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#2. Be Happy With The Present you

Don’t wish to be anyone else than who you are right now. Limit how often you give your attention to the person you want to be in the future and focus on the person you are now. Allow yourself to be content with who you are being in this present moment.

Who are you right now?

How is this person wonderful? Name 5 things.

The Present moment shows you what you thought, felt, and behaved as in the past, this is a gift. What do you see in your present life now that you would like to change, what would you like to keep?

Lana McMurray, Self Recovery Mentor, is Owner and Founder of Free 2 Thrive Coaching LLC, www.free2thrivecoaching.com, a Company helping people to break out of their self made prisons and free their REAL Self! She assist clients with getting out of their comfort zones and their own way. As a result of their work together, clients depart from people pleasing, codependency and paralyzing fear and become aware of themselves and awaken into being bold, confident and fully alive. She enjoys working confidentially with people on issues that have been troubling them for a long time but they just didn’t know who to talk to about it.

To schedule a complimentary Get Acquainted Sessions Click HERE or email her at: info@free2thrivecoaching.com

#1. Listen To Your Self Talk

The part of your mind that wants to slim down and that sets the goal to lose weight is not the same part that carries out that goal to completion. The part that helps you achieve the weight loss is the programming in your subconscious mind. These programs can be identified by listening to your self talk. Carry a small notebook or small recording device around with you and write down or record what you hear your internal voice saying about yourself, others and things.

How about you? Reply back with your responses.

What do you use to record your inner talk?

What is you inner talk saying?

Lana McMurray, Self Recovery Mentor, is Owner and Founder of Free 2 Thrive Coaching LLC, www.free2thrivecoaching.com, a Company helping people to break out of their self made prisons and free their REAL Self! She assist clients with getting out of their comfort zones and their own way. As a result of their work together, clients depart from people pleasing, codependency and paralyzing fear and become aware of themselves and awaken into being bold, confident and fully alive. She enjoys working confidentially with people on issues that have been troubling them for a long time but they just didn’t know who to talk to about it.

To schedule a complimentary Get Acquainted Sessions Click HERE or email her at: info@free2thrivecoaching.com

Today was a particularly hard day for me. I recently made a major decision in my life and the “realness” of it hit me and I temporarily got stuck in a loop of fear and doubt. I questioned everything. I wanted answers, now!!! I admit it, I am still frustrated by somethings and am still working those out. However I am thankful for the new AWARENESS I have. This Opportunity to shift my thinking and step up my perception. I see things that I didn’t see before and am really searching my self to see what it is I really believe. What I don’t want is a life that is built on a lie and to perpetrate that lie to others. I sooooo believe that we were called to Thrive and I am willing to take the risks and make the decisions that align me with the spirit of thriving.

I’ve had phenomenal personal success in the area of recovering my self with regards to Autonomy – Being me and not allowing anyone to manipulate or control me. That’s why I coach people who have been worked over by emotional and controlling people. Now I am working on my relationship with money. This is the next frontier for me.

This video clip of Sly Stallone is so freakin inspiring. I love it when someone pursues their dream especially when they persevered in the face of what others would say was failure and no light in sight. Sly wasn’t willing to live his life without realizing his dream. There was no guarantee that he would sell his script or be accepted as the star in Rocky yet he knew in his heart what that end was and he wouldn’t let that go. I am doing the same thing. I won’t live this life without realizing the dreams within me, whatever it takes. How about you?

Do you take action on something you desire after you have gotten positive feedback from someone else? Really be, honest!

Do feel better about a choice after you get approval?

For years I was paralyzed with the fear being out of the will of God. I carried around a nagging weight that drained me of the ability to produce the results I wanted in my life. Results I was striving to get. I believed that I could not just choose something. I had to get God’s approval first. What I mean by this is that I thought it was wrong for me to act on a desire, idea or follow an interest just because I wanted to. There was always that guilt carrying with it a cloud of condemnation or a reservation limiting my ability to fully participate and enjoy the moment.

Why?…Toxic Thoughts quite simply, I had willingly and/or unknowingly accepted the perceptions of others as truth and their perceptions became hardwired into my brain becoming truth. I allowed how other people thought and felt alter how I believed and behaved.

O.K. here’s an example I wrested with the idea that God would send me somewhere I didn’t want to go or tell me to do something I didn’t want to do. It didn’t matter whether I wanted to go there or do that thing, I had no say in the matter. My feelings were irrelevant. They were fleshly lustful desires that had to be brought into submission. Now I wasn’t born thinking that way, I adopted that idea from some well meaning person(s). I can’t even pinpoint who it or they were. That’s how powerful our minds are. Beliefs, behaviors and attitudes we observe in others can become a part of us.

Releasing myself from looking at life through this prism unleashed strong waves of fears upon me. I had come to believe that I would be opening the door to the devil if I pursued ideas and activities that I had heard were tabu. I could not entertain, look at or participate with any thing that crouched on new age or was unscriptual to them. Who’s standard was I using. Who’s perception?

These thoughts and their accompanying feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, judgment, condemnation, self-righteousness, guilt and fear hindered my progress and diminished my potential.

Emotional discontent is a powerful indicator that something is wrong. If you dismiss your feelings then you are preventing the message for which is there from being heard. You are sabotaging yourself. You have emotions for a reason.

After suffering with persistent failure I took the risk of opening up myself to opportunities that I kept feeling led to pursue but was too afraid to look into because of what others would say or might think.  And guess what? These tabu’s ended up being the exact answers to my prayers.

The latest discoveries in physics and cell research are revealing that there truly is Thought Energy, proving scientifically that As A Man Thinketh in His Heart So Is He, Pr 23:7 is a truth not just a bible verse.

Fortunately, I wasn’t born with a fear of choosing, this was a learned behavior. As a child I was carefree and spontaneous and today have resumed being that free and carefree being that is joyful, free and connected to Spirit

Now, I know that it is God’s delight, his good pleasure and perfect will for me/us to become the best versions of ourselves. When I take action on a desire, idea or on something that I want to do, be or have I feel it is by his leading so I don’t have to ask. The proof: I am at peace, empowered, and full of life. These are my indications that I am in his will. I follow the peace.

If you are plagued with fears, you can restore trust in yourself. It will require that you reprogram those tapes in your subconscious mind. On your own you can incorporate prayer, meditation, affirmations and journaling to begin the work of renewing your mind.

Working with a coach will speed this process along. As a Certified Professional Coach I specialize in working with people who want to break free from resistant patterns. My personal experience with this plaguing problem and breaking free from it are a plus.You were meant to prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.

So you say you want to change, but do you honestly? Or do you really just want what your life will be like AFTER the change?

In order to get anything you desire or want in life you are going to have to work! Yes there are Universal Laws and Powerful Prayers and many other manners of spiritual practice that you can do to get yourself in line with attracting your desires but regardless of how long you meditate or how often you confess/affirm or how well you have set your intentions you will have to do work to achieve your dreams.

Faith without works is dead!

When your desires, dreams and wishes are intermingled with FULL engagement in the activities necessary to achieve those goals then you have the winning ticket to life.

We already know that right? Yes but do you do it. More importantly, do realize that there are different levels of engagement and the level that you are acting from influences how well you receive?

The manifestation of the things you desire will come from receiving. The God stuff, the amazing “dream-life” stuff comes from faith. Your authentic desires are spiritually based and they have to take on physical form for you to experience them. Faith is the substance of those desires and must be developed. This development involves action – doing. You have to act on inspired ideas and take action for something you do not physically have or see. How you apply yourself determines your results.

You can tell where you are in faith by examining yourself. Look at your thoughts, feelings/emotions and actions as you partake in activities.

Self examination is a gift; the way you do something reveals vital aspects about yourself because your engagement (the commitment you make) is a direct reflection of your inner world, it exposes the pledge that you make to yourself and uncovers what you believe.

You are either awake, aware and intentionally living out your life and going for it or you are unconsciously going through the motions and dragging yourself to do what you perceive you have to or what someone else is making you do; or somewhere in between. All reveals how you view yourself, the world and your place in it which determines what vibrations you are putting out and the matching experiences you are receiving back from the Universe.

The level of engagement that you bring to an idea, task or a goal will determine your outcome.

In general there are (4) four different levels of engagement you will have for a particular task or goal.

Just simply being aware of this and noticing where you fall within the ranges and then making a shift in your attitude will increase your ability to receive.

*catabolic – energy that doesn’t tend to serve you

*anabolic – energy that serves you

Range #1 Catabolic & Low Enthusiasm – this is the “I WON’T” range. This doesn’t mean that you won’t do it, well for some it does. It means that you are taking action but only because you have to and you don’t care how well it’s done. In this space you’re thinking along the lines of “I don’t have a choice,” your attitude is that you feel and act like something is being done to you and so you have very little energy if none at all and typically end up committing self sabotage. You absolutely see no benefit to yourself for taking action – someone or something is making you.

Range #2 Catabolic & High Enthusiasm – this is the “I HAVE TO” range. In this space you’re thinking along the lines of, “my choices are limited or I have no choice,” and so you have to force things because you have a limited amount of energy to work with. What’s different about this range and #1 is that you see some benefit to yourself but you are most likely operating out of guilt.

Range #3 Anabolic  & Low Enthusiasm – this is the “I NEED to” range. In this space you’re thinking along the lines of, “I personally will benefit from this but I am doing this because I need to,” and so though you still has some low motivation going on, you’re at least moving away from acting out of fear or guilt and personalizing and choosing to take action.

Range #4 Anabolic & High Enthusiasm – this is the “I CHOOSE” to range. In this space you’re thinking along the lines of, “I have total choice about this,” and so you see what’s in it for you, regardless of what you are taking action on, you view this as an opportunity if nothing else to grow in character. You  have total buy in, you do not feel as if anyone is making you, you are totally deciding to take this action. You make a conscious choice to act.

As you can see, your attitude plays a vital role in your life and getting results. Stop and check your attitude to see where you are.

The Key to making effective and lasting changes in your life is to focus on the benefits of the change, not the challenge in making it.

You are the creator of your own reality; the power is in your choice. The choice to choose is yours. Take it seriously. Your life will thank you.

As I was preparing to set my own goals for this year I looked around to see what a few other people were doing. It was interesting to see the many variations of SMART goals.

A SMART goal is a fantastic tool that helps you set goals that are immune to self sabotage, fear and procrastination. It helps you break down your goals into manageable chunks that are realistic and attainable. An example of a weight loss goal is below.

Ali Brown, founder and CEO of Ali International LLC, referenced adding an energetic aspect to the goal setting process in her podcast and I totally agree with her.

Everything is energy “ the thing(s) you want to manifest“ is already here in energetic form and it is your belief and actions that bring it into your experience.

First Dream

What do you want?  Turn on some inspiring music, take out a pad and pencil and write down all the things that come to mind. Don’t judge or edit, let your imagination run free and just write it down. **Disclaimer: Iâm sure this goes without saying but of course you don’t want to wish for something like your friend’s spouse or anything that would harm another person just sayin.

Now, know that if these desires sprung up in your heart, they were intended for you to experience. So allow yourself to believe that you can be, do, and have them.

Next, take that list and put your items into categories and choose 1 for the activity below.

SMART GOAL PLUS

Smart goals are great but AIM SMART goals are even better. Here’s the short and sweet of it:

A “Acceptable Minimum” – what is the minimum that can be done or that you will accept?

I “ Ideal“ what is your ideal? If you could have exactly what you want, what would that be?

M “ Middle“ what is a realistic stretch for you? Take what you can do and stretch yourself. Or what is the middle of your acceptable and ideal goals?

S “ Specific“ what specifically do you want? Or what exactly is the first step/action you need to take?

M “Measurable“ what is the quality or quantity you want?

A “Achievable“ is this goal possible or step/action possible?

R “ Reasonable“ will you do this? How reasonable is it that you will do this?

T “ Time“ by when will you reach this goal (entire goal) or complete the first step (not the entire goal)?

Examples

• Goal: I want to lose weight.  It is too vague; how much weight? By when?
• SMART GOAL. I want to lose 30 lbs in 6 weeks for my High School Reunion.

A “ The minimum that I want to lose is 1 lb a week at least.

I “ My ideal would be to lose 5 lbs a week.

M “ A realistic stretch for me would be 3 lbs a week.

S “ Lose 30 lbs

M “ In 6 weeks

A “ It is possible to lose this much weight with healthy eating and exercise.

R “ It is reasonable for me to lose weight because I have excess weight on my body and I will follow through.

T “ In 6 weeks by my High School Reunion.

See how easy that is. You can do this will every goal you have including the healthy eating and exercise goals to accompany the weight loss SMART GOAL above. I purposely wrote out the above goal in a simple way but they can be made much more elaborate.

**This tool is also excellent and ideal for setting step by step goals.

What AIM SMART goals do you have yourself? How will AIM SMART help you set and reach your goals?

Breathing has healing power and has been scientifically proven to not just be a key to good health but to a good life.

The regular practice of breath work can:

• Balance the nervous system
• Control anxiety and regulate mental states
• Connect the conscious and unconscious mind
• Raise spiritual awareness
• Correct irregular heartbeats
• Improve general good health
• Improve circulation, digestion
• Reduce stress and help you relax
• Help with insomnia
• Help with panic attacks and other anxiety issues

Breathing is controlled by two different sets of nerves and muscles, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. We function optimally when these two systems are in balance and are a breeding ground and springboard for illness and disease when they are out of balance.

As a matter of scientific fact, imbalances of the involuntary nervous system function are the underlying root cause of most common disorders.

The sympathetic nervous system is the involuntary set of nerves and muscles. This system is our defender. It manages the fight or flight response. When activated, this nervous system directs blood flow inward. Its goal is to maintain the brain and vital organs for survival. The results of its actions are increased heart rate and blood pressure. Digestion is slowed and blood flow is pulled away from the surface of the body. This response is healthy and desired when an emergency is present but sustained action is detrimental.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System is the voluntary set of nerves and muscles. This system, works in the reverse. It directs blood flow out to the surface of the body. It slows heart rate, lowers the blood pressure and increases the movement of the digestive organs.

These two systems were designed to work together to maintain health and wellness; however, in todayâ€s world a steady stream of situations, circumstances and conditions invade our lives and negatively impact us. As a result we remain in a state of heightened alert, our bodies acting as is they are under continual threat with a surge of cortisol and catabolic energy flowing throughout.

An over active sympathetic nervous system leads to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, digestive problems, insomnia, panic attacks, anxiety, and a plethora of other physiological disorders.

Breathing is the only function by which we can influence the involuntary nervous system. It is how we put the brakes on the constant assault of the fight or flight response and neutralize stress.

Breathing also promotes good mental health. It can be used to control anxiety and regulate mental states such as panic attacks.

What is really fascinating is that the safest place to place your attention is on your breath because it puts you in a neutral conscience state.  Breathing diverts your attention away from this chaos and places your consciousness in the present. This is excellent for getting a hold of your thoughts and purifying your energy for conscious creation and improved health. Catabolic emotions can be traced to thoughts or images in your mind.

Most importantly, breathwork brings you into connection with your spirit and assists you with connecting to God. Is there anything more refreshing than being in a deep prayerful or meditative state?

In the book Breathing by Dr. Andrew Weil M.D. He teaches you 8 effective breathing techniques that are simple and easy to apply. I highly recommend this book or better yet the tape series as he conducts the breathing sessions with you. I briefly describe them below:

1. Following Your Breath – Places your consciousness in a neutral state. Good for pain relief, Insomnia

Observe your breath without trying to influence it. Just watch yourself breathe and try not to change the rate or pace.

1. Begin with Exhalation – Improves your overall lung capacity

Observe your breath without trying to influence it but this time start with breathing out (exhaling) then in.

1. Squeeze More Air Out of the Lungs – Increase breathing capacity

Exhale more and longer than you exhale. When you get to the end of an exhalation, try to squeeze out more air from your lungs.

1. The Stimulating Breath – Raise the energy of the nervous system and increase alertness

Breathe in and out rapidly through your nose keeping your mouth tightly closed

1. Make Your Breathing Deep, Slow, Quiet, and Regular – Balance the nervous system

Observe your breath and consciously make the breathing deep, slow, quiet and regular.

1. Let Your Self Be Breathed – Connection to Spirit

Lying still and relaxed, imagine that the universe is blowing air into your lungs and withdrawing it out of your lungs.

1. The Relaxing Breath – Deep Relaxation

Inhale through your mouth for a count of 4, hold your breath for a count of 7 andh exhale through your mouth for a count of 8.

You know how the cliche goes…the best things in life are free. Breath work is a free health saving option. It is a tool that can be easily learned and practiced anywhere anytime.

God really has given us the power to take dominion over our lives, it was the breath of life that he breathed into us that brought all alive to begin with.

Peace, Love, and Soul Prosperity