10 Clever Tricks to Trigger Positive Emotions
Changing the way you think can be surprisingly tricky, especially when the going gets tough. Here are some quick and effective exercises that can help you feel happier, avoid anxiety, increase your willpower, deepen relationships and boost confidence. And they don’t involve trying to change how you think.
What Is Goal Setting and Why Is It Important?
Goal setting is your compass to get what you want in life. Without them, you just drift. This article lists five principles for goal setting, identifies the different kinds of goals, and gives tips on how to achieve the goals you have.
The Truth Behind Judging Others and Why We Do It
Judging others blocks you from compassion or empathy. It’s a false way of trying to make yourself feel better. When you’re judging others, you’re judging yourself in the same way. Discover some tips on how to stop criticizing yourself and others.
My grandmother used to quote the novelist Lewis Carroll, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” Recently, I had an extremely busy week that epitomized that sentiment. I had multiple appointments with clients, networking meetings, deadlines for my newsletter and the association’s newsletter I edit. So I was running around trying to get prepared for, or getting things done before the deadlines arrived. Additionally, gravity seemed to be heavier, as everything I got near seemed to end up on the floor. Have you ever had a week like that? It can pull you off center and forget that the Universe has everything in order.
The Lewis Carroll quote is true. Whenever you’re in a hurry, pressured for time, and you try to do things faster, events happen to delay you. You drop your glasses, spill your coffee or forget your water bottle and must go back for it. No matter how hard you try to make up time, you stumble and obstruct yourself. You’re out of the flow of the Universe. It seems like life is against you, creating chaos that you must clean up, search for items or go back to get. And all that time you’re trying to make up never appears.
Stressful Situations
The same is true of circumstances. When you rush into a situation, without thinking it through, you tend to experience problems. You make unwise decisions, and then are stuck as you try to extract yourself. By being so pushed, you don’t consult your inner guidance. For instance, have you ever agreed to help on a committee, and realized later that you didn’t have the time for it? Or have you ever been pressured to buy something, which you did, but later regretted the purchase?
When you’re under stress, as when you’re rushed, you cannot think creatively or resourcefully. Stress puts you into a mindset of fight or flight, and you’re simply trying to survive. You act on impulse and, because you’re moving faster than normal, you become slightly clumsy. That’s when you knock a glass of water or something else onto the floor. If you’re under a lot of pressure, it can move you into a sense of fear. When you’re afraid, you can’t think clearly and remember where you put your keys, glasses or report. These negative emotions mean you shut the Infinite out of your life.
Slow Down
When I realized that I was embodying what my grandmother had warned me about, I stopped rushing around. Even though my time was limited, I knew I had to take control and manage myself better. Whenever I started to spin too fast, I reminded myself to slow down and think things through. I checked in with my inner guidance. Planning ahead can ease a lot of tension. I made myself stop and think ahead to make sure I had everything I needed.
For instance, I had to make myself lunch for the networking meeting, which would end immediately before another appointment. I got lunch ready the night before. After the appointment, I was going to the health food store, so I got my list ready ahead of time. Because I thought things through, I was able to be more relaxed. And once I got home, I could focus and be mentally ready for my virtual coaching client later that afternoon.
As you stop and think, you’re able to access your resourcefulness and ability to view the situation in perspective. You pay attention to what you’re doing in the moment, which allows you to be more present and intentional. By being more mindful, you’re more connected with the Universe and Its peace. And you assess what needs to be done, so you can make appropriate decisions. Gravity returns to normal, and your cup won’t tip over just because it’s near you.
Affirmation:
Everything in my life is in Divine Order, working for my Highest Good. I remember that whenever I feel rushed or pressured. By staying present, I’m able to access my inner guidance, as well as my resources. I’m always connected to the Universe and Its peace. I stay in the flow of the Universe.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7
In this case, the heart means your subconscious, creative mind. Whatever you believe and expect, deep down, is what you’ll experience. These are the beliefs that may not agree with your conscious choices, but are what you truly think. When you have a strong conviction that you have to struggle and life is against you, then that’s the life you’ll have. However, when you believe strongly that things will turn out for the best, then your creative mind will find a way to bring that about.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
How To Tell If Your Perfectionism Is Normal Or Unhealthy
Perfectionism puts an incredible pressure on you. But there are some differences between useful and unhealthy perfectionism. If unhealthy perfectionism is taking over your life and causing you distress, there are some steps you can take to let go of to start feeling better.
Self Esteem Vs. Self Confidence
Self-esteem and self-confidence are two different things. Self-confidence is relatively easy to build, while self-esteem is more complex. This article explains both and gives some simple tips on how to them.
How to Successfully Handle Aggressive and Controlling People
Most of have to deal with intimidating people at some point of our lives. They may be coworkers, bosses, or family members. With some consideration, you may be able to approach them differently so that you have a handle on the interaction. One thing I especially like in this article is its list of your fundamental rights.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Are you watching what you say? Your creative mind readily accepts each word you say with repetition, force, and conviction. If you have a habit of stating, “I can’t afford that,” then your subconscious will take that as a directive to make it true. If you’re chronically criticizing others, your creative mind will take the image of what you’re condemning and bring more of it to judge. It can’t distinguish between your positive and negative focus. So keep watch on your statements, and make them positive and what you want in your life.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Question: Do I need to be in a relaxed and restful state of mind for affirmations to be effective?
Answer: You don’t necessarily need to be in a restful, calm state of mind for an affirmation to be successful, although it does help. I say affirmations as I’m driving or taking a walk. Nor do you need to look into a mirror for them to work. That is simply one of the techniques to use for affirmations to impress the mind. The most successful way I’ve used affirmations is to say them out loud.
“God doesn’t recognize the idea of recession or constriction. The only thing the Universe knows is abundance of all good things. Circulation and an increasing expansion of prosperity is mine now.”
As a friend of mine once said, “The recession has nothing to do with my prosperity.” When you have a consciousness of abundance, it doesn’t matter what is going on in the world around you. Your consciousness will attract what is like it, and when you keep your mind focused on prosperity circulating in your life, that’s what you’ll experience.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
How to Stop Self-Sabotage Behaviour
We sabotage ourselves when we say we want something, and then undermine every effort we make towards it. Unfortunately, we do so for a variety of reasons. We don’t mean to mess things up, it’s generally an unconscious impulse. Here are 5 tips to get you out of your own way so you can reach the success you desire.
9 Ways to Say No to Negativity
It’s easy to say, “Be positive,” but not always easy to do it. To be able to be positive, you have to decrease your negative thoughts. Sometimes they seem overwhelming. But with the help of these tips, you’ll be on your way to having more health, happiness and better relationships.
How to Stay Positive: 11 Smart Habits
Optimists aren’t born that way, they have to learn the skill. It’s an ability that can be developed over time, and it results in many proven benefits. If you want to become a more positive person, practice these ideas. Any one of them will transform your life.
What Does Reading Do To Your Brain? These 5 Effects Are Pretty Astounding
Reading is good for your health, well being, as well as your brain. Its been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve memory and lengthen life spans, and it all starts with what’s between your ears. Magical and mysterious processes take place that benefits your life.
10 Strategies to Keep Moving Forward When You’re Feeling Extra Stuck
You feel stuck when your initial excitement has worn off of moving towards a goal, and you can seem to make any headway on it. It may be that you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or confused at your next step. Don’t give up. Try these strategies first, and get yourself back on course.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
This is the time of year that people make New Year’s resolutions. People like the idea of starting over, of having a fresh start and a clean slate. This gives them more of a motivation to pursue and work on their goal. Linda-Ann shares some tips on how you can take advantage of this opportunity and be successful at it all year long.
Transcript:
Thank you for joining me. I’m Linda-Ann Stewart of Heartvision Consulting. This is the time of year that people make New Year’s resolutions. They establish the goals they want to achieve in the coming year. Have you made any? People like the idea of starting over, of having a fresh start. This gives them more of a motivation to pursue and work on their goal.
For instance, I remember being in first grade and the cubbyhole in my desk that was supposed to hold my books was crammed with papers. I was not a very tidy child. It was hard to get my books into it. Sometime during the year, our teacher changed our desk assignments, and I was given a desk with a clean and clear cubbyhole. I remember looking at the shelf, enjoying how clean it was and deciding to keep it organized from then on. And I did. I just needed the incentive of a fresh start and a clean slate.
Has anything like this happened to you? Have you ever felt stimulated by a fresh start? Moving to a clean desk can inspire it, as can New Year’s, your birthday, the beginning of the month, or even the beginning of the week. Any of these can give you a new perspective and increased energy.
What about a clean slate? With a clean slate, you feel like you can leave behind your old ways. You can establish a new habit or pattern, like I did with the desk. But the problem is, how much are you leaving behind? It wouldn’t have worked for me if I’d just repeated my habit of stuffing papers into my desk. I decided to change that habit. How much of a clean slate are you actually starting with? Are you bringing outdated ideas with you and holding yourself back? Or are you really starting fresh?
As a vision strategist. I work with women service professionals and small business entrepreneurs who have businesses that are stuck. Instead of updating their goals, or even having any, they just continue with their old habits and patterns. And then they become frustrated because this doesn’t help them reach their next level.
Using my 30 years of experience as a hypnotherapist, I coach them to intentionally develop and focus on new strategies that will get them on course to bring their vision into reality. I help them reevaluate where they are and where they want to go, and then how to get there.
Are you reassessing your goals? Do your old ones serve you now, in what you want to achieve? What if you do start with a clean slate? Without taking into account your previous goals, and any limiting ideas, consider what it is you really want. Wipe away any disappointments, fears or past mistakes.
Maybe you can set a bigger goal than you ever expected. Have a bigger goal or vision or intention than you normally would think of. When you start with a fresh start and a clean slate, it reinvigorates you. You get excited and eager to make progress on your decisions.
Now, I don’t suggest you start over with an absolutely clean slate at the beginning of every week, essentially starting over from scratch. This would undermine your progress. You’d never really achieve anything, would you? But you can assess if the direction you’re going is the right one for you. If the strategies you’re using are working. If there’s something else that needs to be adjusted.
Each week, with a fresh start, you recommit to your goals. With a clean slate, you wipe away what wasn’t working, and decide what to do that will achieve your goals. You refocus and get reenergized to take action. It gives you a new beginning, one that can motivate and inspire you to tackle what’s ahead.
In first grade, my fresh start was getting moved to a new desk. My clean slate was the empty shelf and my decision to keep it organized. What is yours going to be?
