Don't Listen to a Thing I Say
dan masden
Disclaimer: Simply Reading This Blog Will Not Change Your Life
How many times have you read a self-help book, watched a TED talk, or listened to a motivational podcast and intellectually "got" what you heard? Yet, the next day you find yourself repeating the same old self-defeating patterns, complaining about everything that's wrong in your life, and not making progress towards the life you want to design?
True change doesn't happen by consuming more content. It happens through taking inspired, new action.
In an effort to help you do this, I will share 3 tips I believe can immeditately shift your energy and improve your life right NOW. Take them for a test spin. If 1 or 2 of them are helpful, make them a regular practice.
1) Meditation. I truly believe 15 minutes of meditation twice a day will change your life. The biggest obstacle to starting a regular practice is usually in the fear of doing it "wrong." Let me assure you, there is no wrong way to meditate. This isn't about sitting cross-legged, repeating a mantra, and thinking about nothing. It's about creating a clutter free space to daydream and be inspired. It's about removing the distraction of cell phones and social media and connecting with the wisdom.
To help you start a practice, I created this FREE 10-minute guided meditation to help you calm your mind and start your day in an intentional way. Feel free to use it each morning as a mindful beginning to your day. I also highly recommend the Headspace app, which is free in the App store.
2) Be Grateful. The biggest way to overcome low-vibrational emotions like fear and anger is to shift to an attitude of gratitude.
There are multiple ways to accomplish this. Some people like Oprah prefer to keep a journal where they write down 5 things each day they are grateful for. I used to keep a gratitude jar in my living room. Each day, I would jot down 5 things on scrap paper, then fold it up and put it in the jar. Sometimes, I give thanks for the big wins. Other times it could be as simple as giving thanks for my dog who shows me unconditional love every day.
The way you perform the practice is less important than the fact you are actually doing it. Gratitude is the antidote to the negative thinking patterns which screw us up.
3) Give. I notice that during the times I feel like I suffer the most, my focus is entirely on me. I obsess over what I don't have or who didn't give me what I want. Whenever we suffer, we make a choice to focus 100% on ourselves.
Yet, when I walk through my hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida where homelessness is a huge problem, I can call BS on my beliefs and realize I don't have real problems. I have a roof over my head, money in the bank, and food in my belly. Knowing all my needs are met, I can shift my attention to what value I can give to others.
Each month, I donate 10% of the money I earn to charity. Yet, there are so many ways I can give to others without spending a penny. Some days, I write an email like this designed to serve you. Some days, I make a concerted effort to greet each person I see on the street with a smile or give a compliment to a total stranger. It would not be economically feasible to give money to every homeless person I see, but I make sure to send them silent blessings when I pass them on the street.
This practice in and of itself has been a game-changer for clients who cannot seem to get out of their own negative rut.
The best part about everything I've shared with you is that they are easy and take only 10 minutes of your day.
Comment below and let me know which ones you will commit to this week. I will be sure to follow up, check in, and see if the practice is helpful.