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Claim Your Joy
How Thoughts and Feelings Create Our Reality
Bonnie Groessl, MSN
Copyright © 2012 Bonnie Groessl
All Rights Reserved
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Contact Bonnie at [email protected]
For more information about Bonnie and her work, go to
www.coachbonniegroessl.com
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Table of Contents
1. Is There a Difference Between The Conscious and Subconscious Mind?
2. What Creates Good Energy?
3. What Are Some Easy Tips and Tools to Help Stay Positive?
4. How Do I Add Power to Affirmations?
5. Who Gets to Choose?
6. Is Every Thought a Prayer?
7. What is Praying Rain?
8. Why Not Journal the Future?
9. Who Are the People Around You?
10. Abundance or Lack?
11. Does Relaxation Really Help?
12. Where To Start?
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Preface
Do you have the life you want? Are you joyful? Do you wake up every morning
excited for a new day? If this isn’t your reality as often as you’d like, then this
book is for you.
Many people today are suffering. Whether it’s physical or emotional pain, lifethreatening illness, grief, loneliness, anxiety, sadness, insecurity or just feeling
overwhelmed by life, there is suffering. We deserve to be happy and live the lives
we want. Life is what it is, but suffering is optional.
Negative thoughts can be toxic to the brain, while positive thoughts and feelings
are like good medicine. We all have more drugs in our brain than any drug
company could ever make. In this book, you will discover ways to leash the power
of your subconscious mind and change your life.
A Word of Caution
This book is not intended to be a substitute for professional care, or a treatment
for any mental or physical condition. Different things work for different people.
Although these ideas and modalities have helped many people, everyone is
different. Sometimes a method might stir up uncomfortable feelings, especially if
you have a traumatic history. If this is the case, seeking professional help or even
discussing it with a friend may help. Change the method in some way so it fits for
you, or just move on. Be kind to yourself. Being nonjudgmental and not beating
yourself up is extremely important. Often we are kinder to others than to
ourselves.
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Is there a Difference Between the Conscious and Subconscious Mind?
What if we could see our mind? It doesn’t show up on a CT scan or an MRI, but if
we could see it, I think our mind would look like an iceberg.
The little piece we can see above the surface of the ocean is like our conscious
mind. It processes an average of 2,000 bits of information per second, stores
your short-term memory and can manage 1-3 events at a time.
Our conscious mind thinks abstractly, sets goals, judges results and is timebound, meaning it has the ability to see the past and the future.
Have you ever walked into a room and forgot why you went there? Well, if it took
you more than 20 seconds or you were distracted, that’s normal! Your conscious
mind can only manage 20 seconds at a time, and that timeframe is even less if
you are multitasking or distracted.
Willpower resides in the conscious mind. It really isn’t very strong in comparison
to the subconscious mind (so don’t beat yourself up!)
Our subconscious mind is like the huge part of the iceberg that’s under the
surface of the water. It can process an average of 4 billion bits of information per
second – that’s billion, with a “B.”
It stores our long-term memory and handles thousands of events at a time. It
monitors operations of the body and basically serves as our autopilot. It’s what
keeps our hearts beating and our lungs breathing while we sleep. The
subconscious mind literally thinks like a 3- to 5-year-old child, and it’s timeless,
meaning it thinks in present time only.
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If you say to a small child, “Tomorrow we’re going to the zoo,” you would
probably regret it later, because every five minutes you would hear, “Are we
going?” “Is it zoo time?” “Is it tomorrow?”
Little kids don’t understand the future; they think only in present time. Our
subconscious mind is the same way, so pretend you are already at your goal,
whatever that is. You have to feel like you’re there. It’s much more about the
feeling than just the visualization.
Another thing little kids don’t understand is the word “no.” If we say, “Don’t do
that,” the child actually hears “Do that.” They don’t hear the word “don’t.” We
have to imagine our subconscious mind is like that of a small child. It thinks in
present time only and can’t understand negative words like “don’t.”
The other thing to understand about our subconscious mind is everything we
have every experienced in our lifetimes is in there, all the way from the time we
were in the womb. It stores the good, the bad and the ugly – all of it. Imagine all
these thoughts in a big stack in our subconscious mind. Ideally, we should have
our good thoughts at the top of the stack.
However, oftentimes we have the bad and ugly thoughts at the top of our stack
and the good beliefs buried at the bottom. Remember, the subconscious mind is
so vast that it has room for everything.
Experiences we had when we were young may be influencing us in our adult lives.
Statements like, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all,”
may cause a person to hold in their feelings and not express themselves later in
life.
If we don’t express ourselves and stuff our feelings, it can be very unhealthy. We
all have limiting beliefs in our subconscious mind. A belief is just a thought we
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keep thinking. We know what we’re thinking consciously, but remember that’s
only the tip of the iceberg.
We are not aware of many of our thoughts because they are subconscious.
Remember that huge part of the iceberg in the earlier analogy? According to
current research, 90 to 96 percent of what we say, do, think and feel every day is
driven by what is at the top of the stack in the large, bottom part of the iceberg –
the subconscious mind.
Our subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and imagined.
That’s why stress is so harmful to us. Our mind thinks whatever we are imagining
or worrying about is actually happening. We can use this to our advantage by
imagining something good.
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What Creates Good Energy?
Our thoughts determine what we say and do. Staying positive by thinking
positively will help us live a happy, abundant life. A quick trick for attracting
more happy and abundant thoughts and activities into your life is to be around
people who are happy.
Their good energy, just like negative energy, is contagious. Their positive attitude
will reinforce your own goals, and you will be able to offer each other mutual
support and encouragement.
The words that you say, speak, and hear affect your feelings and emotions. If
those words are negative, they will lead you to where you don't want to be. Most
of these negative thoughts affect people in an indirect way, and they end up not
knowing why they feel negatively.
Negative words and experiences stored in the subconscious mind end up
affecting our emotions and feelings. This can lead to depression, anxiety, sadness
and irritability, among other things.
It’s no wonder we see more anxiety and depression today than ever before. Many
people read newspapers, magazines and websites that talk about accidents,
earthquakes, suffering and poverty, among other negative issues, while drinking
their coffee in the morning. This does not help create positive thoughts. All of
these negative issues will manifest in your life if you keep thinking about them.
From now on, pay attention to what you read, watch, see, hear and speak. Learn
to pay attention to your thoughts every day, especially before you go to sleep. The
thoughts and feelings we have just before falling asleep influence our dreams and
how restfully we sleep.
Remember, the subconscious mind never goes to sleep. It’s still working,
digesting the “food” of the thoughts and feelings you had before falling asleep.
The moments just before we fall asleep are critical. Thinking of something that
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makes you feel good or just being grateful for what you have is a great way to end
the day and fall asleep.
Read these words and notice how you feel:
Depression, sadness, killing, rape, insult, cancer, assassination, betrayal, hell,
torment, rape, crying, bitterness, volcano, pain, suffering, earthy quake, poverty...
What kinds of emotions do you feel now after reading those words? Do you feel
any kind of pain in your body? Perhaps you notice tightness in your chest or a
slight nauseous feeling? Have these negative words affected your feelings and
emotions, and therefore your body. It’s been said that our body hears every
thought we have, and I think that’s true.
Now, think about the following words: happiness, serenity, tranquility,
appreciation, sincerity, gratitude, love, heaven, paradise, family, friends, God,
dreams, hope, sunshine, compassion, kindness, nature, water, wealth, money,
prosperity, loyalty...
See what kinds of emotions you experience after meditating or just thinking
about these positive words. Your body probably has a positive response to these
words as we think of them and feel the emotion attached to them.
Every emotion is just an emotion, not good or bad; it’s just a feeling. If you have a
negative emotion, honor that feeling, whatever it is, and then let it go. That’s the
hard part sometimes. The problem is that we often get stuck and can’t let it go.
Some people always see the glass half empty. We all know people like that;
perhaps you are like that from time to time. It’s OK to have those feelings. It’s
human nature to have anger, anxiety, frustration and worry. Just don’t “live
there” and make that into who you are. Some emotions leave us not feeling very
good, and we don’t want to be there too much of the time.
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Is there a way to get out of this negative thinking? Yes, there is, actually. You can
try these ideas:
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What Are Some Easy Tips and Tools to Help Stay Positive?
1. Learn from others. Failure and setbacks are a part of life. We can choose to
learn from these experiences or feel defeated by them. Do you know there are
thousands of people who failed before they succeeded? Take Abraham Lincoln,
for example. Before he delivered the famous Gettysburg Address and became a
champion for democracy, he had several political setbacks. He lost a lot of
elections.
Many well-known actors had to work odd jobs before they established themselves
in Hollywood. Sandra Bullock worked as a waitress, coat check girl, and
bartender before she earned her Best Actress Award. If these people allowed
negative thinking to dominate their minds, they would not have achieved great
success in their lives.
2. Keep yourself busy. Distraction can be a wonderful tool. You give yourself
an opportunity to entertain negative thoughts when you are idle. There is nothing
much else to do. To avoid that, engage in a variety of activities. Pursue as many
things as you like. You can go to school, play sports, head to a gym, meet up with
friends, volunteer, or just allow your creative process to help you get by.
Mindfulness meditation is focusing on something so intently that the mind
chatter and negative thoughts fall away. Daydreaming and fantasizing are great
ways to distract your mind. You can go anywhere in your mind, so imagine
something good! Maybe it’s reliving a wonderful vacation or sitting on the beach.
Remember, your brain doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined.
Our brain thinks that the things we worry about or are afraid of are really
happening. That is generally not what we want, so switch gears and think about
something that makes you feel good.
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3. Accept what is. It is what it is … accept it. Either it will control you or you
will control it. Which would you rather do? Take the good out of whatever
happened and then let the rest go.
When we react to something, it controls us. When we respond to something, we
control the situation and it makes us think about it. We get what we think about,
so it behooves us to think of what we want. When we have trouble accepting the
situation and get stuck in emotions that don’t make us feel good, we are heading
in the wrong direction.
4. Play the “so what” game. When something happens, ask yourself three
questions: 1) Is my life in danger right now? 2) Is my loved one’s life in danger
right now? 3) Will this be important, or will I even remember this, ten years from
now? If the answer to these questions to these questions are “no,” then it’s a sowhat issue.
There are really very few things in life we cannot fix or change. Death is perhaps
one thing that we cannot fix. A lot of us spend too much time being upset, angry
or worrying about things that are so-what issues. Begin by recognizing the sowhat issues in your life.
5. Detach from the outcome. Detaching from the outcome is sometimes
difficult, but it may allow those doors to open. If we are struggling in some way,
things just don’t work. When we give up the struggle, detach from the outcome
and come from a loving place, everything works better.
6. Use affirmations. Talk to yourself and be positive. Remember to act as
though you’re talking to a young child. Focus on what you want and stay in the
present tense. Pretend you are already there and feel good. Avoid negative words,
because your subconscious mind is not going to understand them anyway.
Here are some affirmations to practice with:
I am healthy and strong.
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I feel calm and relaxed.
I let go of the past and embrace the present.
I am deserving of the best life has to offer.
What do you notice about these statements? The more that you speak of these
subliminal messages, the more they become truths to you. These subliminal
messages can definitely change your manner of thinking. Words are just words,
so make sure you add the emotion, feel as though you are already there. It should
be a good feeling.
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How Do I Add Power to Affirmations?
There is power in saying affirmations out loud, especially when you are looking at
yourself in the mirror. International best-selling author Louise Hay coined the
term “mirror work,” which is a way to verbalize affirmations and practice self
acceptance.
How many times do we look at ourselves in the mirror and not really see us?
When you brush your teeth in the morning, you may not even look in the mirror.
Many times when we do look at ourselves, we say things like “I’m so fat” or some
other derogatory comment.
Mirrors reflect back to us our feelings about ourselves. They show us clearly the
areas that need changing if we want to have a joyous, fulfilling life.
To do mirror work, simply look at yourself in the mirror and really see you, then
look into your own eyes and say something positive about yourself. Do this every
time you pass a mirror.
A positive affirmation opens the door. It’s a beginning point on the path to
change. In essence, you are saying to your subconscious mind, “I am taking
responsibility. I know there is something I can do to change.” When you pay
attention to your thoughts, you can begin to eliminate the ones that are creating
experiences you do not want in your life.
Negative thoughts can certainly stress us out and make us feel tired, depressed
and anxious. These thoughts, and the stress we feel from them, increase our
cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and
sometimes referred to as the stress hormone.
Increased cortisol can cause difficulty sleeping, high blood pressure and mood
disturbances. It also can lower our immune system and decrease bone density, as
well as many other negative effects on our bodies. As much as possible, we should
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learn to keep our cortisol levels low. The above-mentioned tips can be helpful
with this.
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Who Gets to Choose?
Sometimes when we feel trapped by life’s conditions, we forget that we have the
ability to choose how we feel. A millisecond before we have a feeling or a thought,
at some level, we decide to have that feeling or thought.
Often this is an unconscious decision based on our life’s experiences, values and
beliefs. I encourage you to entertain the fact that every thought (good or not) is,
in effect, what we are asking for.
When we face unpleasant circumstances in our lives, it’s sometimes difficult to
choose to feel good about the situation. But it is still our choice. No one gets to
choose for us!
Let your emotions guide you … if you feel good, you know you are attracting what
you want. If you are having negative emotion, you are not headed in the direction
of what you want. Now, we all veer off the path – that’s human nature – so just
recognize it and choose to feel a bit better.
You don’t even have to feel good all at once … just better. Then, keep reaching for
the next better-feeling thought and soon you will be feeling good, regardless of
the situation facing you.
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Is Every Thought a Prayer?
Every thought, emotion and what we imagine is like a prayer. It’s that Law of
Attraction principle, so be careful what you pray for. Every prayer is answered …
our challenge is to believe it!
The Law of Attraction is largely about energy and vibration. Everything has
energy and all energy vibrates. This includes you and me, as well as all of our
thoughts and feelings. We create a vibration when we think thoughts and have
feelings or emotions.
The Law of Attraction principle basically states: “Like attracts like.” We need to
become a vibrational match to what we want so it can manifest in our lives. Have
you ever heard the phrase, “She’s wearing rose-colored glasses?” Well, that’s not
a bad idea! We notice, see and experience what we think about. Our vibration is
created simply by our thoughts and feelings.
In difficult times, some of us wear dark, cloudy glasses rather than rose-colored
ones. It’s how we see the world. Because of the vibration, that’s also what we
attract. This is not just New Age stuff – the earliest written record of this
principle dates to the Emerald Tablet, which goes back to about 3000 B.C.
Some people say affirmations don’t work, but they might be forgetting how
important the feeling part is. When you say an affirmation, and in the back of
your mind you’re thinking, “Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen,” you’re
probably not in vibrational alignment with what you just said. It’s no wonder
people sometimes think affirmations don’t work. Affirmations without feeling are
just words, and the feeling is the most important part!
The Law of Attraction works extremely well if you’re in a good-feeling place. The
problem I often hear is that most people aren’t in their feel-good place, so the
creation process is really slow.
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Your feel-good place is the place where you feel like you can take on anything,
you feel absolutely alive. You've given up all fears, worries and negative thinking
and just feel like anything is possible. You're feeling grateful, appreciative, loving
and compassionate. You're feeling all of these things. This is the perfect place to
be when you want to harness the power of creation.
Identify what you want. Most of us know what we don’t want, which helps you to
identify what you do want. Oftentimes it’s just the opposite of what we have.
Once you know what you want, get into the feeling place of having it. Pretend you
are already there. Remember, the brain doesn’t know the difference between real
and imagined.
Do you want something you don’t currently have? Pretty much everyone would
say “yes” to that question. It’s easy to focus on what we don’t have because it’s in
our face every day. Whether it is lack of money, good health, not being headache
free, or lack of just about anything, we probably think about it a lot.
I believe we get what we focus on and think about. There is an old quote that goes
like this: “Whatever you put your attention to, grows, whether it’s your garden or
your fears.” We really do get what we expect. We can shift our thoughts, and
more importantly our feelings, to what we do want and engage the Law of
Attraction to help manifest our desires.
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What is Praying Rain?
Gregg Braden is known internationally as a pioneer in bridging science and
spirituality. He is both a scientist and an individual interested in spirituality
practices around the world. He has written many books including “The Isaiah
Effect,” “The God Code,” “The Divine Matrix,” and “The Spontaneous Healing of
Belief: Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits.”
In one of his books, “The Lost Mode of Prayer,” he talks of an experience he had
when he was in New Mexico in the early 1990s visiting with the Hopi Indians. It
was a year of great drought, even the rivers had dried up. The Shaman of the
tribe, a friend of his, asked Gregg if he wanted to join him in a prayer of rain.
Gregg was excited to go with him and learn about this, so of course he said yes.
They hiked a long time in the arid desert until they came to a sacred ceremonial
place that had been there longer than anyone in the village could remember. It
was stones arranged in a large circle, similar to a medicine wheel.
Gregg’s friend took off his shoes and walked into the center of the stone
formation. He thanked his ancestors and was quiet for just a few minutes and
then he walked back to where Gregg was standing and said, “Well, I’m hungry, do
you want to go get something to eat?”
Gregg was surprised, he expected to see drums, dancing, chanting and praying
for rain. So he asked his friend what he just did when he was quiet for a few
moments. His friend answered, “If I prayed for rain, it assumes that it does not
exist in this moment. So I didn’t pray for rain … I prayed rain.
“I took off my shoes so I could feel the feeling of mud squishing between my toes
when there has been so much rain that there is mud everywhere in our village. I
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imagined the smell of our adobe houses when the rain has been showering them
all day. I felt how it feels to already have the rain and then I gave thanks.”
Gregg notes this “lost” mode of prayer is a form of prayer that has no words, no
outward expression, and is based simply in feeling. Specifically, this mode of
prayer invites us to feel the appreciation and gratitude in our heart, as if our
prayers have already been answered, even if the world appears to show us
otherwise.
Later that day, it rained. They had more rain than they knew what to do with.
Gregg noted that he has no scientific basis that this prayer of rain caused the rain
that day, but it rained – for the first time in many months.
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Why Not Journal the Future?
Many people journal to express themselves and document what is going on in
their day. This is a very useful technique, and is a healthy way to express
emotions that can poison you if you keep it all inside and stuff your feelings.
I would invite you to start another journal, in which you write about the future
you want, as though you are already are experiencing it. There is tremendous
power when you write about the sights, sounds and feelings of being there, as
though it’s already happening.
Be sure to give thanks and have appreciation for already being there or having
something, even if it’s not in your experience at this time. It doesn’t take much
time, maybe five minutes a day. Just write, don’t worry about using the right
words, grammar or penmanship … just get your thoughts out and feel good. Make
this a special thing you do for yourself. Perhaps, you can get yourself a special
journal and pen.
Often the thoughts of your journaling for the day will come to mind again,
sometimes many times throughout the day. It is more in your awareness and
increases your vibration, and pulls you toward what you want, not what you don’t
want. You can journal any time of the day. Make it fit for you. Just dedicate some
time every day to dream and feel good about it. Writing down your thoughts
strengthens your emotional connection. Most of all, feel good and have fun with
it!
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Who Are the People Around You?
The people you hang around with have a massive impact on you – this is also
something you can choose.
In order to develop a positive attitude, you need to surround yourself with people
who have a positive attitude. Have you ever thought much about whether the
people you spend the most time with have a positive attitude or a negative
attitude?
Along our life journey we will come across people who will have an impact on our
progress – some good, some bad – and we need to be able to identify those
people that we need, and those that we don't need to be near.
One of the quickest ways you can change your thinking and look at life in a more
positive way is to connect with people who have a positive attitude! The more
positive your thoughts, the more positive people you come in contact with – like
attracts like. (It’s the Law of Attraction.)
Spending time with successful, positive people will help you become positive and
successful, too. Conversely, being around negative people will make it difficult for
you to remain positive and less inclined to achieve your desires.
Do you have a friend who is always criticizing and putting down everyone else
you know? Do you find yourself getting drawn into those discussions and saying
negative, hurtful things about people? Think about how successful that person is
in their life. Are they living a positive and abundant life – a life you aspire to?
You owe it to yourself to take a long look at your friends and think about how
they treat you. You might realize that some of them are actually holding you back
from being successful.
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You might find that some of your friends are subconsciously holding you back
because they think that if you become the success you want to be, you would not
want to remain friends with them.
You will have to be the judge of this, but you need to remember that your
thoughts control where you are heading. You control who you mix with.
For you to be successful, you need to surround yourself with successful, positive,
goal-orientated people … People with a positive attitude … People that you want
to be like -- that you are like!
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Abundance or Lack?
One of the most limiting mindsets is one of negativity and lack. Unfortunately,
there are a lot of people in the world that don’t seem to see much else. You might
be surprised to know that one major factor among wealthy and other highly
successful people is that they have a mindset based on abundance.
The concept of abundance has existed for a very long time, though historically, it
has been shared openly only among the wealthy and those in control. With the
recent explosion of methods of communication, abundance is no longer the realm
of the few, but available to anyone that wishes to change their life.
Abundance can be regarding relationships, health, finances … just about
anything. Abundance is not necessarily what you have, it’s a feeling. There are
people who have very little or who are seriously ill, and it’s still possible for them
to feel abundant.
On the other hand, there are some people who have everything, it seems, and
they do not feel abundant and they are not happy. It’s always more about the
feeling than anything.
Negative emotions breed fear and uncertainty. Many people experience the
feeling of scarcity and are actually fine in terms of having what they need.
Because the brain and subconscious mind don’t know the difference between real
and imaged, we feel lack and it doesn’t feel good.
The concept of abundance has been with us for quite a while, if you just know
where to look. There have been a number of books over the years that feature
abundance as a major part of their core. It has been called other names, like the
Law of Attraction or positive thinking, but it is still the same thing.
Imagine how much easier it is to be confident and immune to the fear of failure
or fear of poverty if you honestly believe there is an endless source of supply
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when it comes to things you desire. In actuality, there is an endless source of
supply, if you only take the time to acknowledge and tap into it.
Just as Napoleon Hill said with his title, “Think and Grow Rich,” if you cultivate a
mindset that there is more than enough, you will receive abundance.
You’re probably aware of how significantly your thoughts affect your actions and
attitudes. Almost everyone has heard that being confident in your abilities can
help you perform beyond expectations. If you understand the unlimited nature of
abundance, you can create the proper mindset and develop the confidence
needed to be successful and achieve your peak potential.
You may be familiar with the computer acronym: WYSIWYG, which stands for
“What You See Is What You Get.” When speaking about abundance, we should
use the acronym WYTIWYG, for “What You Think Is What You Get,” because this
is the way abundance, or the Law of Attraction, works. Think and talk negatively
and you get negativity and lack. Think and talk positively and you get positive
reinforcement and abundance. It can’t get much simpler than that.
The sooner you begin your life based on the assumption that there is already an
unlimited supply of what you want, the easier it will be for you to get more of
those very things you want. This is not to say you should do anything stupid like
spending money you don’t have and maxing out all of your credit cards because
you believe the money to pay them off will magically arrive to save you.
Rather, approach life with a positive attitude, taking advantage of opportunities
as they arise. Go forth with confidence and a firm belief in abundance, and you
will see positive results in your life.
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Does Relaxation Really Help?
The stressors of life often get in the way of thinking positively and feeling good.
That’s life. Relaxation techniques, meditation and imagery can be helpful in
reducing the stress and allowing us to feel better. If we are in a feeling good place,
everything works … and it’s a much better way to be.
Below is one of my favorite relaxation techniques. It’s easy to do and only takes
two minutes. You have to breathe anyway, so just sit like I’ve described below and
take some breaths. Modify this position for your comfort.
You should be comfortable, just cross something if you can. If you can’t, don’t
worry, just put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breathe in through
your nose. Or you can just imagine sitting in this position and breathe.
Remember, your brain doesn’t know the difference!
Try this easy Two-Minute Relaxation Technique
to help with anxiety and stress
While sitting, cross your ankles
Put your arms straight out in front of you, palms outward
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Cross your hands and interlock your fingers
Bring your arms comfortably in your lap or you can turn inward and rest them on
your lap or the center of your chest, arms relaxed
Place your tongue behind your upper front teeth
Breathe in through your nose, and out through your nose or mouth, ideally, your
exhale should be longer than your inhale
Breathe in this way for about 1-2 minutes. This will promote relaxation and a
sense of calmness
While you are breathing in this way, think of something good!
While you are sitting in a crossed position like this, you are simulating the
crossing that is naturally in your brain between the right and left sides. The right
side of the brain controls the left side of the body, and vice versa. (Brain Gym®
International is a nonprofit organization committed to the principle that
intentional movement is the door to optimal living and learning.)
The technique causes the brain to work better and you feel calm. You are also
crossing meridian lines where acupuncture points are found. Your tongue is
connecting two main meridians in your body to close the circuit, allowing you to
move the energy in your body as you’re breathing, rather than it getting away on
you.
When your exhalation is longer than the inhalation, you are activating the
relaxing side of you (the parasympathetic system). When you put all of this
together, it provides a very calming effect.
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This is a good way to do affirmations. Remember, it’s like talking to a young child
and the feeling is really important!
Here are some guidelines to help:
Focus on what you want
Use present tense (I am, I feel, I know, etc.)
Avoid negative words
You can also do affirmations while in this position for added benefit. What you
are saying is in the left brain, and where you want to get the message is in the
right brain. It will get there better when your right and left brain are working
together. While in this crossed position, the right and left hemispheres of the
brain work together better.
Research shows that the right brain is related more closely to the subconscious
mind. That’s were all the power is. So, start today and harness the power of your
subconscious mind to create the life you want!
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Where To Start?
What can you do? What can you fit into your day? Think about how you begin
and end each day now. Are there little changes you can make, like acknowledging
the things you are grateful for as you fall asleep each night? It doesn’t have to
take much time. Many of these strategies are really a way of being, rather than
extra things you need to do.
I would recommend you think about a daily practice; something you can fit into
your day. What can you add that helps you feel good? Think about the things you
want. Daydream and pretend you are already there.
Would journaling the future be the right thing for you? Would spending a little
time in a state of relaxation or meditation fit into your life? Or would just having
different thoughts be helpful? Choosing to see things in a different way is a
choice, and you are the only one who can choose for you.
It’s always good to start with just being aware of what is. Be aware of your
thoughts, your feelings, what you are thinking throughout the day, the people
around you, and what you see.
We all receive messages and signs every day, those little synchronicities in life.
Very often we just don’t see them. But if you are consciously looking for
something, you will notice because your attention is focused on it. I encourage
you to think about a daily practice you could begin, and see what a difference it
makes in your life. You can choose to claim the joy in your life!
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Live the Life You Deserve!
~Bonnie Groessl
About the Author
Bonnie Groessl, MSN, is a nurse practitioner, author and holistic coach. She has
additional training in integrative medicine, mind-body techniques and energy
work.
As a holistic coach, Bonnie is recognized as an expert in helping people make
changes to achieve their goals. Her focus is on providing an integrative, holistic
approach to people who struggle with chronic emotional and physical pain.
Clients learn tools that bring together mind-body medicine, nutrition, energy
medicine and spirituality to help them enjoy the lives they deserve.
Bonnie’s success coaching and mentoring centers around helping holistic-minded
individuals become successful entrepreneurs and build their platform through
publishing. Bonnie helps people share their message and their gifts with the
world.
Bonnie is active in public speaking, and presenting webinars, seminars and
workshops for professionals and the public. She lives in Green Bay with her
husband, Mike Dauplaise, and together they own M&B Global Solutions.
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