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Personal Development Tools for Success

Personal Development Tools for Success

Personal development is crucial for your success, as it enhances your self-confidence, motivation and performance. There are many different ways you can improve your personal growth. This video shares 5 tactics that can help you attract more opportunities for success. Watch Personal Development Tools for Success.

Transcript:

Welcome. Did you know that personal development was crucial for your success? Jim Rohn, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker said, “Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development, because success is something you attract by the person you become.” “… something you attract by the person you become.” That’s something to think about, isn’t it?

Personal development enhances self-confidence, motivation, and performance. This allows you to attract more success. In this video, I’d like to share some of the simple ways you can use to foster your personal growth.

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.

Now, there are many, many ways to improve your personal growth. The following five ways are the simplest I know, and you probably know of them, too. They’re ones that will give you the greatest traction.

  1. Affirmations or self-talk or auto-suggestion. These are all very similar. I have used and taught them all to clients. Each of these techniques are ways to program your subconscious mind with the beliefs and motivation that will further your success in life.
  2. Visualization. This is another way to program your subconscious mind with your goals and aspirations.
  3. Read self-improvement books and articles, and watch self-help videos. But don’t just passively consume them, apply what they teach to your life.
  4. Keep a journal. This could be by journaling, which is a stream of consciousness writing for insight and inspiration. Or you could keep a gratitude or acknowledgement journal that celebrates your progress and accomplishments.
  5. Practice kindness and compassion. Open the door for someone, smile at the grocery clerk. Simple acts of kindness improve brain health, brain function, mood and satisfaction.

These are just a few of the ways you can grow within. It’s not difficult to find ways to improve yourself, but it does take some effort to apply the techniques. Doing so consistently will raise your self-esteem and well being, and you’ll attract more people and opportunities for success.

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, Personal Growth Opens the Door to Success.

Meditation for Self-Love

Meditation for Self-Love

Loving yourself is necessary to a strong sense of self-esteem and self-worth. When you love yourself, you have more love, compassion and empathy for yourself and others. Practice this meditation to develop self-love to experience greater well being. Watch Meditation for Self-Love.

Transcript:

Welcome. Today, I’d like to lead you through a meditation to help you cultivate more love for yourself. When I use the term “self-love,” I’m not talking about narcissism, which is more about complete self-centeredness, self-importance and a sense of entitlement.

Instead, self-love means you have a healthy interest in your own well being and happiness. When you love yourself, you have more compassion and empathy for yourself and for others. Does that sound good?

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.

The goal of this meditation is to allow you to feel your love for yourself. To benefit the most from this meditation, close your eyes.

Imagine someone, such as a child, spouse, family member, friend, or even a pet, in front of you. You care deeply about that individual’s well being. You want the best for that individual, health, harmony and happiness. Imagine that feeling of wanting the best for them welling up within you. That is love. Imagine yourself projecting an ocean of love towards that person, bathing them in love.

Now imagine, that the individual turns into a representation of you. It could be a photo of you, a reflection of you in the mirror, or something else. You want the best for that representation, who the representation reflects. It’s the same health, harmony and happiness you wished for the other individual a moment ago.

Imagine that feeling welling up within you again. That is love. You’re now viewing yourself, projecting love to yourself and receiving that ocean of love. Bathing in it. Open your heart to receive the love. Accept the love.

Open your eyes. Do you notice a difference?

When you can accept that love for yourself, from yourself, you have more love to give to those around you. You not only take better care of your well being, but you also care more about others well being.

If you practice this type of meditation several times a week, you’ll probably notice that your self-esteem and self-worth improves.

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, Cultivate Self-Love to Flourish.

Cultivate Self-Love to Flourish

Cultivate Self-Love to Flourish

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Heart Tree

People always talk about loving others, but what about loving yourself? Loving yourself is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your life. It means that you care for yourself, and will take care of yourself. There are many words that people use to define caring about themselves, such as self-esteem, self-worth, self-compassion, self-care, and self-acceptance.

All of these descriptions go into building self-love, which is a deep appreciation of who you are as a person. Self-love is created by all those qualities, and at the same time, it’s the foundation of them all. It’s a feedback loop that strengthens each of those other qualities.

You’re an individualized expression of the Universe, and the Universe loves you unconditionally. How could it be otherwise? How could it not love a part of Itself? And if you love the Universe, then you must love Its form in and as you.

Self-Love vs. Narcissism

Unfortunately, many people confuse self-love with narcissism. They are actually opposites. Narcissists are concerned with comparing themselves with others, and try to drag others down to build themselves up. Contrary to this, self-love is about having a profound interest in your own well being. Self-Love has nothing to do with comparing yourself to other people.

Narcissism seeks its validation from external factors and at the expense of others. Self-love is developed from within, and dependent on your approval of yourself as an individual. You value your welfare, and don’t sacrifice it to others demands or expectations.

The Universe prizes your well being, and wants you to be true to yourself. Because when you are, then you’re creating the best conduit for Universal Love.

When You Love Yourself

People who want to feel good about themselves work on self-esteem and self-worth issues. Those issues block the flow of Universal love to and through you. And those issues are well worth dealing with, for they’ll help you understand that you deserve love. And when you reach that awareness, you’ll begin to reap the benefits of loving yourself, such as the following:

* You have more love to give to yourself and others.

* You’re less critical of yourself. 

* You take actions that support your physical, mental and emotional well being.

* Your relationship with yourself, and others, improves.

* You’re kinder with other people.

* You make better decisions because you trust yourself more.

* You have stronger boundaries.

It will take some effort to develop self-love, but the rewards are well worth it.

Self-love prioritizes your welfare, and empowers you to live a more fulfilling and satisfying life. When you love yourself, you have a stronger connection to your inner self and the Universe.

How to Build Self-Love

To build a stronger foundation of self-love, take actions that are supportive of your health and well being, such as the following:

* Use positive self-talk or affirmations to counter all the negative messages you’ve received.

* Pay attention to your needs and well being, and prioritize them.

* Use self-care techniques to reduce stress and build your peace of mind.

* Be kind and compassionate towards yourself when you make mistakes.

* Accept yourself as you are now, knowing there’s always room for improvement.

* Acknowledge your achievements, small and large.

* Recognize your values and strengths, and commit to living them.

Challenges

When you reach the point of being comfortable within yourself, and love yourself, you’ll attract people to your warmth and authenticity. But it won’t be all unicorns and sunshine. There will still be challenges.

There will be those who will be jealous of your serenity and try to tear you down. And some people will be uncomfortable around you, and try to extinguish your light. They’ll try to undermine you and make you doubt yourself, so they feel superior. Unfortunately, this is a normal response by insecure people to anyone who is self-assured, talented and creative.

You’re Stronger When You Love Yourself

But the good news is, with your greater sense of self and well being shielding you, you’ll emerge stable and intact. Remember, their problem isn’t really with you, it’s with them. They don’t have the inner security that you have. Learning to love yourself is a life-long journey, and takes constant awareness and vigilance. And it will bring you the rewards of wholeness, peace and understanding. The Universe completely supports you embracing yourself.

Affirmation:

The Universe loves me just as I am, because I’m an individualized expression of It. When I love myself, I’m loving the Universe and Its creation. I appreciate myself, my needs and my well being. I deserve love and recognize my true worth. I embrace my true self and now commit to taking the actions necessary that show my love of self. The Universe guides my response to people who try to drag me down. I am kind and compassionate towards myself and others. The Universe completely supports my self-love.

Please watch the accompanying video, Meditation for Self-Love.

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

The Amazing Power of Your Imagination

The Amazing Power of Your Imagination

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Imagination

A few years ago, I was making breakfast with my then boyfriend, now husband. We were talking and, not paying attention, I reached into a 450 degree oven with my bare hand to pull out a cookie sheet. Not very smart. As soon as I put it down (no, I didn’t drop it), I ran cool water over my scorched fingers, then sat down to use the self-hypnotic pain management techniques that I know. I imagined the pain shrinking.

As the pain began to reduce, I had a spontaneous image that the heat from my fingers should drain into an ice cube. Although I thought it was an odd idea, I complied, because I recognized my subconscious mind was instructing me on how to perceive the pain. Within ten minutes, my fingers felt nearly normal. That’s the power of visualization.

The Power of the Subconscious Mind

The mind cannot tell the difference between reality and the imagination. If you get angry at someone on Monday, and tell a friend about it on Thursday, you’re going to feel all the sensations of being mad all over again. The subconscious doesn’t realize that what you’re relaying actually happened three days ago. It thinks it’s happening again, because it’s so real to you.

The same thing is true if you begin to imagine something wonderful happening to you, as long as you can believe it’s possible. I’ve helped people stop smoking, reduce weight, improve their self-esteem, increase their income, be more successful and make many other improvements through the use of their imagination.

By forming a clear mental image, you’re giving the subconscious a picture to create in your world. The subconscious is already forming your life from the images you’re holding in your mind. Think about it. Are you visualizing lack and limitation, or health, abundance and harmony? The clearer the picture you have, the more often you mentally rehearse it, the easier and faster it will manifest.

How to Use Visualization

Many people complain that they can’t visualize or use mental images, but everyone does in some way. Visualizing is rarely as clear as watching a movie screen. Imagine you’re in your living room and describe it to someone. That’s visualizing. Some people imagine textures, how they feel, or hear in their imaginations before they will hazily see images. You can strengthen all of your visualization senses with practice.

When you use your imagination to improve your life, make a clear mental statement of your desire, as if you already had it. Do you want more income, if so, how much? Make it an amount that you believe you can have. Visualize that amount flowing into your bank account every month. Are you wanting to reduce your weight? Imagine yourself turning away from sweets, eating less, and imagine your body feeling more slender. Pay attention to any spontaneous images you get from your subconscious concerning your desire. Many times your inner mind will give you feedback as to what will best prime it to create.

Every time you think of your issue, substitute your mental picture and state the affirmation you created at the beginning. Visualize it as you’re going to sleep at night. Act in ways consistent with your goal. Take some action, even if it’s just symbolic or a ceremony, to show your subconscious that you really want your desire. If you want more business, place an ad, give a talk, or make contacts to start the energy flowing.

Although my grabbing that cookie sheet should have blistered four of my fingers, it didn’t. I had only momentary discomfort a couple of times that day, and used the ice cube image each time. The next day, I had only light red mark on the most affected finger, and nothing visible on the other three. Use the amazing power of  your imagination to create the life you want.

Affirmation:

I form a clear, mental idea of what I want. The Universe has already approved of it for me, so it’s up to me to accept it. I believe that I deserve it. I can feel its reality, see its completion, and recognize how it affects other areas of my life. My subconscious mind knows how to create it, and I trust my subconscious mind to fulfill my visualization harmoniously. I accept my desire, or something better, into my life now.

Visualization to Align Your Self-Image with Your Goal

Visualization to Align Your Self-Image with Your Goal

Your self-image is how you perceive yourself, and affects your mindset and your actions. If your self-image is in conflict with your goal, then you’ll probably sabotage yourself. To achieve your goal, your self-image must be in alignment. Follow this short visualization to shift your self-image to one that embraces and embodies your goal. Watch Visualization to Align Your Self-Image with Your Goal.

Transcript:

Welcome. In this video, I’d like to discuss how your self-image affects whether you achieve your goals or not. And I’ll lead you in a short visualization exercise to help you develop a self-image to support your goal.

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.

There’s a difference between self-esteem, which is your respect of yourself, and self-worth, which is how worthy you feel, and self-image, which is how you view, or perceive, yourself. These are small distinctions but they are different.

Your self-image is always consistent with your actions and attitudes, towards yourself, others and your goal. If your self-image is in conflict with your goal, you’ll unconsciously sabotage yourself.

For instance, most lottery jackpot winners lose most or all of their money in short order because they don’t have a self-image that  supports their new found wealth.  

Fortunately, your self-image can be changed. To align your self-image and your goal, assess where they are in relationship with each other.

For instance, does your self-image support your goal? In other words, are you comfortable living with and experiencing the life your goal would bring you?

If not, close your eyes, and I’ll lead you through this short visualization. Ask yourself these questions and imagine the following:

  • Consider, what beliefs and attitudes would you have with your goal fulfilled? What would those beliefs be? What things would you be telling yourself? Imagine having the beliefs that support your goal. Imagine how that feels.
  • How would you think and act with your goal a reality in your life? What would change? Are you comfortable with those changes? Imagine a self-image that embraces and embodies your goal. Imagine that you feel safe and happy having achieved  your goal.

Open your eyes. Use the ideas in this visualization daily to shift your self-image to one that aligns with and promotes your goal. It won’t happen overnight, but practicing this consistently will change your mindset to one that will put you on the path to success.   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, 3 Powerful Ingredients for Success.

Guided Imagery to Break Through to Your Goal

Guided Imagery to Break Through to Your Goal

Are you holding yourself back from moving forward with a goal, or making an improvement in your life? Before you can make any changes, you need to be aware that there’s a problem. Then the solution can be identified and acted upon. This short guided meditation will lead you through a 4 steps process to break through the barrier and help you achieve your goal.

Transcript:

Are you holding yourself back from moving forward with a goal, or making an improvement in your life? If so, being aware that you are is the crucial first step to changing that. I’d like to share a very short guided meditation to help you to break through that barrier and allow you to make progress on your goal or vision. 

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a vision empowerment strategist helping women business owners focus, as well as a hypnotherapist with over 30 years experience. This meditation will lead you through some imagery to help you assess how you’re holding yourself back and examine why. Then, the imagery will encourage you to consider how your lifestyle would be with your goal, and imagine your next steps.

If you choose, close your eyes:

You have a goal or an improvement you want to make in your life. Envision it clearly… Your goal is important to you. But you’re aware that, for some reason, you’ve been holding yourself back from taking action. How are you doing that? What are you doing, or not doing, that’s preventing you from moving forward? Examine this without judgement or emotion…

Once you’ve examined what you’re doing, or not doing, dig a bit deeper. Why are you doing, or not doing, that? Why are you holding yourself back? It may be some idea that served you in the past, but isn’t any longer.

Right now, simply intend to explore the reason. That reason might surface now, or surface later today, or in the near future. Once you’ve identified the reason, you can decide whether or not you want to change that belief so it serves you in the present.

Now, consider how your life would be, having achieved your goal or vision. What would be different in your life and lifestyle? How would your beliefs be different? What habits would you have developed that you don’t have now? How would you feel, and feel about yourself, having achieved your goal? Allow this feeling to grow and expand within you. 

With that feeling motivating you, what decisions do you need to make now, so you can move forward? What step do you need to take in the next few days to make progress? Can you commit to taking that step? Imagine yourself taking the next step, and the next, all the way to your goal.

Open your eyes. In this meditation, once you’ve resolved what’s been holding you back, you imagine you’ve accomplished your goal. As you use this imagery, you give your subconscious mind a map to follow. With this map, your subconscious mind finds it easier to solve problems that come up along the way. Step by step, you can move closer and closer, until your goal is a reality in your life.

To achieve your goals with confidence and ease in 4 powerful steps, watch my free training video, Set Your Course to Success. Register for the video and accompanying action planning guide at www.SetYourCourseGuide.com

Thank you for watching. Stay focused.

Read the accompanying article, Simple Steps to Positive Change.

Special or Safe Place Imagery

Special or Safe Place Imagery

Sparks of Insight

Question: Does the “special, safe or happy place” in self-hypnosis or guided imagery have to be from a childhood place?

Answer: The peaceful, special, safe or happy place doesn’t have to be from childhood. When I’m leading a client into it, I tell them to imagine a vacation spot or someplace completely imaginary, where no one can bother them and they feel completely safe. It could be on a cloud, above the cares of the world, or on a deserted beach.

Only a few people have had a hard time with that, and usually it’s because they can’t remember ever feeling safe. In that case, I recommend that they think of a time when they felt a little safe, maybe with a trusted friend. I then tell them to continue practicing with it, because each time they’ll get a little closer to the feeling of safety.

Not only is a feeling of safety important for stress reduction, but also for any improvements in your life. If you don’t feel safe, the subconscious won’t to create anything new. It will still be in “survival mode” and consider that any change is threatening to your current tenuous sense of security.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Guided Meditation to Focus and Accomplish More

Guided Meditation to Focus and Accomplish More

Cultivating focus is difficult in today’s world because of all the distractions. Fortunately, focus is a skill that you can develop with practice. When you visualize yourself focusing on a task, it makes that task easier to accomplish. You’re utilizing your natural ability to focus and rehearse your activity. Discover how this guided meditation can improve not only your ability to focus, but your success with any task.

Transcript:

Wouldn’t you like to learn one of the most important skills for success? That skill is focus and it’s hard to cultivate because our lives are filled with distractions from people, situations, and technology.

Fortunately, focus is an ability you have that you simply need to practice. I’d like to share a short, guided meditation that will make it easier for you to pay attention to an immediate goal or action. And it will improve your success with it. You can use this meditation at the beginning of each day or task.

First, what is your goal, desired action, task or project? Imagine that it’s something you want to work on and accomplish, just one item. Imagining doing it will make it easier to follow through on it. Visualizing also starts the subconscious mind to solve problems you might encounter.

Second, define what your motivation is to fulfill that goal, activity, or project. Why is it important to you? Dig down to the real reason, one that moves you. We’ll use that in our visualization.

Now, here we go. Close your eyes, if you’re so inclined. Take a long, slow, deep breath.

Think about what you want to accomplish, one task, today. Think of it in detail. Why is it important to you to take action on this? How will it benefit you? Consider that, and allow that motivation to grow and fill you.

Now, imagine yourself start working on your goal or task. Imagine it in detail. What does the room look like? How do you feel? What do you hear? Think, feel and imagine that it’s easy to focus on your task and bring all your resources and innovation to it.

Imagine that each step you take goes smoothly. Each step makes you  more enthusiastic to take the next one, to go further. Imagine that each action you take is easy and successful. You feel calm, relaxed, creative and engaged.

You easily find solutions for any challenges you encounter. Everything else fades away until you’re done. Imagine you stay with your task until your time is up or the work is done, whatever is right for you.

Think, feel and imagine that you’re delighted and amazed at how successful you were, how much you got done. Imagine how that success feeds into your next task or project, and propels you further.

Open your eyes. Something as simple as this visualization primes your subconscious mind to support your endeavors and create more successful outcomes. Your thoughts about a situation greatly influence its results.

You’re utilizing a natural function of your subconscious mind to program your activity, your thoughts about it, and your success. Practicing this kind of visualization, before any task, will make it flow more smoothly and easily, and you’ll accomplish more. And it will develop the habit of focus for you.

For more tips and articles on mindset, motivation and empowerment, please visit my blog, EmpoweringYourMind.com. Thank you for watching. I hope you practice this type of visualization each day, and achieve all the success you deserve. Take care. 

Read the accompanying article, Focus, the Power Behind Success.

Guided Meditation to Find Powerful Motivation to Achieve Your Goals

Guided Meditation to Find Powerful Motivation to Achieve Your Goals

When you’re pursuing a goal, you have to have some sort of motivation to either jumpstart your action or keep you going. There are two basic kinds of motivation, and each has their place. But there’s one kind of motivation that will inspire you in the tough times. Learn what that motivation is, and use this guided meditation to uncover the motivation that will see you through.

Transcript:

When you are working towards some goal, you’re motivating yourself in one of two ways: either by external or internal rewards. External motivation is what’s been called the carrot and stick model, or pleasure/pain principle. You’ve heard of that, right?

In essence, you hold something pleasant in front of you to keep going, the carrot, or you remind yourself of something painful that could happen if you stop, the stick. Have you ever done either of those? External motivation works to get you started on a project or goal, but it doesn’t really keep you committed.

However, internal motivation keeps you going through the tough times, because it comes from within you. You’re like an energizer bunny. Internal motivation brings you more satisfaction,  fulfillment, and greater productivity. So how do you find your internal motivation to pursue a goal? I’d like to share a short meditation to help you discover it.

If you want, close your eyes. Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

Think about a goal you have, or something you want to change in your life. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Why is it you want your goal or change?
  • What is your reward or how will you feel when accomplishing your goal or achieving the change? When external reasons come to mind, such as money or approval, go beyond them, dig deeper. Find what truly inspires you. 
  • What will encourage you to keep going, even if you have setbacks?

Open your eyes. Just asking yourself these questions will begin to stir up your internal motivation. Pick one of these questions and ask it once or twice a day. You may be surprised to find an answer will pop into your mind when you least expect it. Then use it to keep you on course to your goals.

To achieve your goals with confidence and ease in 4 powerful steps, watch my FREE training video, Set Your Course to Success. Register for the video and accompanying action planning guide at www.SetYourCourseGuide.com. One of the steps has to do with finding and using your motivation. Find the motivation that will keep you committed, and you’ll persist until you achieve your goal.

Guided Meditation to Encourage Positive Actions

Guided Meditation to Encourage Positive Actions

Have you ever been caught between two decisions? It may be one in which that you habitually take the easy path, and that undermines your well being. What if you could, in the moment,  receive encouragement to choose the more difficult road? This guided meditation will help you encourage and support yourself to take the actions that lead you towards your goals.

Transcript:

Thank you for watching. Wouldn’t it be nice to stop procrastinating, to eat and drink in a way that’s good for your health, to encourage and motivate yourself in a positive way? When you turn away from the path of least resistance to the path that is best for you, you’re building self-respect and demonstrating self-love. Treating yourself kindly, and gently guiding yourself to decisions and actions that support you and your endeavors brings you a better life.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, and would like to lead you through a short guided meditation to help you choose the best path that brings you long term benefits. In this meditation, you’ll be encouraging yourself to make positive choices.

If you feel like it, close your eyes. Imagine another version of yourself nearby. This version of yourself knows what your goals are, and knows the actions that can help or hinder your goals. This version of yourself also cares about your well being, is more objective and able to see things more clearly.

Now imagine that you are faced with a choice. It’s a choice between doing what’s familiar, what’s easiest, what will bring you immediate gratification, but will ultimately not be helpful for you… and acting in a more mature, intentional and reasoned way. A way that is better for you and for the outcomes you want.

Now imagine that version of yourself is encouraging you to make the more difficult, but more enriching choice. This part of you gives you reasons for for making those choices, and reminds you that you will ultimately feel better about yourself. This part’s guidance is reassuring and inspiring to you.

Imagine that you follow that version of yourself’s advice. That you make the choice it recommends. It could be to eat healthy foods, do the task you’ve been avoiding, or take action towards your goal. Imagine yourself acting on the decision and how you feel good about yourself once you’ve done so. Your choice leads to an outcome that benefits you in the long term.

Open your eyes. The version of yourself I mention can help by supporting you in making decisions that will improve your well being. In a way, you’re being your own cheerleader. When you take the time to check in with that more objective part of you, you’ll recognize the guidance that can keep you on course. Acting on that advice demonstrates your care for yourself.

If you’d to achieve a 90-day goal more easily, download my free comprehensive Strategic Vision Guide. You’ll receive the guide, as well as a training video  that walks you through it with tips and directions to support you in accomplishing your goal.

Thank you for watching. What one thing can you do today that supports your well being?

Read the accompanying article, How to Demonstrate Self-Love.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart