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Quote of the Week

“Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong.”

-Zen Proverb 🌼

This Week's "Subconscious Success" Tip

This season of life seems to be bringing up uncertainty for me...from the recent news of my dog being diagnosed with a trickster cancer (she's doing great so far as of 4/25 - lots of energy) to watching what's unfolding in global politics and thinking "wtf is going to happen next?".

These days I'm really leaning on my tools to help me stay as present as possible so I'm living in the ever present now and not in a future that hasn't happened yet (and maybe never will) or the past that I cannot change.

One "in the moment" tool I lean on often is the "The Work" from Byron Katie...just 4 simple questions that when combined with a meditative contemplation can transform your experience of life.

How to Apply This Tip

1) Think of a situation where you've experienced a level of stress, worry, frustration, or fear.

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2) Take a few deep breaths. Enter into a meditative state.

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3) Try running the situation through "The Work" process. Ask yourself these 4 questions, in this order, pausing at each one to contemplate. Journal if it's easier for you:

1 - Is this true? (If yes or maybe, experience "yes" or "maybe" for a moment and then go to question 2. If no, experience "no" for a moment and go to question 3.)

2 - Can I absolutely know that it's true? (Notice what wisdom is revealed as you sit with this)

3 - How do I react, what happens, when I believe that thought? (Notice your internal experience, thoughts/feelings/reactions, how you treat yourself and others, etc.)

4 - Who would I be without this thought? (How would you "be" in the world, how would you respond to people/yourself, what actions would you take or not take? Notice what wisdom is revealed.)

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Sometimes for me just asking the first two questions gives me a sense of calm and reminds me to come back into the now. The next two help me become aware of who I am when I choose to grip to the thought as it is and explore how else I can be when I loosen the grip and expand my perspective, even slightly.

Why it works (the short version)

So many of our stressful patterns stem from believing unquestioned thoughts. And most of those thoughts came from somewhere — culture, childhood, trauma, fear, repetition.

The Work gives us a loving, gentle way to stop identifying with those thoughts as the full truth — and return to a sense of inner peace and spaciousness.

We also often don't experience life like it truly is - we experience it like we subconsciously think it is, right? Think about people who feel at peace when it rains, while others might feel low and sad...same outer experience, but totally different inner experience.

While there is a lot of uncertainty out there right now...we don't really know the truth of it all. We don't know the ecological "big picture" effect of it all either. Reminding ourselves of this can help us remember that perhaps there's a different perspective or a different area of focus, too.

Currently for me, it's helping me make the most out of the time with my pup and loved ones...and also focus on what IS working well vs. what shit could potentially hit the fan.

Ready To Try It?

This week, take a few moments and practice running just one thought through "The Work". Notice what wisdom your system sends you!

And if you're going through something stressful right now...my heart is with you, and I hope this helps even a little. 🧡

That's it! Have questions about this week's tip? Want to share something with me? Connect with me!

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Cheers to your success!

-Alina Nikishina

Transformational Coach & Mentor

P.S. What's one of your "go to" questions you ask yourself when you're going through a time of fear or stress? Or what's something you tell yourself that brings you peace?

Click here to contact me and share with me! For me it's the questions I shared today and just gently reminding myself to zoom out and attempt to see more of the "big picture" that's usually not available to me when I'm so focused on one small "zoomed in" piece of it.

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