The Female Mind

Archive for the ‘Understanding The Mind’ Category

I’ve embarked on a path to drastically change my life and the lives of the people close to me. Now I am a few months away from really big things happening and I have to say … its a little scary. Mixed feelings of doubt, fear, excitement, happiness and a touch of sadness are circulating around me. At moments I feel all of them at once or one lingers for a bit.

I’ve been ecstatically happy and have broken down in tears several times. Every time the tears show up I am just on the cusp of a breakthrough. These moments I doubt my path, but I also do not quit. I grab my bootstraps and yank, hard. I dig and deepen my resolve.

These moments of fear are very common for everyone. The bigger the goal the deeper the fear. That’s just the way it is. Its in this critical time that most individuals quit. Change is unbelievably uncomfortable and nerve wracking. Sometimes its downright painful. The only thing that will propel you through these times is a very clear commitment to what you want and the persistence and faith that you will accomplish it.

I’m lucky to have a very strong set of people that believe in me and share my vision. Your environment matters so much in times of change. If you are surrounded with people who doubt you, their inadequacies and jealousy at your success will rub off on you and temper your dreams and resolve.

Next time the chaos sets in remember that its temporary and not a permanent fixture in your life. “Nothing splendid was ever achieve except by those that dared believe that something inside themselves was superior to circumstance.” Bruce Barton.

You are not your circumstances, your circumstances are not you. You can change anything in your life. You just have to do it one action or step at a time.

Christina Helwig
www.GlobalSuccessILG.com

First. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life, therefore, I DEMAND of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.

Second. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality, therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.

Third. I know through the principle of auto-suggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it, therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of SELF-CONFIDENCE.

Fourth. I have clearly written down a description of my DEFINITE CHIEF AIM in life, and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Fifth. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself.

I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full FAITH that it will gradually influence my THOUGHTS and ACTIONS so that I will become a self-reliant, and successful person.

[If you make a commitment to yourself to read this daily it will do wonders for you.]

Christina Helwig

I used to think that being rich meant that you had millions of dollars, a fancy car, a big house and a myriad of other niceties in your life. Now however, I am not so sure. To me being rich means that you are debt free and you have more than enough to cover your needs and reasonable wants. It also means having the resources to help the people in your life you care about.

What this really comes down to is monthly cash flow. Are you on a whole taking in more than you spend and do you have reserves should an big emergency arise? If I answer this question for myself the answer is an emphatic no. With that I know I have some work to do. First I have to figure out what I need to live. Then I need to calculate what I would need to live the way I want to live.

My goal then becomes closing that gap. You see when you put up a goal of I want to be a “millionaire” you really are saying “I want to live like a millionaire.” What we often do not understand is that even some millionaires are deeply in debt and are themselves living paycheck to paycheck. If your wealth is not long lasting why bother. You want to maintain that lifestyle for the long-run, not for a few short intense years.

Additionally by focusing on the monthly gap you need to bridge, the goal seems much more reasonable to your brain. You can mentally process it and your subconscious mind will start to accept the goal as possible. Its when we think something is possible that things start to happen.

Your next step in this process is to sit down and brainstorm all the different ways you can bridge your gap. Really get creative. Its the simple changes and ideas that make the greatest impact. Then take action on the items you brainstormed. If one doesn’t work then try another until it sticks.

Without action you will stay in the same position you are currently in or be in a worse one, a year from now. This I can promise you. Nothing happens without action. Without it you are merely a dreamer. So get moving and make yourself rich, its only a tiny gap.

Christina Helwig
www.GlobalSuccessILG.com

I heard this piece this afternoon while driving home. If this does not intimately describe Napoleon Hill’s philosophy I don’t know what does. Its magical.

Christina Helwig

As heard on NPR’s All Things Considered, April 6, 2009. Essay read by Lonnie Ali.

I have always believed in myself, even as a young child growing up in Louisville, Kentucky. My parents instilled a sense of pride and confidence in me, and taught me and my brother that we could be the best at anything. I must have believed them because I remember being the neighborhood marble champion and challenging my neighborhood buddies to see who could jump the tallest hedges or run a foot race the length of the block. Of course I knew when I made the challenge that I would win. I never even thought of losing.

In high school I boasted weekly—if not daily—that one day I was going to be the heavyweight champion of the world. As part of my boxing training, I would run down Fourth Street in downtown Louisville, darting in and out of local shops, taking just enough time to tell them I was training for the Olympics and I was going to win a gold medal. And when I came back home I was going to turn pro and become the world heavyweight champion in boxing. I never thought of the possibility of failing—only of the fame and glory I was going to get when I won. I could see it. I could almost feel it. When I proclaimed that I was the “Greatest of All Time,” I believed in myself. And I still do.

Throughout my entire boxing career, my belief in my abilities triumphed over the skill of an opponent. My will was stronger than their skills. What I didn’t know was that my will would be tested even more when I retired.

In 1984, I was conclusively diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Since that diagnosis, my symptoms have increased and my ability to speak in audible tones has diminished. If there was anything that would strike at the core of my confidence in myself, it would be this insidious disease. But my confidence and will to continue to live life as I choose won’t be compromised.

Early in 1996, I was asked to light the cauldron at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Of course my immediate answer was yes. I never even thought of having Parkinson’s or what physical challenges that would present for me.

When the moment came for me to walk out on the 140-foot high scaffolding and take the torch from Janet Evans, I realized I had the eyes of the world on me. I also realized that as I held the Olympic torch high above my head, my tremors had taken over. Just at that moment, I heard a rumble in the stadium that became a pounding roar and then turned into a deafening applause. I was reminded of my 1960 Olympic experience in Rome, when I won the gold medal. Those 36 years between Rome and Atlanta flashed before me and I realized that I had come full circle.

Nothing in life has defeated me. I am still “The Greatest.” This I believe.

Muhammad Ali won the world heavyweight boxing championship three times. He retired in 1981 and became active in humanitarian causes, including goodwill missions to Afghanistan, North Korea, and Cuba. Ali married childhood friend Lonnie Williams in 1986.

Independently produced for NPR by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with John Gregory and Viki Merrick.

Ali photo by John Lair. Photo of Muhammad and Lonnie Ali courtesy Celebrity Fight Night. Special thanks to the Muhammad Ali Center, an international education center and cultural attraction in Louisville, Ky., that preserves and promotes Ali’s Legacy.

Lately I have been very focused on getting my body in tip top shape. I have been doing fantastic and have stuck on purpose with my goals more than ever before and it shows. I ran into an interesting situation today. We are going over a team member’s house to mastermind and they called and asked my boyfriend what I would want on the pizza. Well since pizza is not on purpose with my plan I had two choices. Ask for something different or just go along and eat the pizza and break the commitment I made to myself.

I really struggled with this. I felt horrible that I needed to call them and ask for a switch. After all they were buying it, I am the one that needs something different and its kind of socially rude. But internally I knew I was doing myself a disservice and I also knew that they would understand if I explained the situation to them. We have been friends for over nine years. I really wanted to stick to my plan and continue on my success streak.

So I called them and thanked them for the offer of pizza and asked if they would not mind ordering me a salad when they called in the order. I explained my goals and my mastermind partner completely understood. I felt 100% back on purpose and they were happy to help me. It is okay to say no to friends and family members when you have a goal you want to achieve. Sometimes while you might feel you are being rude; you’re not. The people in your life will respect you more because you spoke up and stuck to your purpose. This also will help you defeat the heavy pull of social pressure. I knew that once I was over at the house I would be watching three other people enjoying the pizza and I would feel the pressure of joining in. Now … problem solved.

Stick to your goals even if you feel that social pull. That is when you will make your biggest strides.

Christina Helwig
www.GlobalSuccessILG.com

While driving home tonight from dinner I was having a conversation with Ray Stendall about how I built up disposable income for my new car. It struck me that the term “disposable” is a terrible term for individuals to use. It inherently makes you think of money as something that gets thrown away. Stay with me on this thought… If you think of money as something to be thrown away it means that you do not value it or respect it because its “trash.”

When it comes time to allocate where you spend money and how you decide to manage your income you will make different decisions if you change the way you talk about money. I challenge you to think about money as an investment. Say “I invested” in buying, food, clothes, paying rent, buying books or spending money on building my business. The fundamental shift in your thinking will over time change the way you spend money and your relationship to it.

By respecting money and taking it from being disposable to an investment you will have much better control of what happens when it comes time to balance the checkbook at the end of the week. Eventually you will also start to make mental choices you never thought possible. I personally want to continue to build my business. When I go out or make choices about where to spend my money, I think to myself “can I invest this” in my business or am I going to take the instant gratification that this purchase provides. It makes a difference. Often the smallest change in habits, especially your thinking habits, pay the biggest returns.

Christina Helwig
www.GlobalSuccessILG.com

There are a couple of points in “Think and Grow Rich” that Bob Proctor said changed his life. Napoleon Hill wrote in his Chapter on Desire: “There is a difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it.” “No one is ready for a thing until they believe they can acquire it.”

How many times do we ponder our goals and think “wouldn’t that be nice.” We sit and daydream and for some reason nothing seems to happen. The goal sits and gathers dust and we eventually move on to other goals or feel bad because we have not achieved what we set out to do.

Let me ask you this, do you actually believe that you will accomplish your goals? If you say “I will be a millionaire,” do you actually believe it? Can you see yourself living as a millionaire, doing the things that a millionaire does? Or do you have some vague, misty concept of what that life is like and merely think about having the million dollars only if you were to win the lottery?

This is not enough. You can’t just dream. Your dreams have to turn into a reality in your mind. When you think about your goal it needs to be like a movie in your head. Almost like you are replaying a memory, smell the smells, feel the breeze and all other senses you can engage. Pretend that you are stepping into a virtual reality machine and really “live” in that mental movie.

This is the only way to switch from wishing to being ready to receive a goal. Bob Proctor realized that he had been wishing for things as a boy but he never really believed he could receive them. He could not see himself with the new bike or winning a baseball game. Bob realized that he was not ready for the good that he desired. He was not ready for what he really wanted. He was wishing but he wasn’t ready.

I recently went out and toured multi-million dollar homes. I had no concept of what living in one of these homes would be like. In fact I had never even been inside one. How could I imagine living in that type of a house without ever walking through one? One of the best things you can do for yourself is go take tours of homes, sit in nice cars and go out to fancy restaurants. This will give your mind some mental muscle to help you “live” in your mental movie. Take action and go out and do some of these exercises this weekend. You will be so happy you did.

To view videos from Bob Proctor and other great personal development teachers visit: www.GlobalSuccessILG.com

Christina Helwig

I just watched a great video from Bob Proctor. I have been studying him for years but this particular video really cemented something for me. He said “it’s the simple little things you do, everyday that make the difference.” Wow. Such a profoundly easy explanation for a complex process of the mind.

Bob was discussing how he went from a fireman’s salary in 1961 to running a multi-million dollar business. It all started with him reading the book “Think and Grow Rich” written by Napoleon Hill in 1937. [By the way a video of Napoleon Hill is on the blog, just scroll down.] Napoleon Hill’s book taught Bob that if you write a goal down a card and read that goal everyday as many times as possible you will achieve the goal.

Here is the important part about that process. You have to emotionalize the goal and really feel and see yourself achieving it. It is not enough to read it like a stale book report. You have to actually have the good feelings and perform almost like an actor in a movie. You need to act as if the goal has already happened. Even if those feelings and the statement seem like a lie when you start, over time you will start to believe what you have written on the card. It is only when you believe that you can achieve something, that you will achieve it. Without belief you are stuck.

Make up your mind right now that you are going to change your life. Write your goal on a card, read it everyday and feel in your heart that you have already achieved the goal. See yourself with your goal and live in that space. Also be sure that you attach a date to the accomplishment of the goal and write it in the present tense. Start out with “It is now _____ and I am so happy and grateful now that ______.” You will be amazed at what starts to happen in your life.

To watch videos from Bob Proctor visit: www.GlobalSuccessILG.com

Christina Helwig

Your mind has two parts: the Conscious Mind and the Subconscious Mind. Together these two parts control all of your actions and ultimately the results you have in your life. As we explore each area of your mind, understand that while these ideas may seem simple and elementary, they have a wide reaching and profound affect on your life. They control every aspect of what makes you who you are and will continue to control everything in your life until the day you die. As we unravel the Mind remember that this is only a small portion of the material and more will be posted as time passes. Your best bet is to read the oldest posts first as this information is timeless.

The Conscious Mind

The Conscious Mind is where you do all your day to day thinking. This is where you make decisions and where you primarily operate from in normal life. When you hold a conversation or watch a t.v. program you are using your conscious mind. Both the conscious mind and the subconscious mind think in pictures. If you think about your family members a picture of them will flash on the movie screen of your conscious mind.

You also can only hold one image on the screen of your mind at a time. For example you cannot think of a red apple and an orange in detail at the same time. While you might be able to project them side by side you are not able to see the grain in the skin of the apple or the dimples in the peel of the orange at the same time.

This ultimately means that you cannot think of a negative idea and a positive idea at the same time. While your mind might be able to flip back and forth between negative and positive ideas or images very rapidly, it is not able to hold those two images at the same time.

The Subconscious Mind

Most people would think that the Conscious Mind controls the Subconscious Mind, but this is not so. The Subconscious Mind is the real mover and shaker in our lives. The Subconscious Mind stores all our beliefs about who we are, what we are capable of, what we are not capable of and every other detail we believe to be true about the world. We can refer to the Subconscious Mind as the emotional mind.

The subconscious mind operates in the background of your life and while you sleep. Dreams are a product of your subconscious mind. You can think of the subconscious mind as a computer program running without your help at all times. An example of this would be when you have suddenly realized that you have not been paying attention while driving and you are almost home from work.

The entire drive to and from work is a program that you have put into your subconscious mind through repetition. Your driving is almost automatic and takes very little thinking on your part. In fact without consciously thinking about going to the store when driving that pathway you will drive straight home. Your programming will take over and you will “forget” to go to the store unless you hold the image of the store at the forefront of your mind when driving home.

In Part 2 of this series we will explore how the Conscious and Subconscious Mind interact.

Christina Helwig