As Told To is a recurring segment on xoNecole where real women are given a platform to tell their stories in first-person narrative as told to a writer. If you have a story you'd like to share, but aren't sure about how to put it into words, contact as at submissions@xonecole.com with the subject "As Told To" for a chance for your story to be featured.
This is Evelyn Ngugi's story, as told to Charmin Michelle.
Unemployed on purpose. That's what I was for a year.
I toyed with the idea of quitting my full-time job for some time, but I never pulled the trigger. I had about $20,000 saved, was single, and had no kids—meaning that my decision only affected me. I was inspired by the realization of my potential.
In May 2017, I made a note in my phone titled, SABBATICAL, which listed some of the things I would get into if I weren't working and had more time. It had things like:
Learn to grow food
Visit TX National Parks
Go to museums
Take a screenwriting class
Support local events
Make a family history book
And most importantly, learn about SPACE.
The way my life was going, I wasn't learning or doing anything new, so my break was my way of taking time to explore new things, learn new skills, and enjoy life before diving back into full-time work. And this sabbatical note let me know in what areas of my life that I was unfulfilled.
It was as good a time as any to go for it.
To be funemployed, my only goal was to quit my full-time-job, and not immediately have to look for another. So I put in my resignation, moved out of my apartment—cutting my expenses in half—and moved in with my friends. I simply wanted to be professionally and personally stress-free for a year.
In a conversation discussing this with my dad, he asked, "What do you need from me?" I remember looking him in the eyes and saying, "I need you to trust me."
And from there, my funemployment year was born.
Courtesy of Evelyn Frpm the Internets
I'm a Kenyan-American theater nerd, humor writer, and digital storyteller in Austin, Texas. You've likely seen me on the 'internets'—or YouTube to be specific. I joined that weirdo website back in 2008, and today my channel has over 16 million views and 215K subscribers. I also call everyone who entertains my shenanigans my #InternetCousin. Evelyn from Austin and Evelyn from the Internets are basically the same, mostly except Evelyn talks in the shower and EFTI talks on camera. I'm pretty quiet (not shy!) in new group settings but I cackle at all the same jokes if I'm comfortable and around my friends. Other than that, I'm a creator through and through; in all aspects.
The more I think about it, maybe not reveling in my creativity is what drove my need for a break. Maybe it was being too content. Maybe it was a combination of both, I don't know, but I needed a moment. Mostly to travel, participate in any opportunities that I couldn't participate in before, and to absolutely use every ounce of time to learn new skills and be creative again.
Our self-worth is tied to productivity. And it sucks.
Whew, so during my break, I learned quite a bit about the human psyche. Mostly that capitalism really has us all the way messed up, but I was also shocked at how much my sense of worth as a human was tied to having a job—even though my lack of job was ON PURPOSE. Our society really doesn't value rest, and my biggest lessons came in learning how to balance rest and play.
I think it's a shame that we feel we have to be afforded some form of privilege or access in order to take time off, but everyone on this earth deserves the right to a full-bodied, well-rounded life. And although we didn't make this world, we live in it, therefore having to conform in some way.
This led to me spending an entire year thinking about doing and planning the doing, but not doing the doing... if that makes sense. The year really flew by and I didn't tackle nearly as many things on my SABBATICAL bucket list as I wanted. The transition back into work life was rough, I didn't set myself up with processes and systems to make work flow, especially as a self-employed person, run smoothly.
Shambles, girl.
Standing in the funemployment line was…something.
You know what, I low-key (high-key) didn't complete anything on my list. It's so interesting because I actually failed to take a true break. I spent so much time worrying about if I was being productive or taking a break "the correct way" (what?!) that I didn't feel well-rested or prepared to jump back into the swing of things. It definitely helped me understand how to set smaller goals and recognize the impact hustle culture has had on my own psyche.
Like, my favorite activity was honestly being able to go to the grocery store at 10:30am with no interruptions and cook for myself. Of all the space and freedom to do whatever I wanted, that's what my favorite activity was. *shamed* But it was because it's when I felt most settled, and not forcibly focusing on not working.
Other than that, my funemployment was a blur. I wish it was something epic like Home Alone or what my teen self wished for like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but really the entire experience was more like Portlandia.
I don't even know what that means but it's what I feel.
Don't take a year off unless you truly understand how you're going to spend your time and what you will say NO to if opportunities try to lure you back.
Thinking back, I think I should have taken maybe three months off, max. It's weird to think about but you make the most of your time when you don't have so much of it. I've learned to protect my free time, and knowing it doesn't always have to be filled.
Just because I'm free from 5-9pm, doesn't mean that's when I should slide another meeting in. Free time is ME time. It's good to have empty space.
Also, I learned the importance of little basic things that we take for granted like signing up for classes if you live alone. You need other humans to vouch for your consistent presence somewhere - it helps to know "every tuesday Evelyn left the house for her screenwriting class" - issa safety thing!
—
Today, Evelyn is a year wiser and a year happier. I work again—two jobs actually—and have successfully concluded my funemployment. Although my year off was not as productive as I initially hoped, I did learn considerable life lessons; ones that I probably wouldn't have stopped to smell the flowers of before.
But this year, my only goals are to collaborate more, and practice the art of having actual hobbies that aren't for external consumption or entertainment...
Ha, what a concept!
Evelyn has many projects that you can follow through Instagram, her website, or YouTube. She is also a host and writer with Say It Loud digital series.
If you have a story you'd like to share, but aren't sure about how to put it into words, contact as at submissions@xonecole.com with the subject "As Told To" for a chance for your story to be featured.
Featured image by Jinni J
Although this might seem like a heavy way to intro this particular topic, because the O Method is an orgasm-achieving technique that centers around housing energy, embracing the mental practice of manifestation, and the attempt to achieve the best climaxes ever — it all works together pretty well if you ask me. If you want to take your orgasms to the next level, it’s important that you get out of yourself (to a certain extent), that you see the spiritual role that manifestation plays, and that you are open to trying new things. No doubt about it.
So, let’s learn more about what the O Method is all about and how it very well could be just what you’ve been looking for…even if you didn’t know it.
What Is the “O Method” All About?
GiphyQuestion: When’s the last time you’ve had an orgasm? Not just any orgasm — I mean a really mind-blowing one (I’ll give you a second to think about it). Now, what if you could manifest that experience to the point where it wasn’t a rare occurrence but something that happened almost every time that you and your partner had sex with each other? How absolutely awesome would that be?
That is pretty much what the O Method is all about — helping you achieve the kind of orgasms (and sexual pleasure, in general) that you desire through the practice of manifestation. And since your biggest sex organ is your brain, it would make perfect sense that even with all of the tips and techniques that you might learn to do as far as your body is concerned, honing in on what you think about is super imperative to sexual fulfillment, too. And that’s just where manifestation comes in.
What If You’ve Never “Manifested” Anything Before?
GiphyBefore we get into a quick lesson on manifestation, I think it’s important to mention two things. One, for the cynics, there is a lot of truth in the fact that it’s got some solid spiritual basis to it because even the Good Book says that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). At the same time, that same Good Book tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). So, while it is always a good idea to focus on good, positive, and productive thoughts, just thinking about them isn’t enough — at some point, you’ve also gotta get out here and DO something (bookmark that).
Okay, with that mini-sermon out of the way, whether it’s in the bedroom or not, manifestation is basically about focusing on something tangible that you desire, harnessing your energy in such a way that your words and actions are directed towards that longing until what you want, well, manifests. For the record, aside from this having a spiritual backing to it, in many ways, science cosigns on manifesting, too. There is actually a scientific process known as neuroplasticity that consists of reframing your mind so that your actions ultimately end up aligning with your goals — and that is another way to look at manifestation.
So, what if you’re someone who has never set out to do a manifestation practice before? No worries. Something that’s awesome about it is there are several different approaches that you can take.
Some people manifest what they want in their lives via:
- Journaling
- Visualization/Creating vision boards
- Writing down their desires before going to bed (so that they can “download” them into their dream state)
- Creating mantras and affirmations
- Applying the 369 Manifestation Method (you can learn more about that here)
- Meditating
- Learning more about what you want to manifest (which brings forth clarity)
This is important to keep in mind because, when it comes to manifesting the types of orgasms that you want to have, as you can see, you can try different manifestation methods until you find one (or ones) that you are truly comfortable with. One that can ease you into the entire process rather smoothly is something known as sex journaling.
How Sex Journaling Can Actually Help You to Have an Orgasm
GiphyAs a writer, I’m a big fan of journaling. Mostly because it’s a way to get out some of your deepest thoughts and feelings so that you’re able to really process what is happening inside of you in a private setting. And when it comes to sex journaling, specifically, it’s all about centering yourself on the things sexually that you want to “unpack,” get clarity on or come to some revelations about. For instance, if there’s only been one partner from your past who’s been able to help you achieve the type of orgasms that you wish to manifest, journaling about what makes him different from the other guys can provide you with some solid ah-ha moments.
Or if you need help getting as specific as possible about the sexual experiences that you’re after, journaling can help to make that happen for you — because one thing that manifesting reminds us all to do is be as specific as possible.
Yeah, simply saying, “I want to have better sex” isn’t detailed enough when you want to get your energy to match with your desires — instead, describe how all of your senses should feel in the experience, along with why, that can get you so much closer to achieving your goal. Once those things are documented, you can segue into creating mantras and/or meditation that are based on them. Yeah, sex journaling really is an underrated superpower on a lot of levels (check out “The Art Of Sex Journaling (And Why You Should Do It)”).
5 Tips for Making the O Method Work for You
GiphyNow that you know more about what the O Method is and how manifestation plays a direct role in its process, let’s talk about five ways to make the O Method truly effective in your own (sex) life.
1. Focus, FULLY, on your feminine energy. What do rose quartz, amethyst, moonstone (which is a Gemini birthstone as well; yes, I’m a Gemini), selenite, and rhodonite all have in common? They’re crystals that help you to go deeper into your divine feminine energy. Traits that are associated with this include compassion, creativity, kindness, gentleness, and sensuality (feminine energy is also accepting and forgiving). If you were to study energy from a biological standpoint, it’s about producing change, responding to stimuli, and having the ability to do what needs to be done (work). So, when it comes to manifesting the kind of orgasms or sexual experiences that you want, using things like your creativity and gentleness in your thoughts and actions can play a role in bringing balance to your partner’s masculinity, which can create a profound sense of pleasure — after all, opposites do attract.
2. Don’t hold back on what it is that you desire. Whenever I interview sex therapists, something that they all say is, a huge mistake that people make as far as sexual satisfaction is concerned is, they have walls up — not just with their partners but even within themselves. Sometimes, there is intimidation, fear, or even shame around what they really want to happen during sex to the point where they aren’t able to channel their energy fully in those directions in order to manifest what they want. For the O Method to work, you can’t let those types of negative emotions hinder you; the more you are able to articulate what you want and how you want it, the better chance you have of making it happen. So yes, get graphic. As graphic as possible.
3. Make manifestation a daily practice. Repetition is important when it comes to manifestation. That’s because the more you declare what you desire (a mantra), get still and think on it (meditation), or look at the “art” that you’ve created surrounding it (visualization), the quicker it becomes a part of you. So yes, make manifestation a daily practice. For instance, if one of your mantras is, “I am going to have intensely passionate orgasms, one right after the other,” don’t just state that 15 minutes before sex is going to happen. Wake up and declare it. Then say it on your lunch break. And again before turning in. The more your thoughts are “streamlined” in this way, the easier it will be for your body to follow suit.
4. Share this practice with your partner. If you were to do even more research on the O Method, one thing that most of the articles will mention is it’s a practice that you can do alone or with your partner. Indeed. However, I just want to make sure that you get into your psyche that great sex is, in part, about good communication. And so, the more comfortable you are sharing with your partner what you are doing as far as the O Method is concerned and what you ultimately want to happen as a result of the practice, the easier it will be for him to “match your energy” — both in and out of the bedroom. And when your partner is on the same page as you? That definitely increases the chances of attaining your sexual desires — exponentially so.
5. Stay in the moment. While I was reading one article on manifestation, I really appreciated something that the author said: manifestation isn’t some supernatural power. In other words, while it can be beneficial, it’s not like you can just think of something, and it instantly appears out of nowhere. Manifesting is a discipline, and it must be accompanied by action, consistency, and patience — this means that you must also practice mindfulness. Meaning, now that you know better what you’re looking to achieve as far as sex is concerned, every time that it transpires, maintain a level of positive energy, remember what your end goal is, and then determine in your mind to enjoy the moments as they come. Remember, manifestation isn’t to add stress…it’s to cultivate clarity.
_____
At the end of the day, the O Method is simply a way of reminding you that your mind plays a huge role in your sexual pleasure, and when you channel it and your energy exactly where you want them both to go, you’ll be amazed what your body is capable of doing…and accomplishing.
So, what kind of orgasm are you wanting to achieve? You’ve got a tool to get you there. USE IT.
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Featured image by Giphy
