focus » Empowering Your Mind

Will saying an affirmation occasionally make changes?

Sep 042019

Question: If I say an affirmation a few times a week, will it turn my life around?

Answer: Saying an affirmation a few times a week won’t undo decades of programming. Change won’t happen overnight. It takes about 30-40 days (and sometimes a few months depending on the difficulty of the issue) of CONCENTRATED focus and affirmations to turn things around.

By concentrated, I mean you can’t do the affirmations, then during the day, counteract them with old, negative beliefs. This gives the subconscious mixed messages. You have to catch those automatic, negative thoughts and turn them around to be consistent with the goal of your affirmation.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

If you’d to achieve a 90-day goal more easily, download my free comprehensive Strategic Vision Worksheet.

Trending Article of the Week

Trending Articles No Responses »

Aug 092019

Before You Dismiss Mindfulness…
Mindfulness has become a buzzword for meditation and yoga. And some have tried to dismiss it, misunderstanding and misrepresenting what it is. But it’s a powerful tool that research shows offers benefits for mental health. Mindfulness can help to rewire your brain and retrain your habits.

Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away
This isn’t just an idea for students, but for anyone who takes notes. The idea of taking notes by hand seems old fashioned when typing is faster. But when you type your notes, you’re just copying information down without processing it.Taking notes by hand means you have to pay more attention and thus learn more. Read about one of the studies that have confirmed that writing notes is better by far and why.

4 Signs Stress Is Negatively Affecting Your Well-Being
Stress is a part of our lives. Some stress doesn’t affect you much. But if it builds up, you could be in for trouble. There are different types of stress to be aware of so you can determine how to handle them. But you have to know what to look for before you can take action to help yourself. This article identifies the different symptoms and gives tips on how to deal with them for a better life.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Posted by Linda-Ann Stewart at 11:40 am Tagged with: focus, goals, habit, mindfulness, stress management

How You Can Get More Done in Less Time

Video No Responses »

Aug 082019

When you try to stay focused for eight hours a day, you end up being exhausted. This decreases your productivity and efficiency. But placing your attention on one task at a time is the best way to get more done. Focused work is much more effective than distracted time or multitasking. Learn how you can focus more, while staying fresh and getting more done, more easily.

Transcript:

Thank you for joining me. I’m Linda-Ann Stewart of Heartvision Consulting. I’d like to give you a tip to maximize your productivity and efficiency through the effective use of focus. Being able to focus on one task or project at a time is a key to success. In fact, focused work is worth four hours of unfocused work. But staying focused for long periods of time is tiring, isn’t it?

You know that trying to pay attention to one thing for a 8 hours exhausts you and erodes your productivity, right? However, when you take breaks, it helps to refresh your mind and improve your efficiency. This is a bit counter-intuitive.

Research has shown that the most productive workers work 52 minutes on average, and then take a 17 minute break to recharge. Some can work more, some less. That’s why it’s an average.

And a break doesn’t mean doing something else on the computer, like checking into Facebook or watching videos on YouTube. It means taking an actual break, such as a short walk, getting some coffee, or reading a book. This gives the mind a breather. Shifting to something completely different.

If you have a hard time focusing for 52 minutes or thereabouts, work for 20-30 minutes or so, then take a shorter break, say 5 or 10 minutes.

Personally, I’ve found that taking a break every hour to hour-and-a-half works best for me. I’ve discovered that my attention begins to tire out after 90 minutes. It becomes harder for me to think. Since we know being sedentary is bad for you, I get up and walk around for a few minutes. This helps me get the kinks out and allows my mind to rejuvenate. When I get back to my computer, I’m ready to focus on my next task.

The longer you can concentrate on one item at a time, the more you’ll be able to get done in less time. That’s something to strive for, right? And you’ll be less fried at the end of the day. Not only will that help your work, it will improve the overall quality of your life.

If you’d like more tips on how to increase your productivity and accelerate your success, download my free guide, Take Control of Your Day

Thank you for watching. How can you schedule your focus time and your breaks into your day?

Read the accompanying article Are Distractions Sabotaging Your Success?

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Posted by Linda-Ann Stewart at 6:31 pm Tagged with: focus, goals, motivation, productivity, self-help, stress management

Are Distractions Sabotaging Your Success?

Article No Responses »

Jul 312019

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Do you ever feel that your day is filled with distractions? Instead of being able to finish a project, your environment constantly intrudes on your attention? Phone calls, demands on your time by coworkers, sudden tasks thrust on you by managers or crises all erode your efficiency and impact productivity. They keep your mind in chaos, and clog your connection to the Universe.

Many of your interruptions are self-inflicted. Instead of focusing on what’s important, you allow your attention to be abducted by anything new. It’s like the dog in the movie that gets diverted by any movement, thinking it’s a squirrel. The brain loves anything that’s novel or different. It lights up the reward circuit of your brain. That’s why it feels so satisfying to check your email dozens of times a day. But just because it feels good doesn’t mean it helps you accomplish anything.

If you never focus on what you want, the Law of Attraction doesn’t know what to bring you. Chaos instructs the Law of Attraction to bring you more chaos. The more you allow yourself to be sidetracked, the more you train yourself to seek out and succumb to distractions. It becomes a self-defeating cycle. Multitasking falls into this category. Although multitasking feels like you’re getting a lot done, the more you do it, the less effective you become.

How Distractions Cost You

Distractions are more than annoyances. Every time you’re interrupted, it takes time to get refocused. Researchers estimate it takes between fifteen and twenty-five minutes to get back on track afterwards. How much time are you wasting each day, just trying to get refocused? And once you return to your task, you can’t focus as well.

Also, your output, productivity and efficiency suffer and you commit more errors. Another study established that four hours of distracted time was equivalent to one hour of focused work. Think of what you could accomplish if you focused on one task or project at a time for just two hours a day. That would be equivalent to a full day of work.

What You Can Do

You have control over many of the distractions you encounter. When you take charge of what you can, you’ll maximize your productivity and improve your channel to the Universe. You’ll also be giving the Law of Attraction clearer direction. Here are a few tips to help you stay focused.

1. Focus on your task. Do this by turning off your email notifications, closing your door and turning off your phone. Better yet, schedule checking your email and only do it three times a day. Even better, leave your cell phone in another room. Studies show that even having it in your room diverts your attention.

2. Stop multitasking. Contrary to popular thought, it does not make you more efficient. The opposite is true. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you jump from one task to another, your brain must switch gears. That takes up precious time and energy, and shortens your attention span. It also makes your brain run slower and reduces your intelligence. To increase your effectiveness, address one task at a time for at least 20 minutes before you go onto something else.

3. Train yourself to focus. Focusing your attention is a skill that you can learn and develop. Once you’ve broken the multitasking habit and been able to focus on one task for 20 minutes, take it to the next step. Extend the period you focus on any task by 5-minute increments over a period of weeks. Aim for at least 55 uninterrupted minutes. Another way to train your focus and concentration is to practice meditation. It builds areas of the brain associated with attention.

4. Focus on the present. Pay attention to what you’re doing now. Don’t allow your thoughts to drift to the past or what you’re going to be doing in the future. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the task at hand. This type of mindfulness helps problem solving and improves your memory. You also open to your intuition and connection with the Universe.

Distractions will never go away. But when you stop letting distractions rule you and take control over your attention, your mood will improve. Your sense of calm, clarity, satisfaction and productivity will soar. Because you’ll be spending time on the tasks and projects that bring you results, you’ll be more successful.

Affirmation:

The Universe is always present, guiding and directing me. I now keep my mind clear, calm and focused. The Universe supports me in making positive decisions about where to focus my attention. This allows me to have a greater connection with the Universe. I plan for the future but keep my mind focused on the present.

Watch the accompanying video How You Can Get More Done in Less Time.
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.shtml

Posted by Linda-Ann Stewart at 3:25 pm Tagged with: affirmation, attention, distractions, empowerment, focus, goals, Law of Attraction, meditation, mindfulness, peace of mind, personal development, productivity, self-improvement, spiritual, stress management, vision

Planning for the Unexpected

Video Comments Off on Planning for the Unexpected

Jul 172019

Life doesn’t always flow smoothly. There are always bumps along the way. They can take you off track and make it difficult to get back on track afterwards. But there is something you can do to be proactive and keep yourself on course.

Transcript:

Thank you for watching. I’m Linda-Ann Stewart of Heartvision Consulting. When you set an intention and create a plan to achieve a goal or vision, you think you’re on the road to success, right? And if you follow your plan, you have a really good chance accomplishing it.

But unfortunately, your environment and life may lead you astray. Life Happens, doesn’t it? There are all sorts of distractions that can take you off course. Everything from an unexpected event, like oops, you forgot to put in that paperwork and have to carve out time from your busy schedule to do it. Or you could have a disaster like losing your phone, and with it all your contacts, photos, calendar. Or you could just be fatigued because you’ve worked (or played) so hard.

Things like this can knock you off course and make it hard to get back on track once they’ve been taken care of. They can throw you off your game, sabotage your progress, and make it difficult to get focused again.

But if you plan for them, deciding ahead of time how you’re going to handle unexpected situations, you’ll be able to stay on course. For instance, schedule empty time in your schedule each week for unexpected problems. With your phone, regularly back up everything on it. And figure out what automatic tasks you can perform when you’re tired. Think ahead.

I know you can’t predict all the specific unforeseen issues that can arise. But you can have a plan in place for how you’re going to stay on track during them or after they’re over. You don’t have to know the exact distraction, but you can know what to do when something comes up.

Because, life doesn’t always flow smoothly, does it? There are always going to be bumps and curves, but you can take them into account. You can plan for the expected unexpected circumstances. In this way, you stay in control and on course to whatever your goal or vision might be.

If you’d like some help in getting, and staying on course, and achieving your goals, apply for a complimentary coaching consultation.

Thank you for watching. What’s your plan to deal with the unexpected?

Read the accompanying article Set Yourself Up for Success.

Posted by Linda-Ann Stewart at 11:17 am Tagged with: affirmation, empowerment, focus, goals, habit, intention, motivation, plan, productivity, self-improvement, success

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of Insight Comments Off on Sparks of Insight

Jul 152019

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

Posted by Linda-Ann Stewart at 4:52 pm Tagged with: change, focus, goals, intention, motivation, self-help, vision

Set Yourself Up for Success

Article Comments Off on Set Yourself Up for Success

Jul 042019

by Linda-Ann Stewart

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.shtml

Posted by Linda-Ann Stewart at 3:29 pm Tagged with: attitude, autosuggestion, change, empowerment, focus, goals, intention, problem solving, self-hypnosis, vision, visualize

Older Entries