both ends but also any other item that could illuminate some way to my business’s success, the reality set in with a thud. I had enough money to pay the rent for the next month give or take a day, but that was it. If something didn’t happen, I was done on so many levels. My ex-boyfriend told me, “LA is a different town than you’re used to…you just need one person who matters to love you and then you’re golden.”

How could I find that one person, I wondered. I looked everywhere for an opportunity to connect with that mythical, Magic client, but kept coming-up empty. Tired of the seemingly infinite fruitless search, I surrendered on literal bended knees to the Universe and asked to be shown a sign for what to do next. That night I had a dream where I ran in a race but kept falling down. In the dream I heard a voice say, “You know how to win, you just have to remember the feeling.” Suddenly in the dream, I jumped up from my latest stumble and took off sprinting to the finish line, winning the race.

The next morning I woke-up calmer than I had felt since arriving to LA. Something had shifted within me. Sitting down to write about my dream and the after-effects, I reminded myself that my rent was paid on both my apartment and my struggling Pilates studio, so I basically had 30’ish days to make a Miracle manifest. I didn’t have any extra money, but I did have plenty of extra time. How could I spend it in a meaningful way I wondered.

In a flash an idea came: Seeing as how I’m in the City Of Angels, if I’m looking for a Miracle, what If I share Kindness on behalf of others for at least one day longer than the longest number of days in any month: 32! That’s how my micro philanthropy project, 32 Favors, came to life. For the next 32 days I performed acts of Kindness (Favors) on behalf of others that were too busy to do the favors themselves yet still wanted to share the intention of positive actions with the world.

Around day six of 32, my ex-boyfriend told me I was wasting my time with this “Kindness BS” while denying the truth about my money issues. Needless to say, he bailed. However, before he disappeared, he let it be known that if only I could have shown him my true dedication to my business that he would have introduced me to the perfect new client. Apparently he’d been saving the game-changing intro for “when” I proved myself to him.

Flooded by the mix of heartbreak and self-doubt, I remembered my dream…I knew how to win! Trusting my intuition to pursue the 32 Favors project I let go of needing to “save” my Pilates business and devoted all of my focus to sharing Kindness via Connecting with the massive metropolis I now called home.

To this day the Magic that met me, stuns. Not only did I create a network of life-long friends as my non-bio family, but I also received an intro to the exact “Magical” client my ex held back from me, while at another event through my new 32 Favors Connections. My ex was right about one thing: LA was a different town. All it took was the one Magical client loving me and my work to fill my schedule to the max.

Believing in myself and in the value of sharing Kindness changed my entire life with a single decision. Lady Godiva would be proud of my commitment to my Vision while going “naked” in my pursuits since I had no other back-up plan but a Miracle.

The overall “secret” was accepting where I was AND Deciding where I wanted to Be. Then, I created space for the “How” I’d arrive. The other crucial step was Believing it was Possible with my whole Heart. I’ve called upon this same mindset while building my Coaching business and Miracles keep meeting me every step of my journey. 

Gratefully In The Buff,

Nanci

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P.S. That’s my story…How about you?

When have you experienced a Lady Godiva moment in your life? In other words, when have you called someone’s bluff by going all-in to the “buff” by betting on Yourself instead?

P.P.S. Are you ready to call the bluff on your limiting beliefs that aren’t serving you AND, replace them by going all-in to the “buff,” affirming your Badassery so you can start betting on Yourself instead? I want to help you say “Hell Yes” to this question and so much more. Enough with the waiting for permission: It’s time to invite your Miracles to show-up, Now!

I specialize in helping heart-centered, accomplishment-minded women stop the exhausting cycle of having to  keep it all together so they can find the freedom to create sustainable happiness and success.