Change is the crux of our history and of our lives. Change is all around us in the change from day to night and warm to cold. The change we see in the seasons and the beauty that comes with the birth of spring after the calm hibernation of winter. All of these changes are gradual. They require time, care, and the natural process that is change!
Most of us are good at the beginning or the start and we are very excited about the end or the finish but the process is what trips us up.
Think about the constant changes in your life. As we get older our bodies go through so many changes both internal and external. Our eyes get weak, our hair turns gray or falls out, our middle expands, and we need more sleep. If we’re lucky we watch our children grow into adults and have children of their own and the emotions that we feel during these many changes are varied and deep. We may feel insecure about our looks, we feel sad, lonely, and possibly depressed because of the empty nest that is now our home.
So how do these changes affect us? The positive effects are that we grow more intelligent and wise. We mature and find new ways to solve old problems. We advance in our careers or branch off on our own to create our own fortune by acquiring property and savings and self development. We watch our children grown and we find our true self by becoming comfortable in our own skin. Some negative effects usually show up in the forms of habits; chain smoking, binge shopping, over-eating, depression, anxiety, and anger.
Today we are experiencing changes that we haven’t seen for decades. We are a nation at war, our planet is dying and as a result our resources are over stretched and the seasons that were marginally predictable are now uneven with tornados, snow storms, and flooding in places that historically don’t see such bedlam. Not to mention we are in the midst of making political history. Functioning in that much change can be challenging and some uncertainty is expected.
But what can we do about it. How can we still flourish when we are tired all the time? We must make the choice to do the very thing that is causing us stress……CHANGE! We have to change the way we react to stress and change. Easier said than done – YEP! You’re right but with consistent behavior, you will be better equipped to deal with life’s changes as they come at you.
First you have to identify the changes in your life. When I did this exercise, I discovered I had had a major life changing event in my life every year for the past 17 years. Wow right?
MONDAY – Think about the past two years. If you’d like to go further back, feel free, you may be surprised at what you discover. Write down every major life change you’ve endured. From family to work, new boss, gained or lost weight, had children, lost children to school or otherwise, bought a house, lost a house, or perhaps you got married or divorced. Write down everything you can think of so you can really wrap your head around everything that has happened in your life recently.
TUESDAY - Now that you’ve seen how much change you’ve had over the last couple years you can move past it. If you have had any kind of loss, use today to mourn. A loss is not just for a person. If children went off to school, you lost your previous figure (even if it is a good thing), changed jobs or careers. Use today to accept that it has changed. Go to a place that is peaceful or where you can have time to yourself. Now say to yourself: Today, I acknowledge that things are different and it is good. It means I am living. Life will continue to grow from here and I am growing with it. Everyday I am better than I was the day before and I no longer fear change. Life is change and I am living my truest life.
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY – In order to manage change you must anticipate change. Now you can’t plan for everything since life tends to be pretty random but you can have a plan. Over the past weeks, we’ve done some goal setting and that is all you have to do today.
1. List the things that are going on and how they will change over the next 30-60 days.
2. Now set a goal for them. Visualize and plan your vision of the outcome of your upcoming changes. Do you need more money, is money ok? Do you want to lose weight, are you moving, is your company relocating, or maybe your youngest is graduating; see these events the way you want them to turn out. Close your eyes and use your change meditation above to talk through your visualization.
FRIDAY – You have now accepted that change is the natural flow of life. As you experience the changes in your life, face them with the confidence that you are acting from your truest self. You can’t run from change but you can grow from it. Today is treat day. Celebrate the changes in your life.
Quote of the Week: All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. Anatole France
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Visual Reality
Visualization is a significant tool that gives you the power to realize your goals by first seeing yourself in your mind. The premise of “The Secret” discusses the law of attraction and how visualization by first manifesting in the mind can then go to work to bring your deepest ambitions to you.
Now, don’t misunderstand, visualization alone will not magically make your dreams come true, it’s not voodoo. However, visualization can give you your own reality show playing in your head. You still have to do the work.
Visualization can be intangible, in the mind, and tangible via photos or a poster. Visualization through meditation takes discipline but can not only help you see yourself achieving your dreams but it is very relaxing and relieves stress. Visualization through meditation or affirmation is best done in the evening before bed because you are relaxed and your thoughts go into your subconscious and work on your behalf. Using affirmations is another way to visualize your goals. By writing out a script in the affirmative of how you want things to be, i.e., I have $50,000.00 in savings, I am running my own fill in the blank company, etc, and saying it out loud daily, you are speaking your life into being. Remember, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” You know – See It! Believe It! Achieve It!
Well known sleep researcher J. Allen Hobson’s theory is that when we dream, it is our mind’s way of working through the things that are happening in our lives. By planting the seed of how we want our life to look, we utilize the brain activity that is already happening and the law of attraction to summon the things and people we need to move forward to come to us.
Tangible visualization can be as small as a card with your affirmation on it that you refer to everyday or you can make a poster. I call it a “Happy Chart”. A happy chart has specific pictures of what you want to achieve. If there are people in your pictures, they should reflect you. If one of your goals is a car, it should be the specific car and color you want. Make it fun! Use magazines, pictures online, clipart, catalogues, and even scrapbooking accessories to make it more personal. The most important thing is to be specific.
Meditative Visualization – Today I am ready to live the life I deserve. I am focused and driven to be happy!
MONDAY – TUESDAY – Complete your meditative visualization script. In week one’s conversation, you discovered your immediate needs. Begin with the two sentences above and write out your goals. If you want to lose weight, then state, I am blank pounds. I own fill in the blank restaurant where I have enjoyed profits since I opened. You get the pattern. If you need a little time, that’s ok. Make a list of how you’d like to see your life. You may even want to close your eyes and try to visualize living one of your biggest goals. Don’t get caught up in the “ifs”. “If I didn’t have kids”, “If I had more money”, “If I didn’t work full time” FORGET THAT! This is on the premise that all systems are on GO! Don’t worry about those other things in your life; they will take care of themselves as you realize your dreams. First you have to have the vision that you can.
WEDNESDAY – THURSDAY – Begin building your Happy Chart. You will need a colored poster board or construction paper depending on how big you want it. Look for pictures of your goals and glue them to the paper of your choice. Once you have finished, put it up somewhere that you will see it everyday like the back of your bedroom door or closet door, frame it and make it fancy if you want but remember this is a working document so you will want to be able to cross or check things off as you achieve them. (remember to always give yourself a gimmie – one thing that you are either almost done with or just finished so you can immediately add your first check mark as motivation to keep moving)
If you just want to do the visualization, use these next two days to get in the habit of meditating. You can also record your visualized affirmation and play it while you meditate on it. This may make it easier to get in the habit. But, keep in mind, the actual visual chart adds to your focus because it puts it on paper. It’s something you can check off periodically and see your progress. You can always do that later if you wish but it is a valuable tool.
FRIDAY – You have acquired a new tool to move you closer to your goals. Remember that you are a magnificent being and can be and do everything you wish so treat yourself today and keep working toward your goals. It is well worth it! And……SO ARE YOU!
Quote of the Week - To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” Anatole France, French writer (1844-1924)
Reference: http://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_can_imagine_it-you_can_achieve_it-if_you/15190.html
Now, don’t misunderstand, visualization alone will not magically make your dreams come true, it’s not voodoo. However, visualization can give you your own reality show playing in your head. You still have to do the work.
Visualization can be intangible, in the mind, and tangible via photos or a poster. Visualization through meditation takes discipline but can not only help you see yourself achieving your dreams but it is very relaxing and relieves stress. Visualization through meditation or affirmation is best done in the evening before bed because you are relaxed and your thoughts go into your subconscious and work on your behalf. Using affirmations is another way to visualize your goals. By writing out a script in the affirmative of how you want things to be, i.e., I have $50,000.00 in savings, I am running my own fill in the blank company, etc, and saying it out loud daily, you are speaking your life into being. Remember, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” You know – See It! Believe It! Achieve It!
Well known sleep researcher J. Allen Hobson’s theory is that when we dream, it is our mind’s way of working through the things that are happening in our lives. By planting the seed of how we want our life to look, we utilize the brain activity that is already happening and the law of attraction to summon the things and people we need to move forward to come to us.
Tangible visualization can be as small as a card with your affirmation on it that you refer to everyday or you can make a poster. I call it a “Happy Chart”. A happy chart has specific pictures of what you want to achieve. If there are people in your pictures, they should reflect you. If one of your goals is a car, it should be the specific car and color you want. Make it fun! Use magazines, pictures online, clipart, catalogues, and even scrapbooking accessories to make it more personal. The most important thing is to be specific.
Meditative Visualization – Today I am ready to live the life I deserve. I am focused and driven to be happy!
MONDAY – TUESDAY – Complete your meditative visualization script. In week one’s conversation, you discovered your immediate needs. Begin with the two sentences above and write out your goals. If you want to lose weight, then state, I am blank pounds. I own fill in the blank restaurant where I have enjoyed profits since I opened. You get the pattern. If you need a little time, that’s ok. Make a list of how you’d like to see your life. You may even want to close your eyes and try to visualize living one of your biggest goals. Don’t get caught up in the “ifs”. “If I didn’t have kids”, “If I had more money”, “If I didn’t work full time” FORGET THAT! This is on the premise that all systems are on GO! Don’t worry about those other things in your life; they will take care of themselves as you realize your dreams. First you have to have the vision that you can.
WEDNESDAY – THURSDAY – Begin building your Happy Chart. You will need a colored poster board or construction paper depending on how big you want it. Look for pictures of your goals and glue them to the paper of your choice. Once you have finished, put it up somewhere that you will see it everyday like the back of your bedroom door or closet door, frame it and make it fancy if you want but remember this is a working document so you will want to be able to cross or check things off as you achieve them. (remember to always give yourself a gimmie – one thing that you are either almost done with or just finished so you can immediately add your first check mark as motivation to keep moving)
If you just want to do the visualization, use these next two days to get in the habit of meditating. You can also record your visualized affirmation and play it while you meditate on it. This may make it easier to get in the habit. But, keep in mind, the actual visual chart adds to your focus because it puts it on paper. It’s something you can check off periodically and see your progress. You can always do that later if you wish but it is a valuable tool.
FRIDAY – You have acquired a new tool to move you closer to your goals. Remember that you are a magnificent being and can be and do everything you wish so treat yourself today and keep working toward your goals. It is well worth it! And……SO ARE YOU!
Quote of the Week - To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” Anatole France, French writer (1844-1924)
Reference: http://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_can_imagine_it-you_can_achieve_it-if_you/15190.html
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