Make Reflection Your Resolution

If you're looking for a new Year's Resolution, here's one to get curious about.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Make Reflection Your Resolution

Here’s one from The Grasshopper’s collection of Golden Oldies:

“Reflection is different than thinking things over.”

Most of us spend a lot of time thinking things over. And by that, I mean we go over the same ground again . . . and again . . . and again. Reflection, on the other hand, offers a way out. It points toward a remedy.

A lot of people rely on the classic pros and cons list. A benefits analysis. And that would work beautifully—if our decisions were made intellectually. But most decisions aren’t. They’re emotional decisions that we later justify with logic.

So if thinking and emotion are both part of the loop, how do you step out of it? You reflect.

Reflection isn’t more thinking on the topic. In fact, that tends to be repetitive—taking you right back to where you already were. Reflection lets go of that cycle.

Reflecting means recognizing that you have a dilemma . . . without trying to figure it out. The moment you notice your "problem solving" thinking is taking you to the same place it always has, that’s your cue. It’s time to start reflecting. Quoting Einstein, “I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me."

Reflection begins with acknowledging something very important: there’s a resourceful part of you that already knows how to find an answer—once you get your thinking out of the way.

Then you let that part of you go to work. And it works best when you’re doing something else.

Have you ever noticed when your best ideas show up? In the shower. On a walk. Sitting in your favorite chair. Washing the dishes. Walking the dog. Your mind is occupied, and suddenly—there it is . . . a solution.

One of my favorite ways to reflect is to dedicate a simple activity to the problem. For example, before I go for a walk, I intentionally dedicate that walk to finding an answer. Then, during the walk, I deliberately think about other things—or I pay attention to what I see and hear around me.

That frees up the creative part of me to do what it does best.

It doesn’t need my help—only my absence.

When you focus your conscious attention somewhere else, you unleash your internal resources. They quietly slip into what I call Mission Mode.

And once you realize you’re not the smartest person in the room, you can turn things over to the part of you that is.

That’s reflection.

All the best and Happy New Year!

John