“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” Aldous Huxley
You can’t change anyone else, you can only change yourself. Even if you could, that would mean that you were taking away their free will and choice. So keep your attention on your sandbox, and stay out of your friend’s.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
High Self-Esteem: 15 Habits for a Positive Self-Image
Having good self-esteem is important for a variety of reasons. You’re happier, more confident, able to handle challenges better and be more successful. This article has some wonderful, simple and easy tips to practice to raise your self-esteem. The benefits will spread to other areas of your life.
5 Ways to Become the Person You Aspire to Be
To succeed, you’ll become a different person than you are now. Knowing who you are and who you aspire to be is one of your keys to success. Becoming that person requires tremendous courage, perseverance and a steadfast belief in yourself. These tips will help you stay focused and motivated to achieve it.
5 Subtle Ways to Tune In To Your Body and Soothe Your Stress
Every day, you have small crises that trigger your fight-or-flight system. Unfortunately, this chronic type of stress can strain your body and ability to recover. However, you can restore equilibrium and build up your resilience through these simple exercises.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
There are times when you’re making changes that it seems like everything is conspiring to block you. Believe it or not, this is a signal that you’re actually making progress. When you begin to transform, you move in the opposite direction than you’ve been taking. Attachment to the old path (from your subconscious) is trying to drag you back. If you simply keep going in your new direction, the obstacles will begin to fade away. How long it takes depends on how strong the old path was. But don’t give up hope, just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
How to Change the Way You Feel (Without Changing Anything Else)
Happiness does not start with a relationship, a degree, a job, or money. It starts with your thinking and what you tell yourself today. You tell stories to yourself about yourself every day, and most of them are untrue. Take the two practices in this article and update your stories.
How to Say No: 10 Powerful Tips
Being able to say, “No,” is an important skill to have. For many, it doesn’t come naturally. It has to be learned and practiced. At the beginning, you’ll experience resistance from within and other people. But these strategies will help you stay on track to be healthier, happier and more successful at what’s important to you.
To Be More Likable and Make a Great First Impression, Science Says First Do 1 Thing
People generally want to be liked. Some naturally know how to connect with others. But those who are shy or insecure who have a hard time approaching social situations. Fortunately, there are specific strategies you can do to make a good impression and be liked. When you use these four steps, you’ll gain confidence and enjoy making friends.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
If you’d like more tips on how to make your day flow more smoothly, be more productive and accelerate your progress, download my free guide, Take Control of Your Day.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
The same is true of positive thinking, meditation, affirmations, etc. Saying an affirmation once and expecting it to take effect immediately and permanently is as unrealistic as expecting washing your hands once will keep them clean forever. You have to incorporate these practices into your daily life for them to make any lasting impact.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
For more tips on how to make your day flow more smoothly, be more productive and accelerate your success, download my free guide, Take Control of Your Day.
Don’t Like Meditation? Try This Instead
Many studies show that Mindfulness Meditation can improve concentration, creativity and give you a new perspective on finding solutions. But people shy away from meditation, either because they don’t have the time or they’re intimidated by the idea. You don’t have to find a quiet space and empty your mind to have the benefits of meditation. This simple exercise can allow you to get the benefits and fit into your day.
6 Myths and 6 Truths About Perfectionism
Unfortunately, many cultures encourage a toxic view that perfectionism is beneficial. It doesn’t help you to be or do better. You’ll never be able to reach that impossibly high standard. And failing that creates a sense of shame. Stop chasing after perfectionism and understand the uncomfortable truths about it.
119 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Happier
We all strive to be happy, but sometimes we fall short of that goal. It doesn’t mean it’s unreachable. It just means you need to implement some new strategies. This article has investigated research on the subject and brought together tested ways you can incorporate into your life. It covers 9 different areas of your life that you can address.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
As a vision strategist, speaker, coach, and hypnotherapist, Linda-Ann Stewart helps women entrepreneurs and businesswomen who feel stuck to get a clear vision, focus on strategies, and gain control so they’re able to
accelerate to the next level of their business. Sign up for her FREE guide, Take Control of Your Day.
by Linda-Ann Stewart
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Susan committed to eating a healthier diet and wanted to make sure she’d follow through on her goal. The first thing she did was go through her pantry and threw away chips and anything with sugar. At the grocery store, she bought fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. She assembled healthy snacks ahead of time, so she’d grab them instead of looking for something inappropriate.
She used hypnotherapy to imagine staying on her plan, resisting temptation and enjoying her new treats. Through this mental rehearsal, she established a new habit and lifestyle, and easily avoided impulse snacking. Because she took control of her environment and developed strategies ahead of time, she created the conditions for success.
This same process can be used for any habit or situation you want to improve, personally or professionally. There’s an old saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” If you leave the details to fate, hoping that you’ll take the right action in the moment, you probably won’t. Either someone else will decide for you, unexpected situations will get in the way, or inertia will keep you in place. And you’ll just fall back on what’s familiar and automatic.
The Problem with Willpower
Willpower will only take you so far. You need to have strong motivation to be able to get yourself moving in a new direction. Usually, your willpower flags if you get tired, stressed, bored or the results don’t live up to your expectations. Think of the last diet you were on. You probably stayed on it for a while and then began to slack off a little at a time. The slide began with Fettuccine Alfredo at the restaurant with your spouse, then birthday cake at your best friend’s party, and finally you gave up when you went on vacation.
Set Up the Conditions to Succeed
Instead of relying on willpower, set up the conditions ahead of time that will get and keep you on track. Do you want to lose weight, start to exercise or make follow up calls for your business? How can you design the situation to ensure you’ll fulfill your intention? For instance, to permanently lose weight, reframing the concept may help. Rather than thinking of being a diet, consider it a lifestyle change. Decide that you don’t eat certain foods or only a moderate amount of them, not only now, but from now on.
To begin an exercise program, get a buddy or schedule reminders in your phone. Set out your clothes or shoes so you almost trip over them. Start small, with a few minutes a day, and then increase the time as you get into the habit. Design the circumstances so that you know you’ll do it with very little effort.
How can you make sure you make those follow up calls? The night before you could decide on the list of people to call and put it on your computer. And you could reward yourself with something healthy, such as a break with your favorite book, when they’re done. Another solution would be to have an accountability partner that you’d call or email when you’ve completed your task.
Figure out how you can set up the situation so that you’ll behave the way you want. Formulate guard rails to keep yourself from drifting off course. Make as many decisions as you can ahead of time, so when a challenging situation arises, you’re prepared with a solution. The main item you need to develop is commitment to your vision, as Susan did. If you want it badly enough, you can create the conditions so that you’re successful.
AFFIRMATION:
The Universe wants the best for me and supports my quest to improve my life. I’m guided and inspired as to how to create the right conditions for me to thrive. Everything I need is already available from the Infinite. I simply need to look for and recognize it. I willingly accept my greater good.
Watch the accompanying video Planning for the Unexpected.
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. If you'd like some help to reach your goals, apply for her complimentary "Clarify Your Vision" consultation at http://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/coaching.shtmlI remember seeing a television show where a working wife and mother spent all weekend trying to keep her house as clean and perfect as her mother did. She was killing herself and alienating her family by her unrealistic expectations. There was no time for fun in her life. She was counseled to lower her standards so that she and her family could enjoy themselves. So what if her refrigerator wasn’t clean enough for an inspection? Her family needed some together time in a way that created happy memories. Where might you be holding yourself to unreasonable expectations, and how can you lower them so that you can have a life? Chores will always be there, but today won’t be.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Follow These 5 Steps to Radically Transform Your Negative Mindset
Having a negative mindset is a common problem and can hinder your ability to be productive and successful. Your mindset determines how you respond to situations, challenges and opportunities. Made up of your thoughts, 98% are simply repetitions, your mindset can be altered. Use these 5 steps to break out of your habitual negative mindset and reprogram your life for success.
Psychological Secrets to Hack Your Way to Better Life Habits
Habits run your life. Your behaviors rule how much you accomplish and how effective you are. They either help or hinder you as you endeavor to reach your goals. Habits consist of a simple, but extremely powerful, three-step loop. Break that loop, and you can install a new habit that supports you and your goals. This article includes 4 tips on how to ensure the new habit sticks.
Unleash Your Potential
Fear prevents you from taking the next step along your journey or to seize opportunities. However, when you face your fears, you’re able to embrace your courage and potential. This article includes 3 ways you can empower yourself to overcome what’s holding you back and tap into your natural potential.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Many people who have seen “The Secret” or have been learning about the Law of Attraction think that all they have to do is to focus on what they want and it will drop into their laps. Sometimes it does just that, but those times are rare, and generally preceded by a lot of work in that direction. Have you heard about someone, writer, actor, musician, becoming an “overnight sensation” after twenty years of being in the business? For the Law of Attraction to really work for you, you need to take actions in accordance with your desire. This convinces your subconscious that you truly mean business and are ready for that change in your life.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart