Browsed by
Tag: personal growth

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of InsightAre you in a comfort zone? This is where you feel safe. When you venture out of it, you feel anxious and uncertain. Most people elect to stay within that area that feels familiar. The comfort zone is like a muscle. It is either expanding and getting stronger or contracting and becoming weaker. Since the Universe is also always expanding, if you’re not stretching, you’re resisting the flow of the Universe. Eventually, your comfort zone will eventually shrink and your world and confidence will get smaller. Even though it’s scary, step out of it and take some risks. They may not always be successful, but you will be successful, because you stepped out and extended yourself.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Grand Canyon Colorado River5 Struggles Overly-Nice People Would Understand So Well
Many people admire nice people, but unfortunately, others take advantage of them. Nice people expect others to be like them, so they give them the benefit of the doubt, when they may not deserve it. Not only does this article describe some of the struggles nice folks have, but it gives some suggestions on how to deal with them.

Why Your Attitude Is Everything
One of the most important steps you can take toward achieving your greatest potential in life is to monitor your attitude. Most people don’t have an awareness of what their attitudes are. But your attitude governs the way you perceive the world and the way the world perceives you. Here are 10 ways to improve your attitude.

Power of Consistency: 5 Rules
Consistency is the difference between failure and success. This article describes why it’s important to success in business. But the same could be said about your personal life. Learn about the rules and start applying them in your personal and professional lives.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

A Guide to Address Harassment

A Guide to Address Harassment

Hand holding seedlingI try to keep my postings apolitical, because I respect everyone’s choice. But I’m concerned about the increased incidence of overt bullying, verbal and racist attacks that have been taking place in the U.S. since the beginning of this presidential election cycle.

These issues have been in the shadows (barely) for a long time, but now some people feel encouraged to act out in hateful ways. These problems have always bothered me, and now I see them becoming more common. Unfortunately, there have also been protesters against the election results who have acted in ways similar to the very ideas they stand against.

I believe that now that the bigotry and hate are out in the open, they can be addressed by standing up against them. Only when we stand back and keep silent can they thrive. In the past 50 years, we’ve made great progress against prejudice and bullying. We can continue that progress if we choose to be part of the solution and stand up to the problem. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

If you encounter someone being harassed, there’s a great cartoon that explains how to respond. This is one way you can help. The cartoon was designed to assist against Islamaphobic harassment, but it can be used in any situation. It’s based on a psychological technique and is very effective. You can watch a video describing it and showing what to do, and read the original cartoon that inspired the video. Watch A Guide for What to Do When You See Islamophobia.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

GC-S.KaibabTr-OohAah-sm-0888How To Remember 90% Of Everything You Learn
Whether you’re learning Spanish, a new instrument, or a new sport, you could benefit from accelerated learning. But the problem is, there’s only so much time in the day. The key to accelerated learning is not just putting in more hours, but maximizing the effectiveness of the time spent learning. It explains the best ways to learn so you remember.

Being Positive Is Not For the Faint Hearted
Does the news leave you feeling depressed or drained? Researchers find that the news can increase anxiety and depression, shape your sense of identity and affect your beliefs about humanity. But rather than avoiding the news, seek stories that uplift you. This video and tip sheet will help you find ways to use the news to enhance your life.

New Finding: Different Types of Exercise Affect Different Parts of Your Brain
There are numerous reasons to exercise, from becoming more fit to being healthier. But exercise can also improve your brain. Exercise can improve your memory and attention. This article examines the different types of exercises and how they affect different areas of the brain, giving you even more benefits.

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of Insight“Everyone has the same connection to Universal power that I do. I trust that they can take care of their own needs and wants. I let them go and give myself permission to attend to mine.”

When you give up your own needs to attend to someone else’s wants, you’re giving them the message that you don’t believe they can do it for themselves. You encourage them to be helpless and not grow. And when you put your desires aside, you give the message to yourself that you’re not important. It’s hard, but step back from helping others who can help themselves. It’s more beneficial for them and for you.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review – Forgiving the Unforgivable

Book Review – Forgiving the Unforgivable

Forgiving the Unforgivable: Overcoming the Bitter Legacy of Intimate Wounds by Beverly Flanigan, M.S.S.W.

If you’ve ever been hurt by someone close to you, past or present, and need some help in dealing with it and getting to forgiveness, this book is for you. Not only does the author walk you through the journey of recognizing and acknowledging the injury, assigning responsibility, and describing the steps a person goes through along the way, but she also includes many exercises and tools to handle all of these phases.

When we’re wounded by someone close to us in a way that betrays the foundation of the relationship, then we feel like our world has been turned upside down. It forces us to re-evaluate our beliefs, and who we are. Our sense of stability and safety has been violated. To be able to heal from this, we have to examine the injury and its consequences.

As spiritual people, many of us believe that we have to take responsibility for everything that happens to us. That’s true to a certain extent. But we can’t control another person’s feelings and actions. So we need to assign responsibility to who actually, consciously and with intent, harmed us. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pardoning the other person. It’s letting go of the anger, empowering ourselves to move on, and recognizing that the wound has changed who we are. We set them free and ourselves free.

Forgiveness is a process of healing, not an eraser of hurt. This comprehensive book explains how to move through that process successfully and grow from it.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Build the Ability to Stretch Your Comfort Zone

Build the Ability to Stretch Your Comfort Zone

Staying in your comfort zone becomes a habit. It’s safe there but living in that place will eventually erode your confidence and spirit. Create the habit of stretching out of your comfort zone. Learn some small ways to expand your comfort zone and build your confidence.


~ Linda-Ann Stewart

[suffusion-the-author display=’description’]

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Sunset at Hopi Point at Grand CanyonStopping ‘Should’ Shaming — Ending the Self-Imposed Guilt Game
Unless you are already aware of the damage it causes, you probably say “should” at least a few times a day. When you say this word, it indicates that you aren’t doing what you would benefit from, or you’re not committed to a decision. This brings on guilt and self-reproach, which don’t help the situation. Here are 3 steps to take to stop “shoulding” on yourself and feeling better.

Science Says Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think
Research is finding that silence can actually help your brain in many different ways. It can grow more brain cells and improve your memory and learning. Silence helps your brain to process and integrate information. Of course, it also relieves stress and tension. Read this article to find other ways that silence helps your brain.

10 Must Watch Ted Talks on Positive Emotions
Barbara Fredrickson, the developer of Broaden and Build Theory, introduced the idea that the more positive emotions we experience sends us into an upward spiral where happiness and well being dwell. Her research into the dynamics and benefits of positive emotions focuses primarily on the 10 most common positive emotions. This article focuses on TED talks which offer some insight into these different positive emotions.

How long does it take to change?

How long does it take to change?

Question MarkQuestion: Is it true that we can achieve anything with alpha level, and if so, how long does it take and how does it work?

Answer: We can achieve just about anything by accessing and using the alpha level, which is where we go in meditation, self-hypnosis, daydreaming or as we’re drifting off to sleep. This is simply a state where we are more inwardly focused on some idea. Everything you’ve already achieved, or not, all of your habits, the ways you feel about yourself and your world, have been programmed in by way of the alpha level.

Just think of your beliefs and expectations about your world. You can change them when you’re in the alpha level, and your world will then change. But understand, the only person you can change is yourself. You can’t change or affect other people by using the alpha level. You can change the way you feel about yourself, and with greater self-worth, insist on more respect and better treatment. But it has to begin with you.

The changes can begin immediately, but usually it takes a few weeks to notice a significant improvement. That’s because you’ve been on this old track for a long time, and it takes a period of time and energy to turn it around. The subconscious has to know that you’re serious about the change, so you’ll have to spend some time convincing it. You’d do that by focusing on the change in the alpha state, making sure that you don’t deny or doubt it during your daily life, and taking any action to bring it about.

Don’t confuse the subconscious by focusing on the change in the alpha state, then wonder if it’s going to happen, or dwell on the opposite. The more you’re able to bring your whole being into line with your desire, the faster it will occur, sometimes overnight.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

How do I learn to use my capabilities?

How do I learn to use my capabilities?

Sun RaysQuestion: I believe that I have what I need to do what ever I want, but how do I learn to use what I have?

Answer: I understand how it is to feel power within, but not know what to do with it. Your capabilities are as great as you can imagine. It’s been said that “Whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve.”

Many times, we can conceive of doing great things, have fantastic ideas, but if we don’t believe we can actually accomplish them, then they don’t come into fruition. We are both limited and freed by how much we believe in ourselves and our potential.

We each have everything we need within us to achieve what we want, but most of us just follow the path we’ve always taken. To actually make the strides to a better future, we have to be able to let go of old, restrictive ways of thinking, and believe (there’s that word again) that change is possible.

And then we have to take a step. One step leads to another and another. It’s a practice and a process. As we start practicing, we’re led to other opportunities and resources.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart