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Posts Tagged Possibility Exercise
This week we have been increasing our awareness about our long-standing beliefs and how they influence the way we live our lives.
To recap - many of our beliefs became a part of who we are at a very young age. They usually operate behind the scenes at a subconscious level and show up as things we feel we should or should not do. These Shoulds become very strong influences when we decide to step out and try new things and behaviors.
We initially adopted our Shoulds because they were accepted guidelines that were supposed to help us live a “good life.” This was all well and good for “then.”
But, what about now?
As you have grown and changed – and as the world around you has changed (dramatically, I might add!)– some of those beliefs have become roadblocks that can stop you from creating the success and life that you want.
In fact, when you are very determined that you want to accomplish something – and you just can’t quite seem to make headway in that direction, this is a clue that a Should is operating in the background!
Now, if you see a Should as an immovable force in your life…it actually becomes an excuse that you use to hold yourself back.
Here’s another way to look at this…Is it possible that believing that you will always be a certain way because you have always been that way, has become an excuse for not going for what you want?
If you feel this is possible, and if you want to make quicker and easier progress in creating success, it is important that you change your thinking so that you can let go of your excuses. One way to do this is to modify your beliefs and your Shoulds so that they serve you better right now.
We began to work on this yesterday by suggesting you take a conscious look at some of the Shoulds you have become aware of this week and asking, “Is this belief still true for me and who I am now?”
Did you find that some of your Shoulds no longer make logical sense when you consider who you are and what you want to do now? If you did, you can begin to loosen your grip on this belief by restating it in a way that puts some space between the past – when you adopted this belief – and the present.
Here’s an example that will show you how to do this.
Say you have the following belief: “I am not good at math.”
Now see how this next statement feels: “Until recently, I was not good at math.”
Doesn’t that feel tons better? By adding “Until recently…” to the beginning of any belief that no longer serves you, you move that old belief into the past, opening the door to experiencing it’s opposite in the present! Pretty cool, huh?
Give this a try whenever you think or say a negative statement about yourself. Just say or think it again adding until recently to the beginning of the statement.
When you approach a Should with a new “now” perspective, you create possibilities. You begin to lift the weight off that belief and feel energized by the possibility that you can now do something to move forward!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Perspective, Possibility Exercise
Isn’t it amazing that when we are daydreaming, our brain is as active – maybe even more active – than when we are concentrating and forcing our attention on something? It almost seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it?
Well, popularly accepted statistics say we use only 5 to 7 percent of our brain. Have you ever wondered what the rest of your brain is doing? Some researchers theorize that a portion of that “unused” part is actually a HUGE file cabinet that stores everything we have ever learned, observed, read about, experienced, etc.
We have ready access to certain things that are stored in those files because we have formed mental habits (known as neuropathways) that pull out frequently used information when we are consciously problem solving. The rest is tucked away until we access it.
What if daydreaming is our brain’s way of accessing those files? Now – that would be a great tool!
And one that operates on a very different principle that the conscious problem solving techniques we have developed through trial and error.
When we are looking for a solution to something, we usually plug it into our problem-solving formula and “work” on coming up with a solution. When we daydream, we let go of working on something and give our minds the space to wander through our mental file cabinets…sort of like doing a Google search when you want more information or some new insights!
Are you willing to give your daydreaming search engine a try?
Here’s a simple experiment:
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Today, when you think of something you would like to “solve,” take a breath before you go into your usual problem-solving mode.
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Close your eyes and imagine you are typing the topic into the search box of your favorite search engine.
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Mentally hit the GO button.
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Open your eyes and go on with your day.
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When you find yourself coming back from a daydream (You won’t have to wait long! Remember yesterday’s newsletter? You may actually spend about 1/3 of your time daydreaming!) think about the search instructions you mentally typed in and see what pops up!
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Jot down anything that sparks your interest or feels good when you think about it!
Well done!
Now - here’s one more really great feature of your internal search engine. Daydreaming gives you access to what you know that you know AND what you don’t know that you know…
Pretty cool way to use more of your brain, huh?
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Possibility Exercise
Words are one of the most powerful tools we have in interacting with other people.
We can make someone’s day brighter by giving them a sincere compliment. Or crush them with unkind words. This is an inherent power that we use whether we’re consciously aware of it or not.
And, at least sometimes, we all use language purposefully. During interactions that are important to us, we are usually very deliberate about the words we choose – doing our best to convey just the thought and feeling that we intend.
In our marketing and sales communications, for example, we often labor over just the right words for some time.
Much of our casual communication, though, is more spontaneous, and comes more from habit than careful thought.
You may think that this is not a big deal. You say the things you say, and other people will interpret them however they will.
That’s true.
When you speak, though, there are always two people who hear you, and two people who get a message from your words. The person you are talking to, and YOU.
And you hear yourself much more often than anyone else does.
Have you ever “talked yourself into” feeling something simply by saying it over and over? I know I have.
This week we’re going to explore how your language reflects your inner thoughts, and give you some examples of ways you can make small changes in your daily communications that can open possibilities and change your perspective.
Here’s a simple one:
When someone invites you to do something and you decide to decline, what do you say first?
Most people respond with some version of “no”, usually followed by “thanks.”
What happens if you simply reverse the order of your words – expressing your gratitude for the invitation before turning it down? It’s a small thing that can have a big effect on how your words are perceived. And, it reminds you that you are grateful for their thought!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Possibility, Possibility Exercise
When faced with making a decision, there are usually three choices we think we have: YES. NO. MAYBE.
Oddly, YES and NO have a lot in common. Both are definitive and indicate the decision-making process is over. YES opens a door, while NO closes one. Either way, you have eliminated possibilities and made a decision. No need for creativity or imagination…the decision has been made.
MAYBE is a bit more open to possibility. Unless you are just using it to be polite, MAYBE usually means you are still sorting out the pros and cons of one thing compared to another. Yet, ultimately the decision you feel you need to make is YES or NO. When the choice is finally made, your creativity and imagination are no longer needed for this particular issue.
But what if there is another choice you can make that actually creates possibilities? What if there is another answer that doesn’t force you to decide in favor of one thing and against another? What if there is a choice that supports creative thinking?
Is that even possible?
Yes, it is.
And that choice option is ……AND and BOTH.
What? That doesn’t sound like a choice!
Hold on a minute and let me give you an example of what using AND and BOTH as a choice looks like.
Fifteen years after I graduated from college, I decided I wanted to get a Masters Degree. At the time, I was single, 10 years into a career and 100% responsible for my livelihood. When I applied to graduate school, I was advised that I would not be able to meet some of the time requirements of the program unless I quit my job.
I really wanted that degree, and I did not want to give up my career/job and tube my finances in order to get it. My choices seemed to be to choose my career or go for the degree. Neither solution appealed to me.
I was stuck there until I chose AND and BOTH. When I did, I figured out a way to keep my job, career and finances intact AND also get my degree!
Putting my creativity and imagination to work, I opened up the possibility, and found a way to do it. When I graduated, I was still employed with the same company and in good shape financially. All because I was willing to make my decision AND and BOTH.
So, are you willing to give AND and BOTH a try? Here we go…
Think of decision you want to make but you have not yet been able to come up with a clear YES or NO. (Hint: Take a look at your MAYBE list and pick something that has been on it for a while.)
Now, summarize the issue into its two opposing options (i.e. I can do this or I can do that.)
Read over the issue and the two choices and then say, “How about AND and BOTH?”
Then let your imagination go to work, and see if you can come up with a possible solution you haven’t thought of before.
You just may be able to have your cake…and eat it, too!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Perspective, Possibility, Possibility Exercise
For many of us in the US, today is one of those special days that heralds the beginnning of a LONG weekend! A FREE day sitting at the official beginning of summer - the Memorial Day weekend. So, what are you planning to do with your extra day?
Let’s see… why don’t we compare lists…chores, errands, yard work, maybe a little bar-be-que, browse the sales….So far not very exciting, huh? A free day .. and, if you are sticking around the old homestead instead of travelling, you have probably filled it up with the “usual” two-day weekend stuff.
I don’t know about you..but I am in the mood to do something different. I am not sure what “different” means at the moment, but different certainly feels better to me than “chores”…So, what to you think? Are you willing to experiment with your extra day? What if we create some truely free, open, unscheduled time and see what happens?
I have an idea…let’s declare a Possibility Day! Let’s clear the decks for one whole day and make room for magic to show up!
First, let’s grab our “to do” list for this weekend and look it over. Take all the tasks for one day and move them to another day. When you are finished, you will have one day with NOTHING on the list. Imagine - a day with nothing planned and nothing that has to get done!
Now, at the top, write one sentence…”I hereby declare that this day will be filled with unlimited possibilites, surprises and magic!”
That’s it ! You now have an official possibility day. Do whatever you feel like doing all day long and keep your eyes, ears and energy open. When you make room for unlimited possibilities to show up…incredible things happen…
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Possibility, Possibility Exercise
One of the marvels of 21st century living is “dollar stores.” They are truly a tribute to human imagination and ingenuity. The amazing variety of things you can find there – ranging from useful to silly – is simply incredible.
That’s what makes them such a rich playground for the imagination. Have you ever taken a hour and just poured over all the displays? It’s a great way to engage your imaginative, playful side! And, if you want to take something home – it only costs a dollar!
So, the next time you’re looking for a new perspective – an innovative thought – hop in your car and go to the closest dollar store. As you walk in, set an intention to find something in the store that will give you the answer you’re looking for.
Or, just have the intention to find something fun and interesting for your mind (or your hands) to play with for a bit.
Be open – let yourself be a kid – look on all the wondrous “toys” for the fun they can bring. Or, just marvel at the technology that makes them possible. Try to find things you never knew existed, and wonder who it was that created this…
Open your mind to all the creative genius that went into making this little place possible…and awaken your creative genius!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Imagination, Imagination Exercise, Possibility, Possibility Exercise
I’ll admit it. I’m a word-junky. I love words. I love finding a word that conveys just the precise meaning I’m looking for. I love taking a word and thinking about all the ways it can be used, and combined with other words.
One of my favorite techniques for stimulating thought, generating ideas, and just generally changing my perspective, is to pick up a dictionary or thesaurus.
Sometimes I set an intention first. For example, if I’m looking for the solution to a specific issue, I hold that in mind before I begin. Sometimes, I just set the intention to find any useful idea.
So, I pick up the dictionary (actually it works just as well with any book or magazine – but I love dictionaries). I turn to a random page, and read a random entry. If it sparks something, I follow that thought. If not, I choose another page and another word. It’s difficult to describe the actual process without writing a book – essentially, it’s like having a spark for free-flowing ideas.
And, quite honestly, it still amazes me how many times I hit upon a new thought, or am reminded of an old one, that leads me to exactly what I was looking for.
I think what makes this work so well is that I let go of trying to figure something out with the left side of my brain, and I just let my creative right brain have some fun.
Give it a try – use any book that appeals to you, or a magazine full of pictures, or even go to Google, type a random word, and click “I’m feeling lucky”. Follow whatever seems interesting, and see what happens…
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Imagination, Possibility Exercise
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