When your mind feels scattered to the four winds, and you’re easily distracted, take a few minutes to go outside. Connect with nature by listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, watch the clouds. If you can, go for a walk in nature. Take deep breaths and touch the earth as a way of grounding yourself, literally. This can help you unwind, shift your energy and get refocused.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Being busy is killing our ability to think creatively
As a society, we’re addicted to our phones, which constantly keeps our attention engaged. This is antithetical to creativity and innovation, which needs space to breathe. Instead of wiring your brain for distraction, experiment with the four strategies this article suggests to unplug so you can be open to new ideas.
Psychology and Neuroscience Blow-Up the Myth of Effective Multitasking
People fool themselves into thinking they’re more productive when they multitask because it’s so satisfying. Instead, you’re wasting precious focus and energy. This article highlights specifically how multitasking impairs efficiency and productivity.
The more we remain openhearted to ourselves the more available we are to others. We must first become our own best friend so that we are better poised to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others and ultimately impact the greater good for all. Use the strategies in this article to improve your relationship with yourself.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
How to Tame a Worrying Mind During Difficult Times
Worry can rob you of sleep, ability to think clearly, and peace of mind. When you’re able to let go of worry, you’re more resilient, make better decisions and have a greater sense of well being. Use the three strategies in this article to take charge and let go of worry.
Boost Productivity with Strategic Breaks and Sustainable Focus
Working more hours doesn’t necessarily mean that you get more done or are more productive. The mind can only focus for so long before becoming fatigued. And once your focus is gone, your productivity fades with it. Follow these three ways to take breaks and your focus will be renewed.
How to Find Motivation When You’re Totally Burnt Out
When you’re tired and discouraged, it’s hard to find the energy to do anything. But you can find the motivation to get moving again with a change of perspective. Using the Princess Bride movie as her inspiration, the author shows you how you can once again find your motivation. She shares four solid ways you can dig yourself out of your hole and back to feeling yourself again.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Manage Your Attention, Not Your Time
So many stimuli compete for your attention each day that by the end of it, your brain feels like scrambled eggs. You can prevent that from happening by being more conscious of how you divide your attention over specific tasks. Here are three ways to keep your focus flowing.
5 Habits That Turn Off Negative Thinking
Negative thoughts only affect you if you give them power. But all too often they catch your attention and disturb your effectiveness. But you have the ability to turn that around and reduce their damage. You have control over your mind, and this article gives you some direction on how to take charge.
Impostor Syndrome: Why Success Makes You Feel Like A Fraud
The imposter syndrome typically happens to high achieving individuals who have a hard time adjusting to their success. It refers to the fear of being found out that their success is due to luck and not their abilities. This article explores this syndrome so you can understand it more fully and suggests ways to combat it.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Is there a goal you want that you haven’t put any effort towards yet? To achieve your goal, you have to motivate yourself to start taking action. But that’s easier said than done. You have to find what will make it important enough to you to get moving. And then you have to discover how to stay committed. Here’s a strategy that will solve those problems and get you on course to achieving the goal you’ve been dreaming of.
Transcript:
Thank you for joining me. I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a vision strategist. I’d like to share a technique I’ve used for thirty years to help clients get themselves motivated to make massive changes in their lives. It’s called the Stick and the Carrot.
Essentially, it’s figuring out what will prompt you to get moving, and what will keep luring you forward. It’s like a cart driver using a stick to gently urge a reluctant donkey to start forward, and dangling a carrot on the end of a stick in front of the donkey to keep them moving. No, I’m not calling you a donkey. But doesn’t it sometimes feel like you’re stuck and won’t move forward? This strategy will solve that.
I suggest a technique many businesses use. To motivate yourself to do something you’re dreading, do a cost-benefits analysis. Sounds boring, doesn’t it? But it’s worked for my clients.
I ask them why they want whatever their goal is. What happens if they don’t get it and what happens if they do? Essentially, you’re figuring out what the costs are to not getting started (the stick), and then what the benefits would be to taking action (the carrot).
For the costs, or disadvantages, ask yourself, “What are consequences of staying on this same path?” “How will I feel if I don’t make this change?” And, “Where will I be in a year or two years if I don’t commit to changing?” Those would be the costs of inaction for you. Most of the time, the answers to these questions will gently whip you into taking action, even if it’s small and slow.
Now for the carrot, to lure you forward towards your rewards. To consider the benefits, turn the questions around. Ask yourself, “What are the advantages of making the change?” “How will I feel once I’ve achieved this change?” “Where will I be in a year if I do commit to making a change?” This helps you to create the vision of what you want. Done right, it will stir up anticipation, excitement and commitment.
When you use both of these, you’ll spur yourself forward and keep going. The stick simply reminds you of what will happen if you don’t take action, and the carrot is there to remind you of what’s in store for you when you do.
If you’d like to achieve a 90-day goal more easily, download my free comprehensive Strategic Vision blueprint. You’ll receive the blueprint, as well as tips and directions to support you in you in accomplishing your goal.
Thank you for watching. I hope you motivate yourself to achieve that goal you’ve been dreaming of. I know you can do it.
Read the accompanying article What Motivates You?
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
Question: How can I learn to concentrate better, so that my mind doesn’t wander?
Answer: Do you have a lot of pressure on you? Have you had a lot of stress? These would cause your mind to wander as a way of escaping and having a mental vacation. Have you been doing any meditation, exercise, or any sort of stress reduction techniques? That would be my first recommendation to you.
Secondly, sometimes, the mind gets tired of focusing, and needs some time away from it. Concentrating on one thing for a long period is exhausting, so if you’ve been doing that, start breaking the periods up.
This sounds odd, but simply doing meditation or self-hypnosis each day will give your mind a rest, while at the same time, they help to train your mind to concentrate better.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
The Power of Your Vision – and Letting It Guide You
Goals aren’t enough to move you forward. They run you in circles, keeping you busy, but not really accomplishing anything. You also need to have a reason for them, a destination you’re aspiring to with them. Use the three steps in this article to make this the year you make a difference in your life.
7 Science-Backed Strategies for Building Powerful Habits
When you set a goal, you’ll probably also need to change a habit to achieve it. But it’s hard to break a habit and create a new one. And if life gets in the way, it’s all too easy to backslide. To develop a habit that lasts, set yourself up for success using the tips in this article.
Two Quick Ways to Feel More Optimistic
Are you a half-empty or half-full type of person? The difference between them is how you think during stressful times. If you are a pessimist (half-empty), then you believe that you don’t have any control over what’s happening. If you’re an optimist (half-full), you focus on what you can do to make it better. If you want, you can start training yourself to be optimistic using the resources in this article.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
by Linda-Ann Stewart
Do you know what your ideal life would be like? I don’t mean that you’ve won the lottery and are living the life of a multi-millionaire. That would be nice, I know. But I mean a life that is realistic and that you can create for yourself through your thoughts and actions.
You’ve already created the life you have now, through your thoughts, beliefs and behaviors. These have either been programmed in the past or were of your deliberate choosing. The Law of Attraction took that programming and brought you the life you now have. To create your ideal life, take charge and mold your life into what you want it to be.
As you consider your ideal life, you develop clarity about what it would consist of. Contemplate a life that delivers all you need to be happy, healthy and fulfilled. Although it needs to be realistic, don’t aim too low. Really dream about a life that would bring you joy. Once you’ve begun the process, it’s time to get specific.
Six steps to create your ideal life:
Create the vision. Your vision gives your subconscious and the Law of Attraction a destination. It’s where you want to end up. As you develop your vision, consider how your life could flow smoothly. Imagine that all you need is provided. Reflect on what you want in the way of harmony, health, travel and relationships. What kind of schedule do you want to keep? This is the time to really dream.
Focus on one area. If you try to work on too many goals at the same time, you spread your energy too thin. Your subconscious and the Law of Attraction will get overwhelmed. You’ll be able to advance a little bit on some of them, but it will be so small that you’ll get discouraged. Instead, pick an area that you really want to change, and focus on that first. You’ll reach it much sooner and then be able to move on to your next goal.
Develop the steps. What do you need to do to create your ideal life? Break your steps down into mini-steps, making them easy to accomplish. How much of it can you achieve in 90 days? Make that your goal. When you have a vision, it may seem too distant and unattainable. Breaking your vision into 90 day goals makes it much more approachable and doable. Then attend to your immediate goal every day, accomplishing one task toward its achievement. This convinces your subconscious and the Law of Attraction that you really are dedicated to your goal.
Construct a visualization. Visualization isn’t just “seeing” something in your mind. Write out your vision completely, as if you’re scripting it. Include how you act and feel with it being accomplished. This gives your subconscious and the Law of Attraction a model to follow. As you do, you may discover that you want to change some habits or attitudes about yourself or your vision. Also script how you accomplish your next step. With this visualization, you’re rehearsing your actions, which make it easier to follow through with in life. Read your script every day.
Check your progress. As you move forward, you may get detoured or distracted. This is normal. Life happens. Every week, take a few minutes to evaluate how far you’ve come and whether you’re still on course. If not, adjust your course to get back on track. Plan out your week, and schedule your next steps. Continually committing yourself to your vision means that you will accomplish it and empowers the Law of Attraction.
Celebrate your achievements. No matter how small the accomplishment, give yourself a mental pat on the back. It feels good to acknowledge that you’ve taken a step. This rewards you for your efforts and encourages you to keep going. Since you want more of those positive feelings, you’ll stay focused on your next step so you continue to feel good.
As you work through these steps, you’ll discover information and resources that you need. Your focus allows you to notice ideas that you would have ignored before. You may also discover you need to shift your priorities or give up outgrown ideas or relationships to accomplish your vision. You deserve your ideal life. Open the door to receive it.
AFFIRMATION:
The Universe supports my endeavors and helps to keep me focused and on course. I deserve the best life that Life has to offer. I now envision it and give myself permission to open the door to succeed. The Universe empowers me to take each step, knowing that each step brings me closer to my ideal life.
Read the accompanying video, Guided Meditation to Create Your Ideal Life.
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Resistance to achieving a goal is natural. It’s a response of your inner mind to your feeling uncertain about the change that comes with achieving a goal. When you’re committed to a goal, but the resistance persists, it can be discouraging. This guided imagery meditation can begin to dissolve your resistance to moving forward and getting on course.
Thank you for joining me. I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a vision strategist. I’d like to share a short meditation to help you overcome any subconscious resistance to your goal, vision or dream.
Resistance is natural. It means that you’re leaving your comfort zone, where you feel secure. The subconscious wants to keep you safe, so it creates anxiety and resistance in the form of procrastination, negative self-talk and the like. I’m sure you know what it is for you, right?
Well, though it doesn’t feel like it, your subconscious is performing a service for you. It’s helping you decide if your goal is more important than the uncomfortable feelings that will surface to keep you in place.
If you are committed to your goal, you can use this guided imagery meditation to convince your subconscious of your intent.
If you want, close your eyes. Imagine an image for your resistance, in whatever way your resistance manifests. It could be procrastination, fear, self-doubt, an old belief or something else.
Your image could be literal, or it could be symbolic, like a locked door, an anchor or a wall. It could also be simply a sense or feeling or a sound. Accept whatever image comes to mind. Imagine it bright, strong, and big and close to you.
Now shifting your attention to one side or the other, beside it, imagine an image for your goal, vision or dream. Again, it could be literal, like you accomplishing your goal, or it could be symbolic, like a sunrise. It could be a sense of satisfaction or the sound of people clapping. Accept whatever image comes, but imagine this one is faded, weak and small and a little bit of a distance from you.
Realize your resistance is trying to keep you safe. But it’s doing it now in a way that’s not helpful. You are committed to your vision, dream or goal, and are willing to face the uncomfortable feelings that might rise as you move forward. As they surface, you remind yourself that they’re just your subconscious being concerned for you.
As you understand this, the image for your resistance begins to fade, to weaken, to become smaller and recede away from you, into the distance. It’s served its purpose and knows it’s ok for you achieve your vision, goal or dream. As it fades, your image for your goal begins to become brighter, stronger, and bigger and comes closer to you. It fills your world.
You know the actions you need to take to make this goal, vision or dream a reality. You feel confident and eager to now take the steps necessary to move forward. You take this confidence with you throughout the day and days to come.
Open your eyes.
This meditation won’t do all the work to get you on course. It’s a big part of it, but you actually need to take definite actions, specific ones to move you forward. Actions convince your subconscious of your sincerity and dedication, and ease its concerns about your safety. With that, your subconscious will minimize its resistance and it will help you to achieve your goal.
If you’d to achieve a 90-day goal more easily, download my free comprehensive Strategic Vision blueprint at www. Linda-AnnStewart.com/setyourcourse.html. You’ll receive the blueprint, as well as tips and directions about the 4 vital areas that support you in accomplishing your goal.
Thank you for watching. What actions can you take right away that will begin to dissolve your resistance? Take care.
Read the accompanying article, Are You Resisting Your Vision?
~ Linda-Ann Stewart
One of Those Days: How to Bounce Back When Nothing Seems to Go Right
Everyone has had days that started out on the wrong foot, and just kept spiraling down. It’s hard to stop the cycle once it’s started, but it can be done. Discover how these three strategies can help you turn the day around.
Why Multitasking Doesn’t Work
Successful multitasking is a myth. You really can’t focus on more than one thing at a time.
It’s not like chewing gum and walking. You’re trying to split your cognitive resources, which means you only have half to give each task. This article goes much deeper into the research and the effects of it, like talking on the cell phone while driving is like driving drunk.
3 Simple Steps to Set Business Goals That FINALLY Come True
Goals are inspired by your wanting to fulfill more of your potential. But sometimes, you get blocked in your pursuit of your goals, feel frustrated and give up. But if you plan for the setbacks, you’ll be able to overcome the obstacles and achieve your desires. Use these steps to keep you on track for your goals.
~ Linda-Ann Stewart