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Manage Your Priorities to Achieve Your Goals

Manage Your Priorities to Achieve Your Goals

How many times do you get sidetracked in a day? This often happens when you put other people’s priorities ahead of your own. When you prioritize your priorities, then you get so much more done with less stress. In this video, I talk about my struggles with this issue and what I’ve done to deal with it. Learn the 3 questions I ask myself and that you can use to find clarity about where to put your attention. Watch Manage Your Priorities to Achieve Your Goals.

Transcript:

Welcome. In this video, I’d like to give you a tip on how to improve your productivity, progress and effectiveness. I’ve struggled with managing my priorities over the years, and want to share a tip about how I’ve learned to handle this area so that you may get more done, and have less stress.

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 are times when I’ve gotten sidetracked in a day. Before working on my priority for the day, I’ve checked my email and found a client’s message asking a question, and decided to answer it right then. Or my work flow was interrupted by a follow up call from someone I’d met networking. Or my phone would notify me of a message on LinkedIn, and I’d immediately answer it.

And of course, each of these led to other demands on my attention from other people. Has this ever happened to you? You fall into the trap of satisfying other people’s immediate demands, and not your urgent concerns?

Each time, I mistakenly thought that if I took care of all of these other details right then, I’d be free to focus on my priority task for the day. But what generally happened was that I found myself scrabbling with distractions from others all day long, paying attention to other people’s priorities. Not my priorities.

I learned that if I started out my day scattered, the rest of the day would often continue that way. I would be running all day to catch up with myself and what was important for me and my business.

Unless you pay attention to your intention first, and prioritize your priorities, you’ll fall victim to someone else’s agenda. This is true in your personal and professional lives. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t deal with those folk and what they request of you. Just that you do it in your time frame, when it’s convenient to you, after you’ve worked on what’s important to you and your business.

So here’s the tip. There are 3 simple questions you can ask yourself so you know if you’re working on your priorities or someone else’s.

  1. Will the distraction interfere with your priority for the day, such as your task or project? Yeah, I know, this sounds really simplistic. This is the basic question to ask for you to realize you’re being distracted. If the answer is yes, the next couple of questions will help you decide if the interruption can be dealt with now or later.
  2. Can the distraction be delayed a few hours? Whether it’s a message, a phone call or something else. If it can be delayed, set it aside, focus on your priority and respond later.
  3. Is it imperative for you to deal with right now, such as, will it bring you money or customers immediately? Now, that would be a good reason to interrupt your flow and respond, right? But if not, set it aside and focus on your priority and respond later.

See the theme? If you can respond later, set it aside and focus on your priority first. These questions can help you gain clarity about where you need to put your attention and what to do in each one.

When I started using these questions, I was much more productive, and less frustrated. When you manage your priorities, by prioritizing them, you’ll get a lot more done, with a lot less stress. 

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, Develop Self-Mastery by Managing Your Attention.

Mindset, the First Step to Success

Mindset, the First Step to Success

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Steps to Success

When you want to move towards a goal, which comes first, action or mindset? Many coaches  advise you to get into action as quickly as you can. They say that swirling around in planning can suck the life out of a project, which is true. They also say that you’ll build your mindset as your actions are successful.

But if action was the first step to fulfill your vision, then everyone who did it would be successful. So many people jump into motion without considering where they’re starting and where they’re headed.

If mindset wasn’t important, then every person who started a business, quit smoking or set a goal would have been successful by simply taking action. And you know that isn’t the case. The vast majority of people don’t achieve their goals and their businesses fail. In fact, according to Bloomberg, 8 out of 10 businesses fail. Some of the failures are due to not taking action, but most of them are related to a mindset issue.

What Your Mindset Is Composed of

Your mindset is a combination of thoughts, beliefs and attitudes about your vision. It frames your mental patterns about your life and your goal. Because you filter your world through your mindset, it also affects the way you respond to situations. The Law of Attraction operates through your mindset by drawing to you what you mainly think about. Just take a look at your life to see what the tendency of your mindset has been.

Your mindset has to be in alignment with your vision if you want to be successful in any area of life. Along with focus, it spurs your actions. By influencing the decisions you make, it can prevent you from taking action due to a fear of failure or success. To confirm some old concept about yourself, or success, it can also promote wrong action.

Without the right mindset, you could avoid following through with clients or making behavior changes that would improve your life. The wrong mindset is like dragging a 100 pound anchor behind you. You might be able to keep moving, but it’s exhausting and you’ll soon give up. Your mindset is your motivation to move forward, and action is the result.

How Your Mindset Obstructs You and What to Do

Do you have a focused mindset or does it vacillate day to day? An inconsistent mindset produces erratic actions, which leads to failed results. There are several ways your mindset interferes with your actions.

1. You don’t want to do the work. Instead of accepting a step by step approach, you want your vision to magically appear in your life. To remedy this, decide how important what you want is to you. If it’s off the charts, then get started on the consistent actions you need to take.  

2. You don’t want to step out of your comfort zone. Even though you’re not happy where you are, you’re not motivated enough to take the actions necessary to get to where you want to be. The only way to grow is to step into areas that feel scary and unfamiliar. Realize that fear is a normal response to the unknown.

3. You want to avoid pain. Change is difficult. Often you have to let go of ideas and behaviors that have been part of you for a long time. The discomfort will only last a short time. Accept that the benefits of your vision outweigh the pinch of releasing a mindset that no longer works for you.

4. You’re afraid of how the result will affect you and your loved ones. One of the side effects may be that you change the way they think of yourself and your world. And once you’ve accomplished your aim, you fear how others may feel about it. After you realize your vision, your whole world will improve and you’ll feel better about yourself. And the loved ones who are truly on your side will be supportive of your accomplishment.

5. You lack commitment to your vision. You’re ambivalent about whether or not you want to move forward. Many times, you’ll get close to accomplishing your goal, only to back away from it. The next time you’re on the threshold, understand that the fear is simply trying to keep you safe. Step through the doorway and keep going.

How to Move Forward

Once you’ve addressed your mindset and gotten it to support your endeavors, start taking small, consistent actions. This convinces your subconscious that you truly want your vision. Then the Law of Attraction will be successful in drawing possibilities to you. Taking action also builds momentum that helps you stay on course. Only by establishing your vision, and being consistent in your mindset, will you be able to take effective action. Your mindset plus your actions results in success.

Affirmation:

I release any idea, thought or belief that has undermined the accomplishment of my vision for my life. I fully commit myself to moving forward towards my vision. I attract all that I need for the fulfillment of my goals and vision. I deserve it and the Universe completely supports my endeavors.

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.

Craft a Sustainable Well of Happiness

Craft a Sustainable Well of Happiness

Contrary to western beliefs, rather than success bringing happiness, happiness brings success. In great measure, your happiness is within your control. You can increase your level of happiness that will bring you multiple benefits. Watch Craft a Sustainable Well of Happiness.

Transcript:

Welcome to this month’s mindset coaching tip. Everyone could use more happiness, right? But trying to find it through achievement or awards is fleeting, at best. Happiness is much more persistent and powerful when it’s developed by  activities that you have the ability to do each day. I’d like to share a couple of tips on how you can craft a more sustainable well of happiness.

I’m Linda-Ann Stewart, a focus mentor and hypnotherapist. I empower people to focus and align their heart with their vision so they can achieve their goals. And being happy makes success more likely

The first tip to developing happiness I’d like to share with you is to take 15 minutes a day to do something that feeds your soul. Take a walk, get into nature, play with your dog or cat, or garden.

This gives your brain a boost of pleasure chemicals that increase your sense of satisfaction and joy. You know how you feel when you take time for what matters to you, right? So make sure you take at least 15 minutes a day for you.  

My second tip to crafting happiness is an outgrowth of the first tip. Get creative with some sort of craft. It could be something like quilting, embroidery, needlework, jewelry making, beading, knitting, crocheting, or my favorite, weaving. Crafting can reduce stress and anxiety.

The same is true of any art or creativity, such as painting, sculpting, music, pottery, photography, cooking, baking, or woodworking. And there are so many more.

Because you’re focused on something enjoyable, it puts you in a state of flow. In addition to increasing a sense of satisfaction, flow is where ideas and insights can start to surface. This makes achieving your goals easier.

So there are multiple benefits for taking the time for you and also for enjoying some art or craft each day. Not only will you reduce stress, and  improve your mood, but you will begin to build a well of happiness and fulfillment within yourself.

What can you do for you today? I’m going to go take a walk and then go weave. Thank you for watching. 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. Stay focused.

Read the accompanying article, How to Improve Your Happiness Level.

How to Improve Your Happiness Level

How to Improve Your Happiness Level

by Linda-Ann Stewart

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln

Our western culture pushes the idea that achieving success will bring happiness, when the opposite is actually true. I’m sure you know people who pursue success, money and power, thinking it will bring them happiness. When it doesn’t bring lasting joy, they double down to accumulate more.

In actuality, the elation over a positive event, like a promotion or winning the lottery, is transitory. After a few months, the euphoria wears off, and the person’s level of happiness drops to what it was before the event.

Happiness could be defined as a state of wellbeing, contentment, satisfaction and fulfillment. These attributes depend on whether you have a generally positive mindset or not because happiness and optimism are closely intertwined.

The Good News about Happiness

According to some researchers, about 60% of your happiness comes from heredity and life situations beyond your control. Fear not, however. About 40% of your happiness derives from what you do in your everyday life. This means that much of your happiness is based on the choices you make. Building a well of happiness from within is under your control and more pervasive than seeking it from outside sources.

There are multiple benefits to happiness, beyond just making you feel good. Happiness affects the following and more:

Increases your success. You’re more likely to receive sales, promotions and awards.

Improves your health. Your immunity increases, heart disease decreases, and mental acuity is better as you age.

Opens up doors to greater creativity. When you’re in the flow, you have more mental resources to be inspired.

Causes you to be more productive. You have more energy and seek out more opportunities.

Enhances your relationships. You’re more open, interact better and little annoyances don’t bother you as much.

Builds a positive attitude. You look on the bright side of situations and seek out beneficial solutions.

Strengthens your ability to fulfill your potential. You tap into qualities that allow you to think better and make better decisions.

Raises your vibration. You feel lighter and clearer, therefore your vibration is higher.

Attracts more good to you. Allows you to be a clearer conduit for the Universe and the Law of Attraction.

All of these benefits are within your grasp, based on the choices you make each day. Happiness isn’t just a random occurrence, inspired by a positive experience. The thoughts you focus on develop new neurons and “neurons that fire together, wire together,” creating new connections in your brain. Through repetition of specific thoughts and actions, you can raise and strengthen your level of happiness and optimism.

How to Cultivate Happiness

By keeping your attention on something good, you cultivate new patterns of well being within yourself. And the more you do this, the more you feel good. It’s true that, in your brain, “What you focus on expands.”

Here are 6 ways to build more pathways in your brain to a sense of wellbeing, satisfaction and happiness:

Smile. Not only can a smile be contagious, it activates part of your brain to bring you more contentment. When you smile, your brain releases positive chemicals and hormones to make you feel good. Spend one minute in the morning to smile, and you’ll start the day off well.

Be kind. When you give to others, it also makes you feel good. Being kind activates parts of your brain that bring you a rush of euphoria. Just sending a card or email of appreciation to someone will brighten your day, as well as theirs.

Count Your Blessings. Gratitude stimulates the production of reward and pleasure chemicals in the brain, making you feel upbeat. Studies have found that if you list three things you’re grateful for each day, you’ll notice your happiness and attitude improve within three weeks.  

Detailed Gratitude. To deepen the impact of gratitude, each day find one thing that made you happy or grateful and write about it in detail. Spend at least a couple of minutes on this exercise. When you also visualize and savor the experience, this increases the effect and brings even greater satisfaction.

Meditate. Meditation grows the area of your brain responsible for joy. Whether it’s a consistent five minutes a day or longer, meditation will rewire your brain and your brain’s function. All you need to get started is to take long, slow deep breaths, in through your nose, and out through your mouth. Focus on your breathing. If your mind wanders (as it will), just bring it back to your breath.

Build social relationships. When you hang out with friends, this increases your ties with other people and improves your mental health. This can be done in person or virtually. I have several good friends who live a long distance from me, but we stay connected either through the phone or online.

Greater happiness can be yours using these small steps. Consistency will retrain your brain to be happier and build more neural circuits that support joy.

Affirmation:

The Universe wants the best for me. Success may not lead to happiness, but happiness leads to success. Happiness is a natural state for me, well within my grasp. I no longer wait to be happy but choose to be happy, now. What I focus on expands, and as I open myself to more happiness, more flows to me. The Universe supports me in finding simple ways to cultivate happiness in my life now.

Watch the accompanying videos, Craft a Sustainable Well of Happiness and A Fun Way to Cultivate Happiness.

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 can contact her at LAS@Linda-AnnStewart.com or 928-600-0452.

Podcast Interview – Mindset, Vision, Focus

Podcast Interview – Mindset, Vision, Focus

Janice Porter and I met in a networking group and shortly thereafter had a Zoom call to get to know each other better. She’s a Relationship Marketing Specialist and an amazing LinkedIn trainer, who gave me some tips on my LinkedIn profile, which I followed. She’s all about relationship building, online and offline, to grow your business and turn your connections into clients and referral partners. Relationships are so important to her that she has a podcast called Relationships Rule.

We hit it off in our call and, as a result, she asked me to be a guest on her podcast, to talk about focus and how it’s so easy to get scattered. It was a delightful conversation, wandering from how she struggles with being scattered to tips on how to stay focused to mindset to how success begins within. We even discussed whether I believe curiosity is innate or not.

We both are very curious people and it can take us both down rabbit holes. I can spend hours exploring an idea. She has a similar challenge. These tangents don’t help us when we’re trying to accomplish something. I gave her a suggestion, which I use, which can make sure our curiosity doesn’t undermine our goals.

We had a meandering conversation, but kept coming back to focus. We explored tactics to keep yourself focused. She also brought up that she didn’t really like to establish vision and goals. I explained why they’re beneficial and how you can create them in a way that will work with the subconscious mind.

As we discussed mindset, we explored how it’s more than positive thinking. It’s much more global than just optimism. We both weren’t so positive when we were younger and now choose to be positive. It is a choice about how to perceive a situation.

I mentioned how television news engages our emotions, which means it sends us into a light state of hypnosis. This can mean you accept what’s being said without analyzing it. I suggested to read news items, as you can be more objective.

We touched on the subject of believing in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s a good bet you’ll sabotage your goals and dreams. She asked what I noticed when someone started to believe in themselves. They immediately change their actions, and start getting better results.

At her request, I gave my last piece of advice.  Focus is a skill you can develop. You can learn how to practice focusing and how to do train yourself to do so. We knew we could have continued our conversation, but unfortunately, our time was limited and we had to end it there.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Why Is Focus Important for Success?

Why Is Focus Important for Success?

Ingafay Faison Cavitt and I met at a virtual networking event. She introduced herself as a Confidence Coach for Women. Since that was one of my specialties in my hypnotherapy practice, we scheduled a video call to get to know one another better. She works with women in direct sales to become the person they were destined to be. At the end of our conversation, she decided that my approach as a focus coach would work well on her podcast.

Being able to focus is vital to being successful in business, so that’s the approach we decided to take. I shared my story of  how, when I focused on one item at a time on a long to-do list, I was finally able to complete items in a short period. Ingafay agreed that doing one thing at a time is more productive.

We discussed how getting distracted can feel rewarding, but you don’t get much done. And it can cause you to seek out more distractions. Oddly enough, one hour of focused time is equivalent to many more hours of distracted time.

I shared 4 steps that anyone can use to develop the skill of focus. One of those steps was to take breaks after a period of concentration to give the mind time to recover. Ingafay asked if a break could be like doing household chores and I said, “Yes.”

At the end of the podcast, she asked me about something I’d mentioned  when we’d had our first conversation. She asked, “Can you talk again about introverts and extroverts?” I explained that introverts and extroverts need different types of stimulation to focus for productivity. Extroverts work best around other people and introverts work best alone. I shared how a friend had tried me to work her way, and I couldn’t. I really enjoyed talking with Ingafay and wished we had more time. We both have the mission to lift women up, support and empower them to have better lives. Women have the power to fulfill their dreams.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of Insight

Sparks of Insight

“Everything I need for a successful, fulfilling life is presented to me. I recognize it and accept it. All of my affairs are blessed, and the doors fly open for an even greater experience of an abundance of all good.”

You may not consciously know what you need for more fulfillment, or recognize it when it comes. Keep your mind open for unusual opportunities or connections. By thinking outside the box, you’ll notice potentials more readily. Your subconscious will not only be instructed to bring more good your way, but keep you more alert to become aware of it when it comes.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Is the Fear of Criticism Holding You Back?

Is the Fear of Criticism Holding You Back?

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Breaking chain

Fear of criticism is a frequent stumbling block when you want to change or achieve a goal. When you want to break a habit or grow as a person, others may object and find fault with your behavior. This is to manipulate you to remain the same so they won’t become uncomfortable with the changes you’re making.

Artists and creative people of all types often don’t express the fullness of their talent for fear of jealousy and being belittled. It’s not unusual to try to hide, conform or underachieve to avoid being singled out.

If the fear of criticism is affecting you, it probably stems from being unmercifully criticized as a child. You could have had adults, or other children, censure you for being too different.

Maybe bullies humiliated you, a teacher demeaned you, or you had a disapproving parent. These wounds can impact the way you view yourself and other people. It can also block your connection to the Universe, as you’re concerned that It doesn’t approve of you. But the Universe accepts you fully, as you are.  

There’s a difference between criticism, constructive criticism and feedback. The first is focusing strictly on a perceived problem. The other two identify an issue in order to seek a solution.

What You Do Doesn’t Matter

Unfortunately, a person who criticizes you is going to do so no matter what you do. This is a conclusion I came to after many years of trying to appease people around me. Criticism is what they do to make themselves feel superior and in control, and has nothing to do with you.

Remember, the best defense is a good offense. They’re attacking you, not because there’s something wrong with you, but because they feel insecure. And, take it from one who tried for years, there’s nothing you can do to reassure them. 

They’re going to condemn you, not for what you’re doing or not doing, but because of what they aren’t doing and who they are. Sadly, you can’t gain their approval. This is hard to accept, but the only thing you can do is move forward and do what you feel is right for you. The Universe completely supports you in choosing what is best for you.

Transform Your Beliefs about It

First, consider the kind of person who would be this way. It’s likely to be someone who feels vulnerable, envious or fearful and is lashing out at you. They’re trying to build themselves up by tearing you down. It doesn’t absolve them of responsibility, but when you realize it isn’t about you, it’s easier to let it go.

Second, keep reminding yourself that anyone who criticizes you is simply coming from their own point of view, opinion and issues. What they might find fault with in you is something that they might be uncomfortable with, or don’t like within themselves. They probably aren’t even seeing you clearly, but filtering their view of you through their own perceptions and misconceptions.

Third, remind yourself that you’re an adult now, and can handle the kind of criticism that might arise. You’re no longer a helpless child, and you don’t need to depend on anyone’s approval anymore. You know that everyone has as much access to achieving their dreams as you do. If they don’t, it’s not your fault or responsibility. They are every bit as much a part of the Universe as you are. They have It’s love and support, just as you do.  

Wayne Dyer said that when you achieve more, you can EXPECT to be criticized. It’s true. When you begin to achieve your dreams, then those who haven’t achieved theirs will may be bitter and want to hold you back, as well. That’s their issue, not yours. It’s okay for you to be visible now and to shine. The Universe wants that for you.

Affirmation:

I bless and release those who are not in harmony with me or my plans. The Universe accepts and approves of me fully, just as I am. I have a right to my choices and goals, and to live my life my way. The Universe guides and directs my decisions to be for my highest and best good. It completely supports me in my endeavors, providing me with all that I need.

Watch the accompanying video, How to Respond to Criticism.

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7 Ways You Sabotage Your Goals

7 Ways You Sabotage Your Goals

by Linda-Ann Stewart

Reach Goal

All you have to do to find out what your priorities have been is to look at your life. It’s a perfect reflection of your thoughts, beliefs, and choices. If you’re an entrepreneur and don’t have enough income, where have you been putting your energy? Has it gone into checking your email all day long or into promoting your business? Being out of shape means that watching TV, surfing the internet, or eating junk food have been more important to you than exercising.

Everything you have in your life is a result of  your past choices. You make decisions each day and then act on them. When you’re hungry, you can reach for a cupcake or have an apple. If you eat a cupcake for a snack every day, you’ll probably gain weight. Munching on the apple means you’ll have  better health. All the choices you make have consequences, either good or bad.

Change Your Choices

If you want something different in your life, you’ll need to start making different choices and following them through with a plan of action. To lose weight, reduce your calorie intake, portion sizes and increase your exercise. For more business, take action to become more visible and let people know about your product or service. 

Decisions are made in different ways, for different reasons, and not always consciously. Unfortunately, sometimes the actions you take sabotage what you really want. Learning to identify how your decisions are made can make the difference between success and failure. Once you become more aware of what prompts your decisions, you can formulate strategies to keep you on track and make decisions that will move you forward.

When Your Choices Sabotage Your Goals

Choices can sabotage you when they’re made:

1. Unconsciously. You could simply be acting out of a habit you created in the past. Although, you have the best of intentions, you fall into old patterns that undermine your goals. What can you do to break that habit and create a new one that supports your vision?

2. Based on past programming. For instance, you accepted ideas from people who told you that you wouldn’t be successful. By continuing to act on this, you’re limiting yourself for no reason. They didn’t know or couldn’t recognize your potential. Reassess them and reprogram your beliefs.

3. To avoid uncomfortable emotions. Change can be threatening. Achieving your goal could bring up outdated beliefs that don’t want to let go. So you choose the path of least resistance to keep from confronting those ideas. You have to decide which is most important to you, continued comfort or facing your fears.

4. Due to procrastination. This is similar to the last one. Once you move forward, you’re going to be in uncharted territory. You could be risking failure, criticism, or more responsibility. Find out why you procrastinate and develop a way of handling it.

5. Because you didn’t make a choice. You decided to put off making a decision. But not making a choice is a choice in itself. You’ve simply chosen not to change or take any action towards your goal. What do you need to do to decide to take action?

6. Trying to change too much all at once. Some people dive in and try to change their entire lives at one time. If you aren’t forced to do this, through divorce or some other trauma, don’t overwhelm yourself. The subconscious doesn’t like to change too much at one time. Take one area and work on it until it’s underway, then start on another.

7. From a sense of overwhelm or stress. Unfortunately, decisions made under duress are rarely for the best. They usually are made in reaction to outside circumstances and not well thought out. Step back, take a deep breath, and assess the situation before you make a choice.

Make Your Choices Work For You

Once you recognize how you make decisions, you can create a plan to keep you on the path to your goal. You simply break the old habit by establishing a new one.

You want to be able to consciously make decisions. The only way to be effective at achieving your goals is to know your target and aim for it. Some people weigh the pros and cons, and some decide what feels right. Whatever way you make choices, be aware of what you want and make a plan. Then stay on track and work your plan. And each day, make sure your choices support your endeavor.

Affirmation:

The Universe is always supporting my endeavors. It wants me to be abundant and successful. I am always Divinely guided. When I have a goal, I create a plan to achieve it. Any resistance to moving forward is now dissolved. It no longer serves a purpose. I commit myself to my goal and work my plan every day.

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