I believe that people are sent here to learn particular lessons in each lifetime. I know for me, part of what I'm here to learn in this life is trust and balance. I also believe that the way that we learn these lessons is by overcoming the opposite experience.
I've been worrying all of my life. I worry incessantly about EVERYTHING. Over the last few years, I've been doing a lot of inner work and it has paid off. I worry much less than I used to. However, if I'm not careful and I stop doing my "practices" such as meditation, affirmations, and mirror work, I can very easily slip into a cycle of worry and it becomes difficult for me to stop.
Recently, I've had an issue with food. Everything is changing so fast that I found myself using food for comfort. Food can be an excellent comfort, but I must admit that I overdid it a bit. I found myself having put on a few pounds because of it. Once the weight started to come on, I then would get into a thought pattern every morning when I would first wake up (Ladies, tell me if you can relate).
It would go something like this: Ok, today's the day. Today I'll drink lots of water and eat salad and watch my calories and I'll work out for an hour and I'll do that everyday. Then I'd look at the scale and my mood would be highly dependent on what the numbers said.
One morning I found myself aware of my thoughts instead of identified with them. I stepped back and noticed that I can't remember a morning where some similar thought process wasn't there. Even before I put on the weight, I was still basing the fact that I felt good upon what I looked like. I realized this had probably been going on every day for the last 20 years or so.
I sat with this for a while, quite astonished. Then all of the sudden, I had the thought: What if I just stopped worrying about my weight, and what I looked like? I mean, what if I just STOPPED? Funny enough, my brain gave me an instant answer, revealing the thought behind the worry: If you stop worrying, it will get out of control.
In that instant, I became aware that this was the BIGGEST LIE ever. Worry actually didn't work - because if it did, I would never have gained weight. Worrying about money doesn't work either. I realized the truth right there and then: If worry WORKED, I would weigh 115 pounds and be a multi millionaire.
This is the illusion of control. Our minds tell us that by worrying, we are "doing something about it". Our minds tell us that if we let go that we will no longer have control and everything will fall apart. Even though all spiritual teachings tell us that our source of power is in LOVE and TRUST, we are not conditioned for that.
I would love to say that with that realization I have stopped worrying completely. Well, I haven't. One of my quotes that I say often is "The realization puts you at the base of the mountain, not the top. The realization is where your work BEGINS." There is a "reprogramming" that has to happen, and it takes time and practice. The more I'm okay with that, the less "work" it seems to be.
Here's some strategies I use to help me keep from letting worry get the best of me. Only you know what's right for you. If any of these help you then put them into practice. I encourage you to find whatever works for you and remember to keep up with it. I speak from experience that the minute I let my practices go, life just seems be much more difficult than it needs to.
1. Breathe
I know it's a cliche, but that's because it's true. Stopping for a minute or two to just breathe, and during that time allow in a thought like this "It is safe for me to let go and trust. All is well." Can you imagine if you had that thought over and over while breathing deeply? This is how you reprogram your neuropathways, cells, and nervous system to be calmer. From this place, there's nothing you can't handle.
2. Do some affirmations
I love affirmations. All affirmations are is thoughts, consciously introduced into your mind. Remind yourself of what is true, who you really are, and be sure to say "I love and completely adore myself" at least once, twice, or 400 times a day.
3. Take a walk
While on your walk, get into your senses. Feel your feet on the ground. Smell the air. Look around and notice the beauty. Feel the air on your skin. Listen to the sounds. This is presence, and no worry can survive here for long. Even 5 - 10 minutes of this is so relaxing and grounding. Go on, turn off the computer and go now for a 5 minute walk, doing those things I just mentioned. Then email me and tell me how amazing it was!
Every cell in your body is conditioned for thoughts, not just your brain. This is why most changes take LOTS of practice. Every time your cells regenerate, they are different depending on the state of your mind, body, and emotions and thoughts. When you practice something over and over again, in about 5 years you have nearly an entirely new body. Depending on what you've been thinking and feeling over the last 5 years, you could have a body that keeps you in a state of ease, because it's programmed that way. Isn't that fabulous?
Copyright 2009 Anastasia Netri
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About Anastasia Netri, CLC
Anastasia Netri is a Certified Life Coach who specializes in Work and Life Balance for Home Based Business Owners. She is passionate about helping people who have had the courage to start their own business learn the skills necessary to be more successful in their business, work less and do more, have more free time, and take better care of themselves.
Anastasia has been an entrepreneur for 14 years and owned many different types of businesses, including a medium sized corporation with over 20 employees that she sold for six figures at the age of 29. She has owned a home based business for over 5 years. Through her years of experience, she has learned how to successfully balance work and life, and shares this through her one on one coaching and group programs.
She is certified through CANA, and has received training through the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, CA. She has also studied with countless private teachers and coaches through the years, and brings her own wisdom, experience and skills to effectively serve her clients to live a life of passion, purpose, and success.
Visit her website to get your free report "3 Reasons Why Home Based Business Owners Procrastinate More than People with Jobs!" Click Here to Visit Website
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