As an Executive Coach – and the founder of BAI, I get to work with clients on infinite levels. One question I work from every day is, “How do we access the BIG picture of what we really CAN ACHIEVE?”

In other words: How do I mentor clients to release EVERYTHING that blocks them? One way is to teach them to STOP their thoughts. Why?  Because your thoughts are the voice of your ego, and your ego is primarily driven by fear. According to the research of Dr. Fred Luskin of Stanford University, a human being has approximately 60,000 thoughts per day—and 90% of these are repetitive! (You know what that says to me, as an Executive Coach? It says OPPORTUNITY.)

Just how much value can a repetitive thought add? Simple answer: most of us haven’t trained our minds to be still. That is the first opportunity. Our minds and thoughts can be trained. It is in stillness that you will find all of the answers you seek – in business building and life. Here are 3 practices I’ve shared with countless people over the past few decades. To date, at least one of them has resonated with every person. If you are the exception, let me know, and I’ll teach you 3 more practices!!! J  (All of these practices are helpful for insomnia too. Simply do them in bed, as you are lying awake.) Be sure to turn off all phones and noise makers. Ensure that your family / colleagues / etc. cannot disturb you, and sit up straight, whether in a chair or cross-legged.

Practice: Heart Opening: Say “me” and touch your chest. If you do this a few times you’ll notice you always touch the same area. This is the position of your spiritual heart, or your heart center (or chakra). Close your eyes. Place your inner focus on your heart center. See a rose bud there, choose whatever color you like. Now see the petals slowly unfolding in your heart center. This rose bud has an infinite amount of petals. See them unfolding as the rose gets bigger and bigger, filling up your chest. Keep focusing on the rose unfolding. When thoughts arise, let them pass, do not cling to them or reject them. Simply focus on the rose unfolding.

Practice: News Feed: Imagine a news feed across the bottom of a TV screen. There’s a bit of news, then some white space, then more news, and so on. Your thoughts are like the news. There’s always more! Now consider the white space between the thoughts. In Japanese, the word ma is loosely translated to mean pause–the pause between notes, the pause between breaths, the pause between sentences, the pause between thoughts.

Close your eyes. Place your inner focus on the constant stream of thoughts scrolling across the TV of your mind. See the scrolling thoughts floating in space or actually across a screen, whatever image works for you. Don’t pay attention to the thoughts in detail. Them scroll by, do not cling to them or reject them. Now focus on the space between the thoughts, the ma, the pause. As you focus on the white space between the thoughts you’ll find it getting wider, longer, bigger. In time you’ll see mostly emptiness, with few if any thoughts. Stop and notice open space as conversations pause, as music pauses. We are surrounded by pauses. That’s where some of the best stuff is. We often fill our minds and schedules out of fear of emptiness. Yet emptiness is where true peace and connectedness and love can always be found.

Practice: Light Shower: Close your eyes. See yourself with your inner vision. You’re sitting exactly where you are, dressed as you are. You are watching yourself. Move your focus to the top of your head. See a shower of white light pouring down over your head, covering your body gradually. Keep watching it pour over you as it covers you entirely, covers your outfit, your fingers, your face, your shoes or toes. It covers your front and back sides. You can no longer distinguish your features, you simply see an image of you made of white light. This is the light of God, the Universe, whatever resonates with you. This light is always available to you, all you need to do is remember to tune in to the light shower. When thoughts arise, let them pass, do not cling to them or reject them. Simply focus on the light shower covering you completely. This is a terrific technique to do midday if you feel tired or upset.

Christine Comaford, The Executive Coach
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc. and Business Accelerator
http://www.BusinessAccelerationIntensive.com

PS:  Are you ready for November 8^th?  Tune in for my presentation with TED http://www.tedx-sandiego.com/speakers