Hello there!
People always speak of fasting from food and special treats but seldom do you hear about fasting from a way of thinking or being.
I’ve come to see that both require a serious amount of self-discipline and both bring blessings beyond measure.
For Lent this year, I am fasting from negativity. I explain how and why that came about here.
Let’s explore now HOW to get this done.
First of all, if you take this challenge on, let it be with a willing and happy spirit.
Do this not because you feel you should but because you really want to be free of negative thinking and speaking.
Assuming that is in place, here is how to go about fasting from negativity:
1) Forgive yourself for all prior negative thinking, speaking and behaving. See more guidance here on how to do this
2) Become aware of your negative patterns. You can wear a rubber-band a flick your wrist each time you think, speak or do something negative or you can walk with a little pad and keep a count with strokes; you can even engage a friend, colleague or family member to give you a heads up whenever you go negative. However you do it, remain aware and on alert
3) Forgive yourself after each transgression
4) Reward yourself daily for completion of another day on this journey – choose symbolic and inexpensive rewards
5) Each day spend 10 – 15 minutes in imagination play. Just sit quietly as you relax and imagine all the wonderful ways being positive will benefit your life, loved ones and all involvements with work, service and fun. Imagination play is extremely important in achieving goals. All great achievers and high performers use this technique. Imagine yourself being positive in every area of you life – see the details and the exchanges in vivid color and bold details
6) Make other adjustments that will complement and enhance this fast from negativity – like getting sufficient rest, exercising, eating well, laughing often, praying/reading uplifting messages, acts of kindness, etc
7) Forgive yourself and everyone (for being negative towards or around you) every single day before you go to sleep and each morning renew your commitment to the fast.
That’s it! For everything we do if we plan to do it well we must approach it with an actual plan. This approach will work for you as it has for me and many others; you have to believe that it will though.
Fasting from negativity will give your life an energy charge and a power boost like nothing else could! It’s just exhilarating.
Wishing you an abundance of peace and joy,
