beliefs » Empowering Your Mind

Live in Expectancy of the Best

Oct 012020

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Whether positive or negative, your attitude impacts your outcome. Your mindset affects how you filter the world around you, and as a result, determines how you respond to situations. When you expect the worst, your behavior makes that belief a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expecting the best can do the same. And isn’t that a better way to live?

If you expect the worst, you’re braced against that possibility. Your mind rehearses how to deal with a crisis, what you’re going to do in the worst case scenario, and how you might avoid it. This means that all your mental resources are tied up with dealing with difficult situations that might never happen. You aren’t left with many mental resources for moving forward. Because you’re focused on the negative, you’re instructing the Law of Attraction to bring it to you.

The Universe wants the best for you. Therefore / However, if you expect the best, then your subconscious mind searches for opportunities to fulfill that belief. Your subconscious mind is a problem solver. When you set your intention to derive the best from a situation, then your subconscious mind seeks opportunities to create that reality for you. You’re creating the mold for your subconscious mind and the Law of Attraction to fill.

How to Create the Best Result

Life brings all sorts of experiences your way, positive and negative. You can always improve your outcomes through altering your perspective. There will be times when you’re working on a goal, or “shift happens” and your results don’t live up to your hopes. When that’s the case, use these tactics to extract the best possible outcome. Your attitude communicates your intention to the Universe, your subconscious mind, and the Law of Attraction, which responds accordingly.

Be aware of the negative, but don’t focus on it. This doesn’t mean that you ignore or deny the possibility for difficulties. You just don’t focus on them, or rehearse them. In “Psycho-Cybernetics,” author Maxwell Maltz uses the analogy of golf to be aware of negatives. A golfer needs to recognize where the sand and water traps are, but not dwell on them. Instead, the golfer puts their attention on where they want the ball to land. Notice the negatives, and make preparations to avoid them. Have a “Plan B,” if necessary. Then shift your attention to what you want to create and put your energy there. This puts you in the flow of the Universe.

Flip your attitude. If something untoward does happen, instead of giving up or getting discouraged, flip it to be more positive. This way you take charge of your response and it gives you more power to deal with the situation. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” or, “How can I make something beneficial out of this?” This instructs your subconscious mind to find a way to extract something good from a disappointing circumstance. You open the way for the Universe to develop a new direction for you.

Don’t take it personally. When someone hurts or offends you, instead of taking it personally, realize it’s probably not about you. They have their own issues that they’re taking out on you. It’s likely they’re defending themselves against a perceived threat, which is probably from their past. It doesn’t mean you excuse their behavior, but you can seek to understand their motives. Ask yourself, “What’s their agenda?” or “What are they trying to achieve?” That can give you valuable information on how to positively respond to the situation.

Achieving a goal. When you’re working on a goal, don’t just focus on the end result. This gives your subconscious mind a direction to follow, which helps you take steps towards it. For an even greater outcome, open your mind to the possibility of something even better happening than what you can currently conceive of. The Universe has greater plans for you than you know. Not only does this give your subconscious mind permission to find other paths to accomplish your goal, but it instructs your inner mind to “achieve this or something better.”

Living in the Possibilities

When you live in the possibility of your best case scenario occurring, you instruct your subconscious mind to put its resources to work to that end. You may not have the information to imagine what the best outcome could be. You can only provide your subconscious mind the image of what you can consciously conceive of at the present time.

There may be a greater outcome than you can imagine. Opening your mind to the possibility of something better means that your subconscious can override outdated, limiting beliefs. And when you choose to live in an attitude of expecting the best from every situation, you create a life of joy, abundance and success.

AFFIRMATION:

The Universe wants the best for me. Therefore, I choose to expect the best out of every situation. If there are challenges, I shift my attention to what benefit can come to me as a result. When I decide on a goal or outcome, I set the intention of, “This or something better.” Only good comes to me from every circumstance.

Watch the accompanying video, How to Achieve Your Goal More Easily.

As a vision strategist, hypnotherapist, and speaker, Linda-Ann Stewart helps women entrepreneurs and small business owners who feel stuck, immobilized and overwhelmed to to get clear, focused and on the fast track to the next level of their business. To achieve a 90-day goal more easily, sign up for her FREE comprehensive Strategic Vision blueprint at www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/setyourcourse.html. You can contact her at LAS@Linda-AnnStewart.com or 928-600-0452.

Sparks of Insight

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Aug 102020

“I am willing to accept new ideas and to release old ideas that have outlived their usefulness. I learn more and more that God is in, through and of all things. Only God’s good now manifests in my life.”

To be able to progress and receive more good, you must be open to moving forward. That may mean letting go of old concepts and conditions that are comfortable but no longer serving you. This creates a vacuum for better ideas and situations to come into your life. And God is all, therefore the more good you can accept, the more is given.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Lessons from Resisting Change

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Jul 222020

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Resistance to change is a normal part of being human. It’s natural, even if what you’re resisting is the very thing you need to do for your progress, health and happiness. Most people don’t like their status quo disrupted or to be forced out of their comfort zone. But change is the order of the universe, and resisting it just brings frustration and suffering. The Universe is trying to move you forward, while you’re holding yourself back.

There’s a saying that, “What you resist, persists.” This means that the energy that you’re putting into resisting makes the undesired change become stronger. It’s like a tug-o-war. You’re putting all your attention into not being pulled from your spot, which means you aren’t thinking of alternatives. What if you let go of the rope, and started considering how to turn the situation to your advantage? This allows you to get into the flow of the Universe, rather than trying to block it.

Learn from Your Resistance

You resist whenever you procrastinate, use busy work to avoid doing something else, are confused, or refuse to commit to a decision. Generally, resistance is fear based. You’re afraid of the loss, unknown, discomfort, or difficulty that you think change will bring. But when you resist moving forward, you close down opportunities and possibilities. Also, the Law of Attraction can’t be creative and bring you your desires.

There are lessons to be learned from resistance. The way you resist shows how you sabotage yourself and hold yourself back. If you recognize how you do that, you can then address those issues. This allows you to make the transition easier from where you are to where you want to be. It opens the channels for Universal good to flow to you.

Ways You Resist

1. You’re rebelling. When you’re forced to do something you don’t really want to, even if it’s in your best interests, resistance becomes rebellion. You think that rebelling puts you in control, but the opposite is true. If you’re rebelling, you’re handing over control to the opposition.

For instance, many smokers use cigarettes as a way to rebel, and resist quitting for that reason. This is true even when they know smoking is hurting them. One way to turn that attitude around is to rebel against cigarettes, which will turn the negative habit of smoking into a healthy behavior. Using that idea, how could you use your rebellion for your benefit?

2. Most people dislike being told what they “should” do. Or they feel guilty when they don’t live according to what they think they “ought to” do. Generally, instead of being compliant, they avoid those injunctions, even if it’s what they want for themselves.

For instance, you know you “should” exercise for your health. You whip yourself for not doing so, but it’s easier to just sit on the couch. Or you know eating less sugar is better for you, but it’s much more satisfying to indulge. You may feel guilty about your behavior, but you still repeat the negative activity. Instead of “shoulding” on yourself, focus on the benefits you’d receive by taking the action you’ve been ignoring.

3. Denial can be a coping strategy when there’s been a significant loss. It gives you time to absorb and process what’s happened, prior to adjusting to the change. But if you use this strategy in your everyday life, it will sabotage you at every level. You resent what’s necessary, and pretend that it doesn’t matter. But when you ignore a necessary step or action, it blocks what you’re trying to accomplish.

For instance, if you want to lose weight, but reject that you need to eat less. No matter what you do, you’ll not be able to achieve your ideal weight. A business person who thinks they can keep all the details of dozens of orders their orders in their head will have a hard time meeting deadlines and being successful. Before you can move forward, you have to accept reality and what is necessary. Instead of being dismissive, shift your attitude to it being your choice to take your next steps.

How do you normally resist moving forward? Learn this and it will give you important information so you know when life is pushing you to change and when you’re combating change. When you encounter resistance, dig into your motivation and focus on what you really want. When you shift your attention from resisting change to embracing the benefits it will bring, you’ll be able to adjust your course and make progress.

Affirmation:

The Universe wants the best for me. I’m willing to make whatever changes are necessary to open up to greater joy, health and abundance. I recognize when I’m resisting my good, and choose a better course. I’m Divinely guided to make the wisest decisions for my highest good.

Watch the complementary video, Meditation to Learn from Your Resistance to Change.

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Jun 012020

“Re-examine all that you have been told… dismiss that which insults your soul.” – Walt Whitman

Many of the standards, values and beliefs you have in your life are ones that were programmed into you by family and authorities when you were young. They may not be valid or useful to you. You have the power and authority to assess them and decide whether you want to keep them or not. Discard anything that doesn’t support you in being the best person you can be.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

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Apr 202020

When some difficult situation comes up, the automatic response is to react to it from an habitual place. Instead, use it as a way to practice your spiritual beliefs. Look for the silver lining, use compassion, seek understanding, view it from a broader perspective in relationship to your whole life. This isn’t easy, especially when challenges bring up fear, anger or guilt. Take a mental step back, out of the trees, so that you can see the forest. In doing so, you’ll raise your consciousness and encourage your subconscious mind to discover the blessing in the situation.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

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Apr 152020

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Claude M. Bristol

You learned your “A-B-C’s” by repetition, as well as your arithmetic tables. In the same way, you repeated negative and derogatory statements to yourself until you believed them. You can use that same learning tool to turn things around and cultivate a belief in what it is you want. It takes time to transform it into a conviction, but when it happens, watch for miracles.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

When Life Gives You Lemons…

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Apr 092020

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Shift happens. Generally, it’s unexpected and unsettling. Bull markets eventually stop rampaging, hibernate for a while as the country experiences a recession. You find out an old acquaintance has been trying to undermine your relationships with mutual friends. Just as you get settled into a new home, you lose your job and must adjust to a lower income. The only constant in the Universe is change. It’s a signal from the Infinite that you’ve outgrown your current circumstances and it’s time to expand to a greater reality.

Change Your Thinking, Change Your Response

The attitude you have towards these distressing events impacts their outcome. Epictetus, the Greek philosopher, said, “People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.” Your perspective determines whether your response will be positive or negative.

If you respond positively to a situation and believe it will get better, you’ll take actions that bring about a beneficial result. However, if you bemoan the situation and sink into immobility, then you’ll end up worse than when you began. The Law of Attraction acts on whatever your predominant mindset is, not just on one area that you’re focusing on.

One of the ways to adjust your attitude is to alter the way you look at the situation. Over the years, clichés, proverbs and quotes have helped people to realize that there is more than one way to look at a problem. When you do, you open your mind up to other possibilities. Here are some ideas that will help you keep things in perspective:

Necessity is the mother of invention. When there’s a problem, let it inspire creative efforts to find a solution. If there’s no problem, we coast along and don’t make progress. How can you engage your creativity even when there isn’t a problem?

Into every life, a little rain must fall. No one gets through this life without some difficulty or upset. Right now, it seems as if it’s pouring. But the storm will pass.

Make the best of a bad situation. Accept what’s happened. Then, figure out what tools you have to work with and get resourceful. How can you find something beneficial in the situation that makes things bearable or better?

This too shall pass. In early adulthood, this phrase got me through a very bad day at work. It became my mantra for the day. It was my lifeline. That day did end, as all do. Eventually, your crisis will also be in the past.

“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do” Robert Schuller. You’ve made it this far in your life, so you’re tougher than you know. You have the ability to make it through this, too.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. What lessons can you learn from the current situation that you can use in the future?

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”Albert Einstein. Challenges get people to think about problems in new ways. Consider how people are now figuring out how to use 3-D printers to create vitally needed medical equipment. It’s unlikely that would have happened without this crisis. What opportunities can you find in life’s difficulties for yourself?

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. This sums up the situation. We have a lemon of a situation right now, no doubt. But if you shift your perspective, you’ll be able to develop something sweet and pleasant.

What Are Your Next Steps?

This isn’t to say that you should ignore feeling scared or upset. Take the time to mourn what’s gone or not currently available. Acknowledge it and let it flow through you. Just don’t let the grief immobilize you. The longer you stay immobilized, the longer it will take you to start living again and moving in a positive direction.

Take a deep breath, and another. What steps do you need to take to move forward? Get creative. Life is always changing. You will get through this and the Universe will support your endeavors. And you can find a way to make the situation work for you, to come out of it stronger, and more resourceful. And you might even have some lemonade.

Affirmation:

The Universe will protect and guide me to my greater good. I know that something beneficial emerges from this for me. I don’t know what or how it will happen. That’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to keep my thoughts positive and optimistic. As I do, the Universe finds a way to deliver my good to me.

Watch the complementary video, How to Get Unstuck and Reduce Stress.

Sparks of Insight

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Feb 282020

“I live and move and have my being in pure Spirit. That Spirit is love, harmony, peace, health and an abundance of all good things. All that I could ever need or want is already available to me and awaiting my acceptance of it.”

Everything within you and around you is Universal energy, from your breath to the chair you sit on. You are surrounded by Infinite love. You’ve put distance between yourself and that energy by the beliefs you hold that were created in the past. Let go of any idea of being separate from the good that you want. It’s there, just waiting for you to allow it in.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

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