Hello My Friend,

It’s a very sad situation when a person hangs on to thoughts, perceptions and feelings that literally blocks them from moving forward in peace, joy and love. So very sad. And it’s not rare, it’s actually quite common. I want these questions and exercise to help you put an end to this persistent form of self-sabotage.

Reflect on these questions:

How much energy are you wasting on all those “couldas’ and ‘shouldas’ that could be directed towards real living, real life… and, in this very moment?

What are you avoiding by being stuck on regret, guilt and wishing for this and wishing for that?

Do you have a recurring script of reminders, regrets and remorse that keep you from living in this moment and enjoying the miracle that is life? What are your favorite scripts?

In any given one hour period – say the first one of the day, how many negative thoughts do you think you think?

Are you confusing persistence (healthy and effective) with stubbornness (unhealthy and ineffective)?

Reflect on each question, even jot a few notes down if many thoughts come at once. Becoming familiar with your recurring themes will help you to detect them and stop them. Being present, in optimism takes courage and honest self-reflection.

Try this SIO Exercise at least 2x per day – as you rise and as you retire each evening would be great, at a minimum:

Stillness: Allow yourself to be still and silent long enough for buried positive ideas/thoughts to surface
Intention: Set a powerful intention (in the form of an affirmation) to live THIS and every moment to the fullest and from that, your best life will evolve. Say the affirmation repeatedly
Optimism: Trust God and trust yourself to be optimistic …know and accept the best is (always) yet to come. There is ALWAYS room for improvement in our joy and peace. Always!

Bottom line is: Let it go! Whatever does not serve you well, let it go! I know, sounds so easy but we have convinced our self that it is not. It is actually as challenging or as easy as we believe it to be.

Let go what is not so you can grab what is! Sometimes we need to let an old daydream die so we can create space for new goals and dreams; so we can live the life we are here to live.

Substitute every negative thought with one of gratitude!

“It’s a neurological fact. The brain cannot be in a state of appreciation and a state of suffering at the same time. Appreciation stops the tape of self-destructive messages that drain your energy. It lifts your spirits. And expands your ability to see new paths.” (from thedailybuddha.com but unable to locate actual article)

Being grateful never fails to stimulate optimism, hope and love.

We can end our suffering, caused by thoughts of being inadequate – not having enough or being enough, regretting this and wishing that. With these ongoing negative thoughts we end up feeling and sensing such distorted emotions and perceptions that our “reality” is just not real anymore. All the negativity becomes an illusion.

Be grateful instead! Replace every distorted and negative thought with one of gratitude. As hard as it might feel to feel that, insist upon it. Be as persistent with seeking optimism and gratitude as you are about holding on to those negative, “feeling small” kind of thoughts.

Gratitude Exercise: Wear a rubber band, snap it each time you have a negative thought. Immediately after the snap, revise the thought as best you can – or just get rid of it if it is not redeemable! 🙂 Think a thought of gratitude immediately following the snap. Fortunately there is always something to be grateful for, if we are alive. Sometimes we just need to breathe (there’s something right there – breath!) and be still, specifics will come to you.

My heart breaks at the thought of those millions suffering so much they are unable to be grateful or optimistic. It seems idealistic and even unrealistic (and insensitive) to suggest “be grateful” in the midst of such negative chaos and illusions but, it IS better than giving up. It is better than conceding and forgoing a life of abundant joy, peace and love. It – gratitude and optimism, is our only real option.

So reflect and answer the questions above, do the SIO exercise a minimum of twice per day (more often is even better) and replace negativity with gratitude, using your rubber-band. You will experience a powerful transformation …guaranteed!

Reflection, faith & optimism, stillness, gratitude, powerful intentions and awareness work, every single time; they will work for you – we are after all, as humans, more alike than we are different! 🙂

Have fun and don’t forget to laugh with joy, daily! 🙂