8 Ways to Discover Your Passion and Live a Life You Love

By Ashley Wilhite

1. Slow down.

When we slow down, we are able to tap into the best version of ourselves, which is most often when we find the answers we’ve been searching for. This might mean practicing yoga, going for daily walks, or setting aside time each day to meditate. Slowing down allows you to quiet the outside voices and listen to yourself.

2. Change your story.

We all tell ourselves stories about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we deserve. If we can identify our self-limiting stories (I’m not good enough; I don’t deserve to be happy, etc.), then we can begin writing new stories that are grounded in confidence and courage, and map out actions that move us from one to the other.

3. Own your uniqueness.

We are here for a reason. No one else has your unique blend of talents, wisdom, strengths, skills, and creativity. We all have something great to offer, and learning to accept and own what makes you unique is crucial to sharing your gifts with the world.

4. Cultivate confidence.

If we are continually telling ourselves we can’t, then we will never believe we can. There is a chance you may fail, but it will be impossible to succeed if you don’t believe in yourself. You can create affirmations, focus on the things you want, or make a vision board that shows your future success.

5. Find the themes.

Recognizing the recurring themes in our lives creates a pattern for us to either follow or change. What themes or lessons seem to constantly surface in your life? What are you drawn to again and again? What areas of life seem to be full of discomfort and pain? What areas are full of joy and light?

6. Write.

Ideas flow more freely when we write without an agenda. New inspiration may appear unexpectedly and it becomes easier to connect the dots. Spend a few minutes of quality time each day with a pen and paper allowing yourself to process your thoughts without influence from the outside world.

7. Focus on the fun.

Too often we get wrapped up in the expectations we set for ourselves. We focus on the details and the to-do lists instead of what is most important. What do you love to do? What makes you smile? If money were limitless, what would you be doing today?

8. Push past fear.

It’s so seductive to tell ourselves that we’ll go after what we want when we have more experience, more money, or more time, but the truth is, that will never happen. We must identify these excuses as masks for our fear. It’s only when we get clear on our fears and recognize how they are holding us back that we can begin moving forward.

Full article:

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/8-ways-to-discover-your-passion-and-live-a-life-you-love/

Start your day with this belief as affirmation:

"Expect your every need to be met. Expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level." 
Eileen Caddy

Your Daily Quote/Affirmation

I believe the world is plotting to do me good today. I can't wait to see what it is.

Jack Canfield

Reframing, or Using Positive Language - Part 2 of 2

As discussed in part 1, the Reticular Activating System (RAS) of your brain acts as a filter, as a gate-keeper to your subconscious mind. It allows “in” not any random bits of information, but only the ones that the mind is interested, and more importantly – the ones that your subconscious mind recognises.

Here is a classic example. You are at a party, with lots of noise, music, and people talking around you. In that sea of unintelligible sounds, someone mentions your name. You become alert, as your RAS filtered through something familiar. Similarly, in the sea of information, your subconscious mind processes and assimilates only information that it can relate to, that is familiar.

Hence, my question to you is: what kind of information would YOU like to let into your mind, and let your subconscious to process as reality?

This is exactly how the power of manifesting works, the Law of attraction. What your RAS works with, is sounds, words and images. What you focus on and what is familiar, is what you will get.

So what would you prefer to be familiar to your mind: words like “bad”, or “fantastic”? DO you see how the two answers from part 1: “Not too bad”, or “I’m fantastic!”, are so drastically different? In the first instance, you feed your RAS with the familiarity of the word, and state, of “bad”, and this is what the subconscious mind works with. For the rest of the day. For the rest of your… reality.

Watch yourself for a day or two. Notice what noises you wake up to, watch the words you use, and the thoughts you go to bed with. Is there something that can be reframed in a more positive way?

Be positive, so that you attract positive things

Here is the formula to a more productive day, to a healthier state, and opening multiple opportunities in front of you:

1.    Start the day with your affirmations:

“I am a great person.”

“I look fantastic.”

And reframe into the positive where necessary: don’t tell yourself: “I’m not a failure.”, but instead say “I’m a successful young person getting closer to my dream.”

2.    Watch and reframe the language you use relating to how you feel, and what you will achieve:

Not too bad àGood, great, fantastic!

I feel terribleà I don’t feel my best.

This plan will fail à This plan might not work (all that well).

You can reframe in the positive virtually anything!

3.    Finish the day with gratitude, or acknowledging the good things that happened to you. The more grateful you are, the more the universe will give you.

Because, as Napoleon Hill said, you can achieve any realistic goal if you keep thinking of that goal, and stop thinking any negative thoughts about it.

Elena Alexandrova-Long

Your Coach to Success

ENVISION Life Design

Meditation - Choose the Type That Suits You, Part 4

Meditating using Affirmation and Visualisation

Visualisation depends not only on imagination and the mind’s eye, but, as all meditation, is linked to the intention for the meditation practice. It focuses directly on one’s beliefs system to create affirmations for the visual exercises.

Two of the most fundamental rules about affirmation and visualization are: the principle of growth and greater good/ benefit for all concerned, and the principle of non-attachment to the outcome. The conscious mind is aware of only a fraction of the potential and opportunities available to the unconscious. Focusing on a virtuous purpose will leave more doors open for your true self.

Affirmations are closely aligned with your values and beliefs. Once you understand what yours are, you can accept them. Only after you accept your values and beliefs, you can live up to them and achieve self-realisation.

What is important about formulating your affirmations, is that:

1.       They are stated in the positive (I am energetic and motivated, vs I’m not lazy)

2.       They are short and simple (so that you can remember them)

3.       They are stated in the present tense (My heart is filled with love)

4.       They are unique to you, so that you can truly believe and resonate with the state you want to achieve.

Here is an exercise for visualization:

In a comfortable seated position, close your eyes and begin to visualise how you see yourself. Paint the image, objectively and honestly. Notice areas that you want to improve in this painting.

Then, see if you can look at the picture and replace those areas of weakness with an uplifting framework. If, for example, you see a body that is out of shape, visualise that same body glowing with health and energy, and making healthy choices. If you see an uncertain person, change the picture and add a confident posture, and a smiley look.

And finally, always think of the bigger picture, and the deeper meaning of what you need:

“My spirit’s vitality fills my body.”

“I am a productive person.”

“Only good lies ahead of me.”

 “I appreciate my life as it is.”

Elena Alexandrova

Your Coach to Success
www.envisionlifedesign.com.au

Source: Butera, Robert, “Meditation for Life”

Your Daily Quote - Visualisation

In order to stay unattached and secular in your visualisations, use this powerful affirmation by Shakti Gawain:
"This, or something better, now manifests for me in totally satisfying and harmonious ways for the highest good of all concerned."
Elena Alexandrova

Meditation - Choose the Type that Suits You, Part 3

Using Mantra for meditation

Practising mantra is the repetition of a sacred word, or words. Sounds can actually create thought, and the sound of the mantra produces a vibration that has its own power. The repetition of a sacred word can not only enrich your meditation practice, but can be used in everyday situations to create a desired thought pattern.

A personal affirmation for healing can also be repeated. You repeat the word or phrase during your meditation, and soon actually start feeling the power of the word, as it is filling you with energy. A great book on this type of meditation is The Mantram Handbook, by Eknath Easwaran.

There are different traditions for choosing a mantra. Many mantras are derived from the sound “OM”. It comes from years and ages of experiences by sages. In stages of profound meditation, where the ego dissolves for a short time, the meditator can hear this sound. This is why its repetition can create connection to the larger universe.

Many mantra meditation practices have special rituals for receiving a personal mantra and do not recommend choosing your own mantra. Ultimately, however, mantra meditation works only when you deeply believe in the chosen word.

Here I will give you an example of an exercise, derived from yoga.

Focus on the Positive Negative

The purpose of this mantra is to transform a weakness into inner strength.

Think of a stressful situation in your life, and enquire within what causes the stress. For example, you may be annoyed by a colleague. But, when you chunk up, the true reason behind it might be that you are not happy with your job, and ultimately feel you have not reached your fullest potential.

Once you identify a deep, profound reason for the stress, the Yoga Sutras recommends focusing on the corresponding “positive attribute”. In this instance, this could be self-acceptance.

You can then use this positive concept as material not only for your meditation, but as a healing force for stress you experience in your everyday life.

Love yourself the way you are!

Elena Alexandrova

Your Coach to Success

Source: Butera, Robert, “Meditation for Life”