Tag: present moment

How to Reprogram Your Mind to Be Happier, Healthier, And More Successful

Live Today With Faith4 Comments

As I look outside my window at 9.00am, the sun is rising into a complete blue sky with sparse clouds at the horizon.

The sun rays make everything look so alive and vibrant.

The sun has a way of brightening up our day.

There are moments in life when we become separated from any worry, stress, or anxiety we might be feeling. Looking out of the window this morning was one of those moments for me. The connection to nature replaced all other thoughts in my mind. And each and every one of us has this capability.

The capability to separate ourselves from any negativity we might be feeling.

There was a time in my life where I was worried and anxious most of the time. About everything. And an exercise that helped me greatly was to set little reminders during the day, to just pause, and connect to the world around me.

Connect to the magnificence of God’s creation.

A good starting point is to set a reminder on your phone once, twice—ten times a day. where you stop what you are doing and connect with the world around you.

And when that timer goes off— you might be worrying about a problem, or be having doubts about the future, or maybe even deep in thought about an old memory. But when that timer or alert goes off if you make it a point to connect with the world around you, connect with the room, connect with nature. Notice the vibrant colours, listen to all the sounds that surround you, in a new way.

Or it could be that you are in the middle of traffic, you become aware of the car in front of you. The car behind you. The pedestrians on the side walk. The many sounds of the engines and horns.

You will realise that you were driving but you were not truly aware of the world around you— you were on autopilot.

And a lot of us go through life like this, we are on autopilot, our emotions— of worry, doubt, fear, guilt, shame— joy, hope, love, and happiness, are all pulling us through life.

So, the first step to reprogramming your mind, is creating moments that you connect with the world around you, so that you’re no longer carried along by the thoughts and emotions that you feel inside.

And the more of these moments that you create the deeper you become connected to the present moment— the only place that God resides. The only place that you can make a connection with the divine. The source of all peace, creativity, ideas, and inspiration.

Now once you start doing this don’t beat yourself up for the moments of worry, doubt, unhappiness, or any lack of trust.

None of us are perfect.

We all have weaknesses, we have all went through dramatic events in our lives, but when we practise becoming detached from them negative feelings and emotions, they will no longer have the same control over us.

We can become more connected to the world around us, a beautiful feeling, that is worth investing time and energy.

A True Awakening

We can go through hours, days, weeks, even years lost within our thoughts—not connected to the world around us, at all.

You may know people in your community, or maybe personally, that are consumed by un-forgiveness, consumed by fear, by guilt, by shame, by regret.

Every time you speak to them, they tell you stories of the past, how someone hurt them, a neighbour, a friend, a colleague, even a family member, and they can’t forget.

They can never forget the hurt, the betrayal, or the pain.

So, they keep replaying the memory in their minds.

And every time they tell you that story, or you tell someone your story of what happened to you. What you are doing is removing yourself from the present moment. You are living in the past, replaying old memories that will only bring up past feelings of — anger, hatred, jealousy, and pain.

Which hurts no one only YOU.

Now, everyone does this. So what can we do?

The only thing that you can do is that you become aware that you are doing it. That is the first step. Awareness.

Becoming aware of the habit of replaying the hurts of the past. And what awareness does is it creates a gap… so rather than you caught up in the thought or emotion, letting it transport you into the past, you notice how the memory has changed your mood. How the memory has made you connect to feelings of worry, connect to feelings of doubt, connect to feelings of anger, of hurt, of regret.

The hurts of the past can almost feel like they are part of you.

Now, if the timer goes off, and you feel resistance— feelings that you don’t want to stop worrying, feelings that you don’t want to stop feelings stressed, anxious, fearful etc., that’s ok, just become aware of the resistance.

That might be the first step for you… realising that the worry, doubt, stress or pain has become part of you. Becoming aware that you have that deep embedded worry, you have that deep embedded anxiety— deep embedded doubt, guilt, un-forgiveness, or regret.

Just become aware of the feelings, saying, “these are the feelings that are blocking me.” These are the feelings that I need to work through, let go off. Before I can spiritually grow into the fullness of who I AM.

And the more that you do this practise, taking time each day to connect with nature, to the present moment, the deeper and deeper this awareness will become… meaning, the deeper, your connection to God.

In time, all the worry, doubt, anxiety, pain will fade away as you realise that all the negative feelings from the past are what is blocking your connection to the present moment…

…the only place that God resides.

The Source of All Peace, Creativity, Ideas, And Inspiration. And as A Result, You Will Become, Happier, Healthier and More Successful.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your weekend.

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Living Life One Step At a Time

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“There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” ~Anonymous

Reading this quote had a deep impact on me.

There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute here and now. How very true, yet easily forgotten.

Most of our lives we spend worrying or planning for the future, or looking back at past hurts or mistakes. “If only certain events hadn’t of happened. If only I had made this decision or that, how my life would be different?”

I have spoken to people that still have not forgiven someone that hurt them 40 years ago. And if you talk about forgiveness, they will say, “but you don’t know what they did to me.” And their right i don’t. But to allow someone to affect your thinking after 40 years?

This is not a piece on forgiveness so I will leave it there. You can find more on forgiveness here.

This is a piece on accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.

Before my brother moved house I used to visit him several times a week. He is a graphic designer which means being on his laptop. But when I was there he would be checking his phone while watching the tv.

In the beginning I would mention it as personally I could not work with that much distraction, but thats how he had always worked, and who was I to judge.

Have we got so used to distractions that we don’t know a world without them?

In my own life I have found that if I’m stressed or anxious, a walk in a forest or along a stream, or in nature in general has a calming effect on my mind. I never gave it much thought before now, why this was the case but in reflection I come to the conclusion that, for me a walk in nature connects me to the present moment.

While walking in the forest (my favourite place to walk) my mind has so much new information to process. As each step below my feet is different, meaning I need to use my arms for balance. Then depending on the weather there could be several puddles of water on my path that I have to avoid.

The air within the trees is at its purest which is instantly noticeable as it almost feels lighter, a strange feeling which has to be experienced, hard to put into words. On top of all that trees have a way of blocking the sounds from nearby motorways and amplifying the sounds within the forest itself.

All of this influx of sensory stimulation has my mind on overdrive and thoughts of worry or anxiety fade away, and a new web of thoughts are born. Thoughts of connection, thoughts of nature, thoughts about how magnificent our creator is.

Very often after my walk the negative thoughts return but compared to the powerful thoughts I experienced in the forest they seem so insignificant.

Noticing Your Cycle

When I’m going about my week, my days are fully booked, I write a list first thing in the morning. My plan for the day, all the things I would like to achieve.

Then on top of that there is distractions, I get an email I must reply too, or somewhere I have to go that I hadn’t planned. Or a news story catch’s my attention that changes my mood.

Without a break from this information overload the worries and anxious thoughts build up. Resulting in me not being as patient as usual, not as focused on my work, haven’t got the same drive or energy.

Over the years I have become better at spotting when I need a break and connect with nature. Just that connection to something that makes me realise just how insignificant my problems are in the grand scheme of things.

For me its walking in a forest, for you it could be climbing a mountain or swimming in the sea.

It’s all about finding that one activity that engages the senses and connects you to nature. That helps you to live life one step at a time rather that in fast forward.

Thanks for reading.

“There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” ~Anonymous

Read this quote at this excellent blog with helpful advice from Dr. Eric Perry.

How to Stay Positive: 11 Smart Habits

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12255-Everything-Will-Be-Ok

From I was very young, I have always been a happy person. Many people would make fun of me for smiling all the time.

As the famous saying goes, “Smile, it confuses people.”

Was I always happy? No. But my philosophy has always been, smile and the world smiles with you, cry, and you cry alone.

Often, I would get asked why are you so happy? And for the longest time, I did not have an answer.

I didn’t have an answer because I didn’t feel that happy, I had problems and things stressing me like everyone else.

When I focused on the reason why I was happy, I realised that it was down to me having a positive faith-filled view of life. No matter how bad things got, I always had a way of staying positive, even during tough times I knew things would get better.

In this blog post, I would like to share 11 of the most effective habits for staying positive that I have learned. I hope you get some inspiration.

1. Find an optimistic viewpoint in a negative situation

One of the simplest but most effective ways to build a more positive outlook is to look for the good in a situation.

When I am in a negative place, I like to ask myself questions like:

What is one thing that is positive or good about this situation?
Is there an opportunity within this situation?

When I look for the positive, I find that it takes my mind off my negative thoughts (that can quickly spiral out of control).

In the past I would ask the wrong questions. Questions like, how did I end up here? when will I ever learn? Why can’t I do anything right?  The answers would only make things worse.

2. Cultivate and live in a positive environment

positive enviro

Your environment has a massive impact on how you feel — the people you choose to spend your time with effects your outlook on life. Also, the content you consume in the form of TV, internet, and media.

It’s essential to have influences in your life that support you and lift you instead of dragging you down.

So carefully consider what you let into your mind. You can, for example, ask yourself:

Who are the three most negative people I spend time with?
What are the 3 most negative sources of information I spend time on?

If you spend a lot of your time with people that complain and run others down, that negative energy will rub off on you.

My parents always told me to listen to the news and read the newspaper. I know it’s good to stay informed with what’s going on in the world, but if what you are hearing first thing in the morning is negativity, it can affect you for the rest of the day.

Instead, spend more time with friends and co-workers that are more positive, and encourage you to be better in some way. And, listen or read something positive first thing in the morning to set you up for the day.

3. Plan Your Day

I have found that when I don’t plan my day, I end up wasting a lot of time which results in me rushing around, stressed and frustrated, and things don’t go that well.

Negative thoughts start to build up, and I feel like my power decreases.

But if I plan my day I can think more clearly and get so much more achieved. Plus, it becomes easier to think things through and easier to find an optimistic and constructive perspective.

4. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill

It’s easy to lose perspective, especially if you are stressed, and you are going too fast.

A small problem can become a terrifying one. To level the mountain, I do three things, so the problem doesn’t get out of hand:

First, say STOP. Realise you are in control, not your negative thinking.

Second, breathe. After you have disrupted the negative thoughts sit down and be still. Breathe with your belly and focus on just your in-breaths and out-breaths for a minute or two to calm your body and mind.

Thirdly, share by talking to someone close to you and getting a more grounded perspective on the situation by getting his or her input. Or ask yourself this: Will this matter in 5 years? Or even five weeks?

5. Don’t let vague fears hold you back from doing what you want

hold you back

We all have things that we would like to do, like start a business, do a night class or ask someone out on a date.

A trap that a lot of people fall into is rather than follow through they fill their minds of what negative things could happen if they took the action

The mind fuelled by fear creates nightmare scenarios and plenty of self-doubts. I know. I have been there many times.

So, I have learned to ask myself this: honestly, what is the worst that could happen?

Over the years I have discovered that the worst thing that could realistically happen is not as scary as the nightmare my fear-fuelled mind will produce.

Finding clarity in this way doesn’t take much time or effort, and it can help you to avoid much mental suffering. And help you to step outside of your comfort zone and take that chance.

6. Add value and positivity to someone else’s life

What you send out you tend to get back. What you give to others and how you treat them is what you’ll get back. So, provide value and spread positivity.

Lend a hand to a neighbour that’s moving. Give a friend a ride in your car, or if they need information then help out by doing a little research for them.

Sometimes people don’t want any direct help. They want someone to listen or encourage them as they’ve had a bad day or are going through a tough time.

7. Exercise regularly and eat and sleep well

woman_walking_sneakers

Exercise diet and sleep can seem very obvious, but you would be surprised how many people don’t look after themselves.

A good night’s sleep or good workout has a massive effect on me when my thoughts are pessimistic, and I have a lot of tension or stress.

And I know how much simpler it is to think clearly and faithfully when I’ve eaten healthy for a few days.

basic habits may sound boring, but they do have a considerable effect on your state of mind.

8. Learn to take criticism healthily

One of the most common fears is the fear of criticism. It can hold people back from doing what they want. A negative comment can extinguish your faith if you allow it.

A loved one may mean well, but don’t let their limiting beliefs become your destiny.

Whenever you step outside your comfort zone and do something new, criticism is pretty much unavoidable. So, the key is learning to handle it more healthily.

By doing so, your fear of it will lessen, and it will hurt less if you do get criticized. I usually use four steps when I get some criticism. Maybe they can help you too:

Step 1: Don’t reply right away.

When you are angry, upset or riled up then is time to calm down a bit before you reply. Take at least a couple of deep breaths or a little time to process the message before you respond.

Step 2: Listen to criticism.

Try to remain open and level-headed and figure out how this message can help you. Ask yourself: Is there one thing I can learn from this criticism? Is there something here that I may not want to hear but could help me?

Step 3: Remember that the criticism isn’t always about you.

Some criticism comes from people lashing out because they had a bad day. To lessen the sting of such criticism – I try to be understanding. I think to myself that this person might not be feeling so good at the moment.

Step 4: Reply or let go. No matter the method of criticism, for example an email, I try to keep my reply level-headed and kind. I may add a question or two to get more specific feedback that is helpful. And if they don’t reply or send another nasty message, then it is time to delete it and let that situation go.

9. Let It Out, Let It Go

Sharing

Sometimes some criticism can hurt you even if you use the steps above.

Two things that have helped me with that challenge are: Let it out. Just talking it over with someone close can be very helpful to see it for what it is. Helping you find a healthier perspective on the situation.

Let it go. I have found over the years that the ability to let things go has helped me greatly. Some people never change; they will continue to hurt you and cause you stress. The solution, spend less time with them

10. Start your day in a positive way

How you start your day usually sets the tone. I once heard it said that the first hour is the rudder of the day.

So be careful about how you spend your mornings. If you get going at full speed, lost in future troubles of the day, then stress, and negative thoughts will ramp up quickly.

If you, on the other hand, start your day slowly, spending some time reading or listening to inspiring articles or podcasts, then that will make a big difference to how you approach your problems and difficulties.

11. Mindfully move through your day

nature

When you spend your time in the present moment, then it becomes so much easier to access positive emotions.

When you get lost in the past or future, like so many of us, then worries become bigger. And failures and mistakes from the past can replay over and over in your mind dragging you into negativity.

A simple way to connect with the present moment is to take a walk-in nature, listen to the sounds of the world around you.

Another way to reconnect with the present moment is to pray and focus on each word. It might sound like a small and insignificant thing to do. But this reconnection with the present moment can have a very positive effect on the rest of your day.

Thanks for reading. Wishing you an amazing week.