Creative Visualization

Creative Visualization -
From Imagination To Reality - Attracting Success With Mind Power

Creative visualization is a mental technique that uses the imagination to make dreams come true. Used in the right way, creative visualization can improve our life and attract success and prosperity. It is a power that can alter our environment and circumstances, cause events to happen, and attract money, possessions, work, people and love into our life. Creative visualization uses the power of the mind, and is the power behind every success.

By visualizing a certain event or a situation, or an object, such as a car, a house, furniture etc, we attract it into our life. It is a process that is similar to daydreaming. For some people it might look like magic, but there is no magic involved, only the natural process of the power of thoughts and natural mental laws. It is like having a genie at your disposal!

There are people who use this technique naturally in their everyday affairs, not being aware that they are using some sort of power. All successful people use it consciously or unconsciously, attracting the success they want into their life, by visualizing their goals as already accomplished.

Creative Visualization and the Power of Thoughts

How does it work and why? Thoughts, if powerful enough, are accepted by our subconscious mind, which then changes our mindset accordingly, as well as our habits and  actions, and this brings us into contact with new people, situations and circumstances.

Thought is a creative stuff that molds our life and attracts similar stuff into our life. Thoughts also travel from one mind to another, and if they are strong enough, they can be unconsciously picked up by people, who are in a position to help us materialize our desires and goals.

We are part of the Omnipotent Power that has created the universe, and we therefore we participate in the process of creation. Bearing this thought in mind, there is no wonder that thoughts materialize. Stop for a moment and think - You are an indivisible part of the great Universal Power! This means that your thoughts can come true! Not all thoughts of course, but those that are concentrated, well-defined, and often-repeated often.

Thought is energy, especially a concentrated thought laden with emotional energy. Thoughts change the balance of energy around us, and bring changes to the environment in accordance with them.

There is another explanation why visualization brings results. It may come as a surprise to most, but the theory of "Maya" - Illusion, which comes from the eastern philosophies, provides the explanation.

According to the Indian philosophy "Advaita- Vedanta", which is called "Nonduality" in the West, the world is not real, but only an illusion, created by our thoughts. Since most people think and repeat the same or similar thoughts often, focusing their mind and thoughts on their current environment, they create and recreate the same sort of events or circumstances. This process preserves the same "world" and status quo. It is like watching the same film over and over again, but we can change the film by changing our thoughts and visualize different circumstances and life, and in this way create a different "reality". For us it is a reality, though in fact it is just a dream we call "reality".

By changing our thoughts and mental images we change our "Reality"; we change the "illusory" world we believe we live in. We are not employing magic or supernatural powers when creating and changing our life and circumstances. It is not something "Material" that we change; we only change our thoughts, which shape our world.

All this is like dreaming a very realistic dream, and then changing the dream. We are not awakening from the dream, just changing the dream.

So why not change your dreams to something more satisfying?

If you live in small apartment and need a larger one, instead of brooding about your fate and lack of money, change your thoughts and visualize and believe that you are living in a bigger apartment.

Overcoming Limited Thinking

Creative visualization can do great things, but for every person there are some areas, which he or she might find hard to change, at least in the immediate future. The power of visualization is a mighty power, but there are some limits to using it. These limits are within us, not in the power.

We often limit ourselves and cannot look beyond a limited circle. We limit ourselves by our thoughts and beliefs. The more open-minded we can be, and the more big we dare ti think, the greater are our opportunities and possibilities. Limitations are within our minds, and it is up to us to rise above them.

It may take some time until things start to change. Simple, small demonstrations of this power may come fast, but bigger results may need a longer time to happen.

The time and effort put forth in this study are really worthwhile. Have faith and patience and results will start appearing.

An Example of Creative Visualization

Years ago, before I got married, I decided to visualize having a date. I imagined myself sitting in a restaurant and talking with a man. I concentrated on this image several times during the day, several minutes each time.

The next day, a guy working in the same place where I worked, asked me if I could come to his desk. I hardly ever spoke with him, maybe just saying good morning. I went to his desk and he asked me whether I had a boyfriend. When he heard that I did not have one, he proposed to introduce me to one of his friends, and then gave him my  phone number.

When I got home and he called me, and he asked to meet with me. We met on the same day in a restaurant, exactly as I visualized.

All this happened within about 24 hours. Surprising isn't it? This power can sometimes work real fast. Oh, you are curious to know what happened with that date? Well, nothing, because he was not the type of guy I was looking for. I rather used the power of visualization haphazardly, not thinking about how I wanted him look like, about his character, etc. I just thought about meeting a guy, a wish that came true.

From Imagination to Reality - Making Creative Visualization Work

Concise Guidelines for Creative Visualization:

Define your goal.

Think, meditate and listen to your intuition to ascertain that you really desire to attain this goal.

Ascertain that only good will result from your visualization, for you and for others.

Sit alone in a quiet place, where you will not be disturbed.

Relax your body.

Breathe rhythmically and deeply several times.

Visualize a clear and detailed mental image of what you desire to get or accomplish.

Use in your imagination all the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

Add desire and feelings into what your mental image.

Visualize at least twice a day, about 10 minutes each time.

persevere with your visualization, day after day, with, patience, hope and faith.

Stay positive, thinking positive thoughts, feeling positive feelings and using positive words.

During the day, when negative thoughts and doubts arise, replace them with positive thoughts. As each negative thought enters your mind, immediately substitute it with apositive thought.

Keep an open mind, so that you recognize opportunities and take advantage of them.

After concluding your visualization session, say attentively and earnestly, "Let everything happen in a harmonious and favorable way for all involved".

Use the power of imagination only for your and others' good, and never try to use it to get something that belongs to others or hurt others. Make sure that what you are creating is good for all involved, and cause no harm to your environment.

Though the manifestation of your goal might sometimes happen in a sudden and expected manner, most of the time it will happen in a natural and gradual manner, one thing leading to another. If you desire money, it won't necessarily drop on your head from the sky or you will win it in the lottery. It will more probably come through a new job, promotion, a business deal or through various other channels.

Our thoughts and feelings, and the mental images we carry in our mind, affect our life. By changing them we change our life. This means that we have to be careful with our thoughts and how we feel about them, otherwise we might get things and enter into situations that you do not want, and then we will have to find ways to get rid of them. Better think and visualize what that we really and truly want, and which will improve our life.

Approach this mental work with a positive attitude, earnestness and faith, but at the same time with some detachment, and regarding it as a sort of game or play. This attitude will prevent inner tension and disappointment, if things don't happen as expected.

Time Management

A different view of time management. What is your emotional relationship with time?



Time Management - The Clock is Ticking


How do you react to deadlines? How would you feel if someone said "Hurry up, the clock is ticking and we've got to get this completed!"? How well do you cope with stress? Isn't it amazing to notice how radically your experience of passing time changes depending on the circumstances, with little correlation to the steady flow of time as shown on a clock.
Have you ever sat in a waiting room with a clock on the wall that went "tick tock, tick tock" over and over and over again, until such time that you either wanted to run out of the room, or throw the clock out the window?

This kind of experience is especially excruciating when you are waiting for something that you really are not looking forward to, like a treatment from your dentist.
In particular, when you are feeling stressed out you experience time distortion. In some instances, like when waiting for your dentist, one minute of clock time seems to take forever. At other times when you are working towards a deadline, time appears to slip away without your knowing where it went, and you are left wondering why you are accomplishing so little.
Waiting for a train that is twenty minutes late, when that train is bringing your loved one back to you, is very different than getting to the train station early with your loved one and waiting twenty minutes for the same train to take your loved one away from you. The train is the same, the station is the same, your loved one is the same, and the time on the clock is the same, but somehow, your emotional experience of "twenty minutes" is quite different.
It is important for each of us to understand how the fixed passage of time as measured by a clock, has little to do with our emotional experience of time. Rather than being under the illusion that time rules our life, we will do well to recognize that it is our emotional experience and our mindset that determines how we relate to the ticking of the clock.

Restrict your breathing and tense your muscles and time invariably will appear to speed up. You relate to time according to your expectations of what will transpire. Expect that you will be successful and the clock on the wall appears to offer you a bit more time. Expect the worst and you will have difficulty keeping up.

What can you do to have a healthier perspective in regard to time?
The first thing you can do is breathe slowly and deeply. When you slow down your body clock, the clock on the wall appears to slow down along with you. The next thing you can do is check in with your body. If you create a feeling of expansion in your body, by aligning your posture and releasing your muscles, time will appear to expand somewhat as well.
Furthermore, you can notice your surroundings and extend your awareness out into the space around you. When you extend your awareness to take in the wide range of sights and sounds taking place in your local environment you will also extend your concept of time.

Lastly, realize that with any luck, you will have tomorrow to accomplish what you were not able to accomplish today. Every new day, brings new opportunities for appreciating your life and the people you care about.

How To Attract Money Into Your Life

Follow these strategies to attract money:How to attract money into your life.You can attract money into your life using the law of attraction. Recently there has been an explosion of discussion regarding the Law of Attraction. If you're not familiar with the concept, it's actually quite simple.

Positive attracts positive and negative attracts negative. In other words, you'll receive good things or bad according to what you focus on.
If you focus on the positive in your life, then more positive things will come your way. If you spend your time and energy focusing on the negative, then you'll attract more negative things.
You can use these principles to harness the power of the Law of Attraction to attract money into your life.

1. Express gratitude. If you want more of something, like money, you must first express gratitude for what you have presently. Gratitude is a powerful positive emotion. Be thankful for all that your Creator has provided you this far.

• You must be sincere in your thanks. If you don't honestly feel the gratitude, then you won't be able to attract more of what you want.

• Stay focused on what you do have. Remember, if what you feel and focus on is actually your lack of money, it will only attract more lack back to you.

2. Picture yourself with the money. Visualize it in depth, as if you already have it. You want to see yourself holding the money, touching it, and feeling how happy you are with it in your life.

• Imagine sitting down paying all your bills and buying expensive gifts for those that you love. This will send a positive message out that is to be returned to you.

• Be consistent with sending out these strong positive thoughts and feelings. Mixing it up with negative ones about money sends a conflicting message.

3. Rid yourself of negative thoughts. It's imperative that you eliminate as many negative feelings as possible. Make a conscious effort to find the positive in everything because your negativity won't be rewarded with positive results.

• Are there others out there who are positive? You bet! Do your best to find and emulate these people.

• When life hands you a bunch of lemons, it's time to make lemonade. Find the silver lining or take action to make something positive out of the situation.

4. Have Faith. There are countless documented cases of people who received their heart's desire by using the principles found in the Law of Attraction. Those people are no different from you!

• Faith is a positive feeling. If you truly want to attract more money into your life, then faith is a must. You have to believe deep down that something like this can and will happen to you.

• It's time to truly believe that you're deserving of anything you desire.

The Law of Attraction has helped many people live their dreams. By following its simple principles, it can happen to you as well. Profess an open mind, a willing heart, and a joyful spirit and, in return, you will be rewarded with whatever you request.

Win Struggle With Money

Win the Struggle with Money

Do you struggle with money? Maybe it's time to throw in the towel and expend your energy on more important things!


I’m going to give you three definitions, and you guess what the word is. Are you ready?

 #1) to contend or fight violently with an opponent

 #2) to make great efforts or attempts; strive; labor

 #3) to make one’s way with difficulty. If you’ve guessed the word “struggle”, you’re correct. 

But why would we discuss “struggle” in an article about money? Because, so many people seem to “struggle” with money—they struggle to make it, they struggle to keep it, and some even struggle with having too much.
I too, have “struggled” in my financial life—until I made some changes. Not changes in my techniques of handling money or changes in my income, but instead, I decided to get off the money-worry rollercoaster.
In other words, like a person who exits a fight, I stepped out of the ring.
First, I sat down and thought about some of the sayings I’d heard in my own childhood. I quickly realized that I had been conditioned to struggle with money. 
While growing up, I had been taught that it was noble to struggle. Unless there was blood, sweat and tears involved, things weren’t worth doing. The easy way was the lazy way. After all, I should be “pounding the pavement” or “hitting the books.”
How many times have we heard these sayings, “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” or “Money is the root of all evil!” or “Don’t be money hungry!”
Hear me people—we’ve been conditioned to believe that having money is hard work. That keeping money is hard work. That having too much money is hard work. In short—that money is hard work.
In order to bow out of the “struggle”, I had to first, see that my beliefs were mere conditioning. 
Next, I just started to accept where I was at financially. Like a dam that gives way and no longer has resistance, things began to flow. The extra energy that I used to expend “struggling” with money worries, I now put into actually making money.
You can do the same. Stop worrying. Stop wrestling in your mind. Just accept where you’re at now and then proceed ahead. Win the struggle with money by eliminating the “struggle”. 
It doesn’t have “to be hard”, it just has “to be”.
Don’t underestimate two things:
First, don’t underestimate the amount of money conditioning you’ve received. It really has shaped your current financial position. 
Second, don’t underestimate the amount of energy you expend in the "struggle" itself. Remember, the old saying says, "It takes two to tangle." If you step out of the ring, there is no "struggle".

Prenatal Yoga Poses

Prenatal Yoga Poses

The world over people are realising the benefits of yoga and pranayama in our daily lives. Yoga is touted not just as a physical exercise, but actually a way of exercising each entity of human existence. It is physical, mental, spiritual, intellectual, as well as emotional well being that Yoga hopes to achieve through exercise, concentration as well as breathe control. Most of the times, strenuous exercises like the Surya Namaskarare forbidden for pregnant women as the body of a pregnant woman is rather weak and thus prone to easy injury, which might also affect the child within her. This, however, is not to mean that yoga itself is injurious to the health of a pregnant woman. In fact, some postures in yoga are extremely beneficial for a pregnant woman. We all know about the fact that few women are able to give birth naturally these days owing either to complications or lifestyle issues. Some easy and less strenuous yoga postures will actually help the woman have a natural childbirth, free of complications or Caesarean section operations and so on. Here are a few prenatal yoga poses for pregnant women.

Pregnancy Yoga Poses  

Here are some yoga poses beneficial for women who are pregnant:

Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) 

This pose is known to strengthen the spine, open the chest and the lungs to make breathing better and easier and is also effective for stimulating the thyroid gland. For this pose, you need to begin by lying supine on your back. Then, bending by the knees, bring the soles of your feet close to your buttocks so that they are parallel to each other. Interlace your fingers and bring them under your back. Now, lift your body, from the hips to the ceiling. Stretch your interlaced fingers bringing them as close to the ankles of your feet as possible. Even as you stretch, do not forget to inhale deeply. Now push your shoulders above the ground too, one at a time. Exhale and relax the fingers, even as you bring down your upper middle and finally lower body to the ground. Let the body loose, allow your knees to knock against each other and relax completely.

Cobblers’ Pose (Badhdha Konasana) 

This pose is known to open and stretch the lower abdomen, hips, and the groin, giving it a thorough exercise. For this pose, you will have to begin by sitting erect on the floor with your legs outstretched. Bending your legs at the knees, bring the soles of your feet together so that you create butterfly’s wings-like structure with your legs. Keeping your hand on the knees, press the legs down gently as much as you can, and then slowly release.

The Child Pose (Balasana) 

The child pose proves to be immensely helpful in opening up your chest and pelvis. For this, you will need to go down on all fours, with your knees spread out just a little wider than your hips. Gently and gradually now, support your buttocks firmly between your heels, stretch your arms out, with the palms of the hands pointing towards the floor and rest your forehead on the ground; exhale while you are in this position. Raise your arms from the ground so that only the palms touch the ground while your whole upper body is supported by your hands, like a baby about to crawl, even as you inhale deeply. Repeat this exercise at least ten times, but do remember to know your limitations.

Some Precautions 

Here are a few precautions that you need to keep in mind while practicing yoga during pregnancy:

• By all means, keep away from pre-natal yoga exercises that require you to stretch your body too strenuously, especially your abdominal muscles. You must realise that injuring yourself is all the more easy when you are pregnant.
• Always listen to what your body is trying to tell you. If a particular pose causes discomfort or pain, alter it or stop doing it. There is no harm in adapting the pre-natal yoga exercises to suit your body as it changes throughout your pregnancy.
• It is extremely important not to compress your abdomen. If you need to bend forward while you're sitting, place a towel or strap around your feet and hold each end. Then bend from the hips and lift your chest. When you do pre-natal yoga exercises that involve twisting, you need to twist more from the shoulders and back as this will avoid putting pressure on your abdomen.

Yoga

Yoga Types

Yoga is considered the essence of a healthy life. A person practising Yoga on a regular basis not only ensures a healthy lifestyle, but also attains the much desired peace of mind. It is the greatest stress-buster and a remedy for curing a number of chronic ailments. Yoga is broadly divided into eight types. Most of them involve the use of different poses (Asanas), meditation and breathing exercises (Pranayams). In this section, we have discussed the eight prominent types of yoga, their technique and their benefits on the health of the practitioner.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga emphasizes on the love and devotion to the Almighty. The individual performing this type of Yoga concentrates on the existence of Almighty. He/she learns to show love, compassion to the creatures co-existing with him/her, apart from keenly worshipping the Lord. Bhakti Yoga can be practiced in a number of ways, such as praising the God by singing, chanting slogans, reading religious books, listening to prayers and by watching religious movies.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga was founded by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century in India. This type of Yoga is all about the combination of two extremes - 'ha' (the Sun, regarded as the positive current) and 'tha' (the Moon, regarded as the negative current). It involves the performance of physical postures (Asanas), breathing exercises (Pranayams), meditation, mudras and purification procedures known as 'Shatkriyas'.

Jnana Yoga

The Yoga of true knowledge, Jnana Yoga aims to detach the person performing it, from all the temporary things of the life. The person doing it attains tranquility, control over his/her mind, sense, faith, ability for concentration and the endurance to withstand the play of opposites by Mother Nature. By practising Jnana Yoga, the individual stays single-minded in all situations and attains self-control.

Karma Yoga

As the name suggests, Karma Yoga is the dedication of all the actions (karma) and their fruits to the Almighty. This type of Yoga purifies one's heart, and helps attain the knowledge of one's own self. The aim of a Karma Yogic (one, who performs Karma Yoga) is to provide selfless service to the poor and the needy, without expecting money, fame, power, respect and honor in return of the service.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga aims at drawing the untapped energy (Kundalini), coiled at the base of the spine, by using a set of technique that uses the person's mind, senses and body. Apart from the physical postures (Asanas), the person performs meditation, chants mantras in order to awaken each of the seven chakras of the body. The Asanas are coordinated with the hold of breath control.

Mantra Yoga

Mantra Yoga, as the name suggests, makes use of mantras to attain a peace of mind and increase the concentration power. The mantras are chanted by the person in a thoughtful way, in order to attain certain goals. Mantra Yoga helps eliminate a number of disorders, including psychosomatic ailments and the problems of anxiety, stress and tension. It boosts the person's self-confidence as well.

Purna Yoga

Known as integral Yoga, Purna Yoga offers wisdom and techniques for the unison of the body, mind and soul. It emphasizes the Karma of your everyday life. It involves meditation, pranayams and the performance of alignment-based Asanas. Purna Yoga is an improvisation of the traditional systems of Yoga.

Raj Yoga

Raj Yoga is the best way for the complete and holistic healing of one's mind and soul. This type of Yoga helps a person to alleviates himself/herself from the emotional and mental conflicts. Also called Astanga or eight-limbed Yoga, Raj Yoga helps the person to be in harmony with the co-existing creatures and the environment.

101 Powerful Affirmations

Affirmations are great tools that can help you overcome fear, build your confidence, develop an abundance mind-set and more. The problem is that many people aren’t sure exactly how to write effective affirmations. Do they always have to be in present tense? Can they contain “negative” words like can’t, won’t, not, and so on?

There are plenty of differing opinions on the right and wrong ways to write effective affirmations, but the bottom line is that an affirmation can be considered effective if it works for YOU! The whole point of affirmations is to shift your thoughts and emotions to a more positive place so you feel more confident,happy, secure, abundant, or anything else you’re trying to accomplish.

Take a look at the 101 powerful affirmations below for starters and feel free to use them if they resonate with you. If not, try altering them slightly until they trigger the mind-set and emotional state you’re trying to attain.

Affirmations for Healthy Weight and Body Image:

- Today I love my body fully, deeply and joyfully.
- My body has its own wisdom and I trust that wisdom completely.
- My body is simply a projection of my beliefs about myself.
- I am growing more beautiful and luminous day by day.
- I choose to see the divine perfection in every cell of my body.
- As I love myself, I allow others to love me too.
- Flaws are transformed by love and acceptance.
- Today I choose to honor my beauty, my strength and my uniqueness.
- I love the way I feel when I take good care of myself.
- Today my own well-being is my top priority.

Affirmations for Self-Confidence and Self-Belief:

- Fear is only a feeling; it cannot hold me back.
- I know that I can master anything if I do it enough times.
- Today I am willing to fail in order to succeed.
- I believe that I have the strength to make my dreams come true.
- I’m going to relax and have fun with this, no matter what the outcome may be.
- I’m proud of myself for even daring to try; many people won’t even do that!
- Today I put my full trust in my inner guidance.
- I grow in strength with every forward step I take.
- I release my hesitation and make room for victory!
- With a solid plan and a belief in myself, there’s nothing I can’t do.

Affirmations for Abundance and Prosperity:

- I open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of my life.
- I always have more than enough of everything I need.
- Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
- Today I expand my awareness of the abundance all around me.
- I allow the universe to bless me in surprising and joyful ways.
- My grateful heart is a magnet that attracts more of everything I desire.
- Prosperity surrounds me, prosperity fills me, prosperity flows to me and through me.
- I exude passion, purpose and prosperity.
- I am always led to the people who need what I have to offer.
- As my commitment to help others grows, so does my wealth.
- My day is filled with limitless potential in joy, abundance and love.

Affirmations for Life Purpose:

- The better I know myself, the clearer my purpose becomes.
- My unique skills and talents can make a profound difference in the world.
- Today I follow my heart and discover my destiny.
- I am meant to do great things.
- I am limited only by my vision of what is possible.
- My purpose is to develop and share the best parts of myself with others.
- Today I present my love, passion, talent and joy as a gift to the world.
- I need not know the entire journey in order to take one step.
- I fulfill my life purpose by starting here, right now.
- My life purpose can be whatever I decide to make it.

Affirmations for Inner Peace:

- All is well, right here, right now.
- Peace begins with a conscious choice.
- Today I embrace simplicity, peace and solace.
- A peaceful heart makes for a peaceful life.
- I trust the universe to deliver my highest good in every situation.
- By becoming peace, I create peace in every experience.
- I am filled with the light of love, peace and joy.
- Peace comes when I let go of trying to control every tiny detail.
- Where peace dwells, fear cannot.
- Today my mission is to surrender and release.

Affirmations for Opportunity:

- Today I open my mind to the endless opportunities surrounding me.
- Opportunities are everywhere, if I choose to see them.
- I boldly act on great opportunities when I see them.
- My intuition leads me to the most lucrative opportunities.
- An opportunity is simply a possibility until I act on it.
- Some of the best opportunities are made, not found.
- Today I see each moment as a new opportunity to express my greatness.
- I expand my awareness of the hidden potential in each experience.
- Let each of my experiences today be a gateway to something even better.
- Each decision I make creates new opportunities.

Affirmations for Love:

- I am ready for a healthy, loving relationship.
- All of my relationships are meaningful and fulfilling.
- As I share my love with others the universe mirrors love back to me.
- I see everyone I meet as a soul mate.
- I trust the universe to know the type of partner who is perfect for me.
- Today I release fear and open my heart to true love.
- I am grateful for the people in my life.
- I am the perfect partner for my perfect partner.
- I deserve a loving, healthy relationship.
- I deserve to be loved and I allow myself to be loved.

Affirmations for Healing:

- I am strong and healthy.
- My energy and vitality are increasing every day.
- I open to the natural flow of wellness now.
- My inner guidance leads me to the right healing modalities for me.
- Abundant health and wellness are my birthright.
- Thank you for my strength, my health and my vitality.
- I am feeling stronger and better now.
- I love taking good care of myself.
- Today nurturing myself is my highest priority.
- Thank you for the opportunity to balance my mind, body and spirit.

Affirmations for Inner Clarity:

- Today I awaken to my higher wisdom.
- My inner voice guides me in every moment.
- I am centered, calm and clear.
- I always know the right actions to achieve my goals.
- When I know where I’m going, getting there is a cinch!
- Today I am completely tuned in to my inner wisdom.
- Harmony is always a sign that I am balanced from within.
- Thank you for showing me the way to my dreams.
- I trust my feelings and insights.
- I am detached and open to divine guidance.

Affirmations for Self-Love:

- I am filled with light, love and peace.
- I treat myself with kindness and respect.
- I don’t have to be perfect; I just have to be me.
- I give myself permission to shine.
- I honor the best parts of myself and share them with others.
- I’m proud of all I have accomplished.
- Today I give myself permission to be greater than my fears.
- I love myself no matter what.
- I am my own best friend and cheerleader.
- Thank you for the qualities, traits and talents that make me so unique.

***

Will Power

Will Power and Self-Discipline

Sometimes, you wish to go for a walk, knowing how good it is for your health and how wonderful you feel afterwards, yet, you feel too lazy, and prefer to watch TV instead. You might be aware of the fact that you need to change your eating habits or stop smoking, yet, you don't have the inner power and persistence to change these habits.

Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, "I wish I had will power and self discipline"? How many times have you started to do something, only to quit after a short while? We all have had experiences like these.

Everyone possesses some addictions or habits they wish they could overcome, such as smoking, excessive eating, laziness, procrastination or lack of assertiveness. To overcome these habits or addictions, one needs to have will power and self discipline. They make a great difference in everyone's life, and bring inner strength, self mastery and decisiveness.

Definitions of Will Power and Self Discipline

Will power is the ability to overcome laziness and procrastination. It is the ability to control or reject unnecessary or harmful impulses. It is the ability to arrive to a decision and follow it with perseverance until its successful accomplishment. It is the inner power that overcomes the desire to indulge in unnecessary and useless habits, and the inner strength that overcomes inner emotional and mental resistance for taking action. It is one of the corner stones of success, both spiritual and material.

Self-discipline is the companion of will power. It endows with the stamina to persevere in whatever one does. It bestows the ability to withstand hardships and difficulties, whether physical, emotional or mental. It grants the ability to reject immediate satisfaction, in order to gain something better, but which requires effort and time.

Everyone has inner, unconscious, or partly conscious impulses, making them say or do things they later regret saying or doing. On many occasions people do not think before they talk or act. By developing these two powers, one becomes conscious of the inner, subconscious impulses, and gains the ability to reject them when they are not for his/her own good.

These two powers help us to choose our behavior and reactions, instead of being ruled by them. Their possession won't make life dull or boring. On the contrary, you will feel more powerful, in charge of yourself and your surroundings, happy and satisfied.

How many times have you felt too weak, lazy or shy to do something you wanted to do? You can gain inner strength, initiative and the ability to make decisions and follow them. Believe me, it is not difficult to develop these two powers. If you are earnest and are willing to become stronger, you will certainly succeed.

In this article you will find some exercises and techniques for developing these abilities. These simple, but effective exercises, can be performed everywhere and at any time. Go slowly and gradually, and you will see how you get stronger and your life start improving.

There is a misconception in the public mind regarding will power. It is erroneously thought to be something strenuous and difficult, and that one has to exert and tense the body and mind when expressing it. It is a completely wrong concept. This is one of the reasons why people avoid using it, though they are conscious of its benefits. They acknowledge the fact that the employment of will power in their life and affairs will greatly help them, and that they need to strengthen it, yet they do nothing about it.

Will power gets stronger by holding back and not allowing the expression of unimportant, unnecessary and unhealthy thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions. If this saved energy is not allowed expression, it is stored inside you like a battery, and it becomes available at the time of need. By practicing appropriate exercises, you develop your powers the same way, as a person who trains his/her muscles in order to strengthen them.

Developing Will Power and Self Discipline

An effective method for developing and improving these abilities is to perform certain actions or activities, which you would rather avoid doing due to laziness, procrastination, weakness, shyness, etc. By doing something that you do not like doing or are too lazy to do, you overcome your subconscious resistance, train your mind to obey you, strengthen your inner powers and gain inner strength. Muscles get stronger by resisting the power of the barbells. Inner strength is attained by overcoming inner resistance.

Remember, strengthening one of these abilities, automatically strengthens the other one.

Here are a few exercises:

1) You are sitting in a bus or train and an old man or woman, or a pregnant lady walks in. Stand up and give up your seat even if you prefer to stay seated. Do this not just because it is polite, but because you are doing something that you are reluctant to do. In this way you are overcoming the resistance of your body, mind and feelings.2) There are dishes in the sink that need washing, and you postpone washing them for later. Get up and wash them now. Do not let your laziness overcome you. When you know that in this way you are developing your will power, and if you are convinced of the importance of will power in your life, it will be easier for you to do whatever you have to do.

3) You come home tired from work and sit in front of the T.V. because you feel too lazy and tired to go and wash. Do not obey the desire to just sit, but go and have a shower

4) You may know your body needs some physical exercise, but instead you keep on sitting doing nothing or watching a movie. Get up and walk, run or do some other physical exercise.

5) Do you like your coffee with sugar? Then for a whole week decide to drink it without sugar. You like to drink three cups of coffee each day? For a week drink only two.

6) Sometimes, when you want to say something that is not important, decide not to say it.

7) Don't read some unimportant gossip in the newspaper, even if you want to.

8) You have a desire to eat something not too healthy. For the sake of the exercise refuse the desire.

9) If you find yourself thinking unimportant, unnecessary, negative thoughts, try to develop lack of interest in them, by thinking about their futility.

10) Overcome your laziness. Convince yourself of the importance of what is to be done. Convince your mind that you gain inner strength when you act and do things, in spite of laziness, reluctance or senseless inner resistance.

Never say that you cannot follow the above exercises, because you certainly can. Be persistent no matter what. Motivate yourself by thinking about of the importance of performing the exercises, and the inner power and strength you will gain.

Trying to attempt too many exercises when you are still a beginner, might end in disappointment. It is better to start with a few easy exercises at first, and then gradually increase their number and move to the more difficult exercises.

Most of these exercises can be practiced anywhere and at anytime, and you don't have to devote special times for them. They will train and develop your inner strength, enabling you to use it whenever you need it.

If you practice weight lifting, running or aerobics, you strengthen your muscles, so that when you need to move or carry something heavy for example, you have the strength for it. By studying French each day, you will be able to talk French when you travel to France. It is the same with will power and self-discipline; by strengthening them, they become available for your use whenever you need them.

If for the sake of an exercise, you stop doing something that you usually do, and overcome the inner resistance concerning it, you may resume doing it, if it is not harmful. For example, if you love drinking orange juice, and for the sake of an exercise you switch to drinking apple juice, after doing so for some time and after it makes no great difference to you, you may go back to drinking orange juice, if you still like it. The point here is to develop inner strength, not making life difficult for you or continue doing things you don't like to do.

Goal Setting

10 Steps to Getting What YOU Want
in Life: Creating YOUR Reality

Overview:

Improve Your Life

Making life better in some way seems to be ingrained in our nature. One asks how can I be happier, healthier, wiser, or freer. You can use goals for a better job, better living conditions, improved health, and much more.

Goal setting is an excellent tool for creating a successful better life.

Get What You Want in Life

Learn how to create and achieve satisfying fulfilling goals that truly create a life that you want. Let this guide be your personal coach aiding you with time management, planning and organization.

These 10 how-to steps guide you through the full goal setting and achievement process. As all goals do not need all steps, you may wish to skip some steps. Still, we recommend you minimally read through them to understand why we included them for when you are actualizing other goals.

Step 1: Introduction to
Setting and Creating Goals

Goal setting encourages one to look at themselves more clearly to see where they are and what they want. This is truly helpful as it can help one see the many blessings in their life as well as what improvements would be appreciated.

The first step to change is acknowledging that there is something to change.

Then goal setting provides a toolset for you change and create the life YOU want.

I have found that putting 2 conditions on goals has really helped me:

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   The goal can not harm others. I feel that what comes around - goes around. As such, this feels like a good thing to avoid.

 2.The goal helps others or the universe. Rather than saying: "I want to be rich", having a goal like: "Having time to be with family and serve in the community" or "Helping me give to friends and charity" or "Allow me to make the world more beautiful" are much better goals than simply making a goal of being rich.I know many will disagree with me on these two points. However, usually, when one wants something (ie. riches), they really want it to achieve a specific goal (ie: learning to be a pilot or have more time with family). Making the goal to do something specific and verifiable is often a much better goal and is more likely to get you what you truly want.

In other words, money is a tool. What do you want the money to be used for? Then, base your goal on the desire. 
It is best to make goals for yourself. In addition, helping your minor children with setting goals is great.
Setting goals for another adult is highly NOT recommended. Goals set for another usually will not work and often backfire. One must make goals for himself/herself for them to work successfully. 
I goal set when I feel I need something changed in my life. This can be that I am unhappy in my job or I want to grow more quickly spiritually.
Some people find it useful to make goals before big events, such as marriage. Making goals for the marriage often makes the relationship stronger and more unified.
Others make goals daily, weekly, monthly and/or yearly. New year resolutions are simply goals for the new year. 
One can have any sort of goal. Common areas for goals include: health, financial, business, spiritual, relationship/family, and more. 
Goals that pursue your passion really work. That is because, often there is high (positive) emotion, desire, and strong images. Being able to picture a goal really does help it manifest.

Our experience has shown that having written goals, with dates, really helps the manifestation process. Adding a picture, desire and work really makes it happen. Use your imagination!

Step 2: Deciding On
Which Goals To Set:

This section helps you choose the best goal for you.

Points to Consider When I create goals, I keep the following points in mind:

Give the Universe Space To Work: I like to set goals which creates a new situation rather than focusing on a problem. This is so I can focus on something positive as well as giving room for spirit to work.

That is, instead of saying I want to have a new boss, I may ask for a job that I enjoy with a team of coworkers and boss that have the same values as I do.

This means spirit may move your job, or may help you and your boss get along. It doesn't matter. Also, this way spirit can give me something even better than I imagined.

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  Verifiable: By having your goal have something that can be verified you allow yourself to see goals being successfully created. This in turn makes more goals achievable. The universe always provides.
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  Positive: Creating positive goals is recommended as the mind often doesn't hear the word "not". Focusing on a positive image brings that image to you.

Goal Topics: Often, one creates goals to based on their list of values.

This can be one's health, family, spiritual practice, relationships, work, or livelihood. Sometimes it is obvious that something is not working in your life. If this is the case, focusing on what you what like that part of your life to be like, is an excellent place to start.

Imagining a supportive network of family and friends or a extremely satisfying job that leaves you energized are great examples of such goals.

Other times, one just has a restlessness or uneasiness about their life. Often this is due to having life not being fulfilling. So perhaps, having a goal that takes you the next step or discovering other options is the way to go.

Looking through our Affirmation of the Day may give you some ideas.

Exercise: Here is an exercise that may help you decide on a goal:

Sing a word that is special to you for a few minutes. Examples are: God, Buddha, Jesus, Hu, Aum, Love, Happiness.
While you singing this special word feel your heart to expand with love. From this state, look at the various parts of your life to see what needs the most attention. Is it your family, your job, your spiritual focus, finances, health or some other area? What would it feel like if this area was cleansed with light and love?
Bring this feeling back to your awareness when you are done singing. Write down as much as your experience as you can. Picture this as you new goal and work from there.

Step 3: Dreaming and Creating the Life YOU Want

Dreaming gives your goal a life of its own. It is the process of continually picturing your dream and exploring possibilities. Picturing your goal clearly and consistently attracts the goal to you.

Exploring and Refining Your Dream Here is a 3 night technique for exploring and refining your dream:

During the day think lightly of you goal. Imagine what having your goal would be like. Are you happy? Do you smile when you think of it? Does it feel in harmony with where you want to be? If not, you probably want to rethink your goal.Night 1: Before bed, ask Spirit (or the universe, God, angels, etc...), to show you how life would be fulfilled if you achieved this goal? Change your goal if you wish, and lightly think of it all day. Night 2: Before bed, ask Spirit (or the universe, God, angels, etc...), to show you if there is something better to ask for? Change your goal if you wish, and lightly think of it all day. Night 3: Before bed, ask Spirit (or the universe, God, angels, etc...), to if there is someway to have it be even better?

Creating a True Picture Here is another exercise that can help you really visualize your goal:

Create a poster with your goals. Use both words and pictures. This creates a physical picture that you can look at many times a day to remind you of your goals. Pictures can be drawn, painted and/or cut from magazines.I find that having a physical reminder that I see everyday extremely effective.

Step 4: Effective Goal Planning

Sometimes goals just happen -- but most of the time there is lots of planning and work involved!

By now you have a goal that is the best goal for you at this time and you fine tuned it to make sure it will bring you what you want. Now is the doing stage. Research how others with similar goals made them work, remind yourself daily of your goal, and constantly move towards your goal.

Research:

You can always research on the net. Use a major search engine and search on your criteria. By doing this, you should be able to get some tips on how others made similar goals.
Mentors are very useful in this process. Ask friends if they know anyone who has completed your goal, and if possible get them to introduce you to them. Joining a club that supports your goals is extremely helpful. Look in your community for mentor groups. All of the world's most successful people had mentors. Often the local library has lots of books and sometimes even classes. Often there are associations for various types of activities. For example, there are many real estate investing associations for people who want to invest in real estate - and Toastmasters for those who want to learn to improve their public speaking skills. Following steps others used to make progress on similar goals really helps. Forming a game plan modeled after one they used can help you avoid the potholes along the way.

Reminders:

Notes throughout work, car and home, adding reminders to your calendar, making an exercise of repeating your goals verbally and in writing throughout the day really help. Keep the picture of you goal in mind and keep working on it.One great easy reminder method: Carry your goals with you. Write down 3 goals on a 3x5 card and carry them with you. Put it in your wallet or your pocket and refer to it often. Tie a string around your finger or write a note on your hand. For some people, this technique really works. Recording your goals on tape and playing them often works well too. Be certain to always record positive thoughts and goals. Listen to it often. Using premade tapes such as 101 Power Thoughts/101 Ways to Transform Your Life/CD is very simple and easy to use. Remind yourself of your goals and imagine achieving them. Then do one more thing that gets you closer to your goal.

Play, Play, Play (sometimes called Work, Work, Work):

Create a series of steps for your goals. These steps can be mini-goals. List these mini-goals in order so you have a plan of action.Set a specific time aside EVERY day for doing your goal. Preferably set aside at least one hour every day (unless your goal needs less time such as a goal of exercising 30 minutes every day). Now have FUN following the steps you created. By doing the research and having reminders, your creation is only steps away. Feel the joy and love of creation and go through the steps.

Step 5: Breaking Through Limitations

So you now have a goal you want so much you can taste it. You are living day-to-day thinking, breathing, and picturing the goal -- but alas, you have hit a road block. The barrier seems insurmountable. What do you do now?

Here are 9 techniques for facing fears and meeting challenges

1. Research How Others Overcame This Obstacle:
   This is often a straight forward approach for many people. If you come across an obstacle, see how others overcame it. The odds are, someone has already been in your type of situation and found a way out. Now all you need to do is find out how they overcame the situation and repeat it. See ideas on how to research in Step 4.
2. List The Blessings In Your Life - Using Gratitude To Overcome Obstacles
   Gratitude opens the heart and allows a healing to come in. Often simply listing your blessings from the smallest one to the largest one really helps. Include things such as being alive, breathing, being able to use your senses, etc.
3. Try Something Different
   If what you have been doing isn't working, try a new approach. Often looking at a problem differently - or approaching it different will solve the issue.
4. Fear Room Technique
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Imagine a dark, foggy room. You can't see in this room. It is dark, and very difficult to see in. Now imagine a truck with some hoses to suck out the fog and flood lights to brighten up the room. This takes a while, but after a few moments, you can see the room clearly and easily. What do you see? Write down as many details as you can. What happens to your fears when the veils of illusion are removed and the light is shining on them?
5. Affirmations 
   There are many techniques on our Affirmations page. Sometimes simply repeating your goal over and over will bring you inside. I have have huge amounts of success using the 15x's a day technique where you write down a goal 15 times each day. Often this type of focusing will show me what I need in order to overcome the obstacle.
6. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
   Simply feel the fear, fill yourself with as much love as you can muster, and do what you need to do anyways. Often this will get you through the process of doing something you are scared of that is recommended by your mentors.
7. Contemplation Technique Do the exercise from Step 2 where you fill your self up with love and allow insights from spirit fill your consciousness with a solution to your problem.
8. Constant Reminder Technique
   Find ways to remind yourself of your goals. Find an affirmation, saying, or song that matches your goal. Repeat them daily -- the more often the better.
   
   If you can't find a positive saying that supports your goal, make one up. Keep it simple and easy to repeat. Have it be positive. Play with it. Maybe sing it to a favorite tune. Then sing (or say) it again and again.
9. Simplify Everything Examine your life in regard to your goals. Does everything in your life support your goals? Do you have beliefs, attitudes, habits or patterns that go against your goal?
   
   Get rid of the things in your life that do NOT support your goals. This will make your goals stronger and in line with everything you do.

Step 6: Expectations, Acceptance, and Goal Surrendering

How to expect the best, accept the gifts and surrender the results involved with working on goals.

Sometimes life fills our goals in unexpected ways - or the path is less comfortable than we wished. For example, what can be done when life fulfills a goal to go to Paris but it rains most of the trip. Here are some techniques that help you with these issues.

Ask What Life Is Telling You 

Sometimes, unexpected results are just life's nudges for you to learn new skills, adjust beliefs and attitudes, or try a different tact. What can you learn from this experience? What have you gained? Did you meet a person who can help you? Is there a person you can help?

In the example above, it was raining in Paris. Did the rain encourage you to visit more museums and shops that you would have otherwise? Did you meet more people, start a friendship or learn more by being inside?

Expect the Best 

Having the expectation of the best of life coming to you brings the best. Life always does this, all you need to expect it.

Accept the Gifts 

Sometimes a gift doesn't seem like a gift -- but is a blessing larger than ever imaginable. Wait and see. Know there is a gift within every experience just waiting to be explored.

Law of Plenty 

There is enough in the universe for everyone. Know it is there. Everything is coming to you at the perfect moment.

Think Positive 

What good came out of this situation? Count the blessings you DO have. Know that everything has a reason although sometimes it is not apparent at the moment the situation occurs.

Step 7: Achieving Goals YOU Really Want

Working On Your Goals: Using Mini-Goals

Here you keep working on your goals as planned in Step 4. You have the opportunity to take responsibility of following the steps set up in step 4-step 6 and going back and adding more steps as they are discovered.

Often one creates mini-goals so one can see progress and for a status check. For each mini-goal on your way to your major goal, you may wish to do all 10 steps as they help the total goal go easier.

How does it feel to work on your goal? Is your picture turning out the way you wanted it? Are you delighted in your creation?

When you truly are achieving goals that are in harmony, often a lightness and joy fill you with the outcome. You know you created something that you really wanted and if needed, you can do so again.

If you are happy with what you are achieving, continue on with working on your goal. If you find that it isn't going to fulfill your dream, feel free to restart the process. Yet, know goals are built on steps.

You need to take one step at a time and that often the end result isn't fully visible until you have committed yourself fully and given it your best at all times.

Do Your Best

Here are some tips on how to give your best:

1. Do something on your goal EVERY day Spend at least 1 hour on your goal EVERY day Try something new if current methods aren't working Repeat methods that DO work Listen to successful people's advice Keep your mind open Picture your goal constantly Expect the best Fill yourself with love Commit yourself to your goal
2. Daily rewrite your "Things-to-do-today" list after reviewing your goals

Are You Listening?

If your goal isn't moving along as fast as your desired timeline, follow these steps:

1. Verify that you really are doing your best. Could you spend more time on your goal? Could you work more effectively on your goal? Are you not seeing something? Did others make suggestions that you are discounting without investigation? Have you re-read Step 5 and Step 6
2. Are you trying reasonable approaches? For example, one may win the lottery, but putting real effort into your project gives you much more chances of success
   
   

   Step 8: Acknowledging Goals

   That You Have Created

   Acknowledgement 
   
   
   

   Acknowledging successes help goals move farther and faster. Every step you complete on your way to the full goal is a success. That success brings you that much closer and hence is extremely important. Acknowledge it as an accomplishment. This helps you realize that you can create goals and fulfill them. It also lets you see your goals in relation to other aspects of your life.Let yourself feel your success. Know that you created this reality. Allow yourself to give yourself positive reinforcement.

   Celebrate 
   
   
   

   Celebrate - even if it is just a whoop of joy, telling your goal to a friend, or a walk around the block smelling the flowers.Write your achievement in a journal. Watch your progress as time goes on knowing every goal is a step on the path of life. From time to time, review your journal.

   Remind 
   
   
   

   Remind yourself that you ARE successful as proven by you achieving goals.If your goal didn't work quite the way you planned, acknowledge your successes, be grateful, and try again

   Step 9: Gratitude,
   Acceptance and Moving On

   Open Your Heart

   Gratitude opens the heart and lets even more good things to enter your life.Being thankful for things big and small opens yourself for more things to enter.

   Thank Those Who Have Helped You

   Thank yourself, those who have helped you and Spirit/God/Universe. Thank you's can be verbal, written, or even just a silent acknowledgement. However, when possible, telling the person directly, is a wonderful way to give back. People love to hear that what they did was appreciated.

   Exercise to Feel Gratitude

   Here is an exercise to help you feel gratitude in your life:

   • List 10 parts of your body that function reliably 
   • List 10 things that make you happy in your life 
   • List 10 people who have helped you (however small) in the past 
   • List 10 people you have helped (however small)
   • Look at these lists and be thankful

   Speak Positively With The Gratitue Attitude

   Praising and being thankful opens the door to even more. Complaining closes that same door. Hence, speak positively and lovingly.

   Appreciate all that went well; accept the lessons learned with grace. Life is wonderful and good.

   • Every morning promise yourself to have a gratitude attitude. Everything is a blessing.
   • Thoughout the day remind yurself to be thankful. Reminder notes really help.
   • Every night go through the day and remind yourself of everything that there is to be thankful for.

     Step 10: Next Steps in

     Goal Activation, & Resources

     Analyze
     • Analyze whether your goal was successful.
     • Is it what you wanted?
     • Did it achieve what you hoped for?
     • Do you want to improve on it?
     • Did you acknowledge what did work?
     • Are you grateful for the experience?
     Review

     We recommend scheduling a time to overview one's life and verify that it is consistent with where they want to go during set intervals.

     raditionally, new year's day and/or birthday's are used for this type of review (ie: New Year's Resolutions,) but this can be done more often. I have found every 3 months on the solstice date works really well for me. I make my goals flow with the season and use them as a vehicle for growth.

     Decide

     When deciding on your next goal, make a list of desired goals and place a priority on each one.

     When done your current goal, recheck both the goals and the priorities. Both goals and priorities change over time, verify they are both still appropriately weighted on your lists.

     Know that change is a continuous process. You can change anything and everything you would like to -- step-by-step. The future is yours to create.