It is the middle of a dark winter here in North America and what better time to knock out negativity with a 5 day mini cleanse…Our patterns of belief and negativity are hidden in plain sight…obvious to others and not always to us. You just need to know where to look.
“Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its’ power” Shirley MacLaine
Here are some simple, easy steps to take that negativity monster down. For the next five days, do this!
Write Morning Pages
This advice I have borrowed from the brilliant Julia Cameron and her book “The Artist’s Way.” Every morning, just after you have woken up, write…write until you have filled 3 pages…do it by hand, not on the computer, that way you connect your brain to the feeling part of you.
When you do this, you will get all of the crap out and onto the page, instead of leaving it inside of your brain. It is a tremendous process for release. If you feel any resistance to doing it, do it anyway and see what happens.
You can destroy the pages after you are done, if you want. Don’t go back and read them or share them with anyone else, they have served their purpose.
Do Something Different
This is not as obvious as it seems. If you notice that you do the same thing over and over again, why would you expect different results? You will continue to get the same results, it is only logical.
Let’s say you look at one specific behavior that you have…perhaps it is a simple thing, like having a doughnut every afternoon after lunch. The question is “How is that working for YOU?” The behavior is not inherently bad…it is all subjective. Does it work for you or does it not work for you?
If the pattern is not working for you, then here is a simple way to get your brain’s attention. When you catch yourself about to do the behavior, visualize a big red hexagonal sign with white letters saying “STOP”…that can be your personal STOP sign…
Then, immediately after you have stopped that thought, replace it with another. Do something different and perhaps do the opposite…that’s right…something different, then you will get a result you haven’t gotten before…maybe one that you like better.
Post Notes of Positive Experiences
Grab a package of post-it notes in a color that you like. Sit down and write down 10 positive memories, not affirmations, memories of good things that have happened in the past. After you have done that, scatter the notes around your house, in places where you are sure to see them during the day.
When you spy a note, go over to it, and remember the positive memory, feel the feelings, the good feelings. Do that throughout the day and see how much better you feel. These tiny visual reminders can amplify those positive memories, if you let them.
Be Grateful For Where You Are Now
You started the day with writing morning pages, now it is time to end the day with writing notes of gratitude. Keep a note book by the side of your bed with a pen or pencil. Before you go to sleep, take 5 minutes and write down 5 things you are thankful for. It can be as simple as being grateful for the breath that you take.
When you write down even the smallest of things to be thankful for, wonderful feelings come up. Magnify those feelings of gratitude and thankfulness, make them bigger, spin them around and really, really feel them in your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Then sleep well, and take those magnificent, wonderful feelings with you.
When the next morning comes, start over again. Write your morning pages, stop your negative thoughts in their tracks and do something different, read your positive memory notes and at the end of the day…write down your thoughts of thankfulness.
Dig for the treasure that exists within your own heart and be your best friend. We can be our own worst critics. If you recognize your own value, you can realize that there are exceptional moments in your life because of who you are. Take time to think of the good that lies within you, that you do not give yourself credit for.
These are simple things and because they are, they are doable and they will give you results, if you give them a chance. We all have a destiny and when we release the negative, we can allow ourselves to have that, can’t we?
“Drive your own life…you deserve to, don’t you?” Sherie Venner
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