meditation » Empowering Your Mind

Guided Meditation to Create a New Self-Image

Dec 092021

Your self-image can either support or sabotage your goals. If you’ve been having trouble reaching a particular goal, your view of yourself is probably involved. Fortunately, you can change your self-image. This short guided meditation will get you started to improve your self-image regarding a particular goal.

Transcript:

Are you having trouble achieving a particular goal? If so, your self-image may not be in alignment with it. When your view of yourself conflicts with the goal you want to accomplish, you’ll either sabotage yourself or won’t be able to maintain the goal.

The good news is that you can change your self-image. It’s only a belief, and beliefs can be changed with some work. I’d like to lead you through a short meditation to get you started on improving your self-image regarding a specific goal.

If you’re so inclined, close your eyes. Think of a goal you want to accomplish. It could be changing a habit, developing a talent, changing your lifestyle or something else. But pick something specific you want to work on or that you’ve been working on.

Now, consider how your self-image fits in with it. Can you imagine yourself achieving your goal easily and maintaining whatever change it would require? Is there something in you that might undermine your progress with it? Can you identify yourself with the completion of that goal? For instance, “I am a..” fill in the blank with how the goal would change your identity. If you have any part of you that doubts you can achieve it, there’s some issue with your self-image.

Shifting from considering your self-image, think of how achieving your goal could benefit you. This is your “why.” Imagine how your life would be different once you’ve accomplished your goal. Don’t just imagine the immediate change, but how your life would be a year from now. How strongly do you want that? If you can, enhance your motivation with whatever will support your endeavor. You are worthy to be successful with this.

Once you’ve realized what your life would look like with your goal, how good it is for you, what actions do you need to take now to move towards your goal? Imagine yourself going through those steps, a little at a time.

If you can only imagine taking a baby step, that’s fine. Visualize one, feel and sense yourself doing it, while reminding yourself why you’re doing it. As you accomplish that one, visualize yourself taking the next step. How can you get comfortable with these actions?

Now, imagine it’s a year from now and you’ve achieved your goal, and it’s become a fact of your life. Imagine how elated you feel, and how you can now identify yourself with having accomplished your goal.

You may notice other changes in your life, in the way you think and feel. How do you view yourself in this future, that’s different than it was at the beginning of the goal process? How can your self-image be even better? You deserve your success.

Open your eyes. Did you notice a shift in your self-image as you went through the visualization? The meditation gives your subconscious mind a map to follow as you rehearse your new actions and responses. If you do something like this every day, you will change your self-image, accomplish your goals and improve your life.

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Thank you for watching. You do deserve all the best.

Read the accompanying article, 4 Steps to Create a New Self-Image.

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.

Guided Meditation to Focus and Accomplish More

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Nov 102021

Cultivating focus is difficult in today’s world because of all the distractions. Fortunately, focus is a skill that you can develop with practice. When you visualize yourself focusing on a task, it makes that task easier to accomplish. You’re utilizing your natural ability to focus and rehearse your activity. Discover how this guided meditation can improve not only your ability to focus, but your success with any task.

Transcript:

Wouldn’t you like to learn one of the most important skills for success? That skill is focus and it’s hard to cultivate because our lives are filled with distractions from people, situations, and technology.

Fortunately, focus is an ability you have that you simply need to practice. I’d like to share a short, guided meditation that will make it easier for you to pay attention to an immediate goal or action. And it will improve your success with it. You can use this meditation at the beginning of each day or task.

First, what is your goal, desired action, task or project? Imagine that it’s something you want to work on and accomplish, just one item. Imagining doing it will make it easier to follow through on it. Visualizing also starts the subconscious mind to solve problems you might encounter.

Second, define what your motivation is to fulfill that goal, activity, or project. Why is it important to you? Dig down to the real reason, one that moves you. We’ll use that in our visualization.

Now, here we go. Close your eyes, if you’re so inclined. Take a long, slow, deep breath.

Think about what you want to accomplish, one task, today. Think of it in detail. Why is it important to you to take action on this? How will it benefit you? Consider that, and allow that motivation to grow and fill you.

Now, imagine yourself start working on your goal or task. Imagine it in detail. What does the room look like? How do you feel? What do you hear? Think, feel and imagine that it’s easy to focus on your task and bring all your resources and innovation to it.

Imagine that each step you take goes smoothly. Each step makes you more enthusiastic to take the next one, to go further. Imagine that each action you take is easy and successful. You feel calm, relaxed, creative and engaged.

You easily find solutions for any challenges you encounter. Everything else fades away until you’re done. Imagine you stay with your task until your time is up or the work is done, whatever is right for you.

Think, feel and imagine that you’re delighted and amazed at how successful you were, how much you got done. Imagine how that success feeds into your next task or project, and propels you further.

Open your eyes. Something as simple as this visualization primes your subconscious mind to support your endeavors and create more successful outcomes. Your thoughts about a situation greatly influence its results.

You’re utilizing a natural function of your subconscious mind to program your activity, your thoughts about it, and your success. Practicing this kind of visualization, before any task, will make it flow more smoothly and easily, and you’ll accomplish more. And it will develop the habit of focus for you.

For more tips and articles on mindset, motivation and empowerment, please visit my blog, EmpoweringYourMind.com. Thank you for watching. I hope you practice this type of visualization each day, and achieve all the success you deserve. Take care.

Read the accompanying article, Focus, the Power Behind Success.

Consistency: The Key To Your Success

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Jun 022021

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Over the past couple of years, Robin gained 30 pounds. Looking back to see what had created the extra weight, she realized she’d begun a new job two years ago that had included donuts in the break room. Every day, she’d grab one or two of them. Because of the unconscious habit she’d developed, eating more calories than normal, she’d gained an unwelcome amount of weight.

Have you ever noticed that when you do something over and over, it not only becomes a habit, but it has a certain outcome? This may be a goal you want for yourself, such as a healthier lifestyle. Or you may receive a result that you didn’t want, like gaining weight, as Robin did. But when you consistently take the same actions, you’re going to reap the rewards or the consequences of what you’re doing.

For instance, Carol got into credit card debt by not paying off her balance at the end of each month. Instead, she’d regularly let $50-$100 dollars pile up each cycle because she didn’t have the extra money to apply to it. Carol didn’t realize that each month she was spending more than she made.

The same idea happens to smokers. Earl didn’t start out smoking 2 packs a day. His smoking increased slowly as he associated more and more situations and activities with a cigarette. When any of these circumstances surfaced during the day, he’d reach for another hit of tobacco. Eventually, he built up to his 2 pack a day habit.

Each of these examples didn’t get to an overwhelming level overnight. It took a constant series of the same actions over a period of time that changed a little problem into a big one. There are many other challenges that are like these: personal, professional, lifestyle, financial, and health. Big problems don’t form in an instant. They build up slowly over time as you perform one action on top of another to create a habit that results in your challenge.

What You Need to Be Able to Change

If you want to change the problem, you’ll need consistency and discipline to do so. Just as the problem built up one decision and action at a time, you’ll need to take one step at a time to undo it. You’ve had the issue for a long time. It won’t be undone in a few days.

The solution is the same as what created your problem. Success comes from taking a specific action over and over again. Take small consistent steps that chip away at the issue. It’s like turning a car around in a narrow road. You have to back up and pull forward a number of times before you can go in the opposite direction.

The same is true of making these changes. It may take a few months, a year, or even several years to get to your goal. But if you don’t make the changes, your problem will continue to grow.

Whatever goal you desire, choose sustainable actions you can take that will move you in that direction. When you do, think of the outcome that you’re aiming for. This will help to keep you motivated, even when the results are slow in coming.

Why Consistency Is Important

Your choices and behaviors communicate to your subconscious that you are willing to do what’s necessary to achieve your goal. Consistency means there aren’t any mixed messages impressing your subconscious. As long as you’re true to moving in the new direction, the Law of Attraction will begin to draw whatever you need to fulfill your mission.

For instance, the way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than you expend each day and include regular exercise. If you want to pay off debt, reduce expenditures each month and apply that money to pay down your credit cards or other debts. To increase your business, create a plan to consistently reach more people through networking and marketing. If building your savings is your goal, commit to putting a minimum amount of money in that account each month.

For greater peace of mind, meditate every day. Using affirmations each day will impress your subconscious to make an improvement in your life. To move towards your goal, you have to focus on where you want go and decide to move in that direction.

Consistent actions created the life you have now, and consistent actions will create the new life you want. When you’re persistent in making decisions that result in different behaviors, then you’ll receive the new outcomes that you want. Choose your goal, create the steps to get there, and then take them one at a time. The journey to your future begins with the steps you take each day. Consistency is the key to your success.

Affirmation:

When I’m consistent in my thoughts, decisions and actions, I communicate what I want clearly to my subconscious and the Universe. Every action I take leads to greater success and fulfillment. The Universe completely supports my endeavors. I am Divinely Guided in my choices and direction.

Deal with thoughts during meditation?

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Mar 032021

Question: How do I deal with overwhelming thoughts when I’m trying to meditate?

Answer: It’s normal to have problems with thoughts distracting you during meditation. It happens to those first starting meditation as well as seasoned meditators. It’s one reason why there are so many meditation techniques that use some sort of focus, like a mantra or staring at a candle.

When I use self-hypnosis at the beginning of a meditation, I go deeper than with any other technique. And because you’re focusing on relaxing your body, counting down and then imagining a special place, it helps to calm down the errant thoughts. However, it is a constant practice to keep them calm and not let them distract you.

Whenever you have a thought try to get your attention, bring your focus back to your special place, affirmation or any visualization you’re using. You’re in the process of training your mind. Letting it know that you’re going to take charge. Once you’ve practiced enough to get the thoughts quieter, the next step is to be able to simply observe them and let them go.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Guided Meditation to Encourage Positive Actions

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Feb 112021

Have you ever been caught between two decisions? It may be one in which that you habitually take the easy path, and that undermines your well being. What if you could, in the moment, receive encouragement to choose the more difficult road? This guided meditation will help you encourage and support yourself to take the actions that lead you towards your goals.

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Transcript:

Thank you for watching. Wouldn’t it be nice to stop procrastinating, to eat and drink in a way that’s good for your health, to encourage and motivate yourself in a positive way? When you turn away from the path of least resistance to the path that is best for you, you’re building self-respect and demonstrating self-love. Treating yourself kindly, and gently guiding yourself to decisions and actions that support you and your endeavors brings you a better life.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, and would like to lead you through a short guided meditation to help you choose the best path that brings you long term benefits. In this meditation, you’ll be encouraging yourself to make positive choices.

If you feel like it, close your eyes. Imagine another version of yourself nearby. This version of yourself knows what your goals are, and knows the actions that can help or hinder your goals. This version of yourself also cares about your well being, is more objective and able to see things more clearly.

Now imagine that you are faced with a choice. It’s a choice between doing what’s familiar, what’s easiest, what will bring you immediate gratification, but will ultimately not be helpful for you… and acting in a more mature, intentional and reasoned way. A way that is better for you and for the outcomes you want.

Now imagine that version of yourself is encouraging you to make the more difficult, but more enriching choice. This part of you gives you reasons for for making those choices, and reminds you that you will ultimately feel better about yourself. This part’s guidance is reassuring and inspiring to you.

Imagine that you follow that version of yourself’s advice. That you make the choice it recommends. It could be to eat healthy foods, do the task you’ve been avoiding, or take action towards your goal. Imagine yourself acting on the decision and how you feel good about yourself once you’ve done so. Your choice leads to an outcome that benefits you in the long term.

Open your eyes. The version of yourself I mention can help by supporting you in making decisions that will improve your well being. In a way, you’re being your own cheerleader. When you take the time to check in with that more objective part of you, you’ll recognize the guidance that can keep you on course. Acting on that advice demonstrates your care for yourself.

If you’d to achieve a 90-day goal more easily, download my free comprehensive Strategic Vision Guide. You’ll receive the guide, as well as a training video that walks you through it with tips and directions to support you in accomplishing your goal.

Thank you for watching. What one thing can you do today that supports your well being?

Read the accompanying article, How to Demonstrate Self-Love.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Guided Meditation for Kindness

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Dec 102020

Do you want to be happier, more positive, kinder and have better emotional control? Studies show that meditating on kindness and compassion can bring you all that and more. Linda-Ann leads you through a short meditation that induces a sense of compassion towards yourself and others. And you’ll also learn how you can maximize its effectiveness in your daily life.

Transcript:

Thank you for joining me. Do you want to be happier, more positive, kinder and have better emotional control? There’s a very simple way to do that. It’s by meditating on kindness and compassion. Within two weeks of practicing this type of meditation every day, you’ll notice an improvement in all that I mentioned.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a vision strategist. This type of meditation will also cause you to feel better about achieving your goals. A meditation like this will actually change your brain to cause you to be more compassionate. Isn’t that amazing?

To give you an idea of how to do it, I’m going to lead you through a very short example of this type of meditation.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Bring to mind someone you love and care about deeply. As you think of them, imagine a warmth in and around your heart towards this person. Notice your feelings of love, caring, well being and good will towards this person. You want the best for them. Imagine a golden light surrounds your heart and contains all of these beautiful feelings. Imagine that light goes out towards that person, filling them with all these wonderful feelings.

As you do, say phrases like the following to yourself, feeling each one as a wish for that person:

May you be whole.

May you be well.

May you filled with peace.

May you be happy.

Take a deep breath. Now, imagine all the good wishes from that golden light directed towards yourself. Feel them. Again, repeat phrases like the following:

May I be whole.

May I be well.

May I filled with peace.

May I be happy.

Take a deep breath… and open your eyes. It feels good, doesn’t it?

You don’t have to use the phrases the I used. Find phrases that work for you. The best results happen when you do this type of meditation for 30 minutes a day. As you go through the process, you can add different types of people.

For instance, imagine an acquaintance or someone neutral, someone that you know but don’t really feel one way or the other about. Send them compassion. And then imagine someone that you’ve had a falling out with, a conflict with, or some other negative experience with. Send them good will. This meditation will help to free you from the burden of the negative emotions associated with that person.

Although the recommendation is to devote 30 minutes a day to the meditation, once you know how to do it, you can practice it at any time during the day. When you get up, you can send good wishes to your loved ones. On the way to work, you can send good will to your fellow commuters. And, eventually, when you have to deal with a grumpy boss or nasty customer, you can imagine sending them kindness. It may not improve their disposition, but it’ll do wonders for yours.

I’ll post links to a recordings that can help you. The first is a Compassion Meditation by the Greater Good Science Center that will lead you through the entire half-hour sequence. The second is a short song on Loving-Kindness, by Karen Drucker. You can memorize the easy chant and use it during your daily life. It’s one I sometimes use when I’m walking or when I’m driving.

If you’d to achieve a 90-day goal more easily, download my free comprehensive Strategic Vision guide at www.SetYourCourseGuide.com. You’ll receive the guide, as well as a training video that walks you through it with tips and directions to support you in accomplishing your goal.

Thank you for watching. May you be filled with peace and happiness.

Read the accompanying article, The Kindness Paradox: Give Kindness and Receive Joy .

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