Tag: affirmations

The Pillow Method

by Kristen Hall

“The idea is to write your affirmation on a piece of paper and place it underneath your pillow before you fall asleep.”

Okay, so I cannot claim”The Pillow Method” as my idea – I want to put that out there first and foremost. However, I think the whole concept is an amazing idea and I wanted to share!

As stated in the quote above, “the idea is to write your affirmation on a piece of paper and place it underneath your pillow before you fall asleep.” The reason for this? The moment you fall asleep and the moment you wake up are two crucial times in the day that impact our thinking. It is important to set the right intention to avoid unwanted and negative thought patterns, and to start retraining your brain to think positively.

Why specifically is this effective?

  1. You are allowing your last thoughts of the day to be positive. This can have a positive effect on your dream cycle and also allow you to carry that attitude to the next day. I mean think about it this way – how often do nightmares come from thoughts or events occurring prior to sleeping?
  2. Setting your intention before bed also helps you “rewire subconscious thought patterns” as you sleep. All those underlying thoughts that may be negative, this will help you retrain your brain overtime as you set a new intention for your life.
  3. As you are falling asleep, it is almost like you are “letting go” of any resistance to your desire/affirmation. Let those negative thoughts just float away as you drift asleep and just allow yourself to focus on your goal. Like I stated in a previous blog, there is such thing as the law of attraction. Your positive thoughts can have a huge impact on your outlook and what you achieve.

**The Pillow Method was an idea posted on moderndaymanifestations.com. **

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Are You an Overthinker? Try this.

by Kristen Hall

“Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.”

Buddha
Ever feel like your mind is going in circles?

Overthinking – I could write a book on that topic. If you were to look up “overthinking” in the dictionary, my picture would be next to it. I am the Queen of second-guessing and going back over situations a million times.

It is easy to feel paralyzed and then become stuck in the destructive habit of overthinking. You can overthink a small problem so much that it begins to snowball into a massive, undefeatable monster.

Here are 10 signs of overthinking you should be aware of:

  1. Second guessing everything.
  2. Feeling overwhelmed by the littlest decisions.
  3. You regret often.
  4. You are a perfectionist.
  5. Body tenses up. You may feel ill or have a headache.
  6. Insomnia.
  7. Your mind just keeps going in circles. Almost like you can’t shut it off.
  8. You take things personally when they aren’t meant to be personal.
  9. Criticize yourself often.
  10. You always feel on edge.

So now that you know what the signs are, what can you do about it? When you are an overthinker, it is almost like you have to retrain your brain to not think that way. Because of this, it does take time to master these skills.

Here are some things I have tried that may be helpful:

  • Be mindful. Stay present-focused. There could be a million “what if” scenarios. You are not a fortune teller. Acknowledge how you feel and then release those “what ifs” into the atmosphere.
  • Let go of perfection. Perfection is an unrealistic goal.
  • Embrace mistakes. It is okay to mess up. That is how we grow.
  • Write down your worries. Get them out of your head and onto paper. Then place them in a drawer; you can revisit later.
  • Acknowledge your fears.
  • Meditation/Yoga. This can be extremely hard at first for an overthinker, but with practice it gets better.
  • Positive affirmations. It is important to tell yourself you are doing the best you can.

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Why Reading is Important for Personal Growth and Achievement

by Kristen Hall

Do not underestimate the magic of what 15 minutes of reading can do for your self-growth.

Kristen S.

Reading is a popular habit among super successful (and happy!) people. But not just any kind of reading – it’s the kind of reading which helps to spark the soul, building self-confidence and spirit.

Some people choose to read a devotional in the morning to help with setting their frame of mind for the day. Others may pick up a book or read a blog post in the evening. And then there are the other individuals (like I was) who do nothing because there is NO TIME.

Here is the cold, hard truth. You do have time. You just choose not to use it. Let me explain — a lot of us waste minutes throughout the day without really realizing it. Fifteen minutes can come and go as you scroll through Facebook. Fifteen minutes can easily fly by as you flip through the channels on your TV. You might spend fifteen minutes or more shopping or driving in the car. Those fifteen minutes you spent complaining about how unfair life is? Yep, those just flew by too. Get my point? You need to purposely fit it in your schedule. If you say you can’t fit it in, then clearly your mind has already rejected the idea. Here are some tips:

1. Get an audiobook for the car
2. Wake up fifteen minutes earlier
3. Set aside fifteen minutes before you go to bed
4. Subscribe to an uplifting blog that will send you notifications every time a new article is posted
5. Purchase a daily devotional book (not all of these are religious; some just have positive quotes)

Whichever is more convenient for you (or more inspiring), choose that. Do not make excuses.

If you need suggestions, here is some of my favorites:

1. “You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero
2. “Girl, Wash Your Face” and “Girl, Stop Apologizing” by Rachel Hollis
3. “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Mark Manson
4. “The Power (The Secret)” by Rhonda Byrne
5. “Get Out of Your Own Way” by Mark Goulston

Remember, do not underestimate the magic of what fifteen minutes of positive reading can do for your self-growth. Make the time, and see how that changes your attitude over the next couple of months.

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My Anxiety has Anxiety

by Kristen Hall

“This too shall pass.”

Unknown

Sweating. Heart racing. Can’t breathe. Hands are shaking. Thoughts are bouncing. What the fuck?!

Welcome to the world of anxiety, my friends. It sucks!

If you have anxiety, you know it is a very physical and mental struggle. Your body begins to have its own reaction while it seems like your mind doesn’t slow down. There have been times my anxiety has been so bad, that I hyperventilate and cry hysterically in a corner until the feeling begins to lessen.

And the worst part? Anything can be a trigger. Being in a room full of a ton of people can be a trigger. Having a deadline could be a trigger. Running late could be a trigger. Anxiety truly differs from person to person.

When I can, I try to talk myself out of if or distract myself long enough to help the physical symptoms dissipate.

To be specific, I use affirmations and mindfulness techniques that I learned in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). It is the only type of therapy that helped me from overthinking and therefore being more realistic about my thoughts.

The key is to be present. That means being attentive to what is going on right now without judgement, without overthinking, without invalidating what you are feeling. Yoga is an excellent practice for this. It sounds simple, but it is often very challenging to be present and slow down your thoughts. Sometimes it helps to bring it back to the present – what do you see? what do hear? what can you feel?

The other helpful practice of DBT for me was “radical acceptance” – accepting what is and and not harping on the unpleasant situation. For example: You may find yourself rushing to get to work because you are late. Instead of getting frustrated you are hitting every red light and begin cursing up a storm, try saying “It is what it is. I’ll get there when you get there” — because guess what? That is reality, you can’t fight it.

When it comes to the technique of self-talk, here are ten affirmations you can try:
1. This is only temporary.
2. Anxiety does not define me.
3. I am not alone.
4. I am safe.
5. I am in control of my thoughts and my life.
6. I have made it through before, I will make it through again.
7. I get stronger each time overcome my fears.
8. This too shall pass.
9. I am prepared for change. I am strong.
10. I release any doubts or fears.

There is no exact solution when it comes to Anxiety. Everyone is different; what works for one person may not work for another.

However becoming aware of your feelings and being present with them is an important first step in releasing that negative energy into the abyss. Remind yourself: “I am strong and, just like before, I can overcome this“. You don’t have to live in fear.

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