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Focusing Beyond The Problem

Focusing Beyond The Problem

by Linda-Ann Stewart

There’s a secret to a martial artist breaking a board, brick or any other solid object with his hand (or foot or head). He aims his force, not on the target, but a foot beyond it. If he focused his energy on the surface of the board, the object would abruptly and painfully stop his hand. Instead, he imagines his hand going through the wood to the space behind it, where he wants the energy to dissipate.

The same thing is true when we have a problem we’re trying to solve or eliminate from our lives. If we focus on the challenge, we’re concentrating on the surface issue, and our subconscious simply creates more of it. The solution can’t appear as long as the condition fills our consciousness. When we affirm about a solution appearing, but feel frustrated, upset or concerned about the situation, or think about the problem in any way, then our belief in the challenge stops any resolution from manifesting. Just like the board stopping the martial artist’s hand. We’re focused on the surface and not seeing through it to the possibility of a solution.

There’s Always an Answer

In every problem, there is always an answer available. When we’re affirming things to change, however, we may be trying to control how the situation resolves. We may not like the remedy the Universe has for us. Instead of a troublesome coworker changing their attitude, we may have to change jobs. Or we may have to alter our attitude to be more tolerant. Other priorities may make what we believe to be our answer obsolete. We may want more abundance, and try to increase our income at our present job, only to find that we’re unexpectedly moving to another location.

If we’re still stuck in the problem, one of the best ways to get a way to appear is to do what Emmet Fox called “The Golden Key.” Remember that God, and all Its goodness, is always at the center of every situation, no matter how negative. Turn the attention from the problem to the Universe and all of Its qualities. Meditate on and affirm harmony, abundance, joy, health, etc. in all areas of life. Remember that God is everywhere present, knowing and seeing all, has infinite power and authority, is perfect action and divine order.

Change Your Perspective

These are the ideas we want to fill our minds with when we feel blocked. In so doing, we’re getting our limited perception of the situation out of the way. We’re taking our attention from the problem to the perspective of the Universe, where the difficulty doesn’t exist. This begins to uplift our consciousness to allow more creative solutions to flow.

Frederick Bailes says in “Hidden Power for Human Problems” that we “…need to be well schooled in the art of looking through the frightening condition rather than at it.” Just like the martial artist aims his energy beyond the board, we need to focus our attention past the problem to the potential of a solution. Only in this way will we be able to break through our blocks and challenges and experience a greater and better life.

Affirmation:

I am one with the Universal Spirit, which is God. All the good of God flows in and through me and my affairs. I know that there is a perfect answer for my situation. God and all Its goodness is everywhere present, including the center of the challenge. I am open to whatever solution is for my Highest and Best good, no matter what changes it might require.

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

Complaining Trains You to Be Negative, Part 2

Complaining Trains You to Be Negative, Part 2

by Linda-Ann Stewart

cup says 'choose happy'

In part 1, you learned that complaining harms your brain and body, but you can undo the damage. By taking control of your thoughts and refocusing, you can reprogram your subconscious to be more positive. You free up mental circuits to be more creative and seek solutions.

Reverse the Tendency to Complain

Within a few weeks of not complaining, you’ll notice a difference. You’ll have a more positive outlook, and have grown new neurons that support calm and peace of mind.  The Law of Attraction will respond by bringing you the dominant ideas you’re now focusing on.  

Here are some ways that will help you refrain from complaining and build a stronger, healthier, mindset.

  • As soon as there’s a problem, acknowledge it and how you feel about it. Then, deliberately choose to look for a solution. You may not find one immediately, but your subconscious doesn’t like to leave a question unanswered. It will continue to work on it until it finds an answer. 
  • If a solution doesn’t come quickly, move on to ask yourself, “What can I do to change my perspective on the situation?” It’s said that “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Changing your viewpoint opens you up to ideas and opportunities that would have been invisible to you otherwise.
  • You could ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” As an alternative, you could even ask your subconscious to find some good to come from the situation. Your subconscious is a problem solver, and will seek ways to make lemons into lemonade. Leave it up to the Universe to find the good. This has always been my favorite response for any difficult situation. It’s amazing how effective this tactic has been.

Being mindful takes more effort, but can reverse the tendency to complain and the damage it causes. You’ll build stronger mental connections to be positive, and this ultimately brings you a healthier, happier, more successful, life.

Affirmation:

Whenever I have a problem, I focus on finding a solution. The Universe inspires me with ideas of what I can do to resolve the situation. I keep my mind open to unexpected opportunities as I step back to be objective. I don’t know how, but the Universe finds a way for something good to come to me as a result of this situation.

Watch the accompanying video, Break the Habit of Complaining.

Read Complaining Trains You to Be Negative, Part 1.

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

Complaining Trains You to Be Negative, Part 1

Complaining Trains You to Be Negative, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

cup says 'choose happy'

Venting about a problem is a normal human reaction. When something goes wrong, you acknowledge it, and express your dissatisfaction and frustration. After you grumble, you generally deal with it, look for a solution and move on.

The Problem with Complaining

But if you begin to dwell on the problem, you make the switch to a complaining mindset. Every time you gripe to someone about the situation, your mind is replaying it in your imagination. And your mind can’t tell the difference between your imagination and reality. To your mind and body, the problem is happening in real time all over again. The repetition affects you as much as the situation did originally.

Chronic complaining stresses and damages your physical and mental health. It affects your mood, encourages helplessness, impacts memory, reduces problem solving, weakens your immune system, raises your blood pressure, and much more. It also closes off your connection to the Universe. You wouldn’t think that complaining would cause so much harm. But it does.

Complaining Trains Your Brain

And complaining doesn’t just affect your physical health. In neuroscience, it’s said that, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” Which means that the more you complain, the more neurons you’re creating to notice problems and feel helpless. You’re training your subconscious to be negative and look for fault everywhere.

And the more negative you are, the easier it is for you to be negative overall. Where your attention goes, energy flows. It’s a cycle that spirals downward. Complaining also directs the Law of Attraction to find more for you to complain about. Even being around other complainers can hurt you and lure you into modeling them.

But there is good news. You can use the same process to rewire your brain to be more positive.

Affirmation:

Complaining doesn’t help the situation, and only makes things worse. I now use my mind and attention in a more productive way. I protect my mental health by minimizing my time and shielding myself around negative people. The Universe guides and directs me to solutions, actions, or in any decisions I need to make. I shift my focus from what’s wrong to looking for what is going well.

Watch the accompanying video, How to Undo a Complaining Mindset.

In Part 2, you’ll learn some tips on how to stop complaining and reverse the damage that it causes. Read Part 2 of Complaining Trains You to Be Negative.

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

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 2

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 2

by Linda-Ann Stewart

In part 1, we examined what the state of flow is and how it’s beneficial to your life. The more often you enter the flow state, the more you train your brain to enter it at will. This means that you’ll be able to induce it when you need to work on a project, or complete a task. It also means that your days will have less stress, even if there are setbacks. The Universe has more access to guide and inspire you.

Here are 9 ways to build focus and train yourself to get into the state of flow:

  1. Crafting or hobbies. Knitting, jewelry making, woodworking, or any craft or hobby will allow you to slip into the state of flow.
  2. Meditation. This practice strengthens the ability to focus, and promotes a sense of calm.  
  3. Affirmations or self-talk. By giving yourself positive reinforcement, you’re able to reduce anxiety and promote motivation.
  4. Relaxation practice. When you relax your body, your mind lets go as well, which allows it to enter the state of flow.
  5. Visualization. Imagining each part of your day going smoothly gives your subconscious mind the direction to begin to work out solutions to problems ahead of time.
  6. Mindfulness. Objectively paying attention to your breathing, scanning your body, being aware of your thoughts and emotions, and not judging them, helps you to be in the moment.
  7. Music. Listening to music, without words, engages the part of your mind that opens to flow.
  8. Reading. Just 10 minutes of reading can lower your heart rate, stress and boost relaxation.
  9. Exercise. A work out, even just walking, releases brain chemicals that counter depression and boosts mood.

Focus, and the state of flow, changes the brain, creating new pathways that improve your attitude and resilience. The more at ease and peaceful you are, the easier it is for you to handle bumps in life. As you enjoy the state of flow more, your life can also flow more smoothly. You’ll be more in tune with Universal Good. Just as water flows around obstacles and rocks, so will you.

Affirmation:

I dedicate myself to practicing the state of flow. Each time I slip into the state of focused awareness, I’m training myself to repeat it whenever I want. When I experience this state more often, my life flows more smoothly. I have all that I need to successfully handle any situation or circumstance that arises. I am more easily guided and directed by Universal Mind.

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

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1

Get Focused and into the State of Flow, Part 1

by Linda-Ann Stewart

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

What Is the Flow State?

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

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

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

Why the Flow State Is Beneficial

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

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

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

Affirmation:

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

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

Use Your Strategic Vision to Succeed

Use Your Strategic Vision to Succeed

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

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

The Difference Between Strategy and Tactics

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

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

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

What Is Your Vision?

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

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

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

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

Life Leaves Clues

Life Leaves Clues

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Zigzag change

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

Is It Time to Let Go?

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

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

Recognize the Clues

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

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

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

Affirmation:

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

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

You Are Your Authority

You Are Your Authority

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Chains breaking
vector silhouette of a girl with raised hands and broken chains

Years ago, I discovered that the critical people in my life, who loved to pick at me and tear me down, were just echoing the condemning voices in my head. I’d spent so much time distracted, defending myself against those outer critics, that I hadn’t addressed the real issue, how I felt about myself. I’d given the past, and the people in it, authority over me.

Most of us have disapproving judgements about ourselves that tell us that we’re not good enough. Maybe you have an inner critic that tells you that you can’t do anything right, that you “should” be perfect, or that making a mistake is worse than death. I know of people who can’t take a day off because they’d feel guilty. And others who refused to hire someone to paint their house because they felt they “ought” to do it. Your internal judge pounds you with its condemnations, both from within, using guilt, and outwardly by reflecting your inner feelings in how the people in your life treat you.

Life Reflects Your Inner Struggle

Many people who have rebelled against authority figures in the past tend to have problems now with bosses, police, the IRS, etc. They defy internalized critical messages from their childhood environment, and don’t accept responsibility for their actions. Therefore, the energy that they have resisted and disowned increases and echoes back to them from the world.

Whatever you feel victimized by will mirror in your life. Just as my environment had been reflecting back to me what was already in my consciousness. I had to change my attitude from defending myself to addressing the internal messages from a position of strength. As I took responsibility for my own well being, the critics began to fade out of my life. I’m not saying it was easy. It wasn’t. But once I convinced myself that no one had the right to put me down, including my internal critic, my life began to improve.

How to Counter Your Critical Judgements

When you listen to the critical things that you say to yourself, you can begin to deal with them. As with everything in the subconscious, they once had a reason and a purpose to protect you. Although they’ve been trying to help you, they’ve been doing it in a way that you have outgrown. Those messages were patterned on the authority figures in your childhood so that you could fit into the conditions at that time. But they are no longer necessary, and won’t realize it until you tell them so. Believe it or not, they’re waiting for you to assert your power over them and reclaim your authority.

If the old ideas are telling you that you don’t deserve good, or that you’re not worthy, realize that the Universe has much more authority than the people who implanted those beliefs in you. And the Infinite knows that you deserve all the good that Life has to offer. Spirit is stronger than any outdated attitude. A Divine truth is that the Universe wants you to accept and express the wholeness of your being.

You Have the Right to Be Free

You have the right to re-examine the standards by which you have lived your life. Those condemning internal messages have been trying to keep you living within the bounds of someone else’s values. With all the knowledge you now have, you can change the attitudes that no longer serve you. Using affirmations and Divine guidance, you can transform the outdated values into ones that are in alignment with love, harmony, joy, abundance, and all the good there is.

Affirmations I used during this period were, “I am the authority in my life” and “I own my authority.” I had to review all the standards I’d grown up with, reassess them and release the ones that no longer served me. When I began to do this, it was scary. The first few times that I stood up for myself, I felt the sky might fall. It didn’t. Instead, the Universe rushed in to support me and my world expanded. The same will be true for you.

Affirmation:

I know that the Universe supports me in the good that I desire. The only one that keeps my good from me is my own thoughts about it. I now release any old concepts that might have restricted my acceptance of all the good I desire. As I place my desire in my mind, knowing that I deserve it, then the All of the Universe rushes in to fulfill it in a perfect way.

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

How to Practice Goodwill and Preserve Your Peace

How to Practice Goodwill and Preserve Your Peace

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Hanging hearts

In my last article, I wrote about The Power of Goodwill, describing the benefits for you and others. However, having goodwill towards others doesn’t mean that you passively tolerate whatever treatment comes your way. Instead, when you practice goodwill, you initially choose to believe that the other person’s intentions are positive in some way. At least, at first.

Don’t Jump to Conclusions

When someone distresses you, it can be challenging to practice goodwill. When someone upsets you, it’s normal to go on the defensive to protect yourself. But it may not be necessary. Before you jump to a conclusion, realize something else may be going on.

For instance, if you love the color blue, and they say they hate that color, don’t take it personally. It’s just their opinion. Don’t try to be a mind reader and assume they’re calling your taste into question. In other situations, it’s possible you misunderstood their actions or meaning, or they misunderstood yours. Pay attention to their other actions to determine if their motives are benign, or not.

When People Have Malicious Intentions

But there are exceptions. When you recognize someone is attacking or trying to take advantage of you, their intention is destructive. In that case, your goodwill would be encouraging bad behavior. And that would be counterproductive for you and could make things worse. The Universal law of karma exists for this reason.

For years, someone I knew constantly, good-naturedly, needled me. But, as time went on, it wasn’t mischievous any longer, but was increasingly malicious. I could no longer attribute positive intentions to that person. As a result, I cut off all contact with them. I wasn’t angry, and I wish the person well. I just choose not to tolerate their escalating abuse.

What to Do

As much as you can, disengage from someone who is negative or whose motives are detrimental. If you can’t separate from them physically, do it emotionally. They’ve put themselves outside of your zone of forbearance. And you don’t owe them an explanation as to why you’ve distanced yourself. They probably know why. Realize that they have their issues, and they’ve been taking them out on you. But you’re not obliged to remain their target. It wouldn’t help either of you.  The Universe does not hold you responsible for another person’s problems.

When you assert your boundaries, and protect your peace, you’re practicing goodwill towards yourself. You’re opening yourself to the flow of love from the Universe. This will build your sense of self-worth and serenity. By doing so, you’ll create a well of strength and calmness to draw from for the future.

Affirmation:

The Universe constantly pours love and goodwill into my life. As I project it to others, it flows back to me from the Universe. I am Divinely guided as to when to distance myself from those who mistreat me. I can project goodwill to them from afar. I realize that by separating myself, I’m practicing love and goodwill to myself, and am protecting my peace of mind.

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

What You Wish For Others, YOU May Get

What You Wish For Others, YOU May Get

by Linda-Ann Stewart

moon and stars

Have you ever wished that something bad would happen to someone who’d wronged you? Not just that they’d learn not to do it again, but they’d be hurt as badly as you were? It could be a partner cheating on you, a coworker undermining you, or even someone cutting you off on the road. It’s natural to have the impulse that they should pay. Even as you become more spiritual, it’s hard to stay positive and objective in these difficult situations. But there’s a practical reason to avoid descending to the level of wanting retaliation and staying there.

Whatever you wish for someone else, you’re also wishing for yourself, whether it’s positive or negative. A friend of mine would unconsciously hurt himself whenever he got angry. He’d accidentally slam his hand in a drawer, kick the desk, or fall over the trash can. His anger, a strong emotion, connected with the image of retribution he wanted for the person who’d harmed him. This deeply impressed his subconscious, which didn’t recognize that the picture was for someone else.

How the Subconscious Functions

All the subconscious knows is that there’s a lot of energy attached to an idea, and it performs its role to fulfill the mold you give it. If you dwell on the desire for revenge, and you think about it frequently, the subconscious will figure that’s what you want for yourself. It will make sure you get what it thinks you want. This same principle is true if you’re jealous or envious of someone and hope they fail.

If you have a fleeting desire for payback, but dismiss it fairly quickly and move on with your life, the subconscious won’t act on it. It’s only when a person consistently and constantly wishes for vengeance that the subconscious takes notice.

The subconscious uses whatever you’re focused on for its model. When your predominant thinking is concentrated on retribution, the subconscious thinks you want the condition you’re intent on in your own life. This is the underlying reason why forgiveness is emphasized so much in various spiritual systems.

The Meaning of Forgiveness

Forgiveness releases the hostility and bitterness that you have towards a person. That energy can then be directed into a more beneficial purpose. But even more basic than that, your subconscious is given a more constructive image to work with and fulfill. When you want the best for someone, you know that you’ve forgiven them. This doesn’t mean that you give them permission to hurt you again. You forgive the person, not the offense.

You can be angry at what someone has done, or be in conflict with them, but still have a feeling of goodwill towards them. If compassion isn’t possible, then maybe you can simply remind yourself that the offender will experience what they need to eventually learn their lesson. It’s not your job to be the instrument of justice the Universe.

Find a way to let go of the negative image, preferably turning it into a positive one. The next time someone cuts ahead of you in line, bless them and let it go. Because whatever condition you want for someone else, you’re also asking for yourself.

Affirmation:

If someone harms me, I acknowledge my feelings, but let go of any wish for revenge. The Universe will deal with them in the best way for their evolution. I take care of myself and my feelings, and learn what I need to do so that I am protected from it happening again. I now desire for others what I desire for myself. In so doing, I’m expanding my level of acceptance of good.

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