Vickie's Viewpoint

For more than a decade now, I have suggested affirmations as a tool to solve just about any problem. I have seen them work at increasing sales, making peace in relationships and kicking bad habits. Out of the hundreds of workshop attendees and business coaching and life coaching clients I’ve had, I have yet to see anyone who did affirmations on a consistent basis who did not benefit from them.

Here are Some of the Many Advantages of Doing Affirmations…

• We see quick RESULTS with little effort.

• They help us achieve our DREAMS.

• Affirmations build CONFIDENCE and SELF-ESTEEM.

• The repetition helps us stay FOCUSED on our goals.

• They are effective in changing worn out HABITS and creating better ones.

• Affirmations get us out of the FEAR.

• We run our business or live the life we WANT.

• They make unpleasant TASKS less painful.

• Our ANGER is removed.

• Affirmations renew our MOTIVATION.

• We eliminate the need to BLAME everyone and everything for our problems.

• The short sayings bring HOPE into any situation.

• They help us SLEEP at night.

• Affirmations eliminate CONFUSION when making decisions.

• Allow us time to APPRECIATE what we did do, instead of focusing on  what we didn’t.

• Affirmations deaden the desire to COMPLAIN.

• The right phrase can release the DRAMA in our lives.

• Affirmations keep our business and life in BALANCE.

Never underestimate the power of affirmations. As you get in the habit of using them, you will see affirmations as a strong ally in solving problems, dissolving fear and achieving even the biggest, craziest, reach-for-the-moon dreams.

See Vickie Champion’s previous blog, “What are Affirmations?” to learn more about affirmations.

I just had a coaching client from Orange County, Calif. ask me, “What are affirmations, anyway?” It’s become so natural to me that I assumed everyone knew about them. This is for those of you who could use Affirmations 101.

Affirmations are any thought you think over and over. It is the act of affirming a belief. So in essence every thought that has been adopted as a belief is an affirmation of some sort.

I usually have my coaching clients repeat an affirmation until they start believing it. Then it becomes a natural part of who you are.

You can think it, say it, or write it. I even had a coaching client from New York City who would sing her affirmations. The most time consuming, but also the most effective, is to write the affirmations down by hand. I think that’s why years ago teachers would make you stay after school and write a statement 50 times on the blackboard.

Affirmations are based on the theory, “Every thought you think has an effect.” So if you can put more positive thoughts in your head than negative, it will change your life. I’m telling you, it does.

Most of the time I start my beginning coaching sessions by having clients do affirmations for the simple reason it provides quick relief for the least amount of effort.

If you have more questions about affirmations call me at 480-838-9866 and we’ll discuss it or to write them down click here.

A yoga mat is just a foam platform and of no benefit to you if it isn’t used the way it was intended. Likewise, LinkedIn isn’t a social networking platform driving clients to your business if it’s not used in the right way. Both platforms can be transformative or they can fail to deliver any marked benefits if used in an infrequent, sloppy manor. First, let’s look at how you’re using LinkedIn ineffectively and failing to grow your business.

Here’s how to use LinkedIn ineffectively…

1  Don’t bother posting your photo or if you do include the one of you and your pet posing together.

2 Under no circumstances complete your profile, prefer to remain mysterious.

3 Shut off the weekly Network Update, you already have to many e-mails to read.

4 Answer questions only with the intent of self-promotion, leave out anything that could really help anyone.

5 Don’t bother with recommending anyone, but if they seem insistent make sure you promote yourself while doing it.

6 You can either keep your connections under 65 or you can say you are an open networker and not respond to invites to connect.

7 Take months to respond to others’ invitations to connect.

8 Don’t explore the search feature, what you don’t know won’t hurt you.

9 Don’t waste your time researching your prospects before meeting or contacting them.

10 Ask people you don’t know very well for recommendations, people who can’t say too much.

12 Constantly ask your first level connections for introductions to their contacts.

13 Do not set up to receive LinkedIn messages in your inbox so you don’t have to respond ever.

14 Don’t ever add or change your profile once you have it up.

Using LinkedIn to build your business doesn’t have to absorb all your time. Even devoting a few minutes a day can help you reap rewards.

If you want to know how to Make Money Using LinkedIn click here.

I was thinking the other day how easy it is to put money on a pedestal and treat it as the cure for any problem. If we had money, we think, we could achieve our dreams, mend our relationships, improve our appearance, and essentially get everything we always wanted.

Here’s Some Signs We Worship Money…

When we…

• Make decisions based on how much money something costs or how much money it will make us.

• Put most, if not all, our attention on ways to get more of it.

• Set money goals — how much we want and by what date.

• Sacrifice something of value to get more money, like working overtime instead of being with loved ones.

• Let it upset us when we don’t have it.

• Use money to relieve boredom.

• Try to buy love with money.

• Use money to relieve guilt, like giving our kids things because we feel guilty for working.

• Base our self-worth on how much money we have.

Money is valuable and it may need to be respected, but it should not be revered. Money is a means to an end. It is the train into the station, but it’s not the destination. Don’t worship money and let it lead you into a lonely, unsatisfying dead end.

If you want more information from Vickie Champion about money, click here
www.VickieChampion.com/about_money.htm

We probably all catch ourselves at one time or another wanting to “be right” over choosing to be happy. The key is to be aware of it and realize we have a choice. We can either change our minds or remain adamant about “being right” and suffer the consequences.

Here are the disadvantages of “being right”…

• We waste time judging, insulting, and complaining, which depletes our energy.

• We work extremely hard trying to prove we are right.

• We feel like a failure and have a need to punish ourselves when we are wrong.

• We use “being right” to build our self-worth instead of realizing we are worthy just because we exist.

• We eat humble pie a lot.

• We have a strong need to feel superior by making others feel inferior.

• We alienate many people.

• And it causes disagreements and makes enemies of the people who remain — the ones who also need to “be right”.

• We feel lonely because we start believing we have all the answers and don’t need anyone else.

• We get tired of hearing others sing, “You’re so Vain.”

Trade Carly Simon’s “You’re so Vain” for Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and lose the exhaustion, isolation and embarrassment that comes with always having to be a know-it-all.

To read more about “Being Right” see Vickie Champion’s previous blog entitled The Advantages of “Being Right”.