Empowering Your Mind

Question: If I say an affirmation for three weeks, will I see results and think only positive thoughts by then?

Answer: If you begin saying a positive affirmation, and say it consistently every day for three weeks, you’ll notice an improvement in your attitude. However, you’ll need to catch each negative thought and idea and change it to a positive for the results to be most effective.

And you won’t have a permanent change in your thoughts after just three weeks. You’ll need to keep up with the affirmation, and transforming your negative thoughts even after that. But the negative thoughts will be fewer and you’ll be more positive overall.

This isn’t something you can do for a few days, weeks or months and then stop doing. It’s a focused change of thinking that must continue. You won’t have to be as diligent later on, because you’ll be more aware of your negative thoughts and automatically change them to positives. Affirmations aren’t magic. You have to use them consistently for them to work.

Copyright 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: What’s the difference between an affirmation and a hypnotic suggestion?

Answer: Affirmations and suggestions are essentially the same thing. Only the terminology is different. Both suggestions and affirmations are statements that are designed to change old mental ideas in your subconscious mind.

Generally, affirmations are used while you are awake and alert, and during other activities. But they can also be used in meditation to help to elevate your consciousness.

In that case, they then become a suggestion. A suggestion is a statement designed to change a belief, attitude, habit, or effect a change on the body.

Both re-program your mind to release old thought patterns and condition it with the new ones that you choose.

Copyright 2002, 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: Would you please define the differences between the subconscious and unconscious minds?

Answer: The difference between the terms “subconscious” and “unconscious” is simply a difference of terminology. It’s essentially the same name for a part of our consciousness. It’s been called the unconscious, subconscious and subjective mind, but a rose is still a rose, whatever you call it.

I just prefer the term subconscious (or even subjective), because that part of the mind is beneath or subject to the conscious, rational mind. In other words, it takes direction from the conscious and must do so.

Even though the conscious mind is only about 10% of our consciousness, it is the authority or driver. Think of an iceberg, 10% is above the surface, and 90% is below the surface.

I don’t like the term “unconscious” referring to our consciousness, because it insinuates that that part of our consciousness isn’t aware. It’s always aware and processing information.

The only time I usually use “unconscious,” is when I’m referring to an action, because our subconscious often prompts us to act out without awareness of our actions. That’s where habits come from. We unconsciously follow our programming, whether it’s a physical, mental or emotional habit.

Copyright 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: If a person is daily using several affirmations, which one will manifest first?

Answer: I always suggest that a person restrict themselves to affirming in one area of their life at a time. You can affirm one area, and when you see improvement in that area, you can move onto another area of your life.

The reason for this is that when the subconscious mind gets too many instructions at one time, it tends to rebel. Think about how you’d feel if someone dumped a lot of tasks on you, and expected them to be immediately completed. The
subconscious gets overwhelmed.

If you use several affirmations at a time, the affirmation the subconscious will manifest, if it manifests any of them, is the one with the least conflict and that you feel most confident of.

In other words, the affirmation that will manifest first is the one that has the least resistance or fear around the issue, or that you’ve had the most success with in the past.

Copyright 2001, 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question:  I have been in a relationship for about a year now and have put a lot of energy into it without any expectations of anything in return. Why has it not manifested any further?

Answer:  Although you say that you’ve been in this relationship with no expectations, you have had an expectation, that the relationship would progress. I’m sure you thought it would happen on its own. That’s what we’re told. But by trying not to have any expectations, you’ve actually manifested what you were expecting. No expectations, no progression.

We’ve been told over and over to let go of any expectations in our relationships, when what it actually means is to not have any expectations of our partner. The idea of no expectation really means that we shouldn’t expect our partner to change to suit us or to our ideas of how they should be.

However, there are some expectations we should have in any relationship. To be treated well, to have open communication, to have respect, to be treated equally.

When we put so much energy into a relationship, and don’t get anything back, it’s time to reassess the relationship. The person you’re with may not be able to give you what you obviously want.

You need to set some boundaries of what you expect from the relationship. Only that way can the Universe and the other
person know what you need. You deserve to do that. You deserve to value yourself, and to expect to be valued by the other person.

By stating what you need and want, you allow the other person to decide whether they can give it to you or not. If they choose not to, then you need to let go and move on. By doing so, you give the Universe the opportunity to bring someone else into your life who can fill your needs.

Copyright 2001, 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: Why do I have to focus on what I want? Doesn’t my subconscious mind already know?

Answer: Your subconscious mind can only absorb what your conscious mind sends its way. So if you want more prosperity, but you constantly focus on not having enough money, that’s what the subconscious mind accepts and manifests more of – lack. Your subconscious only knows what it’s been told. So if you want to be an artist, but believe you have little talent, and constantly bemoan that idea, your subconscious will make sure that you don’t fulfill your potential.

I’ve known so many people who say they want one thing, but they focus on the opposite (me included). Or they want something, but they don’t want to have to change anything to manifest it. A smoker may want to quit smoking without
giving up cigarettes. That would be the same as wanting more prosperity without letting go of old attitudes about struggle and lack. Whatever you focus on is what your subconscious mind thinks you want. And it will deliver it to the level that you truly accept.

Copyright 2001, 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: If I affirm that I receive a specific amount of money by a certain date, will I be successful?

Answer: I’ve known many people who have successfully affirmed that they’d receive a certain amount of money by a certain date. The way it happens is by your belief that it will happen. If there’s any doubt or uncertainty, then that will dilute or defuse the results.

Instead, I would recommend that that you affirm that you’re guided to the right channel through which that amount will manifest, and/or be inspired to discover a way to manifest it, and/or that all that the way is provided for it to manifest.

Your belief is the energy that powers your ability to manifest. When you have the certain belief, then it’s very likely that you’ll manifest what you want.

Copyright 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: Do I need to know and understand what my fears are and where they came from, or do I just push forward in changing my behavior?

Answer: If you’re someone who needs to know “why,” then you’re probably going to need to find out what prompts you to continue your unwanted behavior. There’s no telling what it could be. Especially since it seems to keep happening. There’s some part of you that’s uncomfortable with changing, or has permission to continue your behavior.

Most issues aren’t simply a problem of behavior. Usually, there’s some emotional component to it. Generally, some uncomfortable emotion urges you to act in unwanted ways to cover over the feeling and avoid it. Or it could be an emotion of joy or reward. There’s all sorts of triggers and associations connected with self-sabotaging actions. That’s why you should probably find out “why” you’re doing it.

I’d also recommend you do some journaling on your issue. You may be surprised what comes up. If you don’t know how to do this valuable technique, check out my article Your Write To Self-Discovery.

Another point that I’ve found. The subconscious is very literal. I’ve found that sometimes when we have a goal, but what we think about is actually a step to that goal, thenwhen we reach it, the subconscious thinks, “Great. We’ve reached that. Now let’s go back and do it again.”

For instance, you want to “lose” 10 pounds. Remember, what we lose, we tend to find again. And since your goal is to lose 10 pounds, rather than stabilize at a certain weight, once you’ve lost that amount, the subconscious thinks you want to do it over again. So you gain it back, to lose it again.

It’s convoluted, but that’s the way the subconscious thinks. Have your goal be the end result, rather than the action you take to get there.

Copyright 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: Is it better to say affirmations while in a meditative state or while I’m in a conscious state?

Answer: It’s not so much an issue of either/or. When you state affirmations while in a meditative state, you’re relaxed and your subconscious mind is more impressionable. Therefore, you won’t notice as much opposition to the new programming. The conscious mind, which doubts things, which questions whether any change can occur, isn’t as present. Also, the subconscious won’t be objecting to your new ideas. The subconscious is more receptive in this state.

However, stating affirmations while in a completely alert state is also important. That’s when you’ll be aware of your old beliefs rising up to complain. Repeating the affirmation of what you want counteracts the outdated idea. It also helps to reinforce what you’ve impressed while in meditation. The best thing to do is to state your affirmations while in meditation, then say them aloud during the day. And that’s exactly what is done when a person performs self-hypnosis.

Copyright 2001, 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Question: What does it mean that, “Your actions are different from who you are?”

Answer:  There’s an old saying, “You’re a human BEING (a spiritual being who is experiencing life as a human), not a human DOING (not a person who is in constant motion and action and doing things to justify your existence).” Therefore, you, as a spiritual being, have thoughts and beliefs that result in certain actions. However, you are not the actions themselves.

Think of it this way. When you drink some water, that’s an action. However, it’s not who you are. It’s you making a decision to sip some liquid to take care of thirst. The action is separate from your being. It’s simply a choice, and the choice can be changed. You could choose not to drink and become dehydrated. Or you could decide to have some tea, coffee, soda or some other liquid. The action you take is a result of your choices, which is a result of your beliefs. And even your beliefs are separate from who you are, because they can be changed.

What cannot be changed is that you are a spiritual being. That is the core of who you are. Anything else, beliefs, attitudes, choices, actions, can all be changed. They are simply outer accouterments or accessories that you’ve chosen.

Copyright 2010 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved