23-356 No Time Like the Present #6

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Today’s Mandala Message: Adopt the Phrase ‘I Choose to…”

This week I’m working through Principle #63: Start Now!…Just Do it! of Jack Canfield’s book “The Success Principles”. I set my intention today to ponder the idea of changing my perspective regarding my projects and tasks. From MindTools.com about stopping procrastination they state: “Rephrase your internal dialog. The phrases “need to” and “have to,” for example, imply that you have no choice in what you do. This can make you feel disempowered and might even result in self-sabotage. However, saying, “I choose to,” implies that you own a project, and can make you feel more in control of your workload.”

Today’s MotD is about changing our mindset: going from feeling like a victim (“have to”, “need to”), to feeling empowered (“choose to”). Years ago I had a particularly aggravating job that I hated. I’d bitch and moan about it almost every day. Thinking about it now, I realize that I would say things like “I have to go to work” or “I have to do this project”, and so on.

One day a co-worker enlightened me with a mindset change: she said “Instead of saying ‘you have to’, change it to ‘you choose to’”. It was a game changer for me…it gave me my power back and it changed my whole perspective about my job. Soon after my boss promoted me to a much better (and more fun) job. Coincidence? I think not.

With the writing of this post, I’m reminded to be more diligent with monitor my inner dialogue: am I in victim mode or empowerment mode?

A good mindfulness practice would be to consider changing your “have to’s” to “choose to’s”.

So how about you? For the projects you’re procrastinating, do you catch yourself saying “I have to…” or “I need to…”? For those projects would changing your inner dialog to “I choose to…” be a better motivator for starting those projects?

“You always have two choices:
your commitment
versus
your fear.”

— Sammy Davis, Jr.

Blessings,

Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas

An Invitation

I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.

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Published by The Mandala Lady

My Mission: connecting with our Inner Light in delightful, inspiring ways For me, creating mandalas is more than just coloring pretty patterns in a circle. I do it because my spiritual evolution and creativity require it of me. My mandala designs come about within an active meditative state, connected with my higher self, my spiritual guides and nature spirits. Together, we bring into form, mandala art the allows me to re-connect with my own inner peace and joy, letting me explore and expand my own creative spirit to however far and in whatever direction I want to take it. As part of my own spiritual journey, I encourage, and hopefully inspire, others to explore their own creativity, to help them re-connect with their own inner peace and joy. As a means to that end, I make all of my mandalas available for people to color. Why should I have all the fun?

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