How To REMOVE TOXIC PEOPLE & Thoughts From Your Life! | Lindsey Stirling

TL;DR

Change happens through tiny pivots, not total overhaul: a five-minute gratitude practice, three things at night and three at waking, gradually rewires automatic reactions from self-criticism to optimism. Whatever you look for in life, you see more of, so training attention toward gratitude and miracles multiplies them over time.

Transcript

i was told just you know you just don't have what it takes you're not good enough i added my own word to it is i'm not good enough yet you don't have to take something that was true one time and make it true for all time you talk a lot about your belief in miracles right and like magic almost to some degree as well yeah tell us about where that bel... Read More

Key Insights

• A truth from one moment does not have to be permanent. Being told 'you're not good enough' was true once, but you do not have to make something that was true one time true for all time.
• Gratitude journaling transforms automatic responses. Practicing five minutes nightly for two years shifted reflexive self-talk from 'I am so stupid' to 'thank heavens I remembered,' replacing a beat-yourself-up attitude with an optimistic one.
• Whatever you look for in life, you see more of. Like noticing a car everywhere after considering buying it, focusing on miracles, gratitude, or any target brings more of it into your peripheral view.
• Real change comes from tiny pivots, not overhauling everything. Instead of trying to change everything to become a better person, small tweaks made consistently create huge impacts over time, one pivot at a time.
• Miracles come in both small and big forms. They can be a tiny moment that changes your mood or teaches a lesson, or a great success or achievement, and it is beautiful to recognize both rather than only expecting giant changes.
• A manageable gratitude practice is only three things twice daily. Three at bedtime and three at waking act as bookends to the day, and when ambitious, you visualize and actually feel those things rather than just writing them.
• Religion, used as intended, is inclusive rather than divisive. It binds people together, offers chances for service, and uplifts others and yourself, with love as the basis of it all; making it a divide misses the point.
• Picking one word for the year focuses all goals. Choosing 'gratitude' one year and 'magic' the next lets many small goals cluster around a single big intention, an approach applied to New Year's resolutions.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can a gratitude journal change your mindset?

Practicing gratitude for five minutes every night, writing several things you are grateful for, shifts automatic responses from negative to gratitude-based over time. Stirling noticed that the same situation, like forgetting her wallet, now triggers 'thank heavens I remembered' instead of 'I am so stupid.' These tiny automatic reactions turn toward an optimistic attitude rather than beating herself up or complaining, making a big difference in life.

Q: How many things should you write in a gratitude practice each day?

Stirling keeps it very manageable with only three things. She does three when she goes to bed and three when she wakes up, treating them as the bookends of her day. When she is feeling especially ambitious, she sits and visualizes those things, trying to actually feel them and not just write them, before going to sleep. The small number keeps the habit sustainable.

Q: Why do you start noticing things everywhere once you focus on them?

Whatever you look for in life, you see more of, because it enters your peripheral view. Stirling compares it to buying or thinking about a new car and then seeing that car everywhere on the road, whether it is rare or common. The same applies to gratitude, miracles, or an artist you just discovered. If you look for something, you will see it; if you never look, you conclude it does not happen to you.

Q: What does Lindsey Stirling believe a miracle is?

For Stirling, miracles happen all the time and can be both small and big. A miracle might be the tiniest thing in your day that changes your mood, teaches a lesson, or offers a piece of wisdom, or it can be something huge like great successes and achievements. She looks for miracles every day and believes the more she looks, the more she sees, including small signs that loved ones on the other side look out for her.

Q: How did losing loved ones strengthen her belief in the afterlife?

After her best friend passed away and shortly after her father passed, two people she loved so much were on the other side. This made her think deeply about where they are and how close they can get. She began receiving what she calls little miracles that show her they are looking out for her, and she feels she walks through life with angels around her, giving her a sense of strength and extra power.

Q: Why does she say religion should be inclusive rather than divisive?

Stirling was raised in a Mormon home and feels the religious aspects of her life blessed her, making her a deeper person who believes in something greater than herself. She teaches a Sunday school class for teenagers. She argues that when religion is used for what it is meant for, it is inclusive, binding people together, giving opportunities for service and to uplift others. Her parents taught that love is the basis of it all, and making it a divide misses the point.

Q: What is the best way to approach New Year's resolutions according to Stirling?

Rather than making tons of separate goals, Stirling picks one word to work on each year and centers all her goals around it. Her word one year was gratitude and this year it is magic. She sets one big goal represented by the word, then makes lots of little things that will hopefully lead to it. This focuses her efforts, and she commits to visualize it, write it, and be it.

Q: Why does small change work better than trying to change everything?

Stirling says she used to think she had to change everything to become a better person, feeling she had so much work to do. Instead, real transformation comes from tiny pivots and tiny tweaks, little things that make huge impacts over time. It is about one pivot at a time rather than shifting everything at once. Her simple five-minute gratitude habit is an example of something small making a big difference.

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses her belief in miracles and the role of religion and spirituality in her life. She also shares her experiences with professional rejection and personal challenges such as battling anorexia. Through her stories, she emphasizes the power of belief, self-love, and the ability to overcome obstacles.

Questions & Answers

Q: Where did the speaker's belief in miracles come from?

The speaker's belief in miracles stems from her religious upbringing and the teachings of her family. She was raised in a Mormon home and continues to practice her faith, attending church and teaching Sunday school. She sees religion and spirituality as inclusive and opportunities for service and uplifting others. She also believes that love is the basis of all religious teachings and that miracles happen all the time.

Q: How did the speaker's belief in miracles become stronger after losing loved ones?

The speaker's belief in miracles became stronger after experiencing the loss of her best friend and father. She began to ponder the existence and actions of the afterlife and felt a strong desire to connect with those who had passed on. She started looking for signs and small miracles in her everyday life, which reinforced her belief that her loved ones were looking out for her. These experiences made her feel powerful and as if she had a support system from the other side.

Q: How does the speaker's belief in miracles impact her daily life?

The speaker actively looks for miracles in her daily life and sees them as reminders that she is not alone and that there is something greater than herself. She feels like she has angels from the other side guiding and helping her, and she often prays and asks for assistance from specific loved ones who have passed away. By focusing on miracles and gratitude, she feels empowered and believes that she walks through life with extra power and strength.

Q: How does the speaker define a miracle?

The speaker does not provide a concrete definition of a miracle but believes that miracles can be both small and big things. She emphasizes that sometimes miracles can be as simple as a change in mood or a lesson learned, while other times they can be significant achievements or successes. She encourages seeing miracles in both the small and big moments of life and not just waiting for grandiose events.

Q: How does the speaker's gratitude journal impact her life?

The speaker considers her gratitude journal to be transformative in her life. She spends five minutes every night before bed listing several things she is grateful for and believes that this practice has shifted her mindset towards optimism and gratitude. It has made her more aware of the little things that make a big difference and has allowed her to focus on the positives in her life, even in challenging times. The journal helps her find happiness in small moments and appreciate the blessings around her.

Q: When did the speaker start her gratitude journal process?

The speaker started her gratitude journal process two years ago. She decided to dive into the practice after hearing about it from various sources and realizing the impact it could have on her life. As part of her yearly goal-setting, she chooses a word to work on, and her word for the previous year was gratitude. She finds the practice of writing down three things she is grateful for before bed manageable and has also added three things in the morning, bookending her day with gratitude.

Q: How did the speaker's belief in miracles play a role in her career journey?

The speaker shares her career journey and the challenges she faced, particularly in the early stages. She recalls auditioning for America's Got Talent and getting buzzed off the stage, which was a devastating experience. However, looking back, she realizes that not winning that show allowed her to pursue a path that was more aligned with her vision. Winning would have locked her into restrictive contracts and prevented her from becoming an independent artist who tours the world on her own terms. She believes that sometimes not getting what you want can lead to greater things.

Q: How does the speaker deal with professional rejection and challenges?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of listening to your inner voice and not letting professional rejection define you. She shares her experience of being rejected and told she was not good enough during her career journey. Instead of accepting that judgment as absolute truth, she added the word "yet" and recognized that she wasn't good enough at that moment but had the potential to improve and achieve her goals. She encourages others to take small pivots and keep moving forward, trusting their own inner voice and not letting one rejection determine their worth.

Q: How did the speaker overcome personal challenges like battling anorexia?

The speaker shares her personal journey of battling anorexia and realizing that something was wrong. It took her some time to recognize that she had sacrificed everything for her eating disorder and had become consumed by unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. She sought therapy and began the process of fighting for her happiness again. Over a period of two years, she was able to overcome the cycle of depression and anorexia and come out healthier and more aware of her mental well-being. She has since learned to recognize negative thoughts as separate from herself and actively choose self-love and positive affirmations.

Q: What advice does the speaker have for others struggling with personal challenges?

The speaker advises others to start where they are and to recognize that personal challenges do not define them. She encourages self-love and self-compassion, understanding that everyone goes through phases and struggles. It's important to seek help, whether through therapy or other supportive resources. She highlights the significance of recognizing negative thoughts as separate from oneself and actively choosing to let them go and replace them with positive affirmations. She believes that anyone can overcome personal challenges by actively working on their mental well-being and finding practices and activities that bring them joy and empowerment.

Takeaways

The key takeaways from the speaker's experiences and insights are the power of belief in miracles, the importance of gratitude and self-love, and the ability to overcome challenges. She highlights the need to listen to one's intuition and inner voice, even in the face of rejection or personal struggles. By shifting one's mindset and focusing on the positive, it is possible to transform one's life and achieve personal growth and happiness. The speaker encourages individuals to write their own stories and challenge negative beliefs, recognizing that change takes time and effort but is ultimately attainable.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lindsey Stirling shares that being told she was not good enough was true one time but need not be true for all time. She credits a religious upbringing in a Mormon home with making her a deeper person who believes in something greater than herself, where love is the foundation.

• After losing her best friend and her father, Stirling began looking for miracles daily, feeling angels look out for her. She prays to specific angels, sometimes her grandma, dad, or best friend, which makes her feel she walks through life with extra power and help from the other side.

• Her gratitude journal, started two years ago, became transformative. Writing three things at night and three when waking shifted her automatic reactions toward optimism. She emphasizes that whatever you look for you see more of, and that tiny pivots, not total change, create the biggest impact.