A couple of years ago I came across something called EFT.It looked very simple and very strange at the same time.I read about its effects and was very skeptical that something that simple would have could have such amazing effects, as the author was claiming.
I decided to try it on myself.And it worked.
So what's this all about? Well, to start off, EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques.It's based on the theory that any negative emotions one has are the result of a block in the body's energy system.Once that block is removed, the negative emotion goes away.
The applications of EFT are endless.You can search youtube for kinds of examples.
So how are these blocks of energy removed? Its very easy.You're supposed to tap, with your fingers, on specific parts of your body, while actually saying out loud whatever's causing the negative emotion.The cause of the negative emotion might be a specific memory, a picture in your mind, or a belief you have about something in life.When you state what's causing the negative emotion, you bring your focus to the blocked energy.Tapping at the same time with release the energy blockages, and the energy will flow more smoothly.After you're done, you think of what caused you the negative feeling in the first place, and you'll find that it does not cause it anymore.
Sounds weird right? I know it does. But I did try it on a lot of things and it worked.
You can visit www.emofree.com to read about thousands of cases where EFT helped.I am not getting paid for this or anything. But I think this is an awesome tool that more people should know about.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Having The Time
One of the problems I faced, and I'm sure lots of others have, after learning about personal development, is that I did not have enough time to apply all what I learned.
Most of us lead very busy lives.We barely have time to be alone, do some introspection, meditate, set goals, etc.I personally am.I have a lot of responsibilities and matters to take care of everyday.So when do I have the time to apply the techniques that I'm talking about (affirmations, visualizations, EFT, and others)?
After thinking a lot about this, I came to the conclusion that it is almost impossible in my case to have a time dedicated entirely to practicing my growth-tools.I would need about half an hour everyday dedicated fully to myself.A time which I can not guarantee to have everyday.
Even when I do get this time, I would probably would like to use it to relax and not think about anything serious.
So what's the solution for this?
The solution for me was divide this half hour time to pieces throughout my day.I might not always be ready to spend an entire half an hour dedicated for my growth.I'm sure others do, so far for me, I haven't gotten there yet.However, spending 5-10 minutes seems a lot easier.And I have lots of these 5-10 minute intervals scattered around my day.
What I do now is the following:
-When it comes to practices that require a lot of thinking about my life, introspection, and writing my goals, I would leave those for the weekend.Weekend mornings are probably the best time for them actually.
-For affirmations, I am the the type that does them silently without moving my lips.I found that the best time for me to do those is driving to work.Instead of listening to music, I now use these 10 minutes entirely for affirming my goals.
-For visualization, I obviously can not do them while driving.That would be crazy :D. My favorite place to do those, and it might sound strange, is in the shower.It works for me.A lot of books advise to do some visualizing before sleeping.I tried that, and it didn't work, since I would always suddenly pass out! There are other times that I take advantage of as well.That would be anytime when I am sitting down and waiting for my turn, whether it be at the doctors, barbers, or whatever. These few minutes, added up everyday, have great effects on the subconscious mind in the long run.
- EFT is something that I have not talked about in detail yet.I recommend those who have not watched videos about it to do so.In future blogs I will put more focus on EFT because it is truly a very powerful tool for getting rid of bad habits and thoughts, and acquiring new ones.
If you feel like you do not have enough time for personal growth, pay attention to these few minute intervals that are scattered here and there throughout your day.Never underestimate what a taking advantage of them can do to improve yourself.
Most of us lead very busy lives.We barely have time to be alone, do some introspection, meditate, set goals, etc.I personally am.I have a lot of responsibilities and matters to take care of everyday.So when do I have the time to apply the techniques that I'm talking about (affirmations, visualizations, EFT, and others)?
After thinking a lot about this, I came to the conclusion that it is almost impossible in my case to have a time dedicated entirely to practicing my growth-tools.I would need about half an hour everyday dedicated fully to myself.A time which I can not guarantee to have everyday.
Even when I do get this time, I would probably would like to use it to relax and not think about anything serious.
So what's the solution for this?
The solution for me was divide this half hour time to pieces throughout my day.I might not always be ready to spend an entire half an hour dedicated for my growth.I'm sure others do, so far for me, I haven't gotten there yet.However, spending 5-10 minutes seems a lot easier.And I have lots of these 5-10 minute intervals scattered around my day.
What I do now is the following:
-When it comes to practices that require a lot of thinking about my life, introspection, and writing my goals, I would leave those for the weekend.Weekend mornings are probably the best time for them actually.
-For affirmations, I am the the type that does them silently without moving my lips.I found that the best time for me to do those is driving to work.Instead of listening to music, I now use these 10 minutes entirely for affirming my goals.
-For visualization, I obviously can not do them while driving.That would be crazy :D. My favorite place to do those, and it might sound strange, is in the shower.It works for me.A lot of books advise to do some visualizing before sleeping.I tried that, and it didn't work, since I would always suddenly pass out! There are other times that I take advantage of as well.That would be anytime when I am sitting down and waiting for my turn, whether it be at the doctors, barbers, or whatever. These few minutes, added up everyday, have great effects on the subconscious mind in the long run.
- EFT is something that I have not talked about in detail yet.I recommend those who have not watched videos about it to do so.In future blogs I will put more focus on EFT because it is truly a very powerful tool for getting rid of bad habits and thoughts, and acquiring new ones.
If you feel like you do not have enough time for personal growth, pay attention to these few minute intervals that are scattered here and there throughout your day.Never underestimate what a taking advantage of them can do to improve yourself.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Types Of Growth
When it comes to the way it happens, growth can occur in two ways.Either growth can occur consciously, meaning that a person tried to make it happen until it did.Or it could occur unconsciously, meaning that a person was put in a certain situation, probably a tough one, that made him grow so that he could adapt with it.
Let's say a certain man is afraid of confronting people about anything.In order to get over his fear of confrontation, he can consciously choose to do so by practicing different techniques.He can affirm to himself that he is confident when confronting others.He can visualize himself confronting others.He can use EFT and to breakthrough the negative belief that is stopping him from confronting people.He can force himself to confront people until it becomes a habit.This is all conscious growth.
Unconscious growth occurs when the same man did not intend for it to happen.This can happen when that man was put in a situation where did not confront, he would risk losing something very important to him.The fear of losing what's important would outweigh the fear of confrontation, and the man would finally grow out of his old comfort zone of avoiding confrontation.And he decides to confront.The man did not intend for this growth to occur.He was sort of "forced" to grow.That is unconscious growth.
Most people go through life not intending to change anything about themselves.Whatever growth they go through is a unconscious.But people who consciously choose to grow can become in a few months what would take years for others.
Let's say a certain man is afraid of confronting people about anything.In order to get over his fear of confrontation, he can consciously choose to do so by practicing different techniques.He can affirm to himself that he is confident when confronting others.He can visualize himself confronting others.He can use EFT and to breakthrough the negative belief that is stopping him from confronting people.He can force himself to confront people until it becomes a habit.This is all conscious growth.
Unconscious growth occurs when the same man did not intend for it to happen.This can happen when that man was put in a situation where did not confront, he would risk losing something very important to him.The fear of losing what's important would outweigh the fear of confrontation, and the man would finally grow out of his old comfort zone of avoiding confrontation.And he decides to confront.The man did not intend for this growth to occur.He was sort of "forced" to grow.That is unconscious growth.
Most people go through life not intending to change anything about themselves.Whatever growth they go through is a unconscious.But people who consciously choose to grow can become in a few months what would take years for others.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Personality and Development
A couple of years back I found out about the Myers&Briggs personality test.To make a long story short, the test divides people's personalities into 16 different types by testing 4 different aspects of a person's way of thinking. I usually don't take such tests very seriously.But after I got back the results, it was freaky how much the description of my personality type matched who I am.The accuracy was amazing.By the way, my result was "INFP".
Please go ahead and take the test at this link.
http://similarminds.com/jung.html
Even though the real test costs money to make, the test in the link is free.Although it's not as accurate as the real test, it will still give you a very close, if not the exact, personality type you have.
Every character type has its own strengths as well as its weaknesses.So if you've been wondering what area of life might needs a little work, you can start by taking the test.After you get the result, you need to read about it in other websites.Let's say your result is "INFP" or any other 4 letters, just google them and you'll get loads of websites that will tell you what the type's strengths and weaknesses are.
Now, should personal development be about working on your strengths to make them even stronger, or working on your weakness areas to get better at them? There are different opinions, but I would like to do a little bit of both.
My personality type description says that people with my same type usually:
- Avoid confrontation.
- Are unorganized because they are often in their own world and do not pay attention to little details.
I agree with both of these points.I am like that.Although I have gotten much better at both recently.
Sometimes you are put into situations in life that force you to improve on your weak points.When it comes to organization, I was pretty bad it.Come into my room, you'd see a mess.Open my wallet, it's not the most organized in the world.I would often miss place things and forget where I had put them.That was because my mind would find things like organization, something unimportant, and would start wandering and focusing on other things that it would fine more interesting.
However, my new job that I got a couple of weeks back requires me to be the exact opposite of this.I am supposed to keep track of hundreds of files,folders, papers, processes, etc.It was overwhelming in the first week.Then it started to get easier and easier.It was as if I needed to be put in this situation in order to improve myself. Otherwise, I would have stayed where I was at. Not only am I becoming more aware of where I'm placing things at work now, but this has also extended to home.My brain is beginning to adapt.
I know this might not sound like something very important.But to me it is. Absent mindedness to me was a huge problem. I was beginning to think that I had ADD.Turned out that I don't.Since I actually CAN focus when I need to.
I'll write about the confrontation issue later..that in itself is a long story :)
Please go ahead and take the test at this link.
http://similarminds.com/jung.html
Even though the real test costs money to make, the test in the link is free.Although it's not as accurate as the real test, it will still give you a very close, if not the exact, personality type you have.
Every character type has its own strengths as well as its weaknesses.So if you've been wondering what area of life might needs a little work, you can start by taking the test.After you get the result, you need to read about it in other websites.Let's say your result is "INFP" or any other 4 letters, just google them and you'll get loads of websites that will tell you what the type's strengths and weaknesses are.
Now, should personal development be about working on your strengths to make them even stronger, or working on your weakness areas to get better at them? There are different opinions, but I would like to do a little bit of both.
My personality type description says that people with my same type usually:
- Avoid confrontation.
- Are unorganized because they are often in their own world and do not pay attention to little details.
I agree with both of these points.I am like that.Although I have gotten much better at both recently.
Sometimes you are put into situations in life that force you to improve on your weak points.When it comes to organization, I was pretty bad it.Come into my room, you'd see a mess.Open my wallet, it's not the most organized in the world.I would often miss place things and forget where I had put them.That was because my mind would find things like organization, something unimportant, and would start wandering and focusing on other things that it would fine more interesting.
However, my new job that I got a couple of weeks back requires me to be the exact opposite of this.I am supposed to keep track of hundreds of files,folders, papers, processes, etc.It was overwhelming in the first week.Then it started to get easier and easier.It was as if I needed to be put in this situation in order to improve myself. Otherwise, I would have stayed where I was at. Not only am I becoming more aware of where I'm placing things at work now, but this has also extended to home.My brain is beginning to adapt.
I know this might not sound like something very important.But to me it is. Absent mindedness to me was a huge problem. I was beginning to think that I had ADD.Turned out that I don't.Since I actually CAN focus when I need to.
I'll write about the confrontation issue later..that in itself is a long story :)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Emotional Freedom Technique
One of the most amazing discoveries I came across these past couple of years is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
EFT is based on the idea that every negative emotion is a disruption of the body's energy system.And by tapping certain points on the body (yes tapping them with your fingers) while bringing up this negative emotion, the energy system will be "fixed".
As strange as this sounds, it works. I personally like to try things out before I say that they work.From experience I know that EFT does.
Here is a video that explains exactly how you apply EFT.There are loads of other videos you can watch.
EFT can be used to heal sever emotional problems like depression, anxieities,and phobias.But I do not suffer any of these problems.I use it on more minor issues that we all have alot of.Little fears and concerns that are too small to notice unless you do alot of introspection.Useless worries.That kind of stuff.This stuff can actually be removed with EFT so one can lead a more confortable,positive life.
You can read more about EFT at this website.
www.emofree.com
This is the website of the founder of EFT, check it out.
Pretty soon I'm going to start posting how I use all these tools in my daily life...
EFT is based on the idea that every negative emotion is a disruption of the body's energy system.And by tapping certain points on the body (yes tapping them with your fingers) while bringing up this negative emotion, the energy system will be "fixed".
As strange as this sounds, it works. I personally like to try things out before I say that they work.From experience I know that EFT does.
Here is a video that explains exactly how you apply EFT.There are loads of other videos you can watch.
EFT can be used to heal sever emotional problems like depression, anxieities,and phobias.But I do not suffer any of these problems.I use it on more minor issues that we all have alot of.Little fears and concerns that are too small to notice unless you do alot of introspection.Useless worries.That kind of stuff.This stuff can actually be removed with EFT so one can lead a more confortable,positive life.
You can read more about EFT at this website.
www.emofree.com
This is the website of the founder of EFT, check it out.
Pretty soon I'm going to start posting how I use all these tools in my daily life...
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Visualization
In my last post I wrote a little bit about affirmations.Now I'm going to write a little bit about the other Mind Power technique that I use, which s visualization.
What I do is very simple.First I would have a goal in mind.It could be any goal that I want to acheive anywhere in my life.I then sit lie down somewhere, relax, and visualize the goal as if it's already been acheived.I do that for about 5 to 10 minutes, and I get up.That's it.
Now this might sound like I'm trying to use the law of attraction.Well, concerning the LOA, I wouldn't say that I'm a 100% believer in it.Nor can I say that I reject it.I am just not sure about it.There are alot of things that have happened to me that point to the existance of such a law.At the same time, there are many things I don't understand about it.At this point I would say that our thoughts affect our reality, but it is not as simple as "you attract what you think about".
Anyway, visuaalization can be good even if there was no "law of attraction".When you visualize your goal as clearly as you can, for a few minutes everyday, it affects your subconscious mind.I will not go into details on how, but basically your subconscious will start to give you thoughts and ideas about how to turn your goal into reality.You'll start to get thoughts that you had never thought of before.This is something I've personally tried and it works like a charm.
If you want to learn more about visualization, the internet is loaded with all kinds of websites about it.You're going to find some contradicting info here and there.Don't let that confuse you.Just relax and visaulize your goal as if it was already happen.Try not to let your thoughts drift away.Try to actually feel your goal as if it was real.Don't worry if the images aren't clear by the way.Most people do not see clear images.The technique will still work.
I personally do more affirmations than visualizations.I find them alot easier.To each his own though.
What I do is very simple.First I would have a goal in mind.It could be any goal that I want to acheive anywhere in my life.I then sit lie down somewhere, relax, and visualize the goal as if it's already been acheived.I do that for about 5 to 10 minutes, and I get up.That's it.
Now this might sound like I'm trying to use the law of attraction.Well, concerning the LOA, I wouldn't say that I'm a 100% believer in it.Nor can I say that I reject it.I am just not sure about it.There are alot of things that have happened to me that point to the existance of such a law.At the same time, there are many things I don't understand about it.At this point I would say that our thoughts affect our reality, but it is not as simple as "you attract what you think about".
Anyway, visuaalization can be good even if there was no "law of attraction".When you visualize your goal as clearly as you can, for a few minutes everyday, it affects your subconscious mind.I will not go into details on how, but basically your subconscious will start to give you thoughts and ideas about how to turn your goal into reality.You'll start to get thoughts that you had never thought of before.This is something I've personally tried and it works like a charm.
If you want to learn more about visualization, the internet is loaded with all kinds of websites about it.You're going to find some contradicting info here and there.Don't let that confuse you.Just relax and visaulize your goal as if it was already happen.Try not to let your thoughts drift away.Try to actually feel your goal as if it was real.Don't worry if the images aren't clear by the way.Most people do not see clear images.The technique will still work.
I personally do more affirmations than visualizations.I find them alot easier.To each his own though.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tools That I Use Part One
I was thinking of the best way to start this blog off and I thought that the best way would be to write about the personal development tools that I use everyday.I don't like to use the word "tools" cause it makes me feel like human beings are machines or something.But anyway I'll think of a better word to use later :)
Now I have tried lots of techniques that I learned from the different material that I read.I picked out a few of these that I liked/made sense to me, and I've been using them everyday.Do these techniques work? Well, all the self-help "gurus" claim that they do.However, I did not rely on what they did and decided to try them out myself. I haven't been doing them long enough to see drastic changes, but to be honest, I can see their positive effects.
I basically use two things: Mind Power Techniques, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). In this post I will only talk about Mind Power techniques.
Mind power techniques have many other names, but I got the name Mind Power from a great book that I read called "Mind Power for the 21st Century" by John Kehoe. The techniques in the book were not new to me. But the way author explained them made alot of sense to me.The author recommends that you try all the techniques. But this is not a must.You can choose the ones you are most comfortable with. I personally chose affirmations, and visualization.
Anyone who knows a little bit about personal development knows what affirmations are.They are probably the oldest technique for personal transformation. They are very easy to do, and can be done anywhere, at anytime.Even without anyone noticing.
I do not want to go into detail about what affirmations are.But in short, they are positive phrases that you tell yourself repeatedly, whether you say them out loud or "in your heart". What the phrase is, depends on what positive change you are trying to cause in yourself.
The easiest, most common example is this. Let's say you would like to be more confidant.Then you would have to repeat to yourself "I am confidant", " I am confidant". Sure, you might feel like you're lying to yourself, but it's ok.Just keep repeating them.The best way is to take a little time alone everyday.Get yourself in relax mode, and start repeating your affirmation.The author of Mind Power says that in order to see the effects you will have to do them everyday for 2 to 3 months. If you stop before that, your efforts would be fruitless.
By the way, this blog wasn't meant to teach you how to do affirmations.I'm actually expecting the readers of my blog to already be familiar with what affirmations are.However, if you are not, I just give you a little introduction.But please go on and do your own research.Just type "affirmations" in any search engine and I guarantee you that you will get thousands of results.I also recommend that you read "Mind Power for the 21 Century"
In my next blog I'll talk about Visualization.
Now I have tried lots of techniques that I learned from the different material that I read.I picked out a few of these that I liked/made sense to me, and I've been using them everyday.Do these techniques work? Well, all the self-help "gurus" claim that they do.However, I did not rely on what they did and decided to try them out myself. I haven't been doing them long enough to see drastic changes, but to be honest, I can see their positive effects.
I basically use two things: Mind Power Techniques, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). In this post I will only talk about Mind Power techniques.
Mind power techniques have many other names, but I got the name Mind Power from a great book that I read called "Mind Power for the 21st Century" by John Kehoe. The techniques in the book were not new to me. But the way author explained them made alot of sense to me.The author recommends that you try all the techniques. But this is not a must.You can choose the ones you are most comfortable with. I personally chose affirmations, and visualization.
Anyone who knows a little bit about personal development knows what affirmations are.They are probably the oldest technique for personal transformation. They are very easy to do, and can be done anywhere, at anytime.Even without anyone noticing.
I do not want to go into detail about what affirmations are.But in short, they are positive phrases that you tell yourself repeatedly, whether you say them out loud or "in your heart". What the phrase is, depends on what positive change you are trying to cause in yourself.
The easiest, most common example is this. Let's say you would like to be more confidant.Then you would have to repeat to yourself "I am confidant", " I am confidant". Sure, you might feel like you're lying to yourself, but it's ok.Just keep repeating them.The best way is to take a little time alone everyday.Get yourself in relax mode, and start repeating your affirmation.The author of Mind Power says that in order to see the effects you will have to do them everyday for 2 to 3 months. If you stop before that, your efforts would be fruitless.
By the way, this blog wasn't meant to teach you how to do affirmations.I'm actually expecting the readers of my blog to already be familiar with what affirmations are.However, if you are not, I just give you a little introduction.But please go on and do your own research.Just type "affirmations" in any search engine and I guarantee you that you will get thousands of results.I also recommend that you read "Mind Power for the 21 Century"
In my next blog I'll talk about Visualization.
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