Feeling Stuck

Life can be a bit of a roller-coaster, especially when we are out in the world striving for more, and particularly when we are willing to let go of the status quo because we desire more, because we aren’t willing to let go of our dreams. Moving from where we are to where we want to be often requires shaking things up.

As luck would have it, sometimes we hit a wall, or find ourselves in a position without clarity as to what comes next. We don’t often like to admit it, especially those of us that are fairly driven, but it happens, and more importantly it’s a very natural part of this life.

Instead of ridiculing ourselves over how we got here, lets focus entirely on getting ourselves unstuck. Here are 5 powerful ways to unstuck yourself right now from your current state of being.

1. MOVEMENT. Good old-fashioned movement. Movement has to do with the shifting of energy, releasing old patterns, and creating new patterns of thought,  belief, and enhancing the foundation used to build our future. Exercise is one of the easiest ways to move and create shift. For me these days it’s raising the bar on my workouts, pushing myself to be stronger, faster, and more flexible – not because I need to, but because I want to move beyond complacency. The benefits of exercise are endless – they have a direct impact on our state of well-being, and will directly contribute to how we feel. Don’t be afraid to get out and take a walk, join a team sport (soccer, dodge ball, soft ball, rugby), take a bike ride, go roller blading, or just work in your garden. When we hit a brick wall in our lives, we often feel paralyzed. Movement in ANY capacity is a step in the right direction.
2. 

   Stuck (2001 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

   GRATITUDE. It all begins with gratitude. If you have read my books or have been reading my blog, you know that Gratitude is one of the pillars to finding true happiness in life. In the moments that we feel stuck, it is also a powerful weapon against the negativity of our inner thoughts. Feeling stuck by its very nature has a tendency to leave us feeling powerless, and it’s hard to transform our lives when we think we have no control over the outcome. BUT, we know that we are the ONLY ONE who can affect change in our life – and gratitude is one of the best ways to get us there. A simple exercise is to get out a piece of paper and to write down all of the things you are grateful for. Don’t stop until you have 30, 40, 50, or even 100 things on list. Something happens in the process of reminding yourself of everything you appreciate. Do this every day until your focus is not on your problems but on the magnificence all around you.

3. REMEMBER SUCCESS. Most of us have achieved and overcome SO MUCH in our lives. When we feel helpless or stuck, reflecting on our success reminds us that we can overcome anything that comes our way.  We have proven time and again that we can persevere, overcome, and nothing can stop us from moving forward in our lives – other than ourselves. Sometimes it helps to write down our greatest achievements, and the challenges we overcame. Remember, success begets success. The more we live in a positive state of achievement, the more likely we are to overcome any obstacles in our way. You don’t need me to tell you that you can do it – you already know that you can because you have done it many times before.
4. 

   (Photo credit: nicole.pierce.photography)

   DREAM. Our lives are made of big dreams and little dreams, but it is our desires that move us from place to place. It is our dream of something more in life that forces us to shift our patterns, breakthrough our limiting belief systems, and to remind us that we can remove anything that stands in the way of what we truly desire. Take a few moments to remember your dreams and even to map them out. Think about what it will look like, what it will feel like, and pre-pattern yourself for the success that is already well on the way. Your dreams are what make you who you are – don’t let them gather dust – keep them powerfully active in your life.

5. KINDNESS. Be kind to yourself – and be patient. We often underestimate how challenging it can be to walk in our own shoes. Don’t judge yourself – accept where you are and trust that you are being guided and are exactly where you need to be. Take time to rest, nap, meditate, or pamper yourself with a pedicure or a massage. Trust me – you ARE worth it, and pausing to smell the flowers and love yourself is often exactly what you need the most in this moment.

Getting stuck is a natural part of this life, but acknowledgement isn’t the same as complaining, for accepting where you are often provides you with the clarity required to map yourself from where you are to where you want to be. Embrace your current situation, and allow yourself to adapt and evolve in the direction of your true dreams and desires.

Good luck – your thoughts and comments are always welcome,

Until next time – Many blessings,
Seth

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You made your New Years’ Resolutions and now your life is EVERYTHING you wanted it to be. Really?

If only it was that easy. Let’s move BEYOND our need to “make resolutions” in our life that will make us happy. Instead, we need to find our happiness in THIS moment (obviously). But HOW? We know that our happiness is a direct result of the choices we make in any given moment (but of course I can hear you say)…but wait, I’m still not happy? Remember, we only control WHO we choose to be and the ACTIONS we take – there is nothing else we can control.

Our happiness is a direct result of who we choose to be, how we define ourselves – which is the root of defining happiness. This past week I gave a seminar on moving BEYOND our New Years Resolutions – you can view a complimentary recorded version of the seminar/workshop here (http://www.learnitlive.com/class/3131/New-Years-Resolutions-are-Over-NOW-WHAT) – it’s about 35 minutes.

It doesn’t matter whether your resolutions are tangible & measurable (weight-related, money-related, health-related), or intangible (self-improvement, relationship, well-being), we have the opportunity right now to make the decisions that are going to impact our lives in positive and meaningful ways. Remember, we are all here for a unique purpose, and it is our responsibility to discover what that purpose is, and to live it in every waking moment.

This physical existence by its very nature involves pain as we are challenged with illness, conflict, and eventually death – but these challenges NEED NOT DEFINE US. Through challenge and pain we have the opportunity to learn and to grow, to step into the fullness of ourselves, and to obtain true happiness and fulfillment.

We all know that it takes more than one time per year to make the resolutions that will bring us happiness. If you fell off the wagon, just recommit – and recommit again. Take it one moment at a time, one day at a time, one month or one year at a time. You can pace yourself for success – but never give up.

Happiness is attainable, and available…right now. Just pay attention and show up – and everything will fall into place.

Until next time – many blessings!
Seth

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Tuesday marks the beginning of the new year, providing us with a new beginning, a do-over if you will for each and every one of us. We can reinvent ourselves, re-prioritize what really matters, and consciously decide what the next year will bring.

We all have endless choices and opportunities, and although we may feel challenged in various areas of our lives, we are in the perfect place to create everything we desire. NOW is YOUR time – you are worthy of everything you desire.

Important Principles to Start a New Year

• When looking at your life in retrospect, always focus on the positive. We all have our missteps, but they often pale in comparison to all that we have achieved, all that we have become in the process. Celebrate the wins, and take the rest in stride.
• Remember, you can go ANYWHERE from here. Stop obsessing about the past, about what could or should have been. This is our chance to dream of a future fulfilled and FULL of bliss. Now is our opportunity to imagine a consciously created life – one in full alignment with our truth, with who we know ourselves to be.
• We each have created our current life, and every decision up to this moment. If we want to change the future, we have only to look in the mirror, and at the present moment – for it is the ONLY moment we can control.
• Let down your guard and DREAM. Many of us have given up on our dreams as we have gotten older and settled into the structures, responsibilities and demands of our lives. Remember, nothing is certain in life other than change and our physical death (and perhaps taxes) – everything else is left to our own creation.

My father Captain Chernoff saying goodbye to the USS Enterprise where he served (with my younger son Eli).

Here are a few fantastic articles to help you create your future exactly as you desire.

• Five Ways to Succeed With Your New Years Resolutions and Intentions (http://www.sethchernoff.com/enlightenment/five-ways-to-succeed-with-your-new-years-resolutions-and-intentions/)
• Your 2013 New Years Resolutions Planning Guide (http://www.sethchernoff.com/spirituality/your-2013-new-years-resolutions-planning-guide/)
• Spring Cleaning Your Life – 10 Surefire Ways to Let Go of the Past (http://www.sethchernoff.com/enlightenment/spring-cleaning-your-life-10-surefire-ways-to-let-go-of-the-past/)

Until next year – many blessings and VERY Happy New Year!

All my best,
Seth

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Crafting YOUR New Years Resolutions

A few guidelines to start with. I would like to give you permission to be selfish. YES you can be of service, and YES you can care about those who are suffering or have experienced loss. However, resolutions are about YOU, YOUR life and YOUR life story. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be of service, but you are the center of your universe – your life occurs from the inside out, not the outside in. Remember, you have to love yourself before you can love another, and you need to care for yourself before you can fully care for another.

I have organized our resolutions into the most common categories that people generally pull from.

• Caring for Yourself– this category includes everything to do with your personal health and well-being.
  • Physical – Your body is your vessel for greatness in this life. Perhaps stop smoking, drink less alcohol, eat healthier foods, get more exercise, do some yoga, breathe more, get a facial – take care of your body. Quick tip: Don’t change your lifestyle for others, do it for yourself, which will increase your chance of success exponentially, and will feel much better as a result.
  • Emotional – Our emotions are the gauge, the barometer of our life and wellbeing. Do you want to be happier? Make better choices. Spend less time with negative people, let go of bad or abusive relationships, and spend more time with those who lift you up. More than anything – don’t be so hard on yourself. As simplistic and cheesy as it sounds – just love yourself.
  • Mental – Yes there are proven ways to keep your mind sharper and more engaged. Try reading more, watching less television, learning a new skill or new language, keeping yourself mentally stimulated, and perhaps take a break from technology from time to time.
  • Spiritual – Find meaning in your life, discover your faith, enhance your intuition, and connect with others on a new and deeper level. Plan a trip to an exotic location, or reconnect with your spiritual community. Don’t allow the chaos or drama in your life to overcome what truly matters.
• Money & Debt – You might wonder how Money & Debt can fit in with caring for ourselves, but money seems to be a top resolution for most – generally having something to do with getting OUT of debt, which is an impossible resolution because it’s based in the negative. That desire doesn’t live in inspiration or passion, it is a statement of fear. Financial Prosperity on the other hand is the basis for an impassioned existence – one based on the excitement of what is to come. If “prosperity” is on your list, make it one that excites and uplifts you.
• Passion & Purpose – What are YOUR dreams? We have a tendency to mute our dreams over time as we deal with the trials and tribulations of life. Reignite your passion, rediscover your dreams, and make them a part of your every waking moment – and especially your resolutions for the year to come.
• Service & Community – We aren’t alone, we are part of a greater community. Our meaning in life comes partly from the way we are of service to one another. There is no right or wrong way to be of service – simply discover your way to serve and make it an active part of your life.

Remember, your life is what you make of it. Nothing more, and nothing less. You are the captain of your ship – you are in charge of your life, your emotions, your physical well-being, your emotional health, and your spiritual connectedness. Choose wisely (but remember – you can ALWAYS change it).

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

A few parting notes: Remember, keep your goals achievable. Unless you are truly ready for a cataclysmic shift in the way you live your life – don’t assume that you are going to reasonably change decades of bad habits overnight.  Pace yourself, and know that you won’t succeed in every resolution – so make peace in advance. Remember, its not about the end result, its about the process, the road we take to get there.

Set yourself up for success

We set ourselves up for success by pacing ourselves and taking our lives on a moment-by-moment basis. We take control of our destiny by making commitments that we are capable of achieving in this moment. Understand what you control – and leave the rest to the universe. Know what you can achieve – and make it happen.

Don’t berate yourself

You may not succeed in your resolutions, and that is fine. Don’t beat yourself up – just give it your best shot. If you miss a few days, re-engage yourself and get back to it.

Enjoy the process

There is much to be grateful for in all of our lives. This is a special time to redefine what really matters in your life – appreciate the process. Enjoy the last few weeks of 2012!!!

Many blessings,
Seth

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As the election is finally over, and the holidays are right around the corner, I decided that it was time to do something special. Starting today, I am offering an exclusive “Holiday Gift Transformation Kit” designed to give you everything you need to transform your life, or the life of someone you love. I would say “just add water” but we all know that transformation takes a little more effort than that. We all know that we need to show up and do the work if we want to change our lives.

Let me tell you what’s included:

1. An autographed copy of the award-winning and best-selling book: Manual For Living: REALITY, A User’s Guide to the Meaning of Life.
2. An autographed copy of book two in the series: Manual For Living: CONNECTION, A User’s Guide to the Meaning of Life
   
3. AND your very own copy of the Manual For Living Guidebook: Applying the Manual For Living: Exercise & Meditation Guidebook – the 324 page spiral bound guide complete with powerful content, daily exercises, daily mantras and evening meditations – which also gives you access to over 90 online lesson videos.

Give the gift of love, of transformation.

But wait…there’s more – Yes, since this is sounding like an infomercial anyway, we might as well continue the trend. The first 20 people who order will receive a complementary 20-minute phone consultation with ME to help you kick-start your journey. The topic of discussion is of your own choosing but is designed to help you focus your intention on what you truly desire in order to get the most out of your life and out of this program. Simply complete your order here, and you will receive an email to schedule your session.

Receive this entire collection for only $49! ($140 value)

This holiday season, don’t just give an iTunes gift card, or a gift basket. Give something that will change someone’s life forever.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to obtain the direction and guidance you seek or to give it to someone you love. Remember – you are worth it, and your friends and loved ones are too.

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