Clarity

As you now know, our gremlins often served a purpose long ago - usually to protect us when we were less empowered children being thrown willy-nilly into a lot of different situations in which we felt unsafe. It's time to remind ourselves - and our gremlins - that we don't need them for those reasons anymore. The ways they protect us NOW often keep us from fully experiencing life.

You are safe. You are an adult with choices (more on that when we cover the Ziji Up! step of Choice).

It's time to let your inner critic know this.

Start by writing your inner critic a letter. And really get into it! Let it rip! Write in ALL CAPS, let your tears muck up the paper, break a few pencil tips, don't hold back.

Also be sure to tell your gremlin how you KNOW you don't need them anymore. Let them know you are aware they used to serve a purpose, but not anymore. How do you know this? Perhaps it is because when they speak up, you shrink back and don't achieve your goals, or don't have the confidence to do what it takes to take things to the next level. Those are all signs your gremlin isn't serving you anymore - it is holding you back. Let them know they are no longer serving you.

Personally, I like to burn anything icky I write, such as letters to my inner critic or things I want to let go of. I toss them into my fireplace or set them aside for putting into an outdoor firepit later. Whatever you do with your letter, be sure to let go of it, because YOU are moving on to a whole other level with your inner critic <3

Share in the FB group: What's one resource you have now, that you didn't have as a child, that will help your saboteur relax a little more now?

Love,

Ana

When we get clear about what it is we really want, who we really want to be in the world, and how we want to be in this world, it is important that we know we absolutely deserve every bit of it. When we set intentions, it is important that they be precisely as BIG and BOLD as our hearts desire them to be. It is important to be aware of where we might subconsciously place our self-worth. When it is low, when we aren't loving ourselves fully, we often don't "allow" ourselves to dream as big as we want to - and need to!

Let's check in with that right now: Using a scale of 1 to 10, ask yourself how much you feel you deserve to be completely happy; 1 being you don't feel you deserve it at all, and 10 being you think you deserve anything your juicy heart desires.

How did you rate your self-worth?

If you rated it low: This can often happen when we let others rate this for us - like our inner critic, or external things like society/family/religion.  Is this what is going on for you?

The other thing that can powerfully influence us to rate our self-worth lower is when we feel deep regret or resentment about the past. It's that whole "letting go" thing, and why Clearing is such an important step in the Ziji Up! Mastery Program. See if you can let go of some - or even just one - of those things now.

If you rated it high - spread the love! Shine and shine so that others can be inspired by you. Do not hide your self-love behind the guise of modesty or being humble. Let others know how beautiful and wonderful it is to love yourself!

Share in the FB group: Please share what you rated your self-worth and any insights you had about it<3

Love,

Ana

Earlier I told you about Byron Katie's Four Questions. Some people find them really useful, and some people don't. I think that when you're stuck, it's good to have as many tools in the toolbox as you can fit. I'm going to share them with you here so you can decide for yourself!

Think about something your inner critic says, like "You're not smart enough" or "Who are you to think you deserve that?"

If you can't come up with something, try thinking of a goal you have, and something you tell yourself that keeps you from taking action on it. For example, say you want to start your own business, but your gremlin says, "No one will want to buy what you're offering." Use that statement!

Then ask yourself Byron Katie's Four Questions:

Is it true?

Can you absolutely know that it is true?

How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

Who would you be without the thought?

Then, the twister: turn the thought around and find proof of how your new thought is TRUE (at least three examples).

Example: "People DO want to buy what I offer."

Proof: 1) This week alone there were three people who said they find what I am creating totally interesting. 2) I buy programs like this MYSELF a lot! 3) When I look at people offering similar things, people are buying them. So I know that if I am creating it in my own way, people will want that too!

Bonus lesson: see how "comparing" yourself to others who are more successful can - with good Jedi Mindtricks - be fuel for letting you know you can do it too, instead of being fuel for jealousy!? Cool, eh? Mantra: "If it's possible for them, it's possible for me"

Have you noticed if there is a pattern to the story that your gremlin makes up about how your goals could turn out? Turn that shizzle around!

Share in the FB group: What's one turnaround statement you came up with?

Love,

Ana

One of the best antidotes for your inner critic is gratitude. When we focus on what we have, that is serious ammunition to shoot down any gremlin talk about what we may be lacking.

What are some big gratitudes you have for today? Be sincere! Don't just throw out the obvious things like "I am so happy to be alive." I mean, if you're really desperate then go ahead and use that. I used it a lot after I overcame cancer as well. However, I encourage you to go deeper into searching for the not-so-obvious things to be grateful for. Like time to take a bath, a bouquet of sunflowers on your counter, the phone call from your friend...

While we're at it, let's even go so far as to ask, "What has your saboteur taught you that you can be grateful for?" Perhaps it has taught you what you don't want in life, how you don't want to be treated. While it is healthier in the long run to focus on what we do want, a helpful place to start is often in understanding and getting clear about what we don't want, right? Our Saboteur can be really good at teaching us that;)

Share in the FB group: "What has your saboteur taught you that you can be grateful for?"

Love,

Ana

Do you remember doing your Future Self visualization? Some people like to call her their Higher Self, or Most Magnificent Self.

Conjure up your Future Self and visualize her having a chat with your Saboteur. Remember that SHE KNOWS YOU CANNOT FAIL - she has already seen you succeed!

What would she say in this lil' sitdown with your gremlin?

Share in the FB group: What's one powerful statement your Future Self - your Most Magnificent Self - said to your gremlin that really helped you feel in a place of power?

Love,

Ana

PS: If you haven't done this visualization yet, go back to the Week 2 Video.

Remember earlier when we learned how regrets and resentments can decrease your sense of self-worth and make our inner critic louder? It's time to practice letting go of those again! We are transitioning into the step of Clearing, and as always, looking inward is often the best place to start.

Make a list of the mistakes and regrets that occupy your mind. It might be nice to do this in a free-flow pattern, where you just let it all flow onto the paper without any sense of order or too much thought.

We've often learned from our mistakes, which can make them less of something we "regret." However, there are some mistakes that can be really hard to let go of, and we beat ourselves up about them over and over.

Looking at the items on this list, what stands out as the top things you need to let go of? What resentments or regrets really hold you back on a regular basis?

Deeper still, what are the things that you need to not just let go of,  but truly forgive yourself for? Letting go can be a simple decision to not let yourself "go there" anymore. Forgiveness happens on a deep and cellular level, an alchemy of sorts, not just choosing not to let it bother you anymore.

You can ask your Higher Self to help you with this, since she has the wisdom of knowing what is most important to address right now.

Share in the FB group: What's one of the things you really need to forgive yourself for in order to move forward?

Love,

Ana