Ask The Expert – Page 5 – Empowering Your Mind

Do I need to know the cause of a problem to resolve it?

May 28, 2015 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: Do I need to consciously know the original cause of a problem to resolve it?

Answer: Not necessarily. Many people want to know where a problem got started, and for some it’s helpful to know. But generally it isn’t imperative to understand what happened to release the issue. The subconscious mind knows where the problem got its start, and what might have reinforced it. And the subconscious mind knows what to do to release and resolve it.

You may not even consciously know what to do about it, but the subconscious mind knows how to accomplish it. But it has to be directed to do so, and you have to be willing to let go of the emotion associated with it. And the subconscious will only heal it if it feels it’s safe for you to do so.

Is there a problem if I go to sleep while I’m hypnotized?

April 23, 2015 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: Is there a problem if I go to sleep while I’m hypnotized? In other words, if I go to sleep while I’m hypnotized, will I wake up?

Answer: Hypnosis is a natural state of awareness, and is simply a description of a process we use to communicate with the subconscious mind. When a person goes into a light stage of hypnosis, they’re in the same state that they’re in when they’re daydreaming, focused on a project, praying or watching television. Everybody goes through this stage of awareness as they’re going to sleep.

The activity of the mind has started to slow down, and their subconscious mind is more amenable to suggestion. A person in hypnosis may descend into a deeper level where they’re not aware of their outer circumstances, even though their subconscious is still responsive. This is a drowsy state, where sounds fade away.

Below this state is deep sleep. If a person “falls asleep” when they’re in a deep level of hypnosis, they’ll just awaken naturally when their body has been rested.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Is there a secret to recovering one’s self-esteem?

March 27, 2015 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: Is there a secret to recovering one’s self-esteem?

Answer: It isn’t easy to reclaim yourself and your self-worth. It’s probably one of the hardest things a person can do, and yet, it’s at the foundation of everything we experience. Which may be why it can be so hard.

Imagine that your being was fragmented in childhood because of your family. You’re going to have to find those pieces, or make new ones, to put yourself back together again. However, each tiny step you take will take you in the right direction.

Sometimes, there will be two steps forward and one back. That’s normal. Not only are you simply firming up your progress by taking the step back, but the subconscious may feel uncomfortable with your progress.

Your subconscious doesn’t like change, and it’s trying to keep you safe in the environment that you no longer live in. It just needs to get the message that it’s safe now for you to have your own beliefs, a sense of self-worth, self-trust and confidence.

When you dedicate yourself to be there for yourself, the subconscious mind and the Universe will support you. It’s not that there won’t be any bumps along the way – that’s how we get stronger. But if you are committed to your well-being, and do all you can for it, then you will begin to feel better.

This won’t happen overnight. It will take some time, and it takes consistency. An affirmation that you can use is: “I accept my True Worth.”

What’s the difference between a goal and a vision?

February 11, 2015 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: What’s the difference between a goal and a vision?

Answer: A goal is time limited. Once it’s accomplished, it’s done. Hopefully, you then move on to the next one. A vision is unlimited and has a broader scope. A goal is one task or achievement. It helps to build the vision as a step along the way. A vision gives focus to your goals, stringing them together so they move you in a specific direction.

A person can have a goal, but no vision of how it fits into their life. Once the goal is completed, they may backslide or hit a brick wall. The vision has to do with the reason or purpose you’re reaching the goal. It’s the motivating factor for working on the goal.

As a vision, it’s the long range view of how you ultimately want your life or business to be. Your vision is your inspiration for creating and achieving the goals that take you there.

Does working on a goal interfere with affirming it?

January 27, 2015 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: When affirming the fulfillment of a goal, such as finding a job, doesn’t it interfere with the process of the subconscious to keep seeking it, such as networking, looking at ads, etc.?

Answer: This is a very good question. As a person is learning about how the subconscious works, it’s sometimes difficult to know just what to do. The object is to focus on your goal, such as finding the perfect job, but not to concern yourself as to which one or how you’ll find it.

Then you go about the action necessary to find a job. This sends forth energy into the world and lets your subconscious know that you’re serious about finding one. You may not locate your job from any of the avenues you’ve pursued, but the subconscious has been working behind the scenes, and you may bump into someone, or have someone contact you.

By thinking on this over and over, and keeping your mind focused on the goal, and working towards it, this helps the subconscious know what you want and that you truly want it. And by not trying to figure out “how” it will happen, this keeps you out of the subconscious mind’s way.

So many times, a person might say “I want a new job,” but do nothing to that end. The subconscious then figures that is just a fleeting wish. The dominant idea that a person has is what will manifest. In this case, the person might wish for a new job, but not want to put out any effort to find one. The dominant idea is to take the easy way out and stay where they are.

Do I need to translate affirmations from English into my native language?

December 24, 2014 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: Do I need to translate affirmations from English into my native language for my subconscious mind to understand them?

Answer: I understand your concern about the subconscious understanding affirmations in a foreign language, but there shouldn’t be any problem with it doing so. The language of the subconscious is imagery, and your ability to understand English is also in the subconscious (as is everything else you’ve ever learned). If you didn’t understand English, then there would be a problem.

In my private hypnotherapy practice, I’ve worked with many people who have English as their second language. I generally give the suggestion (to everyone), that “Your subconscious mind hears and understands everything I say.” Their subconscious mind translates what I’ve said into information that they understand. If you find yourself putting too much effort into comprehending the affirmation, then you might want to translate it. Or just state, “My subconscious understands every word of this affirmation.”

What affirmations could I use to improve my self-image?

December 2, 2014 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: What affirmations could I use to improve my self-image?

Answer: You’d have to determine what you feel is lacking in your self-worth. Suggestions such as: “I am worthy of all the good there is,” “I deserve the best,” “I feel confident and self-assured,” “I accept my true worth” would be a good place to start. Some of my clients say that they “don’t feel like I’m enough.” I give them suggestions that “You are enough, good enough, worthy enough.”

Since the self-esteem issue is individual, you’d know best what kind of ideas you need to emphasize. A suggestion, by Emile Coue, a pioneer in mental programming, is a good, general one. “Every day, in every way, I’m really getting better and better.”

Why no change after using affirmations?

November 4, 2014 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: Why hasn’t my situation changed after my repeating affirmations for five weeks?

Answer: From my own experience, when you’re making significant changes, it may take the subconscious some time to do so. At one point in my life, I remember it took about four months of daily affirmations before I saw results, but the results were staggering. You have to continue affirmations even after you start to lose faith, because the follow through also impresses the subconscious.

Also, you need to let the subconscious mind do its work. If your conscious mind keeps asking “when, how?” it draws energy from the subconscious. I know it’s hard not to wonder (believe me, I know), but that’s one of the most important parts of it, and I think, the hardest.

Realize that even though you aren’t seeing results, the affirmations are working. They’re just making changes in the hidden recesses of your mind, and waiting until you let go of the “when, how?” When you’re able to release the concern about it, knowing that they’re working and will show results, then the subconscious can put all its energy into making the changes.

Any doubt or fear will give the subconscious mixed messages. They tell the subconscious you don’t really want your affirmation, because your focus is on the doubt or fear. Remember, the subconscious manifests what you’re focusing on – whether it’s positive or negative – it doesn’t care. It can only go where you direct it.

Why do results diminish as I use an affirmation?

October 1, 2014 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: When I first begin using an affirmation, the results are great, but why do they diminish as I continue using it?

Answer: There are several things that could be happening, and you’ll have to consider which one might be happening for you. It could be that as you first use the affirmation, you’re very conscious of it, you are dedicated in its use, you say it with feeling. Then, as you get results, and get used to the affirmation, you begin to say it by rote, without emotion, almost automatically. The solution is to stay aware when you say it, and say it with feeling, again.

Or you could simply be getting so used to the affirmation that it loses its punch, or you could be getting bored with it. In that case, change to another one that with the same idea for awhile. Switching back and forth between affirmations on the same topic is sometimes a good idea to keep them fresh.

Or there could be an inner resistance or conflict to the changes that are occurring. In this case, you’d need to create an affirmation that would address the outdated ideas. I have one on my affirmations page to deal with blocks – “Whatever has been blocking what I desire is an outdated thought form which now dissolves in the Light of Spirit.”

Or as things taper off for awhile, as the changes you’ve experienced begin to become more solid, you begin to “feel” frustrated, lose faith in the affirmation, or feel desperate. The subconscious will respond to your feeling before it responds to your words, because feeling and imagery is the language of the subconscious. In the same vein, you could be holding an image/mental picture of the opposite of the affirmation.

These are some of the most common reasons an affirmation begins to flame out. It’s not the affirmation, it’s the attitude or belief of the person saying it. With everything, you have to be patient and persistent.

If it takes longer, you can have an attitude that the longer it takes, the better the results are going to be. The affirmation is working in the background, making changes that you may not be aware of yet.

As a speaker, personal and professional development coach and hypnotherapist, Linda-Ann Stewart empowers business and professional women who are stuck, immobilized or overwhelmed get focused, prioritize and break through so they generate more business and create consistent income. If you’d like some help to reach your goals, email her at LAS@Linda-AnnStewart.com with “Complimentary Consultation” in the subject line.

How do I go deeper into meditation or self-hypnosis?

September 3, 2014 Linda-Ann Stewart

Question: How do I get into a deeper state of meditation or self-hypnosis?

Answer: I suggest that you use the deepening technique from my “Steps for Self-Hypnosis” to help you go deeper. You can download the .pdf by clicking on Steps for Self-Hypnosis.

Essentially, it’s a combination of imagery and a suggestion. You imagine going down steps, an elevator, an escalator, a tunnel, or whatever suits you, and count down from 10 to 1, telling yourself, “I’m going deeper and deeper.”

You could count down from 10 to 1 twice, or start from 20 and count down to 1. The imagery, along with the suggestion, helps to access deeper levels of the subconscious mind.

When I meditate and use the countdown technique, I go deeper into the meditative state than I would without it.

What you are doing is training yourself. Each time you practice, you’re going deeper. My clients may be very aware of my voice the first time they see me. But by practicing with the tape of their session, within a couple of weeks, many of them generally go so deep that they’re don’t hear the session, but come out at the end of it when I suggest that they do.

Empowering Your Mind

Mindset, Motivation and Empowerment

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