Welcome to the Dream Big & Bloom Podcast, Episode #48
Hi! I’m Mardi Lynn, certified DreamBuilder Coach and I help ladies create lives they absolutely love.
The DreamBuilder Program that I teach is a proven, reliable system for overcoming any challenge and achieving any dream no matter how big it seems.
This podcast will introduce you to the powerful principles and practices of the DreamBuilder system and show you the mindsets that are growing or slowing your progress.
My Favorite DreamBuilder Practice
Today I’m going to share with you one of my favorite tools in the DreamBuilder tool kit.
It’s the Five-Step Thinking Process that
- connects you with a Higher Intelligence,
- opens your mind to receive solutions to problems and answers to questions and
- keeps you inspired to move forward with your goals.
The reason I love this practice so much is that I can rely on it for
- making clear decisions,
- getting answers to any questions and
- providing solutions to any challenge.
It’s really powerful and always reliable.
Do you find making decisions to be challenging? That used to be a big stumbling block for me.
There are several reasons I can think of that may have caused that. Perhaps you can think of some more.
People “Rain on Your Parade”
When I was growing up, my interests were very different from my parents and they often “rained on parade.” Can you relate? They didn’t mean any harm, they wanted to protect me and ensure that I had a happy life, but their idea of a happy life was different from mine. I learned to not trust myself. You know that little voice in your head that says, “what if they’re right and you’re wrong?”
One example is that I wanted to be an academic but my Father’s goal in sending me to college was for me to get my Mrs. degree. His dream was for me to meet a well-educated man who would provide for me and take care of me. My how times have changed! Right?
Perfectionism
And then there was perfectionism. I was taught “if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” Perfectionists will often not go for their dreams because of fear of failing.
In addition, like so many women, I was trained in people-pleasing and that often causes us to feel conflicted when making decisions. “What if others don’t approve of our actions or decisions?”
Negative Past Experiences
And another factor is that, we accumulate a history and we tend to be concerned about making decisions that might have painful consequences similar to past experiences.
The Solution
Well, this powerful Five-Step Thinking Process solves all of this! I’m so excited to share it with you. It can transform your whole life.
A Grander Version of Yourself
When you create a clear vision of the life you would love (see episode #9 if you haven’t created your vision yet) you’re going to have to step into a life that is greater than the one you have known and this process is the key to your success.
A Zen Master and A Tea Cup
First, I’m going to share a parable about a man who goes to a Zen monastery. He’s a wealthy and educated man. He’s got a huge bank account and has many distinguishing letters after his name but he’s heard that this monk knows the secret to life and the man wants to know that secret.
He travels a long distance to the Monastery. It takes a long time but he finally gains entrance to the monastery and gets an appointment with the Zen master. And finally he is sitting at a table with the Zen master. The Zen master listens to the man as he talks about his many riches, his accomplishments and his level of education. The man says, I’ve done this, I’ve done that, and now all there is left for me to know is the secret of life.
The Zen master asks, “Would you like a cup of tea?” The man says, “yes, I will have a cup of tea, and then you’ll tell me the secret of life?” The Zen master says, “Yes.”
So the Zen master brings out the tea. He puts one tea cup in front of the man and one in front of himself, and then he takes the tea pot and he begins pouring and all the while he’s looking at the man as the man continues to tell the Zen master about his many accomplishments and who he knows and where he has been and palaces and the Whitehouse and all of the many things of this world that the man has accomplished and seen.
The Zen master is pouring the tea and pouring the tea. It fills the teacup, and as the man is telling the Zen master all about his travels, the famous people he knows and all of his accomplishments through the years, the Zen master keeps pouring the tea.
The man is telling the Zen Master all the great things he has done, and the teacup is filling, filling, filling. The teacup begins to overflow and now, not only is the teacup full but the saucer is filling.
The man is talking on and on and on about himself and all of a sudden he feels something on his leg and he looks down and sees it’s the tea. He sees the teacup overflowing and the saucer that’s now overflowing onto the tablecloth. The cloth on the table is now soaking up tea and the tea is dripping down the side of the table onto the man’s suit.
He quickly scoots his chair back and says, “What’s the matter with you? The tea is overflowing on everything and you are still pouring!”
The Zen master looks at him and he says, “The secret of life is this, a cup can only be filled when it’s empty. You can only be filled when you are empty. Come back when you are not so full of yourself.”
So he was telling the man that he was so full of himself, he was so full of everything he had done, all of his own accomplishments, his pride…he had no room for higher awareness. He had no room for “the more.”
Making Room for “The More”
If we think we already know everything we need to do to achieve our dreams, we may be a little arrogant and think that DreamBuilder practices are not really important, or we pick and choose which parts of the process we will actually use. If we do that we short-circuit our access to the support of Universal Intelligence that can show us the best, and most joyful path.
We need to be willing to learn about the laws of the universe and the way it works. If we decide we are a special case and don’t need to know more, then we will experience disappointment, struggle and difficulty.
Since there is a better way, and that is to work with the universe, we want to empty the teacup now and learn how to open to a new frequency.
Benefits of The Five-Step Thinking Process
So today I’m going to share with you this powerful Five-Step Thinking Process that will give you
- access to answers,
- solutions,
- insight,
- inspiration and
- joy.
It’s a way of taking our limited mind and aligning it with “The Genius Mind” where all answers are available.
Doesn’t that sound great!
There is an infinite presence that has the answer to any question you are seeking right now. It provides a way to get past limitations. There’s a way to learn how to be receptive. It’s about the empty cup.
As Simple As Five Fingers
And, just like all the tools in the DreamBuilder Tool kit, It’s simple and effective, but the true power of it cannot be appreciated by describing it and prescribing it. The power of it comes with the practice of using it. Are you ready?
It’s as simple as the five fingers on your hand and you can remember it with your five fingers, just think 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as you practice this. You can do it at a traffic stop light. You can do it while you’re brushing your teeth. It will keep you in a high vibrational frequency, keep you aligned with the Mind of Infinite Resources — the mind that is the “Mind of Possibility.”
So let’s go through these five steps now.
#1 Realization
The first step is called “realization.” You realize the way it is in the universe. You realize that you are part of something bigger. You realize that there is one presence, one power in this universe, Life itself.
Many of us call that presence and power, God. If God is a word or an idea that does not lift you up, is not something you have a relationship with you can choose whatever term resonates with you. You might think of Life with a capital “L” or “Source” or “Infinite Intelligence.” What word works for you?
The important thing is that you bring it to mind and you realize that there is one presence, one power, one life and you bring it to mind. That’s all that’s required at this stage. You lift your awareness to the realization that there is one presence, one power in the universe; this infinite mind, this infinite intelligence, this infinite life. No matter what you call it, in this moment you recognize that you don’t make your heart beat. You are part of a loving, greater intelligence — this one presence, one power. This is called the “realization” step. Can you do this?
#2 Recognition
The second step is a “recognition” step. You realize and then recognize. In the recognition step we move from realizing that there is one presence, one power available everywhere, to recognizing that you are a part of that one presence and one power. It’s not just everywhere except here. You are part of it. It’s not available everywhere except the ground where you stand. You may have a problem or challenge but it is not because this infinite presence isn’t here or answers are not here. You are a spiritual being having a human experience and in the human experience there is stuff that happens. However, you are connected to this infinite mind that has answers for everything you are facing. There is an infinite presence and you’re part of it.
So “God is” and “I am.” It’s a realization step and a recognition step. I am part of this Infinite Presence. I can’t breathe life into me. You might want to see yourself as being breathed by this presence, by this power, a part of this infinite life.
And as you practice reminding yourself of this in such a way, you will feel a shift — you want to feel a definite shift. It’s not just saying words. You don’t just say “God is,” “I am.” It’s about having the experience of a realization, an experience of recognition. You will feel it in your body. I feel it in my solar plexus and my eyes often tear up with feelings of joy and gratitude.
The more often you do this, the quicker and more available that experience will be for you. You move to a different frequency. You remind yourself “God is.” “I am part of this Infinite Presence.” “I am part of this.” “God is and I am one with It.”
#3 The Truth
The third step is a “perspective” step. The third step is stated as “the truth is.” God is. I am part of all that is and the truth is that in this moment I am connected to this higher power, this one life. So there is an answer to this situation. The truth is that that answer is right here. It’s available. The truth is that this presence and power is greater than any problem I’ve got and that there is guidance available. There is support available. There is grace right here.
In this “truth is” phase, which is phase three, you remind yourself that this truth can be specifically accessed and applied to whatever your particular dream or challenge or opportunity is. So you are going to anchor yourself in that infinite presence for a specific issue, a specific challenge or for a direction to go.
And you distinguish between conditions and truth. There’s a condition, a circumstance, but the truth is that I am more than that. The truth is there is an answer to this. The truth is that – who I am is more than this thing. So simply being reminded that there is an answer begins to open us. It begins to change our thinking. It begins to lift our vibration and then we have access to creative ideas.
#4 Let Go
Then, as soon as you realize that there is an answer and it’s right here, the next phase is to let go. Let go of the struggle. Let go of the worry. Let go of the angst. When you really know that your answer is right here, your body will relax. Your shoulders will let down. Your forehead will relax. You will feel your chin relax. It’s like.. “ok this is just what it looks like while it’s getting worked out.” “This is what it looks like while it’s getting solved.” “Ok, I can handle this.” Those are the natural emotional and physiological responses to your being in touch with the truth.
So there is the realization step, there is the recognition step and then there’s the discernment step where you discern the difference between facts and truth. And as you let it go there are these positive thoughts and feelings. It’s you emptying your teacup. You are not so full of the problem. You are not so full of focus on the condition. You are not so full of looking at what might go wrong and what has gone wrong in the past. You pause. You say, “OK, if it was all working out…” and you begin to get your body to respond to the idea that if it was all working out how would I feel? And you put yourself in a higher vibration.
#5 Gratitude
One of the easiest ways to access that higher vibration is gratitude. So that is the next step. But the first step is to let it go. You let it go. You say, “This is what it looks like while it’s getting worked out.” I may not know the answer right now but I do know the answer is here right now. So I can let go of the angst. I can let go of the worry. I can let go of any concern and I can move quickly into phase five, which is the gratitude phase, because letting go and feeling grateful are like two sides of the same coin.
You’ll want to move quickly and fluidly from one to the other. You let it go and then you fill yourself with gratitude. You let go of the worry and you fill up with gratitude. You let go of the angst and you fill with gratitude. You let go of “here’s the condition,” “oh my gosh,” all the catastrophizing and the building of the case about the power of the condition; and you let it go, and you say, “I may not know the answer right now but I do know the answer exists.”
Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, “If I didn’t believe it was impossible, what would I do? And bam, an idea comes.
Sometimes we can simply ask, “How am I going to deal with this? And then follow the voice of Inspired Insight that answers.
Tuning Into a Higher Vibration
When you practice this five step thinking process, it’s like picking up a remote control and changing the channel to a higher frequency.
You realize.
God is one presence, one power, one life. Realize that.
Recognize
I am part of it. That life, that power, that presence, it’s not far away. It’s right here.
Discern the Truth
The truth is that that power is bigger than my problem. That power is bigger than whatever appears to be between me and the dream I have.
Let Go
So I am going to let go of the feeling-tone that would keep that from me. I am going to empty my cup of what’s preventing me from receiving the new.
Gratitude
I’m going to let it go and I am going to fill my mind and my heart with gratitude, which is #5 and from that place I’m going to ask important questions.
Whenever I do this practice, I get answers to my questions and solutions to challenges right away or within a few hours. It’s so powerful! And I’m really excited to teach it to you.
Post in the Comments
I’m eager to know about your experiences with using this. Post in the comments.
Recap
So let’s Review…
#1 The first step in this process is realization.
In this universe, there is one Infinite power and presence that is referred to by many of us as God. Others may relate to it as Source, Spirit, Infinite Intelligence, or the very Power Breathing Us. No matter what word we use as we connect with this energy, it is important that we realize there is a power and presence that is capable of all things and is more powerful than our circumstances, situations and conditions.
#2 Recognition is the second step.
This is where we acknowledge that we are a part of this ever-present power. We are a spiritual being having a human experience. We have been given the gift of life and the ability to tap into this power through our mind. Apparent problems or challenges may occur in our life, but we recognize that Infinite Intelligence has answers to anything we are facing.
#3 The Truth
There is a way to resolve and dissolve our obstacles, even if we do not know the answer initially. We recognize that we are a part of this Infinite life, and we then affirm to ourselves the Truth. This step requires that we use our discernment, which means that we learn to distinguish between the Truth and the conditions and circumstances of life. We know that, in Truth, an answer is available at all times.
#4 Then We Release
Once we remind ourselves that there is an answer available to us, the next step is to let go of the worry. Release is, in essence, emptying our cup, so we are not so full of the question. Since we are connected with this Infinite life and all of the solutions we require, we can relax knowing that “This is simply what it looks like while it’s all coming together.”
#5 Gratitude
As we release the feelings of doubt and worry, what comes next is generating gratitude. “The Universe abhors a vacuum.” When we empty a space, the Universe rushes in to fill it. We know that as soon as we let go, our good is flowing in and this leads to gratitude and joy. Therefore, letting go and feeling grateful are like two sides of the same coin. And receiving an answer to our question is amplified and made easier when we shift to the vibration of gratitude. Gratitude is on the frequency that is aligned with abundance.
Consistent Practice
We talked about changing the channel of our TV with a remote control to receive a new picture, or in other words, to be on a different frequency. The alignment process is similar in that we “change the channel” of our thinking to generate new ideas from the frequency of our dream – and not from the frequency of a problem or obstacle. Using this process shifts our attention to our dream so we can receive new ideas and answers to the questions we are asking.
Staying in alignment with the flow of answers and solutions requires consistent application. As we work with this thinking process, we will be aligned with new ways of thinking that support us in being a vibrational match to our dream.
Alignment Affirmation
Now I’m going to give you a powerful Alignment Affirmation with all five-steps of the 5 Step Thinking Process: Realization, Recognition, Discernment, Release and Gratitude.
Affirm to yourself:
There is one presence, one power, one life in this Universe and it is infinite.
I am part of that life, that power, that presence. It is right here.
The Truth is that this infinite power is greater than any apparent problem I am facing.
I let go of the feelings of worry and doubt and empty my cup so I may receive the solutions in the form of new insights and ideas.
I fill my mind and my heart with gratitude and peace.
Practice This Week
Now here’s your practice work:
- Write down one apparent obstacle in your life that you are currently navigating.
- Read over the Five-Step Thinking process affirmation above and really allow yourself to move into the high vibrational frequency.
- Read it as many times as necessary in order for you to feel its generative power, and then
- Write down any possible solutions or ideas that come to you that would resolve your current obstacle or apparent obstacle.
You may be amazed at what comes to you.
Share in the Comments
I’m eager to know about your experience with it. How about sharing in the comments below.
Always Remember…
Now…before you go, remember..
- You are capable of far more than you know
- You were created to have an amazing and fulfilling life. It’s your birthright.
- You DON’T HAVE TO SETTLE for just “good enough”
- You are more powerful than any circumstance, situation or condition
- You absolutely can create the life of your dreams.
Dream big, follow your heart and live with all the joy, purpose, prosperity and fulfillment you deserve.
Take Your Life To The Next Level
1. Get The Book
Get a free copy of my book, Living Happy, Rich and Free After 60, The guidebook and scorecard for achieving your dreams. dreambigandbloom.com/guidebook
2. Listen to the “Power of Vision” Workshop
Listen at your own pace to this free, three-part series where you’ll learn the foundational principles of DreamBuilding, and create your vision for a life that makes you feel happy, rich and free. Listen now at DreamBigandBloom.com/workshop
2. Be a guest on the Podcast
This is a great way to get a feel for the process in a friendly environment. Coaching women just like you, to use the DreamBuilder principles and practices to overcome any challenge and achieve any dream is one of my favorite things to do. To be a guest just visit DreamBigandBloom.com/guest
3. Join the Dream Builder Program
Studies have shown that when education is combined with coaching, individuals increase their productivity by an average of 86%.That’s why top athletes, celebrities and successful business leaders hire coaches. To make this difference in your life, join the 12-week DreamBuilder Program and get in-depth personalized support applying these powerful principles and practices. To get started visit DreamBigandBloom.com/get-started
Thank you for listening, it’s my joy and privilege to serve you.
Here’s to living a life you absolutely love!
Mardi