Transformation Coaching Magazine March 2020 by Transformation Coaching Magazine

INSPIRATION & GROWTH Find Emotional Freedom Internalize the Great News: You are a Forever Being Chase Your Dream Move More & Stress Less From Awareness to Acceptance What It’s Really For Complement Over Compromise Cutting the Cord Make the Healthy Choice

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FEED YOUR SPIRIT Seven Facets of Spiritual Awareness

PUBLISHERS Natalie Rivera Joeel A. Rivera, M.Ed.

EDITOR Lisa Cedrone

CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Kate Wilson, Mark Pitstick, Dr. Bryan Hawley, Arielle Giordano, Mary Boutillier, Owen Waters, Alan Cohen, Terez Hartmann, Jo Mooy, Rena Greenberg

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Find Emotional Freedom

Take back your birthright to feel, express and let go. By Dr. Kate Wilson Emotions, which can be more simply explained as energy patterns, are expressed or repressed for various reasons. These reasons can be either internal or external, real or perceived. They are natural and normal responses that have an effect on the nervous system and subsequently on all of the other systems in the body. Emotions arise as responses to stimuli from the words we say or hear, to our thoughts or what we think others are thinking, and as a result of our physical actions. Emotions can feed off each other and grow uncontrollably. Some emotions lead to negative behaviors and others result in positive behaviors. For example, empathy is a pattern that moves one to practice patience, kindness and understanding. Contempt, on the other hand, moves one to practice disregard, arrogance and inconsideration. When we become entangled in and held prisoner to our emotions, they send us on a rollercoaster ride of feeling

“on top of the world” one moment and then down on ourselves because “nobody cares or likes us” the next . Emotional freedom begins when one can let go of trapped emotions and allow the many emotions that come and go throughout the day to do just that: to come, serve their purpose of moving us into action—conscious action—and then be released. When trapped emotions are released, we can better manage the normal daily flow of energy by identifying and dealing with new emotions as they emerge. We can then acknowledge and use emerging emotions to respond in an appropriate manner, being fully conscious of what we are feeling and expressing in the moment. When trapped emotions are freed from the tissues, the nervous system is able to let go of the continuous stimulus response cycle and rest. This, in turn, enables a state of homeostasis in which the nervous system can manage the entire body, generate a healing response where needed, and restore vital balances

of hormones and neurotransmitters. This gives the entire organism the opportunity to restore and regenerate.

“Your mind, emotions and body are instruments and the way you align and tune them determines how well you play life.” —Harbhajan Singh Yogi Practicing presence in each moment enables emotional freedom, and emotional freedom enables practicing presence in each moment. These two states of being work together and enhance each other. Trapped emotions can lead to repetitive cycles of painful circumstances, hurt feelings, health concerns, and/or life dramas that

reinforce the same nonbeneficial or even unhealthy patterns. As we free up the energy patterns holding anger, fear, dread, shame, blame, guilt, grief, denial, suppression and anxiety, we create space for understanding, compassion, love, acceptance, patience and joy. If this is something you have been longing for or working on, or and it sounds appealing to you now, please read on.

Break Up the Patterns

More and more options exist today to help us break free from the energy patterns that lead to confusion and pain. As we realize more deeply the integral connection of our body, mind and spirit, we are able to recognize opportunities to heal. Becoming the observer of our thoughts, deeds and words helps to start breaking up the patterns that fail to benefit us or anyone else. Prayer, faith and meditation are extremely beneficial to this process as well. Sometimes we also need help from another person to break up patterns. This is where therapeutic techniques and modalities may be needed to move beyond what we can reach alone. As an example, I will discuss the one I am most familiar with myself: Neuro Emotional Technique or NET.

Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a great tool to help break the cycles of chronic suffering experienced by the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. NET is a mind-body therapeutic technique developed by Dr. Scott Walker in the 1980s. Originally developed to treat chronic and recurrent spinal subluxations, NET was developed through the studies of chiropractic care, applied kinesiology, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to correlate aberrant body structure or function with meridians, emotions and muscle tone. A trained practitioner will guide one quickly and easily through a series of muscle tests and arrive at a time in life that the patient may or may not recall immediately or easily. It does not matter if the exact event emerges as a conscious memory because the body has recorded it and can release it with or without conscious recognition of it occurring. Through the nervous system’s identification and release of Neuro Emotional Complexes (NECs), one can experience not only freedom from chronic pain and or limitation in the body, but also experience expanded freedom from the same old story, avoid getting caught up in the daily dramas and see their own potential more clearly. Over time, one often finds that identifying their needs and making game changing

shifts with intention becomes more fluid or natural. We have learned through neuroscientific research that the expression of emotions and stress is a complex series of reactions that form a pattern of expression in response to a stimulus. How each individual carries out that expression is unique. If one is trapped in a holding pattern of recycling a harmful expression or series of expressions, “dis-ease” will manifest. It may be experienced in the form of illness, allergies, poor sleep, eating, behavioral patterns, recurrent injury, anxiety or depression. NET works with the individual’s nervous system to free up the neuropeptides that are causing the pattern to repeat and entangle with each repetitive turn, which ultimately caused stress and negative emotions to lodge in the tissues. Of course, not every problem we experience is emotional, but every thought has an emotional component, each experience has many emotions. Pain takes place not only where we feel it, but also in nine centers of the brain including the emotional center or limbic system. NET and other modalities can aid the body and mind to release trapped traumas and limiting patterns—freeing up the space for new realities, new patterns, and a whole new life experience to be achieved!

Dr. Kate Wilson is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Osteopathic Clinical Sciences (Ph.D. OCS) who helps people heal their body, mind and spirit. She works with people on any number of healing paths from minor accidents to major trauma, acute injuries to chronic conditions, and from infants to 108 years of age. Combining scientific knowledge and practice with heart-connected guidance, Dr. Kate is known for helping those who have “tried everything.” She shines her light to help others shine their own. She just relocated and opened a practice in Sarasota, FL. For more information, contact Dr. Kate at Integral Healing & Wellness, tel.: 941.402.5827 or email sacredselfdiscovery@gmail.com.

Internalize the Great News: You are a Forever Being

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Mariam Soliman

WHAT IS GREATER REALITY LIVING?

The term greater reality living describes how you might choose to live as you expand your awareness of reality, which is defined as the state of things as it actually exists. Because so much of reality escapes the five physical senses, you likely have viewed life as if through a tiny pinhole and then wondered why things don’t make sense. As the old saying goes, “There is much more to life than meets the eye.” If you are now inspired to expand your perception and take action in your own life, the Greater Reality Living model outlined in this series of Transformation Coaching articles provides a roadmap to: 1) Learn That Consciousness Survives Physical Death 2) Internalize This Great News 3) Vitalize Your Body, Mind and Spirit 4) Enjoy the Many Benefits of Greater Reality Living 5) Serve Others and Make the World a Better Place I designed this LIVES model to prepare people for optimal living after learning about the findings of Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D., who directs the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health at the University of Arizona. He is a Harvard graduate, former Harvard and Yale professor, and author of nine books including The Afterlife Experiments and The Sacred Promise. I also started the nonprofit SoulPhone Foundation (http://www.SoulPhone.org) to help fund research and development for the SoulPhone Project, which includes a reliable and highly accurate SoulSwitch (yes/no), which is being used in the production of the SoulKeyboard that will enable texting and typing with post-material (deceased) persons. This will greatly increase the quality and quantity of communication with “departed” loved ones and “deceased” scientists, inventors, and others who want to help us improve life on Earth. Replicated, multi-center, university-based scientific studies for the SoulPhone technology have just recently—for the first time in human history— definitively demonstrated that death is NOT the end of life.

In the thir d centu ry B.C., Ar istotle w rote: "Let us live as if we were immortal." We can now state much more assu redly: "We are immortal. Let us live accor dingly." By Mark Pitstick, MA, DC Last month, you learned evidence that strongly indicates—some would say irrefutably proves—that bodily death is not the end of life. The question now is: How can you internalize and more deeply know this evidence so every aspect of your life is transformed? The process of internalizing this great news will vary for different people, but there are 11 recommendations that will help you on the journey. You also can find much more information for free at SoulProof.com; look for specific article number references in the copy.

1. ASK FOR ASSISTANCE Sometimes getting what you want can be as simple as asking and staying alert. Just know that the answers may not appear when and how you expect. Who do you ask? Some people prefer getting assistance directly from G.O.D./the

Light. Others are more comfortable with an intermediary such as saints, angels, guides, or master teachers. Still others believe that looking within is best. Since all life is one and interconnected, the distinctions between you and higher energy assistants may not be as great as you think. Why not cast as wide a net as possible and ask for help from all of the above? How do you ask? Again, different strokes for different folks. Some people are more comfortable with prayer while others prefer setting an intention or saying affirmations. Do whatever feels most comfortable and right for you, or use a combination. Whomever and however you ask, do so consistently for 30 days to create a well-established habit. Send a message to universe that you want to more deeply know the death of your earthly body is not the end of life. Pray that you will always remember this, especially when grieving the bodily death of a

beloved person or pet, or going through a very difficult challenge. Then stay alert for synchronicities and signs that arrive in various ways. Give thanks as you increasingly remember the bigger picture of life.

2. LEARN THE CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE

In addition to the information presented in last month’s article, “Learn the Evidence: Life Continues After Physical Death,” a beautiful summary of this data is provided by Willis Harmon Ph.D., emeritus professor at Stanford and president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. In Global Mind Change, Dr. Harmon stated: “Death appears less as an extinction than as an awakening to ‘where one was all along.’ At death, the center of awareness shifts from the physical to higher planes (with perhaps a period of confusion and/ or sleepy restfulness in between.) We don’t go somewhere at death; we are

already there. As this new view becomes real in our lives, fear of death disappears. We couldn’t not exist if we wanted to.”

3. RELEASE NEEDLESS FEAR

Excessive fear can contribute to a variety of physical and emotional problems. How can you be truly happy and well if you are worried about dying? Really knowing that life continues after bodily death helps your time on this planet make more sense. Awakening to a greater reality view of life can help you live at sublime levels rarely reached when fear and misinformation predominate. When you reach the point of being very sure that all this is true, it becomes much easier to live on earth with peace, joy, clarity, empowerment and love. Some people are concerned about ‘dark spirits’ or ‘evil forces.’ Good evidence suggests that, just as with those in human bodies, there are postmaterial Persons (PMPs) who act in evil ways (article #47). Dying isn’t an immediate panacea that fully converts unevolved people into awakened beings. The personality and consciousness carry over as they continue to learn, grow and evolve. Do not invite imbalanced energies or entities into your life, even as a parlor game. Remember who you are, live accordingly, and don’t spend any time thinking or worrying about this. Shield yourself with prayers and affirmations. Visualize a cocoon of white light that protects you and only lets in good and loving energies. Enjoying more time with people who are on a love and heart-centered path is another great way to release fear. Local and online Greater Reality Living groups provide places where people can share and grow in an evidence-based atmosphere that values and respects diversity.

4. LIBERATE YOURSELF FROM FEAR-BASED RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS

Many people have struggled with past religious, cultural and educational teachings that don’t make sense to them now. In the process, some experience varying degrees of guilt, fear, anxiety, confusion and anger. Religion is a positive influence for some, but it has driven others further away from wanting to learn more a greater reality or ‘afterlife.’ There are more than 10,000 religions in the world with more than 38,000 different cults, sects and denominations in Christianity alone. So, the stage is obviously

set for differences of opinion. However, we all can win when we remember our interconnectedness and learn from one another. As the Dalai Lama said, “All traditions carry the same message: love, compassion, forgiveness, self-discipline and contentment.” Today’s more moderate and openminded denominations recognize that holy books were written by fallible humans and have been changed over time. They know that these writings contain parables and symbolic teachings that were not meant to be taken literally. Their messages encourage focusing on the golden threads that run throughout all great religions including: o Love your neighbor and yourself. o Treat others the way they would like to be treated. o Serve others and share your unique gifts. o Know that you are one with and an integral part of Life Source and live accordingly. o Realize that death of the human body is not an end, just an entry point into the next phase of life.

5. HEAL OLD WOUNDS Let’s face it, life on planet Earth can be very difficult at times. Many people have been physically, sexually or mentally abused. Nearly everyone has been the target of ridicule, bullying, judgment, prejudice, hatred or violence. These wounds can block us from opening to and internalizing new information. Fortunately, there are timetested ways to heal old wounds. Prayer and meditation are on our list for many different needs. There also are cathartic techniques for releasing old wounds and negative emotions. Native Americans had a unique method: they dug a hole in the ground, yelled their problems into it, then filled the hole back up. Emotions released, no drugs with potentially harmful side-effects, no therapy bills. Be creative. To release blocked feelings and heal old wounds, hold a pillow over your mouth and scream. Use your hands or a whiffle ball bat to beat up a pillow. Trace your concerns in the sand by the water’s edge and watch the waves erase them. Write out your concerns since seeing those on paper makes them seem more clear and manageable. Then burn or tear up the paper. Service to others is another powerful way to transmute lower-energy emotions—pain, sadness,

guilt, or discouragement—into joy, peace, love, enthusiasm and gratitude. Whatever the cause of your wounds, adversity can make you better or bitter. What you focus upon is a moment-to-moment choice that can be monitored and upgraded. Whatever happened to you in the past, you can take action steps now to heal and transform yourself.

6. FINE-TUNE YOUR BODY AND MIND

It’s difficult to really know and demonstrate that you are a timeless being of energy when you are chronically and/ or significantly in pain, depressed, anxious or ill. Holistically revitalizing yourself is one key to deeply internalizing the great news of your eternal nature. (articles #12, 32, 37, 43, 54). It’s easier to think, speak and act optimally when you are truly well and balanced. Why is that so important? A verse from The Dhammapada, a collection of Buddhist teachings, stated: “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thought. With our thoughts, we make the world. Speak and act with an impure mind, and trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you as your shadow—unshakable.”

7. LOVE, ACCEPT AND FORGIVE YOURSELF

Some people inwardly dislike or even hate themselves. They feel that they are unlovable, undeserving of a great life and worthy of punishment. Self-loathing is learned from family, schoolmates, churches or other sources that focus on fear, guilt, and negativity. Bernie Siegel M.D., suggests a simple solution for this: Put baby pictures of yourself where you’ll see them each day. When you start to condemn yourself, look at those photos. Take a moment to remember that you and everyone else are precious and parts of All That Is. Doing this may also remind you that, much like a child who must learn to walk, you and they are still evolving. There are many forks along the road of life and sometimes it’s not at all clear which one to take. It’s often easier to look back and see the better choice. However, judging yourself harshly and excessively focusing on what you could have done differently serves no one (article #40).

8. STAY FOCUSED AND GRATEFUL WHEN A STE OCCURS

A spiritually transformative experience (STE) deepens your knowing about life’s bigger picture. STEs have been triggered by: near-death experience, bodily death of a loved one, out of body experience, after-death communication, synchronicity experience, childbirth, mystical or revelatory experience, evidential medium session, shared-death experience, precognitive incident, intuitive event, exposure to violence, deep feelings of love, loss of money or health, listening to music, and a unitive moment in nature (article #17). The saying, “The teacher appears when the student is ready,” is apropos here. Each moment offers a new opportunity to awaken to the great news that life, despite outward change, doesn’t end. Whatever triggers your STE, it’s important to stay relaxed and focused afterward. Express gratitude for the sign, synchronicity or experience that deepened your expanded awareness.

9. UPGRADE AND BALANCE YOUR ENERGY

Your emotions directly affect the quality of your life. Is your energy mostly high and positive with lots of love, peace, joy, gratitude and enthusiasm? Or is it lower and negative much of the time with hatred, anger, hopelessness, resentment and guilt? You can upgrade both the quality and quantity of your energy. And that, in turn, greatly affects how you think, feel, look and function. As mentioned, centering practices such as meditation, prayer, yoga and time in nature are powerful ways to remember who you are and how best to live. It’s also important to learn lessons

from the past, but don’t spend too much time and energy rehashing what could have, would have or should have been. Express gratitude for the experiences, memories and lessons. Then make a commitment to learn from them, improve your life, and help others. Here are four simple concepts that can help in the process: • Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. • Be grateful for the many blessings in your life instead of bemoaning the few bad parts. • Ask your inner wisdom/Higher Power how you can upgrade your pain and loss into loving service and a happier life. Then take actions steps. • Look for the silver linings in life’s dark clouds. Remember: Where your attention goes, your energy flows. My Holistic Breathing Technique (article #24) is the most powerful way I know to heal old wounds, release lower energy emotions, and upgrade/balance yourself.

10. GET BIGGER EYES

To internalize the great news that life is eternal, expand your awareness. Learn the evidence. Let yourself believe in the data. Look, hear and feel beyond what you usually perceive. Don Hoffman Ph.D., author of Visual Intelligence: How We Create What We See, explains that we don’t really see reality; we see what we have been trained to see, and what we need to see to survive. This scientific fact highlights the importance of expanding your perception of the greater reality. For now, remember to get bigger eyes, share your highest visions with others, and live accordingly.

This simple formula is humanity’s greatest hope for many people and our world.

11. USE THE A.R.T. TECHNIQUE

Many people have been trained to selectively focus on the negative, but we can learn a different way to respond when confronted with challenges and disappointments. The A.R.T. technique works well for any type of loss: when a loved one passes on, relationship ends, financial downturns, broken dreams and physical injury or illness (article #41). Here’s the formula: A = Appreciate; R = Realize; T =Transform. Let’s look at how you can use it when a loved one passes from our world: A = Appreciation for all your wonderful times together and great memories. Whenever you catch yourself thinking about his or her illness, accident, dying or apparent absence, inwardly say “STOP!” Then shift to a precious memory from the past and feel gratitude for good times. R = Realize your post-material dear ones are, or soon will be, having a wonderful experience full of love, peace, joy, gratitude, hope and enthusiasm. In addition, realize that you will see each other again after your bodily death—and maybe even before that. T = Transform yourself and our world by choosing a higher energy path of serving others, creating more meaning and finding the silver linings. You can survive and even thrive through all of life’s changes and challenges with style. And you are not alone in this endeavor. Reach out to caring people who are willing to help you find the high road and stay on it. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Yash Raut

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is an author, master’s clinical psychologist, holistic chiropractic physician, frequent media guest, and webinar/workshop facilitator. He directs The SoulPhone Foundation and founded Greater Reality Living Groups. Dr. Pitstick can help you know and show—no matter what is happening to or around you— that your earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst forever. Visit http://www.SoulProof.com for free articles, newsletters and radio interviews with top consciousness experts.

Chase Your Dream

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Saksham Gangwar

It’s time to find the gift or message deep within you and share it with the world. By Dr. Bryan Hawley I see so many questions posted in social forums regarding making money and searching for the means to make a living doing what you long to do. Many people are feeling the pull to follow their heart and passion and become creators who inspire and help others. But those same people are scared to move forward because they don’t know if they can survive financially. Some may even end up creating fabulous courses and videos that are truly enlightening and inspiring—but they don’t put them out in the public domain because they fear rejection, ridicule or financial failure. The real problem is that most of these individuals are working from a “lack of” mentality rather than an “abundance” mentality. Moreover, they are not living (and thus not creating) from the present because they are worried about generating income from work, or not being able to charge enough, or get any clients. In other words, this is projecting to the future from a place of fear about things that may or may not even happen. Some are also worried about what others will say or think about their new passion. This is living in the past and conjuring up old emotions and memories of being ridiculed, including self-doubt and how they felt as a child or younger person. This is where most people’s hopes and dreams stop due to fear of the unknown— especially when it comes to making money by following your dreams. This brings me to a story about two Hindu goddesses: Lakshmi and Saraswati. There

are many versions of this tale, but this is the one I find most applicable to my point. Lakshmi (aka Shri) is the goddess of wealth, power, fortune, beauty, grace and charm. She also grants worldly prosperity and well-being. Her sister Saraswati is known as the goddess of knowledge, devotion, speech and study. It is said that men (and women) always lust after Lakshmi and chase her for her wealth and beauty in hopes she will favor them. Many seek her over Saraswati and don’t follow their heart’s passion. The problem is Lakshmi is very elusive and it’s hard to catch her favor. Therefore, most who chase after her fall short and never find the fame and fortunes that they seek. However, those who set their sights upon Saraswati first and chase knowledge will make Lakshmi very jealous and cause her to chase after them. As a result, they will never have to worry about money, fame or fortune the rest of their lives. It will follow them! The current world population is approaching 8 billion. That is 8 billion incarnated souls who have a unique dharma (life goal) that is vital to humanity at this time and in this place. You have this gift or message deep within you. One of my early mentors, the late Wayne Dyer said, “Don’t die with your music still in you.” You came here with a purpose and a message that only you can deliver to the world at this particular time. If you feel an inner pulling to now finally let it out and go for your dreams, follow it and trust in the universe and in your higher Self. Things will show up in your life (they are doing so now if you look hard enough): synchronicities, courses, webinars, people, pages, calls, social posts and a host of other “little helpers” that you can use to follow your dreams. Maybe this short article is even such a reminder you. Which sister are you chasing after?

Listen for Your Calling with Dr. Bryan Hawley Dr. Bryan is a published author, national speaker, and personal growth consultant. He also owns an online digital marketing agency and has created a simple online course on digital marketing to help other coaches, and authors break out into the world and reach audiences. You can find out more on his website http://www.drbryanhawley.com or email directly at info@drbryanhawley.com.

Move More & Stress Less

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Minh Pham

By Arielle Giordano

5 Ways to get your groove on.

1) Dance, dance, dance! Recent research on the health benefits of dancing has shown it reduced stress and increases serotonin levels in the body, along with imparting an increased sense of well-being. And did you know that dance can make you smarter? A major study at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City looked at 75-year-old individuals engaged in physical activities for 20 years. The findings added to the growing body of evidence that shows stimulating one’s mind by dancing can help ward off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, just as physical exercise can keep the body fit. Dancing also increases cognitive acuity at all ages, according the the results, and dancing showed more benefit than other cognative and physical activities examined in the study. 2) Listen to your body. Body intelligence is the key to healing and well-being. When we know something is true about our bodies, we must follow through and address our needs. Have fun by going into a grocery store and

letting your body choose the fruits and vegetables by the colors that attract you. This is an excellent way to connect to your body’s intuitive nourishment needs. 3) Enjoy being in your body. Relax your body and rest in your heart. Begin with deep breathing, become aware of your body and embrace being in it. As human beings we live in a physical world, and the physical body is a portal to our reality. 4) Accept your body exactly the way it is. No matter what you think or feel about your body be open and okay with who you are. There are NO judgements in being okay. If you are overweight, or dislike something about your body, accept it. Shifting into acceptance means you are open in your heart. 5) Move like no one is watching you! Let yourself listen to music, move or dance in whatever ways inspire you. Let your body guide you into movement. If you are sitting in a chair, take a deep breath, relax and sink into the chair. Feel your body in the chair. Feel the material of the chair around you. Feel your muscles and bones touching the seat of the chair. Feel your feet t ouching the ground. Dance, stretch and breathe; enjoy the movement in the moment!

Dancing from the Inside Out with Arielle Giordano Transformational Life Coach Award-Winning Author & Speaker, Professional Dancer. Arielle’s Award-Winning book for Best Self-Help Award: Dancing With Your Story From The Inside is available on http://www.Amazon.com. Her professional career includes the Lead Faculty Area Chairperson and Professor for the College of Humanities, History and the Arts at the University of Phoenix. She is a published co-author of Transform Your Life Books 1 & 2 and author for Tampa Bay Wellness, Conscious Shift & Transformation magazine. She has published her 4th book, an Instructor’s Manual for Barlow Abnormal Psychology 4th ed. and authored Psychology, A Journey 3rd.ed. Study Guide published by Nelson Education, Toronto, ON. She has also studied philosophy at the College of Integrated Philosophy with John DeRuiter for twenty years. Arielle has been a featured guest on radio and television, in newspapers, and the media across the US and Canada. She is a certified Essentrics Stretch and Dance Instructor. Arielle offers coaching sessions, classes and workshops and a free 30-minute Consultation. Websites: http://www.dancingfromtheinsideout.com, http://www.ariellegiordano.com. Email: agbeautifuldance@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Jude Beck

From Awareness to Acceptance

Obse rve the lens through which you view the world, and conside r making room for othe rs’ points of view. By Mary Boutieller Last month, I wrote about tolerance (or the lack thereof) and how it was affecting my life, making me feel quite curmudgeonly. Since that time, I have become more aware of my immediate reaction to things versus my 16

more thoughtful response. As I question the validity of those reactions, I’m finding that I am able to relax a bit more and let things be —slowly but surely a work in progress! Tolerance and acceptance seem to be two peas in the proverbial pod—different, yet somehow linked.

Psychologist Nathaniel Branden said, “The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”

First I have to become aware of my behavior; I have to actually notice it! How many of our behaviors are so ingrained or habitual that we don’t even realize we are doing them? Once aware, however, I then get to choose what to do about them. What’s interesting to me is that we don’t know what we don’t know. Recently I attended a panel discussion on “Black Suffragists in America.” Wow, talk about not knowing what I didn’t know! Three brilliant women on stage, shining the light of knowledge for all of us to see. It was both inspiring and humbling. What we don’t see, what we don’t feel, what we don’t know, create an ignorance of understanding. How many times in our lives has a loved one told us that we hurt their feelings when we were totally unaware? And with that information, how many of us defended ourselves instead of inquiring within or asking more questions? Is the information true? Can we see how our behavior might have been interpreted? Is there something we could have done differently? Yet, often, fear stops us from such inquiry. If I look too closely, I might realize that I was wrong, that I might need to apologize, that my communication was misunderstood. Maybe, instead of acknowledging the role I have played, I go into protect mode or righteous mode. We’ve all heard the saying, “Would you rather be right or be kind?” Of course I’d much rather be kind, but sometimes I just want to be right. I want to dig in my heels and

ignore what may be true. And sometimes I just don’t want to be wrong... because “wrong” is not “perfect”... and perfect is what I always thought I needed to be before I knew better. The truth is that during the course of our lives, we bring all kinds of lovely and not so lovely baggage with us. Battle scars, familial history, trauma. One of the women who spoke during the Black Suffragists event talked about her family’s history and stories of her childhood being like suits of armor—histories that many of us could not imagine— those of slavery, discrimination and segregation. Those suits of armor that we all carry can strengthen our resolve to reach out and find understanding, or they can close off our hearts so that we don’t experience any more trauma.

The problem with closing off our hearts to pain is that we also close them off to love and joy and hopefulness. I think it starts with awareness and acceptance. When we become aware of the patterns and habits we have armored on that sever our ties to others and ourselves, we are given the opportunity to choose another way. We know that these traits are malleable, just waiting to be kneaded with our own sweet hands. Be willing to stand strong in your truth, as you

currently know it, and also be willing to listen for other truths. Observe the lens through which you view the world, and consider making room for others’ points of view.

Eleanor Roose velt said, “You have to accept whate ve r comes, and the only important thing is that you mee t it with the best you have to give.” It seems that this is the only real thing we can ask of ourselves. To love and accept ourselves; to love and accept others; and to meet whatever comes with the best we have to give. Acceptance is not resignation; it is simply a stepping off point to something more.

I will leave you with this lovely quote by Eckhart Tolle: “Acceptance looks like a passive state, but in reality it brings some thing entirely ne w into this world. That peace, a subtle ene rgy vibration, is consciousness.”

The Yoga of Life with Mary Boutieller Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ilze Lucero

Seven Facets of Spiritual Awareness

Life can be a treadmill of mundane details or it can be an inspiring adventure of uplifting experiences. By Owen K. Waters Through the regular, daily practice of meditation, you can start each day by raising your frequency of consciousness above the mundane, work-a-day level into the spiritual realms of consciousness. Here are seven facets of spiritual awareness that unfold as a result of daily meditation. Any technique will work.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER ONE: FLOW

A sense of flow attracts synchronicity into your life’s events. This almost magical sense enables you to always be in the appropriate place at the appropriate time in order to gain the most out of the experiences that the complete you, your inner self, planned for this life.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER TWO: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

You develop a sense of unconditional love for the inner, spiritual essence of all the people that you connect with in your life. Even the difficult people, as they are often holding up a mirror for you to understand an aspect of past habits which, deep down, you would like to examine at this time. Your sense of unconditional love naturally includes full acceptance of yourself, just as you are, with the personality that you adopted for this lifetime of experience. You can catch those old thought patterns of self-criticism and remember that you live in a universe that is naturally full of love and unconditional acceptance.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER THREE: ABUNDANCE

Accept abundance as the natural flow of the universe. Forget those opinions about there being something wrong with money. It’s a form of energy and the universe is filled with energy. Life gets a lot more convenient when you are abundant. It gets really inconvenient when you are not. When you follow your innermost joy, you find yourself doing work that you love and find absorbing. When you find your work absorbing, you become very good at it, without feeling that it took a lot of effort to become that highly skilled. When you are good at your work, employers and customers alike hear about you

by word-of-mouth recommendation, and they seek you out. The more in-demand your services become, the more they are worth. Following your inner joy is the secret to finding and developing an occupation that brings natural abundance.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER FOUR: INTUITIVE INSIGHT

Both men and women find that, with regular spiritual practices, their sense of intuition develops smoothly and naturally. Soon, your insights grow to become very valuable in dealing with the challenges of life.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER FIVE: CREATIVITY

A growing sense of creativity becomes apparent when spiritual practices become your daily routine. You discover new ways to achieve results because you see situations from a broader perspective.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER SIX: WISDOM

Advances in spiritual wisdom and understanding come with deep meditation. In meditation, it is important to let distracting, surface thoughts dissipate so that deeper realizations may surface at the time that they are needed.

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FACET NUMBER SEVEN: RAISING WORLD CONSCIOUSNESS

When you detach from worldly concerns and express a higher frequency of consciousness, the conflicts of the lower frequencies of consciousness become automatically healed. When you let go of any form of conflict within yourself, you are able to rise to a higher frequency of consciousness in a state of harmony and balance. Higher frequencies of consciousness hold a higher power. Not just a slightly higher power. The power ratio of spiritual consciousness to conflict-oriented consciousness is many thousands to one. If you allow balance to enter your life through a spiritual state of consciousness, it will manifest immediately and very powerfully in your daily life. You will also be helping to raise the global consciousness in a very powerful and constructive manner.

Spiritual Dynamics with Owen K. Waters Owen is a cofounder of the Spiritual Dynamics Academy, where a where a free spiritual growth newsletter awaits you at: http://www.SpiritualDynamics.net. He is an international spiritual teacher who has helped hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers to understand better the nature of their spiritual potential. Owen’s life has been focused upon gaining spiritual insights through extensive research and the development of his inner vision. For the past 12 years, he has written a spiritual metaphysics newsletter which empowers people to discover their own new vistas of inspiration, love and creativity. Spiritual seekers enjoy his writings for their insight and clarity.

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What Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Really For

Every situation has only the meaning you give it. When you find another perspective with higher purpose, the problem dissipates and the path clears. By Alan Cohen I was stunned to see the long line of customers waiting in front of the rental car desk. As I counted 50 people and just a few agents to service them, I realized I would be here for at least an hour. Never again will I rent from this company. As I chatted with Tom, a fellow in line behind me, I remembered I had a membership to the rental company’s express club. “If I go to the express desk on the lower level, maybe they’ll expedite my rental,” I thought out loud. Tom told me, “Go ahead—I’ll hold your place.” Wow, how thoughtful! I told him thanks, and if I didn’t return, I would save a seat for him in heaven. When I found the express desk also glutted, I returned to the regular line where my new friend let me back in as he had promised. As the line slowly advanced, Tom and I got to know each other, laughing and telling stories. The frustration of being in the long queue dissipated and the time went more quickly. When I finally reached the front of the line, I told Tom to go ahead of me. We shook hands warmly and wished each other well. A Course in Miracles asks us to remember, “I do not know what anything is for.” It explains that rewarding relationships provide the express route to healing. While I believed my purpose in that line was to get a rental car, my more meaningful opportunity was to connect with another human being and help each other through a difficult situation. We gave each other a miracle. Jewish theologian Martin Buber said, “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” The ego’s destinations are always material. The

spirit’s destinations run deeper. We believe we are here to get somewhere physically, while we are really here to get somewhere spiritually. Never accept an experience, especially a challenging one, at face value. There is always more going on than meets the eye, a doorway to a blessing. My friend Nadine had been house-sitting at different homes in Hawaii for several years, and she yearned to have her own place in the small town of Waimea. One day while Nadine was sunbathing on the beach, a dog that had just frolicked in the ocean came and shook water on her, startling her. Soon the dog’s owner arrived and apologized. As the two women began to chat, the lady explained that she had been renting a cottage in Waimea, but she had to move out, and she was looking for someone to take over the lease. When Nadine heard the details, she couldn’t believe her ears. The cottage was exactly what she had been looking for. A month later Nadine moved in to her ideal situation. The wet, shaking dog at first seemed to be a nuisance, but turned out to be an angel. Don’t be hasty to judge nuisances as bad; they always contain a gift if you are willing to look deeper. A friend told me, “Interruptions are the best part of my day.” The lofty practice of reframing calls us to take the facts of a situation and look at them from a different angle, to reveal an opportunity. Every situation has only the meaning you give it. If a circumstance feels painful, you are attributing negative purpose to it. When you find another perspective with higher purpose, the problem dissipates and the path clears. Miracles proceed from a shift in perception. In the biblical story, Joseph’s jealous brothers sold him into slavery and he

was later unjustly thrown into prison. As a result of Joseph’s gift of prophecy, he was released and rose to become Pharaoh’s top advisor. Years later when a famine befell the region, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to beg for food, and they found themselves standing before none other than Joseph. When they apologized for their misdeed, Joseph said, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” So it is with all challenging situations. What starts out as evil can be turned into good. Every minus is half of a plus waiting for a stroke of vertical awareness. As spiritual beings, material experiences alone cannot fulfill us. It is only when we find spiritual purpose that we feel fulfilled. A teacher posed a question to his students: “Imagine you wake up one morning and you feel like having some French toast. But you don’t have any eggs. So you go to the corner mini-mart, pick up some eggs, and have a brief chat with the clerk. Since you know him from your regular visits, you ask him how is kid is doing in his new school. Then you head back and cook your French toast. What was the purpose of your trip to the grocery store?” The teachers’ students answered, “To buy some eggs.” “Not really,” the teacher replied. “That was just the excuse to get you into the store to connect with the clerk. Life is more about relationships than eggs.” There is a nobler purpose to every experience than meets the eye. No encounter is by chance. Everything that happens is designed to lead us to spiritual reward and growth. When we realize that life is about connecting more than getting somewhere, we find treasure right where we stand—even in line.

Get Real with Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen is the author of many inspirational books including A Course in Miracles Made Easy. Join Alan for his life-changing Holistic Life Coach Training beginning September 1, 2020. For information on this program and Alan’s books, videos, audios, online courses, retreats, and other inspirational events and materials, visit http://www.AlanCohen.com.

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Complement Over Compromise

By Terez Hartmann

THE COST OF COMPROMISE I feel the need for speed. He prefers to walk at a more moderate pace. Yet, somehow we still manage to enjoy BEING together. You may ask: “How can this possibly work?” Someone must surely compromise in order for there to be any semblance of togetherness on the road of life? Surely someone needs to slow down or the other should speed up to make things work—otherwise, with such different rhythms, there would be virtually no interaction except to possibly share the car ride to and from the destination of the moment. Given this scenario, here is what typically happens: Door #1: One person continually holds back to match the pace of the other when it is her/his nature to allow energy and flow, which compromises joy, expressing her/his core self, physical health and overall well-being. Door #2: One person pushes her/himself to keep pace and catch up with the other, moving at a speed and rate that she/he is not yet ready for that is actually detrimental, which also compromises joy, expressing her/his core self, physical health and overall well-being. Door #3: Both parties do this continually and NEITHER ever gets to operate in her/his optimal flow, with BOTH parties perpetually compromising—you guessed it—joy, expressing her/his core self, physical health and overall well-being. Given THESE options, most freedom-loving beings who want to be happy and live long and prosper would opt out—and it’s no wonder why so many people who have chosen to take one of these three doors (ALL of which lead to compromise), find themselves in a place of power struggle, conditional happiness or ultimately ending a relationship.

THE GAIN FROM INTENDING TO COMPLEMENT Isn’t compromise simply the “cost of doing business” when it comes to maintaining and continuing a relationship over the years? Isn’t this necessary in order for there to be any possibility of true peace in families, teams or even the world? Like many, I once also only believed that if I wanted to be in a steady, loving relationship—or create lasting peace with others—I would have to play the game of choosing Door #1, 2 or 3. But, as a being who deeply values freedom of expression and who also revels

in seeing others thrive and get to realize their fullest potential, I (at first) decided that I would rather fly solo than choose a door that led to the ultimate diminishment of myself or my potential beloved. But then I wondered… …What if there were a choice beyond those three doors? What if there were a chance that there could be another human being on this planet who also dreamed of a true soul connection, yet who also wanted to have the space to thrive, to live fully and authentically, and who could joyfully allow me to do that same? Even though life experience had NOT yet shown me that this could be possible, I had decided that if I were ever to choose to be in a long-term relationship, it would be with a soul who also believed in… Door #4: Both parties honor their natural calling and flow—paired with clear intentions to COMPLEMENT each others lives and enjoy the journey TOGETHER—allowing BOTH to seek joy, express their core selves and feed physical health and well-being. Instead of both parties experiencing a subtraction of overall quality of life via compromise, they actually add fun, vitality, trust and respect by striving to complement each other! “Impossible!” you say? Wouldn’t extending THAT much trust, freedom and faith spell the end of true commitment? In my own experience, I can tell you that sharing my life with a soul who continues to embrace this “radical” way of being with me has only inspired me to a level of fierce loyalty and an experience of love that grows deeper with each passing year.

A NEW WAY OF WALKING A JOINT PATH I have known John Victor Hartmann for over 20 years now, and have been proud to get to call him my husband for more than 17 years at the time of writing this article. He celebrates the fact that I like to walk at a fast pace, and I celebrate and encourage him to walk to the beat of HIS drum. We both love spending time out in nature, movement and being together, so each time we walk, we do indeed always start and end our journey TOGETHER. Here’s what we do: Even when I walk or run on ahead, I still loop back to visit with him as I refuel or… to simply steal a quick butt grab! Yet, there are also times when it DOES feel natural and good for him to join me at a faster pace (at times, he even challenges me to go faster! And there are also times when I’m inclined to enjoy a more leisurely stroll and relaxed conversation with my sweetheart.

None of this is ever forced. No one need compromise what feels good or right. We each do our best to follow the natural cues of our bodies, minds and spirits and always know that if we choose something different from the other in the moment all is still truly well. Yes, there are times when that pesky old paradigm sneaks in. And when we slip into “compromise” mode, it truly feels as if there has been a “disturbance in the force,” resulting in a palpable drop in our energy, vibe and flow. But the moment we remember that we are BOTH allowed and encouraged to follow and express what feels authentic and best, and ask how we can complement each others experience, we feel an immediate lift on every level. We are NOT perfect human beings. We still get stressed, tired and “hangry.” We have different opinions and preferences about certain subjects at certain times. We have faced major life changes and challenges on every front. But because our core connection is based around our desire to enhance the life experience of the other—while still feeling free to be who we are as individuals and heed the guidance coming from within—the peace, passion, love, friendship, and respect we feel for and with each other is beyond anything we both thought to be possible at one time… …And it has come WITHOUT compromise.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A NEW RELATIONSHIP PARADIGM

John and I are but one combination of people in a vast sea of humanity, and we know for sure there

are others like us—whether romantic partners, friends, family members or teams/organizations—who have witnessed the power of complement over compromise. And I, for one, feel that if more people allowed themselves (and each other) to enjoy this kind of connection—a beautiful merging of love and freedom to BE—an evolution revolution of the highest order could transform humanity in astonishing ways, with far-reaching implications that could heal families, communities, organizations and even nations. Imagine what relationships—and LIFE—could look like if more people chose to live and express from a place of true authenticity and actively followed their inner compass to realize their purpose, while maintaining and increasing health and well-being? Imagine what could happen if more people were to step out into the world seeking to add to each other’s lives and build bridges based on common ground, rather than eek out fleeting happiness and temporary moments of peace through condemning and controlling the behavior of others, setting limitations and participating in continual compromise? What if YOU (and someone you love) could serve as living examples of this new paradigm in action for the benefit of many? I once thought that this was but a wild fantasy in my own life, yet here I stand 20 years on the road, still deeply in love with my husband and able to completely be ME: And after all these years… …I still feel the need for speed. He still prefers to walk at a more moderate pace. Yet, somehow, we still manage to enjoy BEING… Together.

ALLOWING YOUR SUCCESS with Terez “Firewoman” Hartmann

Terez “Firewoman” Hartmann,“Your catalyst for all things Fab-YOU-lous,” is the author of Allowing Your Success!, a proud contributing author of Transform Your Life! book one and two, a professional Keynote Speaker/Workshop Facilitator, Singer-Songwriter/Recording Artist, “Allowing Adventures!” & “Savor Vacation” Facilitator, and true Renaissance Woman, and Visionary. She keeps her fire lit by embracing and promoting a lifestyle of “Allowing,” and by using creative expression to elevate and ignite the human spirit, a passion that she shares with her husband, soul-mate and creative partner of over 15 years, John Victor Hartmann. Together they share “Allowing TRUE LOVE” workshops and experiences designed to help others attract, allow, and maintain extraordinary relationships, and create custom jingles and voice-overs in their studio, THE Creativity Express. Visit: http://www.TerezFirewoman.com

Cutting the Cord

There’s a finite amount of time allotted to each life. Decide who or what you want in yours. By Jo Mooy Every human is tied up in some type of restraint that binds. We’re held captive by beliefs, traditions, ethnicity, religion and culture. Parents, friends and family persuasions influence much of what we do. Alas, the greatest restraint keeping us bound up in knots is inertia. We think about making changes in our lives, but it’s so much easier to sit around whining about it, rather than doing something to change it. Those cords can be cut. The internet, TV and social media hold the strongest grip on our lives and on our collective consciousness. These electronic ties sway our beliefs so intensely that even educated minds fall victim to mass hypnosis. As “alternative facts” replace Socratic inquiry, truth disappears and reasoned individuals go underground. They cannot face the endless onslaught on values. But, there is a solution: Cut the cords that blind and bind you. The phrase “cutting the cord” refers to leaving the confines of cable boxes and connecting to the world through another medium—specifically streaming. In 2019 there was a staggering 48 percent increase in cable “cord-cutting” saving subscribers an average of $1,500 a year in bills. In fact, a recent headline in a business publication, watching the impact of cord cutters, asked, Is Cable Dead? But cutting the cord can do the same thing for our emotional and spiritual lives. It begins by examining how you spend your time, especially “electronic” time. Be ruthless about it. What do you really watch on TV? Why does a particular program hold such an emotional attachment? Does the watching or reading of electronic media raise you up? Or are you listening to negative or predictable commentary by one-sided, uninformed “experts” who are trying to influence a vapid population? We have complete control over our physical, social, media and spiritual networks.

Older people intentionally “regulate and cull” their social contacts. If someone in their circle is negative or irritating, they quickly remove them from the social network without much fanfare. Researchers find that as adults age. they are more adept at shaping the emotional experiences that optimize their health and well-being. These findings are gratifying for they reinforce the individual’s need to be in control of their lives. These individuals cut the cords by directing what is and what is not important in their emotional and social lives. As individuals age, they realize there’s less time left for them to do the things that are important. As the runway of life gets shorter, they begin to be selective in how and where they spend their time. A recent gerontology study shows if a person has a few hours to kill, they might spend it reading a book or watching a movie. When told they had six months to live, all their time was spent with their closest friends or loved ones. Researchers call this “emotional selectivity or regulation.” It’s another way of saying they spend time with the people who lift them up and cherish them emotionally. There’s a finite amount of time allotted to each life. You decide who or what you want in it. You decide if the selections you’ve chosen improve or reduce your emotional temperament. If a selection mars your enjoyment of life, or if it causes constant angst, cut the cords. In fact, cut any cords that stop you from a peaceful and harmonious journey in life. The feelings that come from cord-cutting are liberating. The freedom and exhilaration experienced will give you clarity and an easier understanding about what’s really important in life. I cut the cable cord last year. I still know what’s going on in the world, but I’m no longer shoulder-deep in the negative commentary. I haven’t missed anything or any programs I used to watch on cable TV. They disappeared without a trace of regret. I now spend my time on more interesting things that bring genuine happiness and even better, joyous laughter. I read more. I write more. I reflect more. I did it by cutting many cords!

Conscious Living with Jo Mooy

Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training allows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guidance to students, and present esoteric teachings in an understandable manner. Along with Patricia Cockerill, she has guided the Women’s Meditation Circle since January 2006 where it has been honored for five years in a row as the “Favorite Meditation” group in Sarasota, FL, by Natural Awakenings Magazine. Teaching and using Sound as a retreat healing practice, Jo was certified as a Sound Healer through Jonathan Goldman’s Sound Healing Association. She writes and publishes a monthly internationally distributed e-newsletter called Spiritual Connections and is a staff writer for Spirit of Maat magazine in Sedona. For more information go to http://www.starsoundings.com or email jomooy@gmail.com.

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Make the Healthy Choice

How to free yourself from food addictions. By Rena Greenberg Does it sometimes feel as if there are only two choices when it comes to your weight: either dieting or out-of-control eating? Do you ever find yourself stuffing food in your mouth with no regard for physical hunger, satiation or the effect the food will have on your mind, emotions and body? If so, can you imagine the possibility of never dieting again, but instead having a healthy relationship with food and loving your body at the same time? Have you ever considered what your life could be like if you ate mindfully, with awareness, tasting and actually enjoying every bite of food, instead of feeling guilty as you eat? Here’s one simple way to start letting go of food addictions: Before you put food in your mouth, ask yourself, “How will this food make me feel?” Not just in 10 minutes or one hour, but tomorrow and one week from now. Inquire within, “Will eating this food satisfy my physical hunger and nourish me or will it perpetuate physical cravings and emotional guilt and stress as my life journey continues?”

Cause and Effect

Every action you take is the precursor to your subsequent feelings and reactions. The way you feel today is a direct result of your thoughts, words and actions of yesterday. Consider how much happier you could be if you let your choices today reflect the

kind of tomorrow you want. If you are suffering today, don’t beat yourself up. Rather, recall your choices of yesterday and the results they brought. Based on that information, make a new decision now and commit to building a happier tomorrow. When you stop to think that the cells of your body are being recreated and rejuvenated all the time, realize the incredible opportunity you have to discard old ways of being—patterns that no longer work for you—and embrace something new and positive. Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But why is change often so difficult? It’s because subconsciously you are comfortable with your old way of being, even when the old way makes no sense and brings you great suffering. The good news is that the subconscious mind is like a computer, and it can be easily reprogrammed. The first step toward moving in a new and better direction is making the decision that you are worth it—that change is possible for you and now is the time to claim that right for yourself. However, before you can change your behaviors you must change your thoughts about yourself and your worthiness. Do you take better care of your pets or your loved ones than yourself? It is through making better choices in all areas of your life that you will achieve greater levels of happiness, and it’s through wrong or harmful action (including inaction) that

greater levels of mental discomfort are increased, and so the cycle perpetuates. The key to making better choices is activating momentum in a new direction. We tend to repeat the same behaviors, even the same words and phrases, on a daily basis. Through reprogramming your computer-like mind with daily self-hypnosis, you can set yourself on a new course of action.

Break the Old Cycle

When it comes to achieving permanent weight loss, the secret is to break the old cycle of how you think about yourself and food. Start with increasing your awareness. Listen to inner voices that cause you to sabotage yourself. This internal conversation may sound like, “This is going to be hard,” or “I don’t have the time for healthy eating.” Notice any assumptions you have that you’ll feel deprived or denied when you begin to take better care of yourself. The truth is that you don’t have to be deprived at all. Begin to give yourself positive suggestions, such as, “I am feeling better, healthier and stronger every day. I enjoy everything I’m eating” and, “I eat only when I am physically hungry, and I feel great.” Instead of telling yourself that you “can’t” or “shouldn’t” eat certain unhealthy foods, remind yourself that you actually don’t even want them. When you look at a food, ask yourself, “Do I really want this food?” Then inquire, “What do I actually need?” Take a look at the ingredients list of most processed foods and beverages and ask yourself, “Do I

want or need this in my body? What effect will these chemicals, fat, sugar and sugar substitutes have on my body, mind and emotions?” Your body is not a trash can. If you are like most people, your heart’s deepest longing is to feel loved, safe and free. Freedom—contrary to the old limiting belief—is not eating whatever you want, whenever you want. That lifestyle actually leads to self-imposed imprisonment. Freedom is eating to live and never, ever living to eat. Freedom is eating consciously, with awareness only when you are physically hungry. Freedom is being aware of the different levels of your consciousness and choosing to see yourself and your choices from a new vantage point. Freedom is realizing that the past doesn’t equal the future. Freedom is having the courage to take your life into your hands and say, “I deserve something better and I am going for it!” You have everything you need inside of you, and for every apparent obstacle there is a solution. The key to finding a deeper truth about the greater possibilities for your life, health and happiness is to take the time to open to your deepest wisdom in your heart, soul and subconscious mind. Commit to daily repetition of connecting to your deepest self and putting healthy ideas into your subconscious, no matter what your emotional state in the moment may be. Begin with a deep breath all the way in to the center of your chest and down into your belly. Gently, lovingly remind yourself, “All my needs are being met. I have everything I need. I deserve to be happy.”

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Alexander Schimmeck

Love Life, Live Happy, Live Healthy with Rena Greenberg Rena Greenberg, a Hay House author, can be reached at http://www.EasyWillpower.com. Her weight loss and gastric bypass hypnosis success has been featured in 150-plus news stories including USA Today, Woman’s World, The Doctor’s, CNN, Good Morning America and Nightline. PBS stations nationally aired Rena’s show, “Easy Willpower,” in August 2015. Her wellness program is sponsored in 75 hospitals and 100-plus corporations. She conducts hypnotherapy sessions with people all over the world on Skype.