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How to Develop the Flow State

How to Develop the Flow State

When you’re in the flow state, or “in the zone,” you’re more productive and creative. Learn how to cultivate that state naturally so your day flows more smoothly. Watch How to Develop the Flow State.

Transcript:

Welcome. Thank you for joining me. In this video, I’d like to give you a tip about how to enter the flow state when you want to work on a task or project.

You know what the flow state is, right? It’s an intensely focused state of mind, where all distractions fade away, and you’re totally involved in your activity. In sports, it’s called “being in the zone.” It’s a peaceful state that enhances productivity and creativity.

The idea I’ll share with you is one I use when starting to write an article, or in any interest I might find a bit challenging.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a focus mentor, writer and hypnotherapist. These videos are dedicated to empower you to focus and align your heart with your vision so you can achieve your goals.

My tip is, at the beginning of an endeavor that takes some effort, you may resist it, and try to distract yourself. This is natural. It’s rare to enter the flow state immediately, so you have to allow it to build. The state takes about 10-20 minutes to develop, if you keep at it.

So, work through the first few minutes of struggle. Don’t multitask or chase any squirrels, no matter how tempting. You could even tell yourself you’ll do something else after focusing on your task for 20 minutes. At the end of that time, you’ll probably find yourself engaged in your activity and want to continue.

Keep at it until you finish, find yourself at a stopping point, or your time is up. Stop when you still feel motivated, so it’s easier to pick it up later. In this way, you’ll train yourself to enter the flow state. This will allow you to get more done, more smoothly. In other words, it’ll flow. And wouldn’t that be nice?

Thank you for watching. If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up. And if you’d like to be notified when I release more videos on mindset, motivation and empowerment, please like my channel and click on the bell. As always, stay focused.

Please read the accompanying article, Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1.

Break the Stress Cycle of Multitasking

Break the Stress Cycle of Multitasking

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Overwhelmed by multitasking
Stressed businessman

Recently, I was working on 3 separate projects with deadlines, answering emails, making phone calls, had some unexpected interruptions that had to be handled, and had 2 clients. By the end of the day, I had a throbbing headache, was exhausted, and had forgotten to pay an important bill. That’s the unfortunate result of multitasking.

Back in the late 1990’s, when smartphones came into being, it was believed that they’d allow us to get more done. We were told we could juggle a lot of different tasks at the same time, and get them all done more efficiently. The truth is far different. Not only does productivity suffer from multitasking, but the activity is a major cause of stress.

The Problem With Multitasking

Multitasking isn’t really doing several things at once. The brain can’t focus on more than one thing at a time. You’re actually quickly switching between one task and another. These mental acrobatics increase the stress hormones in your body, while depleting the glucose in your brain. The result is that multitasking clogs your mental pathways, causes stress, tight muscles, fuzzy thinking and exhaustion. Your mind just can’t juggle multiple tasks, and your health, progress and effectiveness suffers.

It’s like being a hamster on a wheel. Although you believe that you’re getting things done, you’re running in place, never getting anywhere. You use up an incredible amount of energy refocusing your attention from composing an email to talking on the phone to answering a question. Something is going to fall through the cracks, like sending the email to the wrong person.

Multitasking Creates Stress

When you’re multitasking, you’re always in emergency mode. You’re braced for the next crisis, even if it’s just the phone ringing. In this state, you’re just reacting to events. Since you don’t have the mental resources to consider new responses, you fall back into old patterns and innovation evaporates.  

Because you’re always expecting the next predicament, you find it. “Where attention flows, energy goes.” Your subconscious seeks to provide what you’re focused on, which is stress and crises. The Law of Attraction will draw more problems for you to deal with, as that’s where your attention lies. And your subconscious will ensure you remain stressed and continue to multitask, because you think that’s the solution. It’s a vicious cycle.

If you’re trying to move forward in any part of your life, multitasking and the stress it causes will prevent this. Your brain has engaged all its resources to handle what’s immediate. Even the best juggler can only keep so many balls in the air. And he can’t do much of anything else when he’s at his maximum capacity. All his attention has to be on those balls.

How to Break the Cycle of Multitasking

The solution is to free up some of your attention to be able to make progress and changes. The only way to move forward and start taking back control of your life is to break the habit of multitasking. It won’t be easy, because first you have to accept that it’s not beneficial. Then start by focusing on doing one thing at a time. Set aside an hour or two each day to put all your attention on one project. Turn off any technology that could interrupt you.

Occasionally, you’ll have to multitask. Modern life demands it. But you must minimize it to reduce your stress, and improve your health, progress and personal growth. When you find yourself being overwhelmed by multitasking, take a step back and breathe. Break the cycle.

Once you’ve reduced your stress, you’ll have more creativity and resources to make positive changes in your life. When you communicate your desires to your subconscious and the Law of Attraction, they’ll be clearer and more concentrated. You’ll be able to think things through and be more decisive. By being more focused, you’ll begin making progress on your desires, and in your personal and professional lives.

Affirmation:

I now begin to focus on one thing at a time. This frees my mind to be creative and resourceful. My subconscious and the Law of Attraction receive clear guidance from me about my desires. Because of the energy I’ve released, they now put it to work manifesting my goals. The Universe provides me with all I need for a happy and healthy life.

Watch the accompanying video, Reduce the Stress of Multitasking.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

As a nature photographer, when I compose a photograph, I’m so focused that I’m immune to cold or heat. The same absorption is true when I’m weaving. When I enjoy these hobbies, my mind gets totally involved with them. Time ceases to have meaning and hours can fly by without my noticing. This is called the flow state or, in sports, the zone.

What Is the Flow State?

When the brain is in a flow state you’re intensely focused and only aware of the present moment and activity. It feels almost trance-like and is quite peaceful. In this state, you have a clearer channel to the Universe and are more open to Its good. This generally happens when you’re doing something where you feel interested, and engaged. It’s best if the activity isn’t so challenging that it frustrates or disheartens you.

Although, there have been times when I was struggling with a weaving issue (a pattern wasn’t working), I was still completely enthralled and time got away from me. After a few periods of immersing myself in the issue, I would solve the problem.

However, if the activity is too easy and you’re bored, then your mind starts wandering and you drop out of the flow. This is when you start impeding the stream of Universal good. If you’re working on anything that needs attention, you often start making mistakes and having difficulties. So getting in the state of flow is the sweet spot for a more peaceful and harmonious life.

Why the Flow State Is Beneficial

The benefit to being focused and in the flow is that your productivity, performance, creativity, self-esteem and well being increases, while your stress and anxiety decreases. It even improves your ability to think more positively and be happier. The more often you achieve this sense of focus and flow, the more you build inner resources to handle the challenges of life. These are advantages for work, recreation, and a better quality of life.

Unfortunately, our current habits of being distracted by multitasking, cell phone notifications, and scrolling through social media have undermined our ability to focus and to be in the state of flow. The good news is that you can develop the skill of focus and induce a state of flow that you can then use in all areas of your life.

In Part 2 next month, I’ll share some ways you can cultivate stronger focus and create a sense of flow that you can expand into other areas of your life.

Affirmation:

I’m choosing to be focused and present in my life. I narrow my attention to my current activity and set aside all distractions. This allows me to be calmer, more creative and more productive. As I enter the state of flow, I open a channel to Universal good, which streams through me, to me and into all areas of my life.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Use Your Strategic Vision to Succeed

Use Your Strategic Vision to Succeed

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” J. F. C. Fuller, Union General and Military Writer (misattributed to Sun Tzu)

When you have a long-term goal or vision, you generally develop a strategy of how you’re going to achieve your aim. This could be a plan of how you want to improve your health or get to the next level in your business or career. Without a strategy, you rely on dealing with whatever challenges crop up on a daily basis. You may have a collection of tactics that have you running in circles. When you have a strategy and tactics which move you forward, then you’ll make progress and reach your goal.

The Difference Between Strategy and Tactics

There has to be a reason for your tactics. Your vision is what you’re working towards and your strategy is your overall plan of how to achieve it. The Law of Attraction is informed by your vision and strategies. This allows the LOA to draw more opportunities and inspiration to you. Tactics are the actions you’ll take to support your strategy. Your actions stimulate the Universe with more energy to use on your behalf. Without direction from a vision or strategy, tactics are just purposeless actions, accomplishing little.

For instance, your vision, or long range goal, might be to improve your health. Your strategies would be the general actions you’d take to achieve it, such as exercise, eating habits, etc. Tactics would be the concrete steps you take to implement your strategy, such as going to a gym several times a weeks, reducing sugar and carbs, and getting better sleep.

Strategy without tactics might eventually get you to your goal, but it would be a slog. Tactics without strategy would result in inconsistency and running in circles. Both are necessary to fulfill your goal or vision.

What Is Your Vision?

  • What goal do you want to achieve? Pick one major goal and focus on it. The clearer the vision, the faster the Universe can respond.
  • What strategies do you intend to use to accomplish your goal? Don’t choose too many or dismiss unusual opportunities that the Universe puts in your path.
  • What reasonable tactics, or steps, can you take regularly? Keep them small and manageable actions. The more dedicated you are, the easier it is to be Divinely Guided.
  • Visualize yourself successfully achieving each step, and reaching your goal. This gives the Law of Attraction direction.

Follow this process, and you’ll set yourself up for success!

Affirmation: As I set my intention and take action towards my vision, the Universe provides me with everything I need. The Divine Right opportunities, people, information or resources come into my life before I require them. I am Divinely Guided and Inspired every step along the way. The Universe wants me to be successful and makes my path easy, smooth and harmonious.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Mindful Meditation to Ease the Season’s Stress (or any time of the year)

Mindful Meditation to Ease the Season’s Stress (or any time of the year)

There’s so much going on in this season that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But stress doesn’t just happen during the holidays. It happens all during the year. When you practice this 3-step process, you’ll reduce your stress, which allows you to enjoy your life more. Watch Mindful Meditation to Ease the Season’s Stress (or any time of the year).

Transcript:

Welcome to my channel. I don’t know about you, but I tend to get overwhelmed during the holidays. There’s so much to do: find gifts, wrap them, mail some, decorate, write Christmas cards and on and on. All of this is in addition to my normal schedule stresses me out. Can you relate?

Stress like this doesn’t just happen during the holidays, right? Stress happens any time you have a change to your routine. That can be any time of the year.

In this video, I’d like to lead you though a short meditation to unwind. This allows you to be able to handle the adjustments and additions to your life beyond what you normally deal with.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a focus mentor, writer and hypnotherapist. These videos are dedicated to empower you to focus and align your heart with your vision so you can achieve your goals.

When you start to feel stressed, you aren’t as efficient or able to think as clearly. I start feeling like I’m bouncing off all four walls at the same time and trying to do everything at once. And that just wastes energy and creates more craziness, right?  

I’d like to lead you through this short meditation with a 3 step process to help calm you, bringing you back into the present, instead of trying to do weeks of activities in one day.

If you’d like, close your eyes.

First: Take three, mindful, deep breaths. 1: Inhale to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 8. 2: Inhale, exhale. 3: Inhale, exhale. This is a natural tranquilizer and will help you calm your nervous system down.

Second: Scan your body to determine if there’s anywhere you’re feeling tense. If there is, relax those muscles, You can scan from your head to your toes, or from your toes to your head. But anywhere you feel tense, relax that area.

This will also help to quiet your mind, and ground you in the now. You’ll be able to think more clearly and make better decisions.

Third: Use your imagination to imagine that all of your tasks are done easily and smoothly. Imagine that they’re all done in plenty of time to allow you to enjoy your celebrations with friends and loved ones.

Open your eyes.

Being calmer and more relaxed means you’ll be able to accomplish more. In addition, you’ll conserve your energy to get through the holidays with your sanity intact. And that will allow you to have more fun with your loved ones, won’t it? And you can use this guided meditation, these 3 steps, at any time of the year.

I hope you have a happy and harmonious holiday season! Thank you for watching. If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up. And if you’d like to be notified when I release more videos on mindset, motivation and empowerment, please like my channel and click on the bell. As always, stay focused.

Read the accompanying article, Practice Mindful Self-Care During the Holidays.

Practice Mindful Self-Care During the Holidays

Practice Mindful Self-Care During the Holidays

by Linda-Ann Stewart

heart shaped Christmas wreath

This time of year is filled with chaos and overwhelm. Trying to get holiday preparations accomplished, attending gatherings, while balancing your other responsibilities is a challenge. Unfortunately, this season of love and joy often creates issues of stress and anxiety. It’s common for me to start having nightmares in August that it’s Christmas morning and nothing’s done.

What Mindfulness Is

This season inspires us to love, be kind, compassionate, and be of good cheer, towards others, and ourselves, as well. When you’re mindful of your own welfare, you can appreciate the season more. Mindfulness means that you’re focusing on what’s going on only in the present, so all the future tasks aren’t crashing into you.

If you start worrying about the future and what still needs to be done, bring your attention back to the present moment. By being mindful during the holiday rush, you’re better able to maintain your peace of mind. And you’ll remain more open to the Universal flow of good.

Being Mindful

To stay mindful, give yourself permission to make your mental and physical health a priority. When you’re calm, you can accomplish more and have more energy to share with others. So set your intention to pay attention to your needs.

  • Don’t overcommit yourself to social events.
  • Reserve your energy for what’s most important to you. 
  • Set reasonable expectations for yourself.
  • Instead of thinking about everything that you want to get done, focus on what you can do today.

If you start getting anxious, remember that everything will get done in Divine Time. It always does. And if it doesn’t get done, then it’s not worth sacrificing your wellbeing and ability to enjoy festivities with your friends and family. This time of year is about creating cherished memories and spreading good will towards all. Have a joyous holiday season!

Affirmation:

I grant myself the gift of greater peace and harmony this season. When I begin to feel overwhelmed, I bring my attention back to what I can do this moment. Moment by moment, I glide through this holiday season. The Universe guides all my actions. Everything gets done in Divine Time and with Divine Order.

Please watch the accompanying video, Mindful Meditation to Ease the Season’s Stress (or any time of the year).

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Life Leaves Clues

Life Leaves Clues

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Zigzag change

Have you ever stayed in a relationship, a job, a friendship, or a residence too long, hoping that things would improve? I have done all of the above. Many times, though, the situation never improves and actually gets worse. Someone once said “Life leaves clues.” Life drops hints that you’ve learned as much in that experience as you can, and it’s time to move on. Feeling constricted, trapped or suffocated are signals that you need to expand. And sometimes that means leaving the circumstances causing these feelings.

Is It Time to Let Go?

Leaving a condition that is no longer serving you is different from running from a difficult situation in an attempt to avoid the mental/emotional cause of it. When a person tries to escape from what is uncomfortable, without addressing the reason they attracted it in the first place, they tend to fall into a similar situation or worse.

But when you’ve outgrown a situation, that situation itself tries to push you out. It begins to leave you. You might get fired, or not get the promotion you expected. Or the relationship deteriorates. If you’re like me, and don’t easily embrace change, you might tend to hold tightly onto the familiar. Even though you become more and more uncomfortable, and circumstances are trying to push you out of the door, you resist leaving.

Recognize the Clues

I once had a friend with whom I no longer had anything in common. Whenever we were together, there was tension in the air. I wanted to continue the relationship, hoping it would improve, even though we’d grown in different directions. The tension increased until she finally found an excuse to end the friendship.

In retrospect, I realized that the friendship had actually been over for months. The clues for me were the tension, and how she avoided talking to me. For awhile, I was hurt. Now, years later, I’m grateful to her. She recognized, whether consciously or unconsciously, that we’d gone as far down that road together as we could.

The challenge is to read the clues correctly. When you’re feeling like Life is pushing you out of a situation that you’re holding onto, it’s time to make the change. The Universe  undoubtedly has something better in Mind for you. But you have to be willing to release the old before the new condition can manifest.

Affirmation:

Since I am always Divinely Guided, I correctly read the clues that Life leaves for me. I recognize the signs that tell me that it’s time to move on. When I realize that I’ve outgrown a situation, I gracefully release the old conditions. I know that the Universe has something wonderful in store for me. I bless the old situation and gratefully accept the new. 

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Is It Time to Move On?

Is It Time to Move On?

by Linda-Ann Stewart

I used to have a good friend that I’d occasionally meet for lunch or coffee and we’d have interesting conversations. Then, she started showing up late at the restaurant, and once spent most of the time on a phone call. In our last phone conversation, she screamed that I wasn’t doing what she wanted, said she would never call me again and hung up.

We haven’t spoken since. I was sad the relationship had ended, but it apparently had fulfilled its purpose.

“People (and other things) Come and Go”

There’s a saying that, “People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.” It’s very true. I’ve had many people come and go in my life. And they have all been teachers for me, some pleasant, some not so much. Some come and go, only to return again later. They all serve a purpose.

But this sentiment doesn’t just apply to people. It also applies to situations, beliefs, activities, and everything else in your life. I’ve had to let go of something in each one of these categories, often against my wishes. I ignored the warning signs, hoping they’d work out if I put enough energy into them. But the Universe had other ideas.

When to Let Go

There are times when you have to release something in your life that you value, because it no longer serves you. You’ve taken a different path, or have outgrown whatever it is.  The challenge is knowing when the right choice is to stick around or to move on. It’s rarely an easy decision. Many times, the obvious choice is thrust upon you, like it has been on me. Or the Universe simply takes the choice away from you, because It has something better in store for you.

Over the years, I began to recognize the red flags for when to quit wasting time on something that had ceased to be good for me. And conversely, I learned to identify the signals of when to persist.The following are some of the indicators that have worked for me to decide what to do in these situations.

When to Consider Persisting

  • If the relationship or situation is still of benefit to you.
  • If your belief or mindset is still supporting you in your endeavors, health and well being.
  • If there’s a balance between your giving and receiving from where your energy is going, whether a relationship or situation.

When to Consider Moving On

  • When you’re overwhelmed.
  • When you’re being taken advantage of.
  • When you set boundaries and they aren’t respected.
  • When you’re drained and exhausted whenever you’re dealing with the person or situation.
  • When you’re resentful of the time or energy you’re putting forth with not much in return.
  • When you’re out of sync with the person or situation, and just going through the motions to maintain it.

Considerations

  • Take a step back, assess, and decide if you need to let go of just some of what’s contributing to your distress, or all of it.
  • Say “No,” without explanations, excuses or rationalizations. Your decisions aren’t accountable to anyone.
  • Assess if the relationship or situation is still worth putting your energy into it. If so, decide how much energy you’re willing to invest.
  • Decide what needs to change for you to continue. Determine what your actions will be if there is no improvement.
  • Always ask, “What am I learning from this?”

The universe is always about change. So unless you’re stagnant, you’re always growing. Whenever there’s a person or situation in your life, there’s a gift in it for you. You’re to learn from it, to continue on your path of personal development and fulfill your potential. Remember to seek out the gift.

Affirmation:

People and situations come into my life for a reason. Once they have served that purpose, it’s time to release them to their Highest Good. The Universe guides me when it’s time to move on. I willingly let go and open my mind and heart to something better. Only the Highest Good comes to everyone involved with me.

Please watch the accompanying videos, Is It Time to Say “Next?” and Recognizing the Melancholy of Moving On.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html

Overcoming Resistance

Overcoming Resistance

When you want to work towards a goal, often you’ll have a resistance to getting started. But to be able to accomplish anything, you have to get past that resistance. Learn some of the reasons for  resistance, and how you can work your way through it. Watch Overcoming Resistance.

Transcript:

Welcome. Today, I’d like to talk a little bit about the resistance you might have with getting started on a goal, and how you can work through it.

Have you ever been sitting on the couch, watching TV, all comfy and cozy? You know you have to get up and do some chores, but you keep putting them off? You don’t want to leave your nice, warm nest. It’s hard to get moving and accomplish anything.

This is the problem when you have a goal, but aren’t taking action towards it. You may have have a resistance to change, want to avoid the effort involved in that change, or fear you’ll fail, or any number of other reasons. All of this factors into a resistance to getting started.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a focus mentor, writer and hypnotherapist. These videos are dedicated to empower you to focus and align your heart with your vision so you can achieve your goals.

Many of my hypnotherapy clients would resist changing their mental or physical habits. They dreaded the struggle, the commitment, the time it would take to create the change. This is natural.

I often experience resistance when I’m starting a project, writing, or even my hobby of weaving. I’m not sure all that it will entail, or what challenges lie ahead. Do you ever feel that way?

To overcome that resistance, what I do is take a step, just to pick at it, devoting a few minutes to whatever I want to work on. Sometimes, I have to pick at it, take a break, then come back to pick at it some more. Generally, after a few sessions of that, a few minutes leads to more time, and I’ll be on the way to getting it done.

When you’re experiencing resistance, first, acknowledge it. When you bring it into conscious awareness, resistance loses much of its energy. And sometimes, the reason you’re resisting becomes  apparent and you can set it aside.

Second, take some small action towards your goal. Fiddle with it, work around the edges, for a few minutes at a time. The point is just to get moving. This builds motivation.

Take a tiny step. Not only does this make you feel better, it makes it easier to chip away at it. Pretty soon, you’ll build up some momentum and get into the swing of what you need to be doing to accomplish your goal.

What small action can you take now that will cause you to chip away at your goal? Use that to build your motivation and momentum. Thank you for watching. If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up. And if you’d like to be notified when I release more videos on mindset, motivation and empowerment, please like my channel and click on the bell. As always, stay focused.

Read the accompanying article, Moving from Motivation to Momentum.

Moving from Motivation to Momentum

Moving from Motivation to Momentum

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Steam locomotive of train

I’m sure you heard of this natural law when you were in school. “A body at rest tends to stay at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion.” It’s not just applicable in science, it’s also true of your life in general. Inertia, which is the tendency to do nothing, can be challenging to break through.

When you have a task, goal or vision, sometimes it’s hard to put any effort towards it. You could want to tidy your desk, begin a project, clean out the garage, begin a diet or start a business. But it’s difficult to intensify your desire enough to take steps towards your goal. Any artist, writer or creative knows it’s intimidating to face the blank canvas or page. The Universe waits to help you, but you have to give It something to work with first.

Release the Brake

You may be waiting for inspiration or motivation before you get moving. If so, you could wait a long time. Frustration, and maybe guilt, will build up. The more they do, the more you’ll be stuck in that emotional cycle. You’ll attract more circumstances to keep you blocked and distracted, and the Universe will have a hard time guiding you. It’s easier for the Law of Attraction to draw good to you when you have opened the door.

Once you’re able to get up and get moving, natural law indicates that you will stay in motion. And when you have momentum established, you’ll continue on your way. The Universe can direct you and gives you what you need. It’s like a train pulling out of a station. After the engineer releases the brake, it takes great effort for the train to begin its journey. But once it does, it not only keeps moving, it accelerates until it reaches its desired speed.

You use more energy keeping your foot on the brake, than releasing the brake and beginning to roll. Allow your vehicle (you and your goal) to gather speed as you advance. You are in control of the whole process, and the Universe supports you. Don’t wait for motivation. Just get started by taking that first step.

The 4 Stages of Motivation

However, it’s hard to take the first step when you’re at rest. When you understand the 4 stages of motivation, they can empower you to move through them more quickly and develop your momentum.

1. Resistance. You may procrastinate getting started or just plain avoid it. Your subconscious mind is trying to keep you safe. You’ve probably heard the statement, “What you resist, persists.” Whatever you’re avoiding won’t go away. And trying to ignore it will just make it gain energy to get your attention. Anything you’re evading will always be at the edge of your mind, taking up mental space, and siphoning off energy from the rest of your life.

2. Action follows attention. Wherever you’re directing your focus will influence your conduct. “Energy flows where attention goes.” Spend time considering your task or goal, or gather information about how to accomplish it. Build excitement about it. This could be as simple as assessing what you need to do, and writing a list. Or you could bring together your materials, read articles about your goal or decide how to begin.

3. Action can inspire motivation. Once you’ve devoted time to examining your goal, take a baby step. When I have problems writing, I’ll start writing something, anything, to get in the flow. Taking a tiny action triggers the reward center in brain and you feel good. Even checking something off your to-do list will cause you to feel like you accomplished something. This sparks motivation to do something else, so you experience the mental high again.

4. Build momentum. Commit to dedicating five minutes a day to work on a tiny step of your project or goal. This amount is doable. Since it feels good to achieve something, you’re then motivated to take the next step or do more. Once five minutes becomes comfortable, increase your time or the number of tasks. again.

Philosopher Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the single step.” To put this into practice, take a step, no matter how small. Then, take another step, then another. With motion comes motivation, and that creates momentum. Putting one foot in front of the other will accelerate your progress until you’re unstoppable.

Affirmation:

I now release anything that is holding me back from taking action on my goal. It’s safe for me to take the first step. The Universe supports me, and makes my way smooth and straight. As I take a step, I’m encouraged to take another. I am Divinely guided and inspired to go in the right direction for me. As long as I’m moving, the Universe can guide and direct me. The Universe makes my path smooth and clear. Everything I need is now provided, whether it’s motivation, ideas, contacts, opportunities or anything else. I am now advancing in the right way to fulfill my potential.

Watch the accompanying video, Overcoming Resistance.

As a focus mentor, hypnotherapist, and writer, Linda-Ann Stewart motivates women entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus and transform their business through deliberate actions that break through distraction and overwhelm to greater success, wellbeing and prosperity.To boost productivity and reduce overwhelm, register for her FREE guide, Design Your Best Day, at https://www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/guide.html