Why do old, negative habits return when I’m under pressure?

Why do old, negative habits return when I’m under pressure?

Question: Why do old, negative habits return when I’m under pressure?

Answer: It’s natural for old habits, mental and physical, to return when a person has experienced stress or distress. The subconscious tends to use all its resources to deal with the current challenge, and has little energy left for a person’s new habits unless the person is very careful, aware, and disciplined. If you succumb to the old habits, once you realize it, you can re-dedicate yourself to your new, more positive habits.

Instead of wasting energy berating yourself, consider this a time when you’re strengthening your resolve and getting back on track. As a person reestablishes their new behaviors, those strategies tend to become stronger and more powerful.

I consider it more a practice than a relearning. You just forgot to practice what you know when the pressure got too great. We all do this from time to time. But each time we practice, it creates a deeper impression on the subconscious, and becomes easier to remember the next time the lesson comes around.

Copyright 2004, 2013 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Giving Is NOT Better Than Receiving

Giving Is NOT Better Than Receiving

by Barb Wade

I love to give gifts, and give thanks, and give service to others – that’s one reason I love the holidays so much. But for those of us “givers” it’s sometimes a little more difficult to receive.

The ironic thing is that receiving is actually an innate “skill” that we all have when we are children. But at some point, we are told that it is selfish or wrong to enjoy receiving.

We hear, “It is better to give than receive” constantly. But that is an erroneous equation. Both giving and receiving are rich in their own gifts, and both are necessary to have a balanced life.

This is from a book called Soul Currency by Ernest Chu:

“Most of us, as we conduct our everyday lives, exhibit difficulty in receiving… We too often subordinate our needs to those of loved ones and friends. […] When the circulation of love is stopped by an inability to receive, then eventually we have little or nothing left to give.”

You must complete the “circuit,” as it were, in order for the most powerful flow to happen. It’s strange that we think of  giving being an act of humility, but I have often felt most humbled when I truly accepted someone’s love through receiving.

Just imagine how your finances and income is influenced by your inability to receive – if you can’t receive, money can’t flow to you!

One of the ways that we block ourselves from attracting abundance is by giving more attention to the lack of what we want rather than the fulfillment of what we want. Then, by the “like-attracts-like principle,” we recreate the lack of what we want.

And remember: we’re not just talking about receiving material objects and items. This is about our ability to open up to joy, love, well-being, abundance, and all the other things that are available to us.

Have you ever had someone complement you on what you are wearing and your reaction was “Oh this? It’s just a thing I threw on. I got it on sale…” etc, etc.

That is just one way of not receiving or deflecting love and affection. But you not only cheat yourself out of fully experiencing that love, but you short-change the giver’s experience of happily contributing.

So during this season of giving, isn’t it a good time to start practicing gracious receiving as well?

The next time someone gives you a complement, try this: smile, fully take it in, and simply say “thank you” – no deflecting or excuses, just put your focus on connecting with the other person and then notice how you feel.

You see, giving and receiving aren’t really opposites. They are part of an energy loop that is only truly effective if the circle continues and grows unbroken.

Business Coach & Mentor Barb Wade specializes in teaching entrepreneurs how to make more money more easily while enjoying a business and lifestyle that reflects their priorities. Download Barb’s “Word-for-Word Scripts To Overcome Objections” and book more high-paying clients now at www.BarbWade.com

Unwind, Relax and De-Stress

Unwind, Relax and De-Stress

Stress is a part of life, but unfortunately, it can become chronic and become distress. When it does, you need to have some strategies in place to deal with the stress. One of the best ways to lower your stress level is to take a few minutes to do some relaxation. Experience a short relaxation exercise that can teach you how to unwind and lower your stress level.



~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review- “Stop Walking In Circles”

Book Review- “Stop Walking In Circles”

Stop Walking In CirclesStop Walking In Circles
by Les Taylor

As the New Year approaches, many people are gearing up to make New Year’s Resolutions. Unfortunately, most of these resolutions will be broken within a few weeks because they haven’t been broken down into a series of achievable steps.

That’s where this book can help. Although it’s aimed at business, these ideas can be adjusted for any type of goal. Studies show that if a person doesn’t focus on a point on the horizon when they’re lost, they’ll simply walk in circles.

Les compares this to individuals, organizations and businesses that don’t have a plan in place to take them in the direction they want to go. Without goals or a map to show the next point on their path, they’ll just stay in their rut and never make any progress.

To remedy this issue, Les gives specific directions on how to set up and achieve goals through his simple performance plan. He’s formulated a blueprint to follow to create a vision of what you want, with the areas you need to address. Success doesn’t come from creating goals. Success comes from achieving them. This book gives all the elements to allow you to be closer to success than 95% of people.

I’ve followed his instructions and have set up a performance plan for myself. It’s made it easier for me to focus on the activities that I need to do to move my business forward and it keeps me organized.

If you create New Year’s Resolutions, this book is especially good for them. By creating a plan based on this book’s instructions, then working that plan, your resolutions will be significantly likelier to become a reality.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich” #12 – Accurate Thinking

Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich” #12 – Accurate Thinking

In this rare video, Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich,” talks about separating facts into the important and unimportant. Important facts are those who will move you forward to your goals. He also describes how many people who express opinions don’t base them on anything. Opinions need to be based on facts, and if you’re able to give your source, all the better. He then gives 7 rules to follow to be an accurate thinker.



~ Linda-Ann Stewart

How do I achieve self-image, prosperity and success?

How do I achieve self-image, prosperity and success?

Question: I want a better self-image, prosperity, and success, but what do I work on first to achieve these?

Answer: First, a good self-image is the basis of the other two. If you don’t feel like you deserve good, you won’t manifest more prosperity or success. So the first thing I’d focus on is the self-image. I usually tell people to focus on one issue at a time, but since these three items tend to run hand in hand, I think you can work on all three of them at one time.

Write down what makes you feel bad about yourself. Do you feel like you don’t deserve, aren’t enough, aren’t worthwhile? Turn it around and create a positive statement that affirms your worthiness. Work on self-acceptance. And to begin with, I’d state that you deserve prosperity and success in the amount that you want. That would be the first step.

When you start to feel comfortable that you do deserve prosperity and success, then I’d expand the suggestion. State how much prosperity and success that you want. And remember, you don’t have to know how it will happen. That’s what your subconscious mind is for, to work out the details. That’s not to say that you don’t have to take some action, or move in that direction. But you don’t have to worry about the how.

Copyright 2004, 2013 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Do You Want To Avoid Being Miserable? Here Are Habits To Avoid.

Do You Want To Avoid Being Miserable? Here Are Habits To Avoid.

In the article, 14 Habits of Highly Miserable People, author Cloe Madanes explores the ways in which people can hone their skills in this area. She starts with “Be afraid, be very afraid of economic loss,” and ends with “Be critical.”

With each habit, she includes an exercise to develop the unhappiness that goes with it. I found the habits and exercises illuminating. It illumines how a person can make their life unsatisfying without even being aware of it.

She also describes the benefits of being miserable. You wouldn’t think there would be an upside to this, but there always is or it wouldn’t be worth it. Only when someone reaches a point where the benefits no longer outweigh the detriments will they begin to change.

Although this is written in a tongue-in-cheek style, it’s a great commentary on how to avoid being happy. Even though it’s about being miserable, it’s also enlightening on what not to do in your life. If you want to have a happy and fulfilled life, these are habits you should avoid.

Read the article, and see if you spot any of your habits in her list. If you do, you might want to think about changing them.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Adjusting To A Life Shift

Adjusting To A Life Shift

When you have a change in your life, you can have a sense of loss and sadness over what has gone. People don’t understand that this is a normal process. Even if you’re eager for the new door opening, there can be some grief over the old one closing. Learn how this is a normal process and how to approach it.





~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich” #11 – Creative Vision

Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich” #11 – Creative Vision

In this rare video, Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich,” talks about your imagination which builds your plans and purpose. He describes the two forms of imagination, synthetic and creative, and gives examples of each. When you use your imagination, you’re able to formulate new concepts and products which can serve others and bring you ample compensation.



~ Linda-Ann Stewart