How do you pull yourself out of a negative mindset that overtakes your mind, body, and even leaks into your friendships?

All of us desire on some level of our being to experience peace of mind, freedom from our attachments, creativity in our profession, and authentic love in our relationships.

Keep in mind that this is not “the only way” to pull yourself out of a negative mindset, although I find that this is a very powerful way.

#1. We must  become awarewhen we have been taken over by a feeling that is not our true nature.  Are true nature is not fear, doubt, blame, shame, jealousy, or any other type of suffering.  Of course we all experience it in this lifetime so its silly to say its not real, however, I believe that we can with conscious awareness move to a place where the negative mindset becomes little to none at all!  Call out the elephant in the room, this means instead of you being shame, your being fearful, you being angry…take a deep breath and just experience the feeling, DON’T BECOME THE FEELING, rather listen to it, feel it, sit with it, write down the thoughts it is saying. When we become the negative feeling we become totally unconscious and being totally unconscious means your not able to change your current state of mind.

Imagine for just a moment that all your debt was paid, your broken relationship was forgiven and renewed, your pain in your body was healed, your fear of the future was gone, your confusion in life was calmed, your house is sold, your purpose in profession is found. Whatever your suffering is, what would it be like if that were made new? Ask yourself, what would my life be like without this extra weight I’m carrying around every day?

#2. Once we have sat with the negative feeling and become aware of it but don’t actually become it (which deep breathing is the key to this) then we can begin to move through the negative feelings and into what we truly desire for ourselves. For example, if your feeling tired and confused. Be with those feelings through deep breathing and then write down why you feel that way and what feelings you would like to have instead. Then ask yourself what thoughts would make me feel free, peaceful, joyful??  Once you have the thought written down then just like free throws in basketball, practice it over and over and over and over. Begin to program your mind which speaks to your body what you desire.

It’s important that you don’t try and move through the first step to fast. Really become aware of it AND become aware that you are no longer IT. Take your time, be easy on yourself

#3. Have a team or a person that you can rely on to know you by your Truth, not your mindful mess. Reach out to that person for support. Don’t call them to just give them your stinking thinking and want them to feel sorry for you, call them with the aim of fully sharing your current feelings and returning to your hearts desired feelings.  Ask them to pray for you. This takes courage because in our culture and society there is generally a weird energy for most people when we ask someone to pray for us or when someone else asks if they can pray for us we feel awkward. At least up until the prayer has been finished.  Let go of any of those feelings and just surrender into the moment.  Humble yourself and ask for prayer. Allow yourself to be right where you are with the aim of moving back into who you really are.

#4. Move your body! When we get ourselves in a nasty rut of thinking our body starts to freeze in the depression or anxiety. We become very tired or lazy or hungry or horny right?  Get your body into motion. Change your “E”motion with motion. Do a yoga class, a jog, a walk, exercise, bike ride. Just get your body up and move it around some.

#5. Change your thoughts, change your life. Your life is an out picture ALWAYS of the thoughts you are thinking. So practice affirming your abundance which is your birthright.  Here are a few affirmations that will begin to shift your thinking, acting, and life just by repeating over and over.

- I am willing to allow more bliss, love, and money into my life than I could imagine before.

- I have the power to heal every cell in my body.

- I am here to express total freedom.

- I am funny and people enjoy my friendship.

- What others think of me is not my concern.

- I am a loving person.

Some of the great leaders today didn’t get to where they are by luck. It took a great deal of practice, effort, and patience. But it doesn’t have to take a long time to change your thoughts. You can have any burden you have been carrying around with you disappear. It can happen in an instant!