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Break the Habit of Complaining

Break the Habit of Complaining

Did you know that the average person, in general, complains 15-30 times, or about 8 minutes, a day? Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to fall into a habit of complaining without even realizing it. And it can be a difficult habit to break. Discover a mindfulness tip that can help you, and shift your mindset to be more positive. Watch Break the Habit of Complaining.

Transcript:

Welcome to mindset tips.

Did you know that the average person, in general, complains 15-30 times, or about 8 minutes, a day? From what I hear around me, I’d bet it’s a lot more than that. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to fall into a habit of complaining without even realizing it. Have you ever noticed that? And it can be a difficult habit to break. I’d like to share a mindfulness tip that can help you break the habit, and shift your mindset to be more positive.

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.

This is a tip that has been used for decades, in one way or another, and it’s very simple. Mainly, it’s to make you aware of when you complain, which means you can then decide whether you want to continue or not. When a habit is brought out of the shadows and into the light, it can be changed. This empowers you and shifts your attention from being negative, to giving you the choice of being more positive.

The technique is to get a rubber band or bracelet and wear it every day. Any kind of bracelet, [Bands, elastic, sparkly, fabric, stones]…. Then, every time you complain, you switch the band or bracelet to the other wrist. No, you don’t snap it. … Just switch it from one wrist to the other. This allows you to turn the page….With practice, it can automatically create a mind shift to a more positive thought process.

You’re bringing the habit out of an unconscious behavior into being aware of it. You may discover that many of the things you grumble about are trivial, and you’re letting them pull you down. Some things may be out of your control, and complaining doesn’t help. Either way, the point is to notice when you’re complaining, and what about, and choose what to do from that point.

Since complaining compounds stress and stifles creativity, you may decide to simply refrain from contributing to the negativity. Shift your attention to what you can control and what you can do about the situation. This is more productive and will bring you greater rewards mentally, physically and in your personal and professional life.

If you’d like to break the habit, find a band or bracelet and start practicing.

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,  Complaining Trains You to Be Negative, Part 2.

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

Develop Self-Mastery by Managing Your Attention

Develop Self-Mastery by Managing Your Attention

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Energy flows where attention goes.

“Energy flows where attention goes” means that wherever you put your attention, you channel your energy to that place. It also means your attention directs the Law of Attraction’s energy. If your focus is on working on a task, then you make progress. Or if you’re focusing on a desire, the Law of Attraction knows what to draw to you. But if your attention is scattered, then your energy is, as well, and not much gets accomplished. And the Law of Attraction can’t function. Multitasking is a notorious offender that fragments your energy and efficiency.

When your attention is scattered, then you’re dispersing your energy and giving the Universe conflicting feedback. The Law of Attraction won’t know what you want. Your focus lets the Law of Attraction know your desire and gives the Universe a mold to fulfill.

Too many people think that being mindlessly busy means they’re achieving something. They jump into action before they know what they want to accomplish. Instead of remembering they’re a human BEing, they’re a human DOing in thoughtless motion, and their efforts are mostly wasted. To be more successful, stop, breathe and decide where you want to spend your energy, so you’re a conduit for Universal good.

Concentrate Your Energy

Peter Drucker said, “If there is any one ‘secret’ of effectiveness, it is concentration.” When you focus your efforts, doing one thing at a time, you’re able to reach your goals. Your success, personally and professionally, depends on where you put your attention and your energy.

Have you ever wanted to clear off your desk, picked up a book to take it into the other room, and started organizing the bookshelf there? Then, you carried a dirty cup from the bookshelf to the kitchen and decided to do the dishes? But, in the middle of washing dishes, the phone rang and you talked on it for an hour? Because you jumped from one activity to the next, nothing was finished. You didn’t attend to your original intention, which was to put your desk in order, and you’ve wasted a lot of time and energy.

The same is true when you skip from one desire to another. This confuses the Universe, and the Law of Attraction will then manifest whatever is your strongest, most familiar idea. When you regulate your thoughts and actions, you support your energy and are more in the flow of the Universe.

Direct Your Attention

When you’re able to direct your attention where you want, not only does it increase your effectiveness, but it also builds confidence and self-mastery. It’s a skill that you can develop and will pay rich dividends in your life. It allows you to have a clearer channel to the Universe and the Law of Attraction. Here are a few areas that will empower your ability to guide your energy.

Manage Your Mind. Train yourself to think more positively by considering the best outcome. When you do, you grow brain cells for greater well being and it also instructs your mind to be open to more options. You make it easier for the Universe to create more good for you. Meditation and mindfulness also help in this area by building grey matter in your brain, which improves memory, mood, compassion and focus. Using these techniques teaches your mind to stay on track, and frees you to be clearer.

Manage Your Impulses. One way to practice this is to delay gratification or resist urges. For instance, don’t check your cell phone every 5 minutes, eat that entire piece of cake, or scroll through social media. Become aware of your triggers, and plan your response. When you’re able to regulate your compulsions, you build self-control, self-discipline, strengthen your will power and make better decisions. Self-control gives your thoughts more power.

Manage Your Environment. Most distractions can be removed with some planning. Make your space more conducive to focusing on your task. For example, close the door and put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on it. Put your cell phone on “silent.” Say, “No,” to disrespect and being taken advantage of. By taking charge of the things that disrupt your flow and peace of mind, you define your boundaries and increase your self-worth.

Manage Your Attention. Decide on your priorities ahead of time. Take the most important one, and focus on that task for a set amount of time. This starts to build your ability to focus. Also, take some time to read a book, not your computer, tablet or phone. People tend to skim on technical devices and reading a physical book improves memory, concentration and comprehension.

Taking these small steps contributes to bigger ones. Each small step you take to build your ability to focus expands that capacity. Not only your attention, but your energy, becomes more effective and you achieve more flow and success in your life.

Affirmation:

I set an intention to begin each day with focus. The ability to focus is natural, and one that I can exercise and develop. As I do, I’m better able to direct my energy and give the Universe the channel through which Its energy will flow. I master my attention and guide it where it can accomplish my Highest Good.

Watch the accompanying video, Manage Your Priorities to Achieve Your Goals.

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.

Decisions Design Your Destiny

Decisions Design Your Destiny

by Linda-Ann Stewart

You make decisions every day, such as what to eat, what to wear, what task to do, what to say, and much more. The life you have today is based on the choices you’ve made in the past. You choose what you want, either consciously or unconsciously. Then your choice leads to making a decision, which then results in some sort of outcome. The decisions you make today will create the life you have tomorrow and beyond.

Your decisions channel the energy of the Universe. Have your decisions brought you the results you want? If you don’t like your outcomes, your power lies in being able to make different choices. But what is it that really makes you choose what you do?

What Influences Your Decisions?

There are some basic motivations that compel your decisions. Once you understand what influences your choices, you can adjust them.

Expediency. You quickly make a choice so you can move onto something else.

Past Beliefs. Old ideas unconsciously drive your choices, which may undermine what you consciously want.

Habit. You automatically fall into an old pattern of choice without thinking about it.

Fear. This can prompt you to avoid making a choice, or it can cause you to take action because of the consequences if you don’t.

Desire. You have something you really want, so you choose to go for it.

Goals. You use your goals as a frame for your choices.  

Your Decisions Create Your Life

When you make a choice, you have to abandon other options and possibilities. When you ask for Divine Guidance, the answer often becomes clear. Once you’ve chosen your course of action, follow through on it. And each decision brings consequences, or rewards and positive outcomes.

If your decision hasn’t brought what you want, reassess your original choice. Is it in alignment with your defined goal, vision or your intention? If not, and you were to choose differently, what would your choice be? Make a different decision based on your new choice.

When your decision leads you to what you’d hoped for, then it’s done its work. Each decision, and the action you take concerning it, creates your life. When you make a choice, it sets in motion the power of the Universe. You have the power. Choose your decisions according to the life you want to be living.

Affirmation:

I am divinely guided to make the best decision that brings me my Highest Good. The One Life within me leads and directs my thoughts and choices. I realize that when I make a decision, it sets the power of the Universe in motion. Divine right action takes place in all areas of my life. Only good comes to and through me.   

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

Podcast Interview – Thrive Through Greater Self-Worth

Podcast Interview – Thrive Through Greater Self-Worth

Emmalou Penrod M.A., of Healing Your Families, and I were introduced by a mutual acquaintance. In our initial conversation, we realized we had something in common. We both had been trained to use hypnosis to improve people’s lives! She’s a retired schoolteacher, and now coaches families to have more peaceful homes. She’s a parenting and family strengthening expert, and brings her knowledge of counseling to help heal families.

As we talked, we had such a connection that she invited me to be interviewed on her podcast at WinWinWomen.tv. Although family issues aren’t my professional area of expertise, one topic that affects everyone is self-worth. My specialties as a hypnotherapist were stress management, success programming and self-esteem/self-worth issues. Since Emmalou and I agreed that having better self-worth made better parents, we decided that would be a great topic to cover.

In the interview, we began by talking about how I became a focus coach for women small business owners. I explained that women tend to be scattered because of all their responsibilities. It’s difficult for them to focus for any length of time on any one thing. But focus is necessary to accomplish anything.

Then Emmalou asked about the opposite of focus, “What do you think of multitasking?”

“Multitasking” is a myth,” I answered, and explained why. She said she’d heard it described as “a lie,” which is also true. Multitasking keeps your brain fractured between all the different tasks. It breaks your train of thought, so you can’t build up momentum on any project or task.

This led into discussing the difference between self-esteem and self-worth. Self-esteem can be impacted by outside variables and self-worth is more internal and fundamental. And both are impacted by having a strong inner critic. Emmalou liked my perspective on the inner critic not being a bad guy, but fulfilling a role that a person has outgrown.

Emmalou asked how a person could improve their self-worth. I answered that being kinder to oneself and being mindful helped to support and build self-worth. At the end of the conversation, I shared three simple steps on how to be kinder to yourself.

Because of Emmalou’s background, expertise and knowledge, I loved talking with her about this subject. I could have gone on for hours, but we had to fit into the podcast’s time frame. But I have articles on this topic here and on my website to help you reclaim your worth. And Emmalou has articles on her blog to help you become a better person, and thus, a better parent.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Podcast Interview – Improve Your Focus

Podcast Interview – Improve Your Focus

I had a lovely conversation with Marybeth Welty of Sustainable Lifestyle Solutions on how to Improve Your Focus and Overcome Shiny Object Syndrome. As an interior designer, she helps create calm and inspiring home and office spaces. In addition to her design work, she also teaches mindfulness and leads guided meditations, both of which are dear to my heart. Her mission is to encourage healthy minds and healthy homes.

In my work with clients, I empower women to be present and aware of their choices and decisions, which comes from being mindful. As we talked about what I do, we discussed how her mindfulness training and my work intersect. It’s so important to think things through and discover new solutions from a point of peace.

In our conversation, we covered what can cause the Shiny Object Syndrome and the problems that result from it. For one thing, it creates stress, which means you can’t think clearly. In a way, multitasking is a part of the syndrome. We agreed that any benefits from multitasking are a myth. Not only do you not finish anything, but you end the day feeling exhausted. Getting distracted by Shiny Objects is a symptom that something is amiss in your business.

We talked about how focus is a skill that you can develop. Mindfulness helps to cultivate focus. And as we discussed the Shiny Object Syndrome, Marybeth was surprised that allowing yourself to get distracted means you’re training your brain to seek more distractions. Distractions and paying attention to something new lights up the reward circuit in your brain. Since it feels good, you pursue more distractions. But it ultimately sabotages you, since nothing gets accomplished.

We exchanged stories about our own difficulties with staying focused. At the end, I shared 5 steps to overcome the Shiny Object Syndrome, with first being to take some deep breaths to calm down your nervous system so you can think clearly. Once you’ve done that, only then you can seek some clarity and get focused.

Marybeth is a calming and tranquil presence. I really enjoyed spending time with her and be able to chat about subjects that are near and dear to both of us.

Update Your Internal GPS to Reach Your Vision

Update Your Internal GPS to Reach Your Vision

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Compass

You’ve probably used a GPS (Global Positioning System) in your car to find your way to a destination. You input your current location, then input your destination, and let the GPS decide the best way to get you there. The GPS tells you the best route to your location.

But the GPS isn’t always accurate. For instance, when repair people use their external GPS to find our house, they usually end up on the other side of town and have to call us for directions. A vehicle’s GPS often is wrong, based on old or incomplete information, and eventually will have to recalculate when new data becomes available.

How Your Internal GPS Functions

Some people say that we have an internal GPS that guides us to reach a goal, and that all we have to do is follow its directions. It’s true we have an internal guidance system, but it isn’t always accurate, any more than an external GPS is always accurate. This inner GPS motivates your decisions and actions. And you may have incorrect or outdated information in your subconscious mind that influences your internal GPS.

Your subconscious mind is the interface between the Universe and your conscious mind. Even though you’re always getting accurate guidance from the Universe, your subconscious filters it through its programming. The message you receive from the Universe may be garbled due to old programming and you don’t understand it clearly.

You can’t follow a GPS’ (internal or external) directions blindly. Without monitoring, old data may detour you, take you down a dead end, or guide you off a cliff. Literally. For example, my husband used to work in a mountain town nearby. Many times, a customer would come into his place of business and would tell him that their GPS had directed them incorrectly. The GPS had said to go left, which would have driven them off a cliff, instead of right, up the road to his business.

Using Your Internal GPS

Instead of mindlessly following directions, with either an internal or external GPS, stay present as to where you’re going and what you’re doing. Be mindful of what turns or steps you’re being guided to take. Engage your rational mind to check and confirm you’re still going in the right direction. There’s an old saying, “Trust, but verify.” You have chosen a destination, and you also have the responsibility to check if the next step is moving you in the right direction. .

If your inner GPS is prompting you to avoid a path, like taking a long detour, this may be old programming based on fear. That’s not intuition or guidance from your internal GPS. Avoidance can be an old idea that is trying to keep you safe in a situation that you’ve outgrown. Only you can determine if it’s warning you of a current danger or if it’s from the past.

Maybe you’re attracted by something new that may sidetrack or delay you from your vision. This could be for your wellbeing or your subconscious is using the detour to sabotage you. You may need more resources or knowledge before you can reach your vision. Or it could be that your subconscious considers your route threatening. Again, it’s up to you to figure out whether the delay helps or hinders you.

Updating Your GPS

It’s always important to assess your mindset about your goal or vision. Your mindset isn’t just about positive thinking, but about how you feel about yourself, your life, and your vision. Do you believe your vision is possible? Are you procrastinating taking action? If so, why? Do you have any resistance to achieving your goal? Are there any old beliefs that are holding you back? Updating your mindset so that it aligns with your vision will ensure your GPS can calculate the best route for you.

As you address each of these areas, your GPS may gain new information and need to course correct to get you to your vision. Keep your thoughts positive, take action and stay focused on your vision and you’ll stay on course. Your internal GPS will recalculate as needed to update its directions to find you the clearest path to your destination.

Affirmation:

I am being guided at all times by the still, small voice of Infinite Mind. I open my mind and heart to clearly hear that guidance. The Universe supports me to accomplish my goal or vision. Any old idea that restricts my path is outdated and now dissolves in the light of day. I keep my mind inspired and uplifted, make wise decisions and take effective action to achieve my dream.

As a focus coach, hypnotherapist, and speaker, 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 achieve your goals with confidence and ease in 4 powerful steps, register for her FREE training video and accompanying action planning guide at www.Linda-AnnStewart.com/setyourcourse.html. You can contact her at LAS@Linda-AnnStewart.com or 928-600-0452.

Take Charge of Your Life by Living with Intention

Take Charge of Your Life by Living with Intention

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Plane flying

Most people live on autopilot. They routinely think and behave in the same way day after day. If a situation comes up, they unconsciously act as they’ve done in the past. They go through their lives without taking the time to consider what they’re doing. And because they simply react to circumstances, the overall condition of their life rarely changes.

When you react, you’re reinforcing Einstein’s definition of insanity, “Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.” For your life to improve, you have to change your thoughts and beliefs first. Even if you try to change your situation, it will return to what you’ve experienced in the past unless you shift your attitude.

How to Stay in a Self-Sabotaging Rut

For instance, Sara was a graphic artist. In a proposal early in her career, her estimate to complete a project that was too long for the client, so they went elsewhere. Because of her inexperience, she didn’t realize that their requirement was entirely unreasonable. But from that time on, she was afraid that if she didn’t offer to do the work in a ridiculously short amount of time, she’d lose the job and have very little business.

So she gave completion estimates that she’d barely be able to meet, even if they were her only client. Since she regularly missed her deadlines, she got a reputation of being late with her work. Of course, she lost business because of this, yet she never changed her protocol. Her fear of losing work became a self-fulfilling prophecy. She continued to react to a previous situation, never changed her policy and continued to lose business.

By reacting, you behave the same way you have in the past, which keeps you right where you are, just like what happened to Sara. And you’re acting out of the same mindset, generally one of fear, anger, or sadness. This negative space isn’t a good place to act or make decisions from. As one of my mentor’s said, “Fear isn’t a guidance system.” It won’t bring you the results you want.

How to Change Your Results

Only by intentionally choosing your thoughts and actions will you be able to change your results. It’s not an easy path, but it’s more rewarding and will create better outcomes. To do so, you have to stay aware of what’s transpiring, and not give into impulse.

If Sara had been more aware of her actions and their consequences, she would have chosen more realistic time estimates for projects. It would have been scary at first. She would have had to face down her fears. But she would have gotten more confident as customers approved her proposals and were happy with the end product being delivered on time.

When you live with intention, it means that you’re choosing to respond to situations rather than react to them. You’re being more deliberate and aware with your thoughts and actions. When a situation arises, you’re proactive, thinking your words and actions through. This puts you in the captain’s seat of your life.

How to Become Mindful

The first step is to become mindful of what thoughts you focus on, because they develop into your beliefs. Your beliefs shape how you feel and how you act. For instance, depending on whether you feel comfortable with accepting a compliment or not, you’ll either be delighted or deflect it.

Your second step is to become aware of how you habitually react to specific situations. Does it get you the results you want? If you feel defensive and attack whenever anyone questions you on your work, does this help your career to progress? Or would being open to constructive suggestions help more? Assess whether your reactions are helpful or sabotaging you.

The third step is to consciously choose and implement your new response. When a coworker asks you to lunch, instead of isolating yourself at your desk, go with them. This step gets tougher when crises come up and you don’t take the moment or two to remember your intention. But with practice, this will become easier.

Living with Intention

This is living with intention. You’re being responsive, aware of your choices and purposely choosing your actions. Jack Kornfield, author and Buddhism teacher, said, “Intention leads to behaviors which lead to habits, which lead to personality development which leads to destiny.”

Be deliberate about your thoughts, words, and deeds. You’ll get better results. Instead of riding helplessly in a rudderless boat, at the whim of the wind and water, take the helm. By living with intention, you take control of your destiny.

Affirmation:

I become aware of how I react to situations, and assess whether it’s helpful or hindering me. It’s safe for me to make a different decision than I normally would. I have the knowledge and the resources to deal with the challenges of my life in a new and better way. By choosing to live with intention, I take control of my life.

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How to Take Back Control When Stress Overwhelms You

How to Take Back Control When Stress Overwhelms You

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Stress and Overwhelm

Life can sometimes unexpectedly speed up and come at you fast. Suddenly, you have a cluster of challenging events to deal with. It could be a major health issue with the upheaval of all the medical appointments to schedule around. Or it could be several expensive home repairs at an inconvenient time (is there ever a convenient time for expensive repairs?). Or you may be trying to juggle extra work with family demands.

Any kind of turmoil like this can cause stress and feelings of overwhelm. You feel like life has spun out of control and you have no stability. Your mind narrows its focus and you start reacting from old habits that may not be helpful in the present situation. This also creates static with your connection to the Universe. It makes it harder to access your intuition and Divine Guidance. With your attention focused on immediate concerns, you can’t notice potential solutions.

Take Back Control

While it’s important to have your vision in mind, in times of overwhelm, your vision can be beyond your ability to consider. You have to find some equilibrium first. To get back into balance, there are some things to do, and not do.

Don’t multi-task. This just makes the situation worse. When you multi-task, you’re quickly switching your attention from one task to another, and that increases the stress hormones. You may feel like you’re being productive, but you don’t accomplish much, which just increases your feelings of frustration.

Slow down. Give yourself time to think and assess the situation. Ask yourself, “What are my options?” This allows you to stop reacting and being impulsive, and instead encourages you to make better choices and decisions. 

Focus on one thing at a time. You’ll be able to reclaim a sense of control. Wash the dishes. Do the laundry. Make that call you’ve been procrastinating. Once you’ve done one task, move on to the next. Stay mindful about what you want to accomplish and take it one tiny step at a time.

It’s all about being mindful, and creating an island of calm in the present, while re-establishing your connection to the Universe. Once you’ve taken charge and lowered your stress level, your mind can think more clearly. You won’t feel as pressured and can open your mind to handle a bit more. By re-establishing a sense of stability, you’ll have more resources at your disposal and be able to expand your horizons once again.

Affirmation:

I’m always connected with the Universe, and being guided and directed. When life gets hectic, I quiet my mind, slow down and assess what my best option might be. I focus on my next step, allowing my mind to become organized and clear. Peace and serenity flow through me and all things work out in the best way possible for my highest good.

Watch the accompanying video, 3 Steps to Being More Focused and Effective.

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