About Stephen Gemmell
3% of the world’s population control 90% of the world’s resources. So why would you not follow them, instead of following the crowd?
They are passionate and focussed, but so are many of the crowd. So, what is the key difference? Well, in a word it is paradigm – their (self) beliefs, values and specific and absolute positive focus on their burning desire – they know what they want and they know how to get it.
Your paradigm is ‘located’ in your subconscious; some say, including the ancient Greeks, that it’s in your heart. For me, it’s kind of the same – it is all about passion, love, feelings, emotions; all the attributes you associate with the heart. Your conscious mind is responsible for only 3-4% of you thought process, the balance comes from your subconscious. It is vital therefore that you get your paradigm right in order to maximise your success rate and live your dreams (and perhaps become one of the 3%; well, why not?).
Your current paradigm is a product of many years of influence from your parents, friends, family, teachers and the media – some good and probably quite a lot of negatives (certainly if you watch or listen to news broadcasts).
You can shift your paradigm
A key for me in achieving this is to ‘not resist evil’. My interpretation of ‘evil’ is any distraction that is stopping you from living your dream – negative comments from acquaintances, worry over finances, lack of self-belief. You must learn not to resist but rather to “go with the flow” – just as a river flows around boulders. And while on the river analogy – resistance is like you trying to row upstream. If you let go of the oars then eventually the boat will turn and head downstream anyway. Put another way, resistance means that you are letting the distraction or life situation control you (or else it wouldn’t need mind-time). You know the type of thing – ‘I can’t let…’, ‘What if.. (usually the worst case scenario) happens..’. Let it go! The reality is that you can live in neither the past or the future. Whatever you are doing now, you are doing in the present. So take control – go with the flow – and let go.
How do you let go? For me, there are two excercises that you need to practice. Firstly, still your mind (this might take a lot of practice – it certainly did for me!) and become the observer of, not the participant in, any negative thoughts or life situations that enter your mind. Observe them and let them go. Realise that they can do you no harm in your present state. They will be formed or perceived from the past (which is gone) or from a future that you haven’t yet lived and have the very strong ability to influence in any case. Why? Because you have free-will and can choose.
The second part of letting go is also within you – your state of mind or more correctly your state of Being, the very essence of your paradigm. Let me explain. If I were to ask, “who are you?”, you might say, “I Am John”, or “I Am Joan”. But that’s not you. It’s just a name or label that helps others identify you. You are your state of being – this might be a feeling of health or wealth or happiness. So you would say, “I AM happy” or “I AM Helathy”. These affirmations are really important because you may also answer, “I AM not worthy” or “I AM Unhappy”. So how do you you practice this part of the paradigm shift?
Some of you may have guessed already. You practice and practice and practice (potentially up to 20 times a day) your (changed) positive affirmations. To get the real benefit say them out loud – this will help your subconscious to recognise and accept them and more especially to bring them to life.
Go for it with affirmations that start, “I Am so Happy and so grateful that …”
For example, “I AM so happy and so grateful now that I have my own coaching business that enables me to positively impact so many people” or “I Am so happy and so grateful now that I have met my perfect partner, my soul-mate”. You get the idea.
Okay, to recap, your paradigm is a key differntiator when it comes to success and living your dreams. You can change your paradigm by following these steps:
1. do not resist ‘evil’ – go with the flow;
2. still your mind – observe all negative thoughts and let them go;
3. practice (really practice!) positive affirmations – “I AM so happy and so grateful now that….”
Try it – what have you got to lose?
I am very keen to hear your thoughts and if it works for you…
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My favourite affirmation is Today I will smile and prosper……….I say it then I smile. …………It’s a great way to start a day!
Hi Wayne, I use a smile often too. It certainly helps get me in the right frame of mind. Thanks for sharing. Stephen
My affirmation is: “Everything always works out in my favor.” I find if I look at everything that happens in my life in that way, I am always surprised by how often that affirmation actually proves to be true.
Hi Jennifer. Great affirmation and what a fabulous approach. Thank you. Stephen
I agree with “letting go”. When I release my resistance, effective answers seem to just flood in and new worlds open up. Things flow easily.
I find visualization works much better for me than affirmations, but to each his own.
Hi Broderick. Yes, ‘letting go’ helps you relax and that state of mind will help you be more creative. I love visualisations too and posted a little blog on just that last week. Thanks for dropping by. Stephen
Letting go is indeed powerful. I appreciate your instructions for how to go with the flow and protect the mind from negative thoughts.
Why would I not follow the “3% of the world’s population” who “control 90% of the world’s resources”? I’m not too keen on greed. No individual deserves to control that amount of the world’s resources! They are not my role model by any means.
Hi Sandra. Great point. That’s why I believe we need a paradigm shift – to redress that balance and give everyone the same opportunity. Thanks for sharing. Stephen
If you resist life to much physical symptoms will occur. Some people get indigestion ( Heart Chakra) some get migraines ( Crown Chakra), and others may get stomach aches (Solar Plexus Chakra). These are all symptoms of inner resistance. Learning to trust in a ” Higher Power” will do wonders for letting go of resistance.
Hi Justin. Absolutely. A lot of pain is caused by internal tension or resistance. I also believe very strongly in ‘higher power’ trust. Thank you. Stephen
Hi Stephen, great read! It’s very important to shift your paradigms and embrace a new way of thinking. I remember Einstein’s definition of insanity: doing the same things each day and expecting different results. So true
Thanks Stuart, much appreciated. I’ve used the Einstein quote before. So very true – but amazing how many people don’t see it that way. Thanks again. Stephen
Just wanted to say what a great read this was. Really useful info. I wholeheartedly agree with the whole letting go of negative thought stuff
Thanks Chris, I really appreciate your positive feedback. Glad you found the post helpful. Thanks again, Stephen
I like the way you put going with the stream: Row, row, row your boat …
I’d add a 4th step, which I have not perfected yet: let go of the “positive” as well as the “negative” because it’s two sides of the same coin.
The other side seems to flip up no matter what.
Hi Ray, I like your take on this. So it’s really about balance – too much pressure on positive may take you from confident to arrogance or complacency, for example. Take care, Stephen
Hi Stephen. I totally agree with what you’ve said about letting go of negative thoughts. The resistance and negativity that we hold within is usually the main thing holding us back.
Hi Nea, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I really do believe that also. Negative thoughts can become overwhelming and lead to anxiety and stress. Thanks again, Stephen
I just read something today like this. It suggested that all you had to do to make a “paradigm shift” as you call it is to change the story you tell yourself by viewing your past with a different perception and changing your present definition of “I am…” Both involve letting go. Very simple and oh so hard at the same time. Thanks for your reminder and suggestion.
Yes I would say it does work. My daily affirmations was what gave me the motivation, courage & belief to want to lead a higher life by letting go and quitting a dead end job, though it pays well.
Hi Lawrence, I am glad daily affirmations are making a difference in your life. I hope things really work out for you after having the courage to let go. Thanks for sharing, Stephen
Hey Debbie. You’re welcome. I think that’s what NLP’rs call the Swish Pattern. There are some variations but the most common method involves changing the movie from old to new. Take care, Stephen
I just started a gratefulness diary. I don’t write things down as affirmations as I’d like to think but instead how I really feel. For example if I have done things I’ve waited for but felt insecure or otherwise not really positive when doing them I don’t include them in my diary. I write only about the issues that I honestly feel grateful in all of my heart – and surprisingly many of them are really small things. I think that works for me now, it helps me to connect with my deepest feelings.
I thank you for this post since it gave me the inspiration.
Hi Miami, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. That’s great. Gratitude is very powerful and I am not surprised that you find yourself being grateful for a lot of small things. I wish you continual inspiration through your diary. Thanks again for sharing, Stephen
Great article! I so agree. Life is teaching me over and over again that the more I go with the flow, the happier life is. There have been multiple cases in my life where a devastating situation turned out to have immense positive affect in the long run (and in hindsight, if I had gone with the flow a little bit more, it may not have been quite so devastating).
I’m also a huge believer in positive affirmations. Affirmations have helped me change negative belief patterns completely around. From the basic “I love myself.” (which I didn’t believe when I first started saying it) to “My life is rich and full and all of my feelings belong.”, each affirmation that I have resonated with and said on a daily basis has become a true part of my reality.
Hi Shanie, Thank you and glad you enjoyed the article. It’s great that you are learning to ‘go with the flow’ and that your affirmations becoming your reality. Thanks again for sharing. Take care, Stephen
Hi Stephen
First time visitor to your site. Enjoyed this post. I like your terminology regarding ‘evil’, the negative influences that constantly surround us. I am a great believer in being ‘still of mind’ and ‘observing’ your thought processes – takes practise however getting better at it. You can then isolate your negative thought influences and reframe them to achieve a better outcome. I have no favourite affirmations however find it impossible to be negative when I smile…and I smile a lot.
Be good to yourself
David
Hi David, thank you for taking time to share your thoughts. I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. I use smiling a lot too. It seems to shift the mood for me and (most) anyone it may be aimed towards. Thanks again for your feedback. Take care, Stephen
I find it difficult to let go. There are so many thoughts running through a mind and only some are conscious. The only moment I can let go, if positive or negative thoughts, is in meditation. And then I am not certain what is meant with paradigm. This word is used since The Secret. If thought pattern is meant. The thought pattern is a result of beliefs and habits that are embedded in the subconscious mind. But the thought pattern can’t be changed by itself.
Hi Christa, thank you for taking time to comment. I believe meditation is a great way to focus and still the mind. By Paradigm I do mean thought patterns. Paradigm can be defined as ‘a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitute a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them’, and in the context of my article I have taken this to mean an individual view of reality, firstly, and also a collective shift for the benefit of the whole community (humanity). Yes, values etc are embedded in the subconscious but I do believe that these can be changed or shifted with practice, including meditation and positive affirmations. Thanks again for getting in touch. I will hop over to your site later. Take care, Stephen
Thank you Stephen to explain what is paradigm for you. My view “was” too narrow when it comes to explaining what is in the program of the individual subconscious mind. And the reason for this is in definition of words. I am German speaking and this means exactness, which lies in the mentality of German speaking scientists and I have a PhD. Thought patterns are not in the program of the subconscious mind, they are the result of what is programmed there and can be changed by changing what is programmed in the subconscious mind. And this is the point where it is NOW getting interesting for me.
What I enjoy really very much about your comment is that you put importance of the universal part of the subconscious of the all. Making changes there will change the world. Could some people like you and me get the MEDIA to make changes in their reporting, it would trigger a world change. Imagine you listen to the news and hear only positive stuff.
Hi Christa, I’m glad I can help. You’ve really got me going on this positive news concept. I’ve threatened it before and having posted a blog last week on Procastination, no more excuses and you’ve fnally pushed me beyond my tipping point – thank you! So tonight I’ve registered a new blog called The Good News Channel. Nothing to report yet
but will let you know as soon as I launch. Thank you again for your insights and very valuable feedback. Take care, Stephen