Browsed by
Tag: attitude

Do You Passively Assume or Actively Believe? Part 1

Do You Passively Assume or Actively Believe? Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Casey never balanced her checkbook. She just assumed she’d have enough for her rent and monthly expenses each month. Although she never knew how much money she had, that didn’t stop her from going out to lunch every day, buying jewelry and going to the movies with her friends. She went through the month with blinders on, avoiding thinking about how she was going to pay for everything.

At the end of the month, she usually could pay her rent only if she didn’t buy groceries for the week. Her assumption that she had enough money wasn’t a strong enough belief to get her over her financial hump.

There’s a difference between an assumption that the best is coming to you and a conviction that it is. An assumption is passive, and doesn’t have much energy behind it. It’s mainly a hope that what you want will come to pass, without much resolution behind it.

On the other end of the spectrum, a conviction is active, a certain knowledge that what you desire will occur. It’s conscious, intentional, focused and supercharges the thought and will. A belief backed with power inspires. It stirs the subconscious to creatively solve problems and find new ways of getting things done.

Too many people float through life, assuming that everything will be the same. But the one constant in the Universe is change. As our environment and we change, we need to keep our beliefs in line with the present.

At the beginning of this century, many people comfortably believed that they would work for one company for their entire career. Shortly thereafter, many jobs were out-sourced and there was a recession. Suddenly, they faced a completely new set of circumstances, and spiraled into fear.

People who make statements like, “Smoking won’t affect my health,” “I’ll eventually be able to pay down my credit cards,” or “I don’t have to upgrade my supplies or my marketing. Customers will come back into stores soon,” aren’t being positive or optimistic. They’re living in denial, avoiding reality. They choose to stay in their comfort zone, even if it’s destroying them. If they recognized the facts, they’d have to be pro-active and change, which they don’t want to make the effort to do.

Many businesses and associations make a similar mistake. They coast on their past success until they run out of juice. Because they haven’t changed with the times, they don’t alter their strategies to find more business or new members. They’re tied to their old mindset, assuming that what used to work is going to continue to work in the same way. But times change, and they need to update the way they do business.

Copyright 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

The One Big Illusion

The One Big Illusion

by Robert Middleton

I talk a lot about “Marketing Mindset” in the More Clients eZine.

It’s because what I notice that stops people from effectively marketing their services is rarely the technical components of marketing, such as networking, speaking and writing.

No, it’s all the thoughts, emotions and attitudes that prevent us from implementing these things.

The greatest illusion is that virtually nobody, including you, dear reader thinks this is the case. Everyone thinks it’s one of the following reasons why they are not good at marketing:

1. I don’t know what to do or how to do it.

2. I am just not the marketing type.

3. Marketing doesn’t work for my kind of business.

4. I don’t have the time to do marketing.

5. Most marketing leads to rejection, anyway.

6. Marketing is an interruption that irritates people.

7. If people need what I have, they’ll call me.

OK, so I’m willing to bet that if you are not having much marketing success, that you believe at least four out of seven of the above statements.

What nobody realizes is that these are not statements of “fact.” Far from it. Every single one of them is a mindset. What I mean by a mindset is an “established and fixed attitude held by someone about something.”

And mindsets literally construct your reality. They shape your thoughts, feelings and behavior. And they appear to be true, so true in fact that they are almost never questioned.

A mindset acts much like a hypnotic auto-suggestion.

You say it, think, it believe it, feel it, and act consistently with it and then have evidence to back it up that it’s true. You are so identified with your mindsets that to you they are not mindsets at all, they are the unvarnished truth.

And if that’s all true, you are in a real pickle, because how can you escape from a mindset that you don’t even think it a mindset? How can you wake up from a dream that you are totally convinced is reality?

Well, first of all, you need to accept that maybe, just maybe, what I’m saying might be true. You just might be stuck in mindsets that are holding you back from marketing yourself successfully and that nothing external whatsoever is holding you back.

Tough to accept, I know.

The next thing to notice is that when you identify with a particular mindset, how does it make you feel? Does it make you feel alive and excited, full of opportunity and promise?

Or not?

I don’t think so. These, what I call “constrictive mindsets” feel stressful in some way. They feel like excuses, they feel like cop-outs, they feel that they are opposing your goals to get the word out and make a difference in the lives and businesses of your clients.

Let’s just take the somewhat benign mindset: “I don’t have time to market my services.”

Not too inspiring, right? You may be able to justify it, but it’s not fulfilling, is it? No, it feels frustrating. It’s a statement of defeat. It certainly isn’t motivating you to get out there; it’s stopping you in your tracks, often before you even start.

So if expressing a mindset feels that way, you know something you didn’t know before: That mindset is a lie. It’s not true. It never was and never will be.

It’s a lie that you don’t have time to market yourself.

And look at what happens when you believe that lie. You make excuses, you avoid doing things, you don’t organize your schedule to fit in marketing. In fact you do everything in your power to justify that mindset, despite the fact that it’s not helping you one iota.

Can you see that?

Well, what if you could no longer identify with that mindset anymore? I mean, what if you couldn’t even think that it was true? Even if you have a lot of other priorities and were very busy, you couldn’t believe it was true anymore.

Then who would you be? How would you react? How would you behave?

Wouldn’t it be completely different from how you’re reacting now? Wouldn’t you find a way to fit some marketing activities into your schedule? Wouldn’t you stop making lame excuses? Wouldn’t you stop looking for “the perfect marketing opportunity” and just do what you could, such as follow up with that prospect you’ve been avoiding?

The first step in all this is to identify those mindsets that are holding you back. What are you always telling yourself about marketing? And how are you feeling about those thoughts? If you’re not feeling great, then they’re probably lies.

So take a little time to look at the consequences of those lies. Are they undermining you, holding you back, making you small, preventing you from getting what you want?

If that’s the case, the good news is that there’s such a thing as expansive mindsets. And in the realm of marketing you may not be so familiar with them.

Expansive mindsets get your creativity flowing, enable you to see opportunities, open up new possibilities and make you take risks that feel fun and exciting.

Let’s turn around that mindset list:

1. I can learn what to do and how to do it.

2. I’m the type who can share the value of my services.

3. I can find a way to market my services appropriately.

4. I can find the time to do marketing.

5. Marketing can lead to people who need my assistance.

6. Marketing can we a welcomed conversation.

7. If people need what I have, I can follow-up with them.

Aren’t these possibly just as true, maybe truer than the original list? One thing is for sure, they feel better, don’t they? Well, then try them out and see where they take you.

Copyright 2012 Robert Middleton
All Rights Reserved

By Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. Please visit Robert’s web site at www.actionplan.com for additional marketing articles and resources on marketing for professional service businesses.

Book Review – Open Your Mind To Receive

Book Review – Open Your Mind To Receive

Open Your Mind To Receive
By Catherine Ponder

This is one of my favorite books by this author. It’s a small tome, but packed with great ideas. The whole premise is stated in the title. Most of us have closed ideas of the amount of good we can accept.

This book instructs the reader to open their mind to accept more of the goodness of the Universe. Though Ms. Ponder mainly addresses the issue of abundance or prosperity, these ideas can be used for other challenges as well.

It was in this book that she introduced me to the concept of of releasing a person as a way of forgiving them, since she states that the word “forgive” means to “give up.” This has helped me to let go of people that I haven’t been quite able to forgive.

She also addresses the idea of accepting “nothing but the best.” Most of us have settled for something less, so this concept is one that we need to envision for ourselves.

As is usual in her books, this one is filled with great affirmations and examples. It’s a wonderful, easy, interesting read, and I recommend it highly.

Copyright 2004, 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Create A New Tomorrow From The Thoughts You Have Today

Create A New Tomorrow From The Thoughts You Have Today

The only thing constant in the universe is change. The past doesn’t need to predict your future, because you have the power to change your beliefs and responses. Those thoughts can always be of something better. Learn about the natural process of change so you don’t get discouraged as you move forward.



Copyright 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Let The Past Be The Past, And Create A New Future, Part 2

Let The Past Be The Past, And Create A New Future, Part 2

by Linda Ann Stewart

Here are some tips on how to cut old ties, and start a new tomorrow.

1. Let go of the past. Discard negative associations and reminders that might drag you down. They’ve served their purpose and aren’t of value anymore. They belong to old decisions and experiences that you’ve already learned from. Take what you’ve learned that’s constructive and let the rest go.

2. Be open to change. You may have to let go of ideas, beliefs or situations that you value if you want to have a different future. Being a couch potato isn’t compatible with a goal of hiking in the Grand Canyon. You’d have to reduce your television viewing and commit to walking and training for that objective. Old attitudes and behaviors may not be able to exist in the same space as your goal. Something has to give. Ask yourself, “How badly do I want a brighter future?”

3. Create new thought habits. Your past was created by thoughts that you had when you were younger. They built up, like building blocks, one on top of another, until they formed a habitual way of thinking and acting. If you attend to your thoughts in the present, you will create a different future. Simply change the way you think and create new positive habits. Each moment is a new beginning that brings you this opportunity.

4. Focus on what you want. When you keep looking backwards, you go in the direction of your vision. It pulls at you, and you can’t imagine anything different. You’ll keep recreating it. Instead of focusing on what’s already happened, concentrate on what you want to create. Even if you don’t know how your goal could come about, place your attention on moving towards it. As you fill your vision with what you want, take action toward it and synchronicities will begin to happen. The Universe will support you by bringing you what you need.

5. Don’t limit how your desire could become real. It’s all too human to try to figure out how things could happen, but your only reference is your past. By using that as your guide, you risk muddying the waters of your subconscious mind and restricting what it can do. The Infinite is always pouring Its energy into the subconscious. Because of that, your subconscious can draw on many more resources than your conscious mind can even contemplate. So let your inner mind do its job, which is to figure out how to create the reality you want. So remind yourself, “I don’t know how it can happen, but the Universe and my subconscious knows how.”

Your past performance does not need to foretell your future. Life is in a constant state of flux. The past is over, the future is yet to be. In each present moment, you can make a new decision that steers you in a different direction. Take the lessons of the past and use them to build a better life.

Affirmation
My past does not need to affect my future. Each moment, by paying attention to my thoughts, I can create a new tomorrow. I release old ideas that no longer serve me. I learn the lessons from the past and move forward. The Universe completely supports my vision, bringing me everything I need for the fulfillment of my goal. Although I might not know how it can appear, the Infinite and my subconscious mind know exactly what to do.

Copyright 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Let The Past Be The Past, And Create A New Future, Part 1

Let The Past Be The Past, And Create A New Future, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

I’m sure that somewhere you’ve read a financial disclosure statement which says, “Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.” It’s used by financial institutions, for investment products, etc. The statement makes sure that investors don’t assume their money is going to increase tomorrow as it has in the past. Also, this disclosure protects the financial institution if the investor loses money.

The same statement could be said about your life. Your past performance doesn’t necessarily indicate how your future is going to be. If a basketball player doesn’t practice, and suddenly plays a game, they’ll probably miss more baskets than they’re used to. Their skill has gotten rusty. A realtor who used to successfully close sales quickly may experience a longer time frame between writing contracts due to the economy.

On the other hand, if you’ve had trouble being successful, your past doesn’t have to foreshadow your future. You don’t have to be tied to what you’ve already experienced. The Universe gives you constant chance to improve. All it takes is a different decision and a change of belief. Your new attitude will create better opportunities.

Copyright 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

You Are Your Authority, Part 2

You Are Your Authority, Part 2

by Linda-Ann Stewart

When you listen to the critical things that you say to yourself, you can begin to deal with them. As with everything in the subconscious, they once had a reason and a purpose to protect you. Although they’ve been trying to help you, they’ve been doing it in a way that you have outgrown. Those messages were patterned on the authority figures in your childhood so that you could fit into the conditions at that time. But they are no longer necessary, and won’t realize it until you tell them so. Believe it or not, they’re waiting for you to assert your power over them and reclaim your authority.

If the old ideas are telling you that you don’t deserve good, or that you’re not worthy, realize that the Universe has much more authority than the people who implanted those beliefs in you. And the Infinite knows that you deserve all the good that Life has to offer. Spirit is stronger than any outdated attitude. A Divine truth is that the Universe wants you to accept and express the wholeness of your being.

You have the right to re-examine the standards by which you have lived your life. Those condemning internal messages have been trying to keep you living within the bounds of someone else’s values. With all the knowledge you now have, you can change the attitudes that no longer serve you. Using affirmations and Divine guidance, you can transform the outdated values into ones that are in alignment with love, harmony, joy, abundance, and all the good there is.

Affirmations I used during this period were, “I am the authority in my life” and “I own my authority.” I had to review all the standards I’d grown up with, reassess them and release the ones that no longer served me. When I began to do this, it was scary. The first few times that I stood up for myself, I felt the sky might fall. It didn’t. Instead, the Universe rushed in to support me and my world expanded. The same will be true for you.

Affirmation:

I know that the Universe supports me in the good that I desire. The only one that keeps my good from me is my own thoughts about it. I now release any old concepts that might have restricted my acceptance of all the good I desire. As I place my desire in my mind, knowing that I deserve it, then the All of the Universe rushes in to fulfill it in a perfect way.

Copyright 2000, 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

You Are Your Authority, Part 1

You Are Your Authority, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Years ago, I discovered that the critical people in my life, who loved to pick at me and tear me down, were just echoing the condemning voices in my head. I’d spent so much time distracted, defending myself against those outer critics, that I hadn’t addressed the real issue, how I felt about myself. I’d given the past, and the people in it, authority over me.

Most of us have disapproving judgements about ourselves that tell us that we’re not good enough. Maybe you have an inner critic that tells you that you can’t do anything right, that you “should” be perfect, or that making a mistake is worse than death. I know of people who can’t take a day off because they’d feel guilty. And others who refused to hire someone to paint their house because they felt they “ought” to do it. Your internal judge pounds you with its condemnations, both from within, using guilt, and outwardly by reflecting your inner feelings in how the people in your life treat you.

Many people who have rebelled against authority figures in the past tend to have problems now with bosses, police, the IRS, etc. They defy internalized critical messages from their childhood environment, and don’t accept responsibility for their actions. Therefore, the energy that they have resisted and disowned increases and echoes back to them from the world.

Whatever you feel victimized by will mirror in your life. Just as my environment had been reflecting back to me what was already in my consciousness. I had to change my attitude from defending myself to addressing the internal messages from a position of strength. As I took responsibility for my own well being, the critics began to fade out of my life. I’m not saying it was easy. It wasn’t. But once I convinced myself that no one had the right to put me down, including my internal critic, my life began to improve.

Copyright 2000, 2012 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

Turn Challenges Into Opportunities

Turn Challenges Into Opportunities

When you judge that a situation or condition is “bad,” you’re doing so because it’s not living up to your expectations. It’s not going the way you want it to. You want a certain result from it, and something has happened to turn it in a different direction.

Sometimes, this happens because you need to let go of something that’s not serving you anymore. You could have outgrown a relationship, position, or place. And you’re being shoved out of your nest, and into a bigger, wider world.

It may feel like your world is caving in around you, and life is more limited. But this is a temporary condition. In actuality, this condition precedes a greater expansion for you, if you work with it.

Resisting what has happened will simply make the distressing situation last longer. All your energy is going into resistance, instead of letting go of an unraveling rope. Learn what you need to release, and discover how you can move forward.

The Chinese characters for “challenge” and “opportunity” are the same. In every difficulty, there’s a gift for you. Start looking for the opportunities that come with situations that upset you.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review – From Sabotage to Success

Book Review – From Sabotage to Success

Reach Your True Potential: How to Overcome Self-Defeating Behavior    (previously “From Sabotage to Success: How to Overcome Self-Defeating Behavior and Reach Your True Potential”)

By Sheri O. Zampelli

The author of this book was once a drug-addict, and knows about self-sabotage inside and out. After getting clean, she discovered how affirmations can change a person’s beliefs, thereby changing their reality. This book is an intense and complete look at self-sabotage and ways we can change it so that we can achieve our dreams.

Each chapter ends with activities to help create the life the reader wants, and most chapters include exercises that help to uncover or examine the self-defeating ideas and behaviors that have held the reader back.

Ms. Zampelli explores the different attitudes that undermine success. She also gives comprehensive explanation of why we sabotage ourselves, along with the attitudes and behaviors that hold us back.

The author is a great believer in affirmations (as am I), and gives directions on how to write your own, along with pages of affirmations for different issues.

The thing that sets this book apart is all the exercises, activities, and techniques the reader can use to overcome sabotage and create the life they want. This isn’t just a book of abstract, motivational inspiration, but a book of practical, “do it” knowledge that anyone can use to improve their life.