This is Day 4 of the 15-Day Affirmation Challenge held in July 2014, where we practice positive affirmations for 15 days. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
Dear everyone, welcome to Day 4 of our 15-Day Affirmation Challenge! :DHere is the overview of all the posts for the challenge so far:![Affirmation Wallpaper, [Setbacks]: "I've the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way."](jpg/affirmation-setbacks.jpg)
Dear everyone, welcome to Day 4 of our 15-Day Affirmation Challenge! :DHere is the overview of all the posts for the challenge so far:- Affirmation Challenge announcement and signup details: 15-Day Affirmation Challenge | 420 Participants!
- Affirmation Challenge Day 1 [New Beginning] | 52 Comments
- Affirmation Challenge Day 2 [Self-Love] | 46 Comments
- Affirmation Challenge Day 3 [Ability] | 25 Comments
Thank You For Your Participation!!!
After my shout out in yesterday’s post, I noticed many of you stepping out to share your task results and even to share your thoughts with other participants! To be honest, I was genuinely touched and surprised, as I had simply posted that shout out with no expectation but just a simple wish for more active participation (for both people who have signed up as well as lurkers), so that we can have a better challenge experience for everyone. I’m happy conducting this challenge as it is; I just wish for everyone to give your best shot for this challenge so that YOU can walk away with YOUR best results, not just for these 15 days, but for your life ahead.To all of you who have been actively participating, sharing, and sharing your thoughts with other participants, THANK YOU.I realize that the affirmation tasks can get a bit personal, but it’s precisely because they’re personal that they will make a powerful impact. I can set lalala-let’s-be-merry tasks which will be easy to do, but then what’s the point? You’ll no sooner be back to where you started before the challenge, and that would defeat the purpose of this experience.If you’ve been doing the tasks duly but you are shy/apprehensive about sharing your results due to privacy reasons or whatever, that’s okay! Simply share whatever you can, in a way you’re comfortable with. I know I share very personal things on PE, but I don’t expect you guys to do so too if you’re not comfortable with it.Let’s say you have some deep thoughts for Day 2’s task, like “My mom repeatedly hit me when I was a kid, because secretly she wanted to have a son, not a daughter. I grew up hating her and also hating myself,” and you’re not comfortable sharing it because you’re fearful about others reading it. That’s fine! You can simply share your results more generically, like “I had a powerful realization about my feelings towards my mom and they stem from my childhood. I’ve learned that I’m worthy and deserving of love…” Ideally it’ll be the best if you can share completely, but sharing partially is better than nothing and will still be helpful for both yourself and the other participants!Don’t forget if privacy is a huge deal for you, you can always post under a fake name and avatar. You don’t need to use your real name/picture just to post on PE, and I’ll never share your IP/email/etc. with anyone.Now, let’s move to today’s task! Today is Day 4, and we’re looking at…Day 4: [Setbacks]
Today’s affirmation: “I have the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”Obstacles. For the person who lives a goalless life, “obstacles” is probably non-existent. After all, when you have no goals and aspirations, anything goes; whenever you experience resistance, you’ll simply flow in the path of the least resistance. Such is a simple, peaceful, and also… uneventful life.However, for those of you who have goals and dreams, then obstacles is likely a staple in your life. In fact, the bigger your goals and dreams, the bigger your obstacles. Why is that so? That’s because when you want to achieve great things, you naturally need to take great actions, which will naturally lead to great resistance from others. Not to go all physics-y, but to quote Newton’s third law,
When one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body.Here, you are the first body exerting a force on your environment (the second body), in pursuit of your goal. Since your environment is receiving a push from you, it naturally reacts (in response to your force, which is in turn a function of the size of your goal) and pushes you back with that same force, in hopes of pushing you back to where you came from.
The action and the reaction are simultaneous, and it does not matter which is called the action and which is called reaction; both forces are part of a single interaction, and neither force exists without the other.(Source: Newton’s laws of motion)So… what do you do when you experience an obstacle? Do you then give up on your goals and dreams? No, of course not. It’s precisely because obstacles are part of anyone’s goal pursuit that the very obstacles you face form the litmus test as to whether you deserve that goal. Like Randy Pausch once said, “The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”As I shared in yesterday’s affirmation, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING YOU WANT, AS LONG AS YOU SET YOUR HEART TO IT. (Imagine a loud voice booming above you and saying that statement.) Facing tons of obstacles? Sure, show them our way, and let’s take them on together! The more obstacles there are, the BETTER, because they prove that you’re truly pursuing a worthy and grand goal.Your job here isn’t to give up in the face of obstacles. It’s to identify these obstacles, find ways to overcome them, and BREAK THROUGH THEM. Because you have the power to do so.Today, your task is to identify an obstacle and break out of it. Now, let’s get started! :D
Your Task Today
- Identify an obstacle you’re facing currently. This can be an obstacle to the goal you wrote for yesterday (Day 3)’s task. For example:
- Weight loss: I want to lose weight but my parents keep thwarting my efforts by buying junk food and forcing me to eat them.
- Career: I want to be working in field [X] but the recruitment situation for this field is terrible right now and there are no opportunities. So, I’m working in a totally different job in field [Y] for the money, but I hate it.
- Identify action(s) to overcome this obstacle. Okay, so this obstacle seems pretty sucky. However, remember that nothing is insurmountable in this world. Here’s my question to you, the harbinger of your life: How can you overcome this obstacle?
- Weight loss:
- My parents may buy junk food, but that doesn’t mean I need to eat them. I need to start the change by saying “no” to the junk food and owning my diet. It all starts with me.
- My parents are probably buying junk food partly because they care for me and want to use food as an expression of their love, and partly because I’ve been eating such food since young with no issues. So, they probably think that it’s the cue for them to continue such behavior! I can simply tell them that I don’t want to eat junk food, then EDUCATE them on the healthy food that I want to eat, so that they can redirect their energy to buying/preparing healthy food in the future. The change may not be immediate as old habits die hard, but at least it’s a start.
- Career:
- Network with people in field [X] by using Linkedin and going to related industry talks. Just because there are no opportunities now doesn’t mean there’ll be no opportunities later.
- Work hard in my current job in field [Y] to build up my skills and resume. I want to prove myself as a competent and reliable employee, so that it’ll be easier to switch to any other company in the future.
- Find ways to pick up skills for field [X] in my current job. There are always soft skills that are transferable across any job, and I can build up my skills for field [X] now as I wait for opportunities to open up.
- Weight loss:
- Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
- Weight loss:
- Career:
- “I’m responsible for my career.”
- “Just because there are no opportunities now doesn’t mean there’ll be no opportunities forever. I need to take the right actions to become the right person and move myself to the right place, so that I can grab the opportunity when it appears.”
- Say your new belief(s), along with today’s affirmation:
“I have the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”
(If you think it’s silly to say them out loud, you can say them silently in your heart.)
Affirmation Wallpaper: [Setbacks]
Today’s affirmation wallpaper, for download:Download (right click and save): [1366×768] [1600×900] [1920×1080]
Further Reading
For more on dealing with setbacks, read these timeless articles:Share Your Results!
Share your results, check out other participants’ responses, and interact with each other in the comments section! Remember, this challenge is a community effort: by openly engaging in the discussion, not only will you help others, you’ll also help yourself.If you think today’s affirmation has benefited you, do share it with your friends and family.Once you’re done, proceed to Day 5 here: Affirmation Challenge, Day 5 [Gratitude](Images: Flower, Budding coconut)
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very nicely crafted article…. I am joining PE for the 1st time by participating in this challenge…(Thanks to my lovely wife)… I think there is one more addition in your follower list….. :)
Obstacles seems to be a part of life… The point you start thinking that the one is over, the next big one is standing on your doors, just waiting for your attention…
Recently facing so many obstacles in personal life has taken me aback…. may be I have started getting afraid of them…..
But reading your today’s article forced me to think and realise that there is something that is surely missing in me now…
I was forced to think on this topic… And yes…may be I now need to accept obstacles as a part of life and treat it with relative weightage.
1. Obstacles in personal life
2. start treating the obstacles with relative weight-age.
start accepting obstacles as part of life.
May be these obstacles are here to test my limits… So instead of bending over these obstacles, accept these, try best to resolve them. When out of limits, leave it up to fate. May be GOD has some better plan laid in… the more we keep on thinking on the obstacles/issues, the more big we make it. Instead of the issue taking over me, I will try to grow my self bigger than it :)
3. Keep on reading articles on positive attitude.
Keep on meeting old friends, as I think meeting them makes u realize ur true potential. Friends are the best motivators whenever u feel taken aback. Keep good collection of friends instead of keeping a large one.
Keep on repeating today’s thought whenever feeling low… ‘I have the power to overcome the obstacle that stands in my way’
Celes, Need some of your comment on one issue I face – Dilemma. Trying not to take a wrong decision, I keep on thinking on a particular issue a lot and often go in dilemma, where to follow this path or other… and this consumes a lot of my energy…
This, gotta be my longest affirmation post out of all 4! I am SO gonna flood this place if i were to post everything. So, a snippet:
3. Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
No kidding. I am a living (HAHA, though still on-going) example of this.
It can be extremely low morale to work in an environment where there is tons of work
to be done, you got to meet deadlines every single day, lack of communication
with the bosses and yet people are leaving. And you know that you are going to
take on even MORE workload because there are lesser people around now! And and
and, to top it off, the people who are leaving are the people who you have fun
with the most, who you love the most and who you think are the most dependable
colleagues.
It really isn’t easy.
Not to mention, to commute to work is a long and tiring journey. Every morning
feels like a battle commuting to work. I squeeze in the bus, pull myself out
from the can of packed sardines, only to flung myself into another bigger can
of sardines aka squeeze in the train. I basically brisk-walked in superb mode
all the way to work from the moment I step out of my house. I was drained by
the time I reached the office. And then the next long battle begins for the
next 9 hours. There was to a point where I hated the morning battle so much
that I have the strongest urge to leave my job just so I can end this *wave arm
around*.
But I hadn’t.
Why are some people always job-hopping? That is because they do not know what they want
from the job. In almost every single job, you would definitely feel tired and
sick of it. You would definitely feel like you are under (boredom) / over (stressed)
challenged and wish for a change in environment. But every job is the same; if
you do not know your purpose of being in this job.
At least, this works for me. I recognise my negative thoughts streaming like
volcano lavas every single day. And then one day, I simply put a stop to them. I
bring down the entire North Pole on them. OK, not funny. I brainstormed with
myself, the pros and cons of staying, and I realised that the pros are material
benefits whereas the cons are just being too emotional.
Isn’t being happy the most important thing? You might ask. Yes, it is, of course! But
there are short-term happiness and long-term happiness. One got to weigh, at
crucial times.
What do I need the most now?
.
TOO LONG OMG. lol, You can read more here: http://zestychloe.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/day-4-setbacks-ive-the-power-to-overcome-any-obstacle-that-stands-in-my-way/
This was day 4 :
Plan plan
plan!! Plan at the beginning of every week and every day, tick off, set small
targets
Prioritize
and rather cut out the less important distractions
Set time
and routine to help certain parts of my life and inform my family of my
intentions – commit
Start
believing in myself again, say it to myself every day!! I am capable of
catching up. The past will and cannot define me; anyone can change as long as
there is desire and believe.
Every time I
procrastinate I must think about this and how am wasting time procrastinating
and doing this if I want to change I must be the change.
1. An obstacle I am facing:
I want to change jobs but I have a lot of fear that it won’t work out for me.
I would rather work as a counsellor and yoga teacher, but I’ve only just started my counselling training and it takes five years.
2. Actions to overcome this obstacle:
Research – Find out exactly what I want to do and what is needed to get the relevant experience/skills in that area.
What jobs are there where counselling skills come in handy?
3. New positive beliefs:
I have the power to take responsibility of my career.
I have many great skills and qualities that are high in demand.
I see that I have been resisting tackling this and moving forward at all, giving up in the face of worries and fears. This has left me feeling stuck and resigned, that my current job that I have been in for six years is my iron rice bowl – an expression you used earlier Celes.
I’m seeing that there is a way through, in taking small steps I can empower myself and focus on possibilities rather than ‘I can’t’.
Hello everybody,
On my previous comments I was mostly writing about external factors that has dominated my life and that instead I should have paid attention to the feedback life was throwing at me about how I was doing. Well, it’s time to face the real issue here. The biggest setback for me (and it’s really hard to admit) is low self esteem: feeling worthy of love and life’s goods; being (adjective… ) enough. On the outside I am self confident, but I have many insecurities and validation of others can swing my feeling of self worth up to sky or down below the ground.
What actions can be taken in order to strengthen the self esteem?
1. Forgive myself and everybody who has hunted me and to let go any negative feelings.
2. Appreciating everything that I am today and every experience that contributed to who I have became.
3. Accepting compliments and any form of generosity from people around me
4. Contributing to community, volunteering or simply practicing daily acts of kindness
5. Developing my talants and personality, utilise them to leave the world better place than it was when I arrive, leaving a legacy
6. Acknowledge and honor my preferences, my opinion, my feelings, my values, my vision and my mission in this world
7. Terminate relationships that drain me and hang out more with empowering people.
8. Meditating
To be continued…
Apart from affirmations I have used two other techniques, to set myself free from anything that doesn’t serve me anymore. Maybe this can be useful for somebody else:
1. Ho’oponopono – saying those 4 statements: “I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you”. This can be addresed to yourself, somebody else, to the problem you face or just pronounced impersonally.
2. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) –
Tapping at certains points on your body and saying certain statements, such as I choose to let it go.
You can search in detail information about both of them in either Google or YouTube.
“I am worthy. I am good enough. I have healthy self esteem. I honor my preferences. I CAN OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE THAT STANDS IN MY WAY”
Sincerely,
Santas Inspirations
For the day3’s task I spoke about improving my body’s flexibility and strength. I would need to exercise for at least 30 mins each day to achieve that. Off late I’ve gotten into a habit of getting up late and I find myself having hardly any time to do anything else but get ready and rush to office. On my ideal day I would imagine me getting up early, writing my journal, exercising and meditating. But that hasn’t happened for a few months now.
I think the biggest obstacle has been the schedule I’ve gotten used to recently. I tend to meet friends, go on dates and do all my other socializing after office. It inevitably gets late by the time I sleep. And the few days I can sleep early, the habit so far keeps me awake, idly browsing, or over social networks.
As actions I’ll be more assertive. I’ll plan my day and meet friends or socialize after office, but I’ll make sure that I finish off early. So that I’ve enough time to come back home, unwind and then sleep early. A couple of years ago I was able to wake up at 5 am for many months at a stretch. So I know that once I get into the habit, I can sustain it. It’s only about going through those few weeks of discomfort during habit
change.
Today I’m going to plan my day and sleep early. Tomorrow is a new day. A new way beckons :)
Hi Calae! I read your entire blog post and just wanted to let you know how inspiring it was! I also fall into that trap of caring what others think, especially my parents, and often times I find myself holding back on my dreams just because I think they wouldn’t approve. After I read your post it’s made me start thinking about the things I really want and the steps I should take to get them. It is terrifying, but I’ve realized that if I don’t step forward into my dreams, especially because of the opinions of others, then I’ll only have myself to blame later on. Thanks for the wonderful post! Look forward to reading more of them :)
“I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”
“Everyday new people come into our lives, I have the power to look deep into their hearts to see if they are the right fit to enter the circle and possibly be apart of any projects. I can see their actions to determine if their visions for building young minds for a better future fit.” — feeling inspired.
What do these “30BBM and 30LBL” mean? Calae said it.
30BBM is Be a Better Me in 30 Days Program while 30dlbl is Live a Better Life in 30 Days Program. Both are premium 30-day courses at PE Courses designed to transform you inside-out. Calae has taken both courses before and is an alumni; so has some of the participants in this challenge actually. You can read more about them via the links above!
Thanks, I need those now that know how to tackle my goals. Thanks to your ideas. Your tasks made me investigate myself deeper because of them it’s easier to find the right answers. I feel clearer than I used to be before doing this challenge.
On what diet website that I visit another blogger suggested that I start with one goal at a time. So since I am off until the end of August I would like to go with weight loss. With weightloss, my barriers are my emotions and work. At work people are constantly leaving crap or good crap in the teachers lounge or in our classroom. My job situation is stressful so the food is a sad crutch. The same goes with home. If I feel stressed or lonely there is food. I run a lot and its sad that I dont show anything for it :( My friend said you do all this running and you dont lose weight? I had a therepist last year that was concern my weight loss will change once I start back at work. She felt there were sabotogers. This summer I would like a therepist who will help me with this situation and and emotional eating. One thing I will definetly do is not eat with the kids at lunch and eat away from teachers and be alone and peaceful. I will begin mindful eating. Then for home I will retrain my thinking to wanting things non edible for stress, like painting my nails. Like running a marathon or half marathons, there is a wall when the thinking goes negative and you dont fuel or train right. Its like a symbol in life, with out proper planning or thinking the wall will hit, but what to do when you hit the wall, knock it down and keep going as best as you could and reasses and start again.
“I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”
1. Identify an obstacle you’re facing currently.
I am not taking action. I know that action is happiness. I feel happy when I take action and I feel successful to but why do do I procrastinate? I am my worst enemy. How can I intentionally hurt myself over and over again by not taking action?
2. Identify action(s) to overcome this obstacle.
I would just have to do it all, all the things I had to do daily I am going to do them. All I do is think, it never helped.
3. Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
– I have the power to be happy taking action.
4. Say your new belief(s), along with today’s affirmation:
– I have the power to be happy taking action.
“I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”
I can’t find what I posted yesterday! I responded to Vivian, and that showed up but my own post did not. Am I doing something wrong to make my posts not appear?
Hey VickiB! I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong as your posts from the other days have been posted fine. I checked the comments spam folder but there isn’t any post from you there. So it’s possible that the comment didn’t get through? Can you post your task results for Day 4 again — will love to read it!!
(PS: Something I recommend to everyone is to write/save your comments for the tasks in notepad first before posting them, so that you can always copy/paste them should anything happen later!)
I think “capability oriented” affirmations are great, but “action oriented” and “emotion oriented” ones are much more powerful.
We tend to sabotage ourselves even when we believe in our abilities. We keep giving ourselves excuses — “I know I can if I want to, but maybe not today.”
So if you decided to have a health eating habit for example, instead of “I can eat healthy”, you may want to say “I choose to eat a healthy amount of healthy food”, “I enjoy eating healthy food”, “I naturally crave for healthy food”, “I feel wonderful because I’m making a right decision for myself”, and so on.
So many uplifting comments posted already, with inspiring commitment to goals and causes. I was late posting about this one, so I’ll leave my blog entry and move on to day 5…
http://livingwithaltitude.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/the-obstacle-course/
Samuel, i feel your body is trying to tell you something. I used to have similar experience. Take grateful Journal helped me a lot on happiness. I have lots of passion in happiness,let me know if you want to hear more.
Hey Vivian, thanks again for sharing! I would definitely love to hear your insights on happiness.
Calae, your new belief is fantastic! Your career change story and new thoughts empoweredme. Thank you.
You’re welcome! Glad they could help someone else out, too! =)
Hey Chloe! :D I see that you’ve already decided to start with Day 1, and that sounds like a good choice! :D While I’ve designed the tasks in sequence, you are more than welcome to do the ones that appeal to you more first as you work your way to your latest task. Also, you are also welcome to do the tasks in tandem too, if you like!
Hihi Celes, that sounds awesome! Thank you :D
OK! I have already voiced my participation here : http://zestychloe.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/participated-15-days-of-positive-affirmations-challenge-by-celestine-chua/
Now..do I start with Day 4 or from Day 1? lol
Chloe <3
One of my biggest setbacks is anxiety. My anxiety about certain things, especially important ones, leads me to avoid them, which ultimately causes me to either panic while trying to get it done at the last moment, or to miss opportunities altogether. My current obstacle is finding a job. In my state of anxiety, I tend to avoid conversations related to my plans for the future, and sometimes even job hunting itself. It is only in rare moments of motivation that I find myself perusing job ads.
I have identified a few actions I can take:
– I have no choice but to face up to my anxieties and fears. I must examine the root cause of these fears and be honest with myself in whether these thoughts are true or not.
– I will do some research on what positions are available to those with my degree and try to get in touch with people who have the same qualifications as I in an effort to find out what more is available.
My new belief:
“I am competent and capable. My life is a sum of the choices I make, and I must act in spite of fear if I am to live a fulfilling one.” For more: http://hopeafterheartbreak.blogspot.com/2014/07/15-day-affirmation-challenge-day-4.html :)
We never start the day as expected, there is always something that we did not account for – in terms of actual work, or even brain time and emotional tugs.. Being prepared for such time, and to take them in the stride, solving what one can is the area that i wsih to build on – becuase worrying just saps our energy – it does not give us solutions or takes us forward. Sometimes we are even pushed futher down. Thinking about all the positive things you have said for overcoming – i would list a couple of things – Think of the issue, identify some immediate action points if any or what we can work towards ; listen to other points of view – just as people have different perspectives over things – sometimes this hellps- it widens our own horizon of possibiilities and respond – and not react to a situation – reaction often does not benefit us – unless its certain emergency situations. In relationships, its better to respond.. Just doing that helps, its like taking the right road to the destination. Collect more positives in your day, even by looking at the passer bys on the street – the colours, the child, the leaves – the collection of positives will be my reserve to draw from….
I get overwhelmed by the work that I have to complete. Also, everybody around me tends to get a little pushy regarding the results which irritates me like hell. I need my time to work out things. I tend to overlook small details with regards to my work, which then costs me heavily.
In my opinion the above obstacles could be managed by planning my time around the day properly. I think focusing truly on the work on my hand, I will be able to tune out others criticism regarding my work. If I give a criticism too much attention then probably it would rob me of my focus away from my work. I can ponder over the mistakes which I have made earlier I my life which then help me to pay attention to the details because repeating the same mistakes again makes no sense as it delays the time with which I could reach my goal. At the end of the day what matters is whether I give my best or no. even the most successful people have had to deal with obstacles, the only difference- they have managed them pretty well.
“When I give my best I receive the best”
“It’s how I manage the obstacles, not how I evade them which is going to matter in the pursuit of my goal”
“I choose to focus on my work rather then what the honky ponky says, because what I truly focus on grows”
“I am able to achieve anything I set my heart to because I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way”
Wow. Just wow. Celes, I gotta tell you, I think this one really did something for me! Which is wonderful because I wasn’t expecting that I’d get a lot out of this particular theme for some reason, and yet I think I’ve uncovered the most yet by going through today’s challenge! Which is saying something, because EVERY day has been so powerful!
I’m quite tired out from typing out my response on my blog, but for anyone interested I’ll do my best to give a decent summary:
I chose for myself the obstacles of other’s opinions and my own thoughts. Normally if someone thinks something bad about what I think, I in turn feel bad and deem my thought a bad or stupid one. But when I thought about it, a recent example I have — getting a job and moving into my own place — made me realize that I’m perfectly capable of achieving a goal I want, even when I have naysayers (in this case, people telling me I shouldn’t move out because my job is a possibly temporary internship.)
I remembered how strong I felt, and how these negative thoughts didn’t affect me for possibly the first time in my life. I knew, somehow, I was achieving my dream, and I wasn’t about to let worries stop me from grabbing hold of it.
My new, empowering thoughts: I’m allowed to dream big and am worthy of any goal I set for myself. As I
take action, I bridge the gap between my dreams and my reality. I move
in the direction of my highest goals, because even an inch at a time
gets me closer to them and in a better place than I was an inch before.
For anyone interested in the full version, you can check it out on my blog, here: http://hackmyheart.com/affirmation-challenge-day-4/
PS: Celes, I think when this challenge is over, that this is something worthy of creating into one of your many e-books! To me, this is on-par, if not potentially more powerful than, your 30BBM and 30LBL. This might be just because these are quite thought/writing based, and I think I respond super well to this kind of “decompressing” via questions, but I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling the positive effects of these tasks. I just want to say thank you for giving me yet another way to know and better myself.
1. Identify an obstacle you are facing currently:
I am having some extremely weird stomach problems. It seems like acid reflux, but that is merely the symptom of the problem, not the root cause. Medication reduces the symptoms but doesn’t cure the whole problem. I have no idea what is going on and am impatiently waiting for a referral to a specialist after this course of medicine has finished. My eating habits don’t help either. It seems like I am trapped in a dangerous negative feedback loop where my eating worsens my stomach problems which screws up my eating.
2. Identify action(s) to overcome this obstacle:
-As each eating trigger arises, record it down and eliminate all the mental beliefs that led to it.
-Everyday. schedule 30 minutes to explore and try out any activity that makes me happy ie blogging. Because the root causes of my EE is that I am not happy.
3. Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
-I am able to create happiness for myself.
-I am able to get rid of my eating problems and eat healthily.
-I have the skill and energy to get rid of all my incorrect limiting beliefs.
4. Say your new belief(s), along with today’s affirmation:
“I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”
http://samuelimyongen.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/affirmation-challenge-day-4/
My biggest obstacle is my lack of office skills even though I just finished an HR Professional cert course. I have to believe in myself, and search out courses I need to get a job in a clerical position. In the meantime I have to search for any job to show that I am a stable, good employee, and to get more job experience.
Today’s affirmation, has led me to a stumbling block….
Try as I may to pin point a particular circumstance, a particular reason, a particular obstacle…the biggest obstacle I see standing in my way is me…….
It maybe that I haven’t mustered the courage to get back up for myself whenever I am hurt emotionally or it may be that I do not see myself so worthy in my eyes when I am to do something for myself, my body such as to cook a special diet for myself or to spend on a gym membership for myself.
1. Identify an obstacle you’re facing currently: Today I identify my biggest obstacle as myself.
My lack of drive or vigour to continue on anything I want to start for myself, my “give up” feeling if any adversity affects me, if my state of despondency if any hopes or expectations I have on others doesn’t come through…
I can tie all this aspects of myself to the possible reason that till now, I had not loved and appreciated myself enough to get back up immediately from any struggles I have, I find this particularly difficult to put in words but I mean to say, that I lose track from my personal growth whenever I am faced with a struggle or a problem.
2. Identify action(s) to overcome this obstacle: The actions have already started. With the Self Love task day and as each day of this challenge unfolds, I find myself realising that I have been neglecting myself! So my answer would be this challenge.
Also, I have made two promises to myself
– I shall never neglect my physical well-being and shall exercise and have the right nutrition for if i shall not be the one to take care of myself, who shall?
– I shall never let any situation, no matter what it may be drain me emotionally
3.Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
– I am in charge of my health! If I don’t act now, then when?
– I am a strong individual! I love and appreciate myself!
“I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way”
Today’s task….has overwhelmed me a little bit! but I appreciate it’s reason…..I understand what it means….I shall overcame my greatest obstacle for it’s as easy as changing my self-image of me
ASLO, i feel exactly what you said. It’s eye opening when realized the person who stand in the way is myself.
Hi ASLO, I just wanted to say how much your comment hit home for me! So often I feel like I’m the one holding myself back from all the things I want and could be, and all the positive changes I should be making in my life. I’ve come to realize that it perhaps stems from a lack of self love and self worth. I can identify with a lot of what you said, and think the promises you made to yourself are really great and a fantastic way to help you overcome obstacles in your life! All the best on your journey :)
An truly awesome tasks today that really brought an issue that I face when trying to help others.
Identify an obstacle you’re facing currently.
– I want to communicate and help others in many ways possible but fear of approaching and rejection is preventing me from achieving my goal.
Identify action(s) to overcome this obstacle
– Talking to my loved ones about issues that may be hidden deep in their hearts
– Helping out friends in any way possible
– Start with a greeting to strangers. E.g. Saying ‘Good Morning’ to the Bus Driver
Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
– I have the power to assists others
– I’m in charge of overcoming my fears
– By taking this opportunity, I will leave no room for regrets
“Start with a greeting to strangers. E.g. Saying ‘Good Morning’ to the Bus Driver”
Jun Xiang, that’s actually a really, really sweet gesture. I don’t know you, but I feel like you’re a very earnest guy from what you’ve shared so far in the challenge. This obstacle that you are facing, do you know where it takes root? E.g., was it always there since you were a child?
Wow its so awesome to receive a reply by the author herself. Thanks for all the time spent to write the post, but going the extra mile to read the comments!
Yes, this obstacle has been with me since I was a child due to my lack of interests in sports, bad at games and thus had a hard time finding friends with common interests.
That made me in my recent years tend to talk in a negative way and was never able to think positively. A few months ago, I’ve started changing to start looking at the brighter side of life and with your posts, it truly motivates me up another level to be a new positive me and dispose the old negative me.
Thanks, Jun Xiang
For today’s task, talking about weight loss, there are two obstacles for me to keep myself going on.
First, of course is about food. My parents love me so much that whenever I come back from work, I can see a table of delicious food. I always have the feeling: I must finish all, don’t waste! =.=”
Second, my laziness stops me a lot. When I have time, I tend to lay on my bed. I love my bed so much!! And, I love sleeping. I’m always proud that I can fall asleep within 5 minutes. But, on the other hand, it is not good for my weight loss project too. :(
Alright, what are the actions I can take to overcome these 2 factors?
For the first obstacle, I must always remind myself not to eat too much until 100% full. I have to reset my mind to reduce the amount of food intake. Yes, I know that I will not feel starving so soon, no matter how much of food intake. Even a quarter plate of rice can make me work for 5~6 hours without feeling starving. So, why should I eat that much? If I feel starving, I can always prepare some biscuits in my bag with me.
For the second factor, get something to do whenever I’m free. I can even watch anime while doing some simple exercise. Get up, girl! You can do it!
In fact, I have started the actions above 2 weeks ago, especially in controlling my diets. So far, I’m good to go. :)
家梅 glad to hear that you already started 2 weeks. 2 tips works well for me:1 eat meat andothers i prefered in lunch 2 ingore the dishes left, finish all is big challenge for fitness.
This task is much harder than my imagination. I even doubt why this happen. It took longer time for me to have clue for this. just no idea what is the obstacle on my way.
Considering all areas in my life, I will say the biggest obstacle is myself, my default thinking, feel I am not deserved for things I have, feel I am not ready to get my dream job, feel I am not good enough to have things I want to have. Thinking too much, over analysis, what I am doing is stand on the way for me to achieve my dreams. In one words, I am the type waiting to die. It seems I proactively take a lot of efforts and time to pursue what I want, in fact, I am only play it safe. I should put myself in the field to experience instead of waiting and thinking, wishing things to happen.
Your Task Today
Identify an obstacle you’re facing currently.
Career: I want to work as training manager, trainer in my company. But current there is no headcount in HR department, I wait for 6 years get a headcount in training department. Which I feel excited but still seems long way to go, I want to explore the career opportunity in management track (a different career path) instead of just doing administrator work. I still see lots of things I can learn, and I can’t quit since I didn’t see nice opportunity outside, and I have to work to pay my bills.
Faith: I do believe there is a power beyond everything, may be god, may be Buda, they just have different names. But they do exist. I just wonder which one I should follow, and very struggled with this. over analysis is on the way for me to make decision.
Identify action(s) to overcome this obstacle. How can you overcome this obstacle?
Career:
Be grateful on the opportunity I already have. I am already in the best opportunity I can get within my current company. I should cherish this instead of keep feel I am nothing.
Network with people in training field by using social media and going to related industry talks. Just because there are no opportunities now doesn’t mean there’ll be no opportunities later.
Build my know-how about the industry and behave like I am the training manager/trainer I want to be.
Build my skills. There are always soft skills that are transferable across any job.
Have the conversation with my manager on the possibility for career path change. If ok to do that, this should be great. If no, I just build myself and look for opportunity outside.
Do volunteer work during the weekend, proactively engaged in PE. Etc
Continue my blog, to share my learning.
Just do it!!!!
Create new positive belief(s) to help you overcome this obstacle.
Career:
I am the CEO of my career.
I understand I have fear, but I believe I have the courage to conquer the difficulty in life, if I can’t do that, this won’t happen.
The career path is meaningless, if I am good enough, I can create opportunity for myself. If company don’t allow me to change my career, then I should think other possibility, instead of blocking myself in the tiny box.
I already wait for 6 years to get current headcount, how many years do I still have before I die?
Any excuse I still can use to keep waiting/wishing things happen instead of taking real action?
I am responsible for my career and my dream.
I don’t want to wait longer to get what I want badly, if I really want it, just do it.
Say your new belief(s), along with today’s affirmation:
“I’ve the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.”
To be honest, I feel I am the person who stands in my way. On one hand, I said I want to be trainer, on the other hand, another voice is saying, you can’t do that. This time I decide that I will follow the positive message Vivian said. I have the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in my way.
I am recreating myself, discovering myself to do what I am chosen to do with given talents. No matter what happened in life, what I did in the past, I am awesome, I love myself unconditionally.
I have the ability to become a person who make a difference to others life (build talents and org), through coaching/training/capability building.
I have the power to overcome the obstacles that stand in my way.
At this moment, my biggest challenge is my mind set. The default thinking about I am not deserved for things I dreamed. Who said that? Me. Can I change that? Absolutely!
Vivian, this sounds like a real struggle. For me, it’s often the case that the more I do to achieve something, the more I feel that I deserve it. Maybe that is true of you as well?
You said that you feel like someone who is “waiting to die” and that you ought to put yourself out there more instead of waiting and wishing for things to happen… If you do the things that you listed, maybe you will feel more deserving?
I think that you are awesome! You are already a person who makes a difference for others, but the comments you make on other people’s posts and the support that you give. Your ideas about what to do in your situation seem like good ones for others to consider as well.
I wish you great success with overcoming this obstacle.
Vicki, thanks for your message. I just have the negative thoughts that i Don’t deserve. Everything i did, i feel others can do those well as well. As a outsider, i do agree i didn’t Some great things during work. But whenever i got appreaction, i feel it’s my responsibility. I am so picky to myself.
I’ve been sharing a room my entire life (not with siblings, because I have none) in an apartment neither I, nor my parents own; I strongly wish to have a small apartment of my own, but the main and biggest issue is of financial order. An apartment is way too expensive even for a working adult, so for a student with a part-time job it’s pretty much impossible to get. I once tried to figure out how many years it would take me to save enough money for a small apartment if I had a full time job. The answer? 14 years, a figure which isn’t encouraging at all.
Honestly, I have no idea what I could do. Even if I got a job (as I’ve already said above), it would take me years to save enough money (and that’s in the utopic scenario in which real estate market doesn’t fluctuate and I use my entire wage for the apartment, something which of course is absurd).
However, I tell myself that if men of the street have become millionaires (this has happened before, mostly in the USA, but this is an irrelevant fact for my affirmation), then I can get a small apartment at some point in my life, even if at the moment I have no idea how.
Lina, Thanks for sharing this. I am a little bit positive person. I used to feel i never will have my own house in my whole life, but when i changed my thinking, and believe i deserve that, i start have the things i dreamed. What i did is to check my mindset about money, I noticed that i hate money, feel is bad, when i changed my mindset about money. Things are geting better and better.
Thank you, Vivian, for the insight and for the encouragement. :)
Hey, Madalina! I just wanted to give you a heart-felt “good luck” — not that I think you require luck, but I can’t think of any phrase which better says, “I truly hope you can achieve your dreams.” I can relate just slightly to your predicament — I wasn’t expecting the job I got right out of college, so I was trying to figure out how minimum wage would let me live anywhere. It was scary and depressing. I now live with three awesome roommates, and I could have never imagined this happening any time soon. I wish I had more to say than, “I believe in you,” but that’s all I can offer. I just really feel for you and wanted to share.
Thank you, Calae. I appreciate your taking the the time to encourage me!
Madalina, I wanted to get my mom a house too. I still do. I was having the same thoughts. I am part time too. There was no way I can make it like this so I thought I could use something else. You have skills, use them and save everything you get from it Or if you don’t know what to do, then there is an easy way. Go hunt bottles and cans for one day at least and the refunds you get for the recycled bottles/cans you save and never touch them for anything but your apartment. Good luck!
I like your positive thinking!
Thank you for the suggestion! :) I think I can use my drawing skills (as I’ve already been doing commissioned portrays lately).
Good luck to you as well!
Wow cooler! Good luck to you too! :)
Ooh, I really like this one! I especially appreciate the timing of it after yesterday’s affirmation. =) I’m going to hold off on sharing my findings until I’m home from work today, but as it’s the morning right now I’m going to think about this affirmation and it’s action steps right away!
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