The Artistic or Imagine Me

Our StoryBooks have images...lots of images! In the past, a portion of those images were negative, often over-riding their positive counterparts. This is especially true in the parts of the StoryBooks that have to do with addictions or disorderly eating. Now we are creating new StoryBooks...not just "editing' the old ones. You are writing your StoryBook through the power provided by your higher Creative Self who has given you the opportunity of a new fresh start. While old programs may "stop by" & ask, or perhaps even demand to be in the new Book, the answer is a simple "no." No need to be angry, depressed, anxiety-ridden or feaful; no need to argue or to defend yourSelf any longer. You have learned that these old, unwanted & unsavory Stories are just that...Stories. They have been designed by your emotional childSelves, supported by your "old & weary" self-esteem & image. Take a moment to image these lower parts of yourSelf, standing next to your Powerful Highest Creative & Healing Self...notice how insignificant they appear; almost silly. There is no need to feel any negativity towards them. They are simply "lowerSelves" who have never been put in front of your Higher CreativeSelf mirror, but as you do now, they shrink even further & as they shrink, there diminishing Power is transmuted or changed into High Level Positive Energy.

Here we are working creatively with Interactive Self-Hypnotic Images or Imaginology. Each of us has an inner Artistic or Creative Self. You have this even if you never, ever considered yourSelf creative or having any artistic talent. Everyone has this & now that you know, you can begin to utilize it in very powerful ways. There are no limits to the Artist's Brush...

We'll work more with our Artistic Tools, But before we get started, I'd like to welcome new readers..

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" This book is not published as yet, but you have the opportunity to read it in it's unpublished state. If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

THE INNER ARTIST

Everything we do is from the position of our Highest CreativeSelf. If you have been following along, you know that Self is contained in the fourth Foundational Goal-den Brick. We enter the brick through deep relaxation & a sincere desire to "connect." If you are new to this work, go back a few chapters & locate the directions. Once we are connected, we'll travel over to the StoryBook we are writing in the first Goal-den Brick that is related to food. You already know how to enter the Book & where the Table of Contents are located. In the very front of the Book you will find your easel & drawing tools; paints, crayons, brushes, pencils, erasers & other artist's tools. There are also reference materials such as magazines, books & a memory pad that contains healthy images that you already have stored in your very own subconscious mind. Some of these healthy images also have mentors connected to them & you are free to invite these individuals to join you in your Artistic endeavors. Perhaps you know people or have seen people who are already practicing high level health...in so doing, they are the "keepers" of very powerful images that they will share with you. You do not have to know these people, but only to know "of them." That's all that is necessary. When you have settled into this image & are ready to continue, just come to where I'm waiting for you....over here.

These are some of the things we're going to do:

Create Images with the Artistic Tools

Clearly Define the Images

Choose Colors

Emotionalize the Images

Intensify the Images

Expose the Images to the Procedure of Enlightening

I'll meet you in the next Blog/Entry & we'll do these together.

Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Attracting Positive Power

While we are still working in the First Fundamental Goal-den Brick & in the first new StoryBook, the special images & exercises I'm presenting here can be utilized in the StoryBooks that will follow this one. Just the subject matter will change. I'm sure by now you understand that the goal-den bricks & storybooks are "frames" or "containments" for additional suggestions. The subconscious mind likes things orderly & so it is helpful to engage in orderly choices, leaving all disorder behind. You already know that old storybooks are no longer available & all suggestions are designed towards high level health & performance.

Containments allow us to do many things & to build on top of basic suggestions, such as losing weight in a healthy fashion, curtailing addiction, or whatever else we've decided to do. When we only work with our conscious mind, we not only give up a lot of power, thereby making it more difficult to achieve our goals, but we also give up opportunities to build positive, powerful layers that not only support the goal at hand, but can be transferred or absorbed by other goals in other goal-den bricks.

I've introduced you to the use of living affirmations & we've practiced entering them, thereby participating inside the goal facets, making them stronger with deeper roots. Here we'll be working with new images for adding even more layers & power to the eating or food related goals. We will be attracting Power through a variety of venues that are listed in the image above. All of these mindStates deliver power that is available "in the moment", as well as making them available in the future, just like money in a bank account. The practice of Interactive Self-Hypnosis, imagery & imaginology is very easy to do, but is best accomplished from the position of the fourth goal-den brick, where the CreativeSelf resides. I suggest that you read through the exercise, then plan on spending some time in deep relaxation, allowing the suggestions to find their way "home" in your own subconscious mindPlace.

But before we get started, I'd like to welcome new readers..

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" This book is not published as yet, but you have the opportunity to read it in it's unpublished state. If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

ATTRACTING POSITIVE POWER

In the past, you may have kept your negative behaviors alive with some of the very same mindSets that we are now going to utilize for "positive use only." What's interesting is the amount of POWER that is truly available in people with addictive behaviors. I know this personally, as well as from working with patients in my private practice. This very good news. Addictive people have lots available to transmute from negative to positive. All that is needed is to have "hot desire" & to be in the presence of one's Higher CreativeSelf. You already know how to place yourSelf in that mindState, so take a moment & I'll meet you there.

All mindSets are filled with energy. We get to point or direct this Power towards our chosen goals. When one is lost in addiction or life disorder of some type, these very same mindSets are pointed towards those negative choices, thereby energizing them. Anyone who has fought addiction is familiar with these.

Creating & Designing - we all have very creative minds that work full-time designing chosen outcomes. In the "new StoryBook" all creation & design is aimed at positive outcome images.

Opening & Learning - there is much to learn & in order to learn we must be open & clear. Now we change direction with these powerful mindSets, aiming them towards opening new routes to health.

Loving & Forgiving - in a negative life, these two mindSets are often utilized against the Self. Now, we accept them, aiming towards all positive images & affirmations.

Focusing & Flowing - in a negative life, the mind focus was on the addiction & flowing through it's layers. Now, the direction changes, focusing & aiming at new, healthy images & affirmations, flowing or traveling between them.

Freeing & Letting Go - addiction brings tightness to both the mind & body, keeping it tightly locked in a jail-like environment. Now that we are opened, loving & forgiving, it's easy to let go & aim towards the things that were only dreams in our past.

Energizing & Magnetizing - as we eat to meet our body needs, physical energy naturally enhances. This is very different from being energized by addictive substances, including food. The energy-ride is now balanced. We form a natural magnet, drawing towards us all that is positive & enhancing. No need to just wish or window-shop. Everything is available.

Practicing Formlessness - in this mindState we leave our bodyMind, existing as our Highest CreativeSelf, completely trusting, as we flow through our positive life experiences as an observer, moving from "the moment" to the future, perhaps back to clearing the past & then back to "the moment" once again...everything in perfect unison.

The more these positive mindStates are practiced, both consciously & subconsciously, the more they will attract, for each practice enhances their Power.


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Living Inside the New Eating StoryBook

We gain value from our StoryBooks, not only by having them, but by participating "inside" of them. In this section we are writing the new StoryBook that lives in the first goal-den foundational brick having to do with our food & related behaviors. The old StoryBook is gone & all thoughts related to it have been dismissed. If an old related thought "missteps" & enters the thought channel, you will notice it right away, giving you the opportunity to discharge it in a hot-air balloon. This is a simple process of simply noticing a "thought-thing" that you don't want, taking a releasing breath & observing it floating away. Nothing dramatic like beating it with a broom...the best releases are done with a powerful, peaceful stroke.

Remember, thoughts are things & you get to choose if you want them or not. If you don't give directions for release or keep, the mindBody will simply keep them. This is fine if your thoughts are related to what you want, but if they are not, you truly want to release them, because not doing so will give the message to your mindBody that you want more of the same. If we could examine the stress-triggers in your body & notice the imagery connected to them, you would be able to see little visualizations of things that you don't want. So, keep this in mind as you become more aware.

We practice entering all "StoryBooks" from a deeply relaxed state & from the fourth foundational goal-den brick, representing the presence of the Higher or Creative Self. In this position, we are free of Ego & all efforting. We have no desires, just the utmost trust in the Universe & our Highest Being to provide what is best for us, as well as all the details for achieving it. And while we have fully released, there are certain things one may notice as the StoryBook opens it's covers & lighting the interiors. The "wallpaper" or emotional colorings are always very positive, embodying joy, balance, relaxation, commitment, readiness & peace...& perhaps the most important, a feeling of true engagement with the new Story.

In a moment we'll accept the invitation to enter, but before we get started, I'd like to welcome new readers..

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" This book is not published as yet, but you have the opportunity to read it in it's unpublished state. If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

ACCEPTING THE INVITATION

Perhaps you can make yourSelf very little & sense yourSelf standing on top of your new StoryBook. Go ahead I examine the cover...the words....the images...the lock & key....all gifts to you from your Highest CreativeSelf. The Key knows the lock & the lock responds to the Key as it turns itself, indicating the way for you to enter. Relax deeply into the moment... if you find any difficulties in imaging, simply "think" this Story. The mindBody knows exactly what to do & there is truly nothing that you have to do. The StoryBook writes itSelf from the position of your Highest Creative Self. Notice how comfortable you are, knowing & trusting that everything is already worked out & in process. The Table of Contents is over there & while you can enter any area, in the beginning it's a good idea to do things in some sort of order. In the book I'm writing, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" we will enter each area of the Table of Contents in each new Story that lives within each goal-den brick. The blog space is a bit limited, so I'll have to break down the exercises more than I would like.

I like "Table of Contents" of mindStoryBooks because they build the frame for the full suggestion or over-arching umbrella to the subject at hand. Here, in the first goal-den brick, the book is all about the eating areas of yourLife & connecting emotions. Everything is about suggestion & the mindBody responds to all suggestions AS IF they had truly happened. This is the power of the CreativeMind. This is your book & so your Table of Contents may be somewhat different from mine, but many areas will be the same. The first area in my Table of Contents has to do with "food choices & preparation". This area also manages the serving sizes & introduction of new foods. All emotions that are engaged with these areas are also present & form not only the wallpaper of this area, but engage fully with the You within the pages. Once you enter the chapter or area, You will find working affirmations that are living, just as if the affirmation was a person unto itSelf.

Let's go ahead INSIDE. Look around, noticing where everything is. You might find the supermarket, as well as the kitchen or restaurant or both. Take your time to go around all areas, noticing & touching everything that has been made available to you. In my kitchen I have the very best appliances & all food is beautifully stored & protected, thereby honoring it. Affirmations line the walls & positive emotions are busily engaged in shopping, preparing & setting the table with the very best china, silverware & crystal. Linen tablecloths & real napkings re-inforce my respect for mySelf. I sense the emotions of joy, balance, relaxation, commitment, readiness, effortlessness, peace & engagement. When working within the mindBody & with the CreativeSelf, always sense the emotions as they exhibit themSelves inside of you in their "chemical state."


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Re-Writing the Food StoryBook

Each goal-den brick, foundational or otherwise, has it's own "storybook." These stories have been written by us over time & often, have not been edited to keep up with our growth & changes. In addition, many of our stories are not about what we want to attract or create, but instead, are about our failures or things that we don't want in our lives. Each storybook is filled with suggestions for attraction. They work like radar...pulling towards us whatever they contain, whether we want those things or not.

The CreativeSelf that resides in the fourth foundational brick is always eager to improve the stories that reside in the other goal-den bricks & once given permission, will actually go & do the writing or law of attraction goal-setting as we sit back & observe. Of course, our CreativeSelf always works in our best interests, even making up the plans for achieving the goals as the new stories are created. You may be wondering if you have always had these four foundation bricks. Yes, they have always been present, but more than likely not properly organized or programmed for high level health & performance. You have always had an area related to your food & eating behaviors, your exercise, self-image & esteem, as well as a connection to your Higher CreativeSelf. Now, that you are keenly aware of their presence & structure, you can enter these areas in the presence of your Creative or HigherSelf, either just observing as the CreativeSelf does it's work, or directly joining in.

You already know the power of cleaning & clearing in all four foundational bricks. In the last blog we worked on entering the CreativeSelf & then traveling over to the food-related blog "in the moment" & changing outcomes BEFORE they even happened. That is called future-pacing & it is a powerful concept & tool. Now, it's time to write an entirely new story for the food-related blog. From time to time you may add to it, for indeed, you are growing & maturing as you design the experiences & outcomes that you choose to have.

In this book we'll be spending quite a bit of time writing "new stories", but before we get started, I'd like to welcome new readers..

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" This book is not published as yet, but you have the opportunity to read it in it's unpublished state. If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

WRITING THE NEW FOOD-RELATED STORY

Since we are going to work hypnotically, take a few moments to deeply relax into the chair where you are resting. Make certain that you will not be disturbed by others or by phones, etc. This is very important work & it's best not to be interrupted. While you don't need to write the whole storybook at the same time, it's a good idea to fully respect the time you have decided to allot to this, because you are sending an important message to your Higher CreativeSelf or subconscious mind, that this is very important work & you honor it. This mindset will engage the CreativeSelf to work in your behalf.

Notice that the "old book" in the Food-Behavioral Foundational Brick no longer exists. It is simple gone. All storybooks are fictionalized experiences, whether they really happened or were just figments of your imagination that you decided to place there. Storybooks are filled with imaginary images & beliefs that were either constructed by you or given to you by others, that you accepted & placed in your storybook. The subconscious mind is a servo-mechanism & follows the book in every detail. Not only that, it will "attract" you to more of the same. This is fine if you truly want what is written in the book, but if you don't want it, then you are going to get even more of it. Obviously, not a good choice!

The storybook related to food issues will be a joy to write, mainly because the old book that is now gone was so very toxic. It feels good just to have it "over & done with." From now on YOU WILL ONLY ENTERTAIN those ideas, beliefs, behaviors & anything else food-related that you want for you. You will not be writing anything in this book that has any negative connotations, in any sense of the word. No more negative images. This is your book, it's about you & about what you want for you. Simple as that. Take a cleansing breath now & just rest in the "light" of your CreativeSelf, who will light the way for you, as it assists you in writing your new, beautiful book.

The Food-Related StoryBook has many different chapters. Some of your chapter titles will be similar to mine, while others may be very different. Most likely you will add chapters as you grow within the covers of your book. I'm suggesting that you write your book in your Journal. It certainly is fine is you write it on your computer, for this is somewhat different from the other Journaling we are doing together. In my life, I have a separate three-ring binder for each of my StoryBook's. Some of my chapters include Food Management, Thought & Emotional Management, Activities & Special Events. Each chapter is further sub-divided & I'll go over these with you in the blogs that follow this. I'm going to suggest that we work directly with "living affirmations" that will appear in each chapter.

"Living affirmations" are not just words, but true self-hypnotic experiences. This is the most powerful way to plant & enhance an affirmation. For example, a simple affirmation such as "I enjoy eating healthy foods" might be planted in the different chapters, but the image that accompanies it, might change. In the Food Management chapter, you may enter your shopping area, or find yourself looking in your refrigerator & cupboards, or sitting down & actually tasting the foods on your plate. This same affirmation may present itself differently in the Special Events chapter, where you enter a party with a buffet & delight in placing healthy foods on your plate, knowing that you are "gifting" your body for high level health.

The next few blogs will entertain many examples of "living affirmations" designed for your new StoryBook for this particular goal-den brick.


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Shifting Gears

In the last blog I introduced "fractionation"...dividing the day into segments, then actively practicing deep relaxation, while noticing thoughts that travel through the mind, emotions that accompany them & body sensations that are always connected to what is playing out in the "theater of the mind." Learning to observe the ongoing inner commentary, images & body sensations is KEY to high-end releasing & then changing or editing subconscious mind programs. It's important to remember that every thought & even emotions & body sensations are their own "mind programs." For example, tightness in a particular part of the body is a mindBody program. Unless it is released & then re-programmed, the mindBody will take it for granted that it is "desired." The mindBody does not judge, but follows the dictates of who owns it.

For me, I tend to store tension in the muscles that live in the back of my neck. Sometimes I can sense the tension, but other times I can't feel it at all, but it is there. This is because I've become very accustomed to it being there. In order for me to feel it, the neck has to become excessively tense....it's screamer state. And so, it's important for me to know my mindBody programs & make certain to release them before I feel them. In the area of emotions, it's important for me to tune in to my lower level negative mindStates that tend to be habitual. Mine include being too intense over small things, impatience & intolerance. On the other side of the coin, I often forget to entertain my sense of humor & my peaceful/loving mindStates. An interesting practice in the fourth goal-den brick is to invite positive emotions to enter when a negative emotion has taken over. The positive emotion will always win out & in that specific shifting of gears, the negative stress chemicals will actually turn off, saving the body from extra stored stress, while re-programming the mindBody for future encounters with that particular negative emotional state.

Shifting gears is a very important practice & begins in the fourth foundation brick. As you become more practiced through fractionation, you will be able to do this in any moment. In the image above, I've connected the fourth brick to the first brick. Here they are shifting back & forth. I'll give you some examples of how to utilize this in just a moment, but first...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" This book is not published as yet, but you have the opportunity to read it in it's unpublished state. If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

SHIFTING GEARS - EATING ISSUES

When working with new patients, I always suggest that they practice re-entering the fourth fundamental brick as their day unfolds. It's rather like driving a car...shifting gears...up & down...in & out. It's easy to do this. It's a matter of "waking up" from your self-imposed daily hypnotic state, taking a cleansing breath & imagining yourSelf moving into your fourth brick...the brick of cleansing, clearing, releasing, balancing & coming into communication with your CreativeSelf. This book is about disorderly eating & so we are given a multitude of opportunities to shift gears because most people with eating issues have ongoing compulsive or emotional thoughts, emotions & even body sensations that are food-related. How do I know this? Well, as you already know, I have a very long history of "disorderly eating" & have been working with patients with similar problems for many decades.

My patients are often distraught when I tell them that I have to practice "shifting gears" every day. Of course, we would like to get rid of our eating issues forever, but it's important to be realistic. The mindBody programs related to disorderly eating are usually very deeply etched into the subconscious mind, mainly because they have been entertained for so long. I believe in respecting my "stories" or deep programming & by doing so, I've found that the actual "stories" are willing to assist me in changing. I'll write more about that later, but let me give you some examples of when & how I "shift gears." My most current vulnerable times are in restaurants, in the super-market & around nine o'clock in the evening. In the past, I had others, but many of them have resoved themselves ( stories helping me out.)

I believe in something called "prodromals." Those are the things that preceed a certain happening. Remember my telling you about my low-level neck tension? OK...well, I believe the same about my compulsive tendencies in my vulnerable areas. I always go to the fourth goal-den brick BEFORE going into the supermarket, restaurant & around 8PM, thereby alerting my mindBody that I am fully present. Then, I travel over to my first brick & plant the images/imaginology of what I want. I do not entertain any images of what I don't want because that would be an example of negative programming. I call in positive, powerful emotions & surround the images of what I want with their energy. This is why fractionation is so important....the more you practice, the more you will be able to recognize your vulnerable areas & emotions/body sensations. You are now on your way to Recovery...


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Clutter & Chaos

While we enter all of the foundational goal-den bricks through deep relaxation, the fourth brick teaches us, while inviting us to practice the intricacies of traveling in & out of the "creative mind" space. While we are all different, we all share the same problems regarding cluttered & chaotic mind space. Without cleaning & clearing the mind space, it simply isn't possible to go effortlessly towards & then into any sort of change. It would be like bringing more stuff into an already overly cluttered room. Once you put it down, you may never be able to locate it again. In addition, one cannot stay motivated in a chaotic state & that is why one of the biggest excuses not to start a lifestyle change is because one's life is already too chaotic.

You know the excuse, "I'll think about going on a diet or stopping smoking, or controlling my spending when my life slow's down a bit, when the children return to school, when my husband get's a job, when my mother's illness is in remission, etc." What's interesting about these excuses is that the individual doesn't realize that life will keep replacing the chaos with more of the same & it will not be until the chaotic mind is disciplined or cleared, that chaos can exit on it's own. The actual process of cleaning & clearing the fourth goal-den brick will open the creative process, where the answers to what's going on are actually located.

While we meander through the four foundational bricks during any given day, in fact many times a day, the fourth brick is the brick of "mind stability or discipline." If we are having difficulty in our first brick, the one having to do with eating, or the exercise brick or the self-esteem brick, we learn to go directly into the fourth brick to clean & clear the debris or chaos that is blocking in the other areas. Once the debris is cleared, then the Creative or Higher Mind will either bring forth the creative answer to the blocking OR will simply motivate you right into the middle of the positive action. So, you can now understand the importance of the fourth brick.

When patients come to my office, they learn the fourth brick FIRST, but not until they give me their garbage. This happens in the first half hour. Sometimes the garbage is very toxic...other times it's just a run-down of things we've all familiar with; not enough time, not enough desire, not enough discipline, not enough goal-setting, not enough self-esteem, not enough understanding of Self. Usually I don't get all the garbage in the beginning, because we have so much & we continually make more because we are still living our "old story." But, at least by clearing the top of the garbage heap, we can make some space to enter the fourth goal-den brick.

None of this is difficult, but on the other hand, none of it is easy....mainly because we are basically living with a very undisciplined mind, with emotions that are running our show or repetively writing our "story." As we work within the fourth brick, we take charge & the emotional-childSelf sits to the side. Notice that we don't kick the childSelf out or lock it in the closet. It's important to discipline this part of the Self & this is accomplished with the child working right by your side, inside the fourth brick.

The process is a discipline in itself. I call it fractionation because I will ask you to break your day down into at least six parts & find a place to be still for three to five minutes. I can hear the excuses already....but that is the childSelf acting out. When I first started fractionating, I found the most interesting places for my silence practice including the stall in the bathroom. In the future, when you fractionate in any "moment", you will be able to go into the fourth brick in the middle of a conversation. That is when you will be the most powerful.

I'll go through the process in a moment, but first...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" This book is not published as yet, but you have the opportunity to read it in it's unpublished state. If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

MAKING CREATIVE SPACE

We can make Creative Space in any moment, but it is important for us to practice fractionation. This is how we get good at what we do. First, we need to have "intention & desire." Simply put, we have to want to make creative space. That means directing the childSelf to her chair & having her practice with you. Where you do it is up to you. You may have one particular place or a bunch of places as I do. Next, center yourSelf by sitting up in the chair, fingers on the lower abdomen, riding the breath. If your breath is in the chest, bring it down with your mind. This is the releasing or relaxed breath. Now, invite your body to open...I like to scan down my body & observe the cells moving apart. You can make up whatever image or thought your like. Sometimes I feel magnets pulling me down. Next...place a Golden Egg shape around you & simply be inside. This is your private place on the face of the Earth & it if from here that you will simply notice your thoughts, your presenting emotions & your body sensations. First will come one & then another & then another. Each time you notice or become aware of one, simply notice & then sense your fingers riding on your lower abdomen...ride your breath.

In the next blog, I'll continue this process...space is an issue here.



Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Inward Ho!

There are 4 basic Goal-den bricks that make up the foundation for permanent change, all of them leading to high level health & performance. The bricks sit side-by-side, each one as important as the other & there is no particular order for working inside of them. Everything depends on the activities of the moment & one moves between them, just as if there were doors in place. I've already invited you into three of the bricks & now I'll introduce you to the fourth or final foundational brick, designed for relaxing deeply, centering, releasing tension & thoughts, in preparation for entering the domain of the "Highest Self"....right in the moment. You may be wondering if there are other bricks & of course, there are many, some of them general, such as relationships with significant others, family & friends. There will be bricks for work & prosperity, spiritual life, home & environment & ones related to your future. You may also choose to have other bricks that are specific to your life needs. All of these build on top of the Goal-den brick foundation.

The 4th Goal-den brick is all about "cleaning & clearing" & then keeping our lives in order & balance. If thoughts are not managed, then emotions can't be managed & without this one lives in mental & physical turmoil. We call is "stress", but that is an umbrella word, not really giving us the information we need to bring order out of chaos. Picture a house or a room that is filled top to bottom with an abundance of clutter & disorder. It may have deep surface dirt, but it's impossible to see it, much less take care of it, because it is hidden underneath all the debris. The mind & body can be like this & until there is re-structuring, it is impossible to make a permanent lifestyle change & this is why most fail. There is simply far too much to manage. Life is complicated in this scenario & what is needed is simplicity that is achieved through order & self-discipline.

People who live in disorder often balk at these ideas. This is because they are still existing in the middle of their mess & so, of course, it's easy to understand how these ideas could make them more tense & resistant. This is why the 4 foundation bricks need to be instituted together. While this may seem like a lot of work in the beginning, it only feels that way because the mess is so big. As the disorder begins to lessen, then it actually becomes it's own "behavioral unit"....rather like pushing a stone down a hill. In the beginning one has to get the stone rolling, but after that, the stone rolls by itself. Sometimes it may get stuck in a rut, but then it doesn't take much to get it rolling again.

Most people who live in disorder have never felt true release & centering, especially ongoing. They tend to live their life on a treadmill, going round & round, but never ending up where they truly want to go. Some don't even know where they want to go, the reason being that their lives are so chaotic that there has been no time for creative thought & expression. They are the window-shoppers of the world, believing that they cannot have what they want, either because they are unworthy or have not been given the opportunities that others have received. These beliefs tend to lead to more of the same, locking the person in a jail-like life. The truth of the matter is that the key to opening the door is right within reach.

Before I go into some practical applications, I'd like to welcome new readers...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

INWARD HO!

Relaxing deeply does not mean sitting in front of the television or even reading a book. It means being "still", both inwardly & outwardly. It means putting regular time aside for entering stillness & observing the activities of your mind. It means observing the thoughts & connected emotions as they pass through, just like watching traffic from the curb. You are not in the traffic, but just observing it. Thoughts are things & they come through in categories, accompanied by the emotions that engage them. I've written several blog entries about thoughts & emotions, as well as the physical or body components that respond to them. Physical stressors... When you enter stillness you will be able to sense them, in fact they may actually scream out, especially in the area of the neck, shoulders & gut. As you sit in stillness as the observer of these things, you come to know much more about what helps & what hinders. Simply observing is a part of releasing. Noticing a thought, emotion or physical sensation, perhaps labeling it & then breathing from your center, sends a message to your subconscious mind that you don't need or want that right now. If it's something negative, you don't want it at all, but when sitting in stillness, it's important to release everything, thereby opening the creative space & pathway to the Higher Self.

I'll continue this discussion in the next blog...


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Mirror Mirror

Building foundational Goal-den bricks is time consuming, but after all, it is your life & what better way is there to spend your time? "Oh", comes the answer, "but that is selfish & how can I possibly feel good about spending time "thinking" about mySelf, when there are so many things to get done?" Well, here it is in a nutshell....careful, the nut may be bitter. If you don't take care of yourSelf in the fundamental ways, you will most likely have less time to take care of others because you won't be around OR you will end up having to take care of yourSelf in ways that you may not like very much. I'd like to suggest that you put on some new lenses & look around. You won't have to look for long before finding people who wished that they had taken the opportunity to build & work inside their own Goal-den bricks. The world is filled with "if only's"....I have a special compartment in my subconscious mind for all of those patients I've cared for over the years. These are my "special mentors." Quite simply, I do whatever it is because they didn't wake up in time to do it themselves. I'm grateful for what they have taught me. Their images push me out the door to exercise & remove the extra junk from my cart in the supermarket. They work along with my Higher Therapeutic Self, cheering me on & I know that you can have your own group of cheerleaders, if you just look around your life. You don't even need to know them personally, just spot someone in poor health & add them to your subconcious wellness team.

Since we're in the middle of this conversation, it's a good time to set up another Foundation Goal-den Brick, one representing your Self-Image & Esteem. Quite simply, this brick represents how you see & feel about yourSelf. Unfortunately, most of us are lacking in this department & that is one of the major reasons why we don't take care of ourSelves. We believe that we simply aren't important enough or worth the effort. Cold but true. Most of us do not lead our own life parade. Instead, we position ourSelves at the back of the line, waiting to serve everyone else before serving ourSelves, that is if we every serve ourSelves at all. In my years as a Therapist, this is the most difficult change for most people to make. When we look in the "excuse basket" for reasons why someone isn't serving themselves first, the basket is filled to the brim with all sorts of excuses. No matter what the reason, it all boils down to the same unworthiness. Everyone else deserves to come first. Having been taught that to care for oneSelf is selfish & shameful. Guilt, guilt, guilt. Well, I say "ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous." Taking care of oneSelf is "self-ful" & also teaches others how to treat you. If you don't treat yourSelf with utmost respect, don't expect that anyone else will do it.

Re-building an enhanced self-image & esteem is a full-time job & one that can be filled with supreme joy because there are so many wonderful ways to do this. I'll touch on some of these in this blog, but before this, let me welcome new readers...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

MIRROR MIRROR

In the practice of Interactive Self-Hypnosis we never focus on what we don't want, but only on what we want. From now on forward you will not talk or think about yourSelf in a negative sense. I'm going to place a mirror on the wall of your new Foundation Goal-den Brick & as you practice looking in that mirror, you will only see the magical little hole in the middle of your forhead. Inside that hole is an image of your very Highest Self, all glistening bright. You can give that image whatever characteristics you choose. Here are some of mine, in no particular order, because they all blend into each other, "authentic, funny, spiritual, kind, non-judgmental, peaceful, wise..." you get the idea. Remember, the mirror image is also fluid, so when you notice some special character trait in another person, you can borrow some of their's for yourSelf. Once again, you don't need to know them to do this. We are all spiritual beings & part of the Universal mentoring system!

The mirror on the wall is "interactive." Not only do you look at the Highest parts of your character & work to enhance it, but you also have the opportunity to enter the mirror & work directly with this Highest part of you. In the next blog, in we will go & experience this "in the moment"...


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Hitting the JackPot

Goal-den Foundation Bricks, as well as all Goal-den Bricks are always fluid. That means that they change, sometimes daily. They are rather like one's home...as you live there, new ideas come into your mind about improving things. One never sits around & daydreams about making something worse & the same goes for Goal-den Bricks. Everything is about making an area of one's life better & better. Once my Goal-den Exercise Brick was in place, I had little trouble staying the course, mainly because there was no room for discussion or debate. That simply wasn't allowed & while that made it much easier to stick to the plan, I soon came to realize that it would be much more enjoyable if I could really "like or even love" to exercise each day. There's a big difference between tolerating & truly looking forward to doing something with high enthusiasm. I began thinking that it would truly be quite funny if I became just the opposite of how I was in the past & going to exercise became a super-enjoyable part of my day.
Of course, since I was programming all of my Goal-den Bricks inside my own subconscious mind, I already knew that anything was possible. I could paint any emotion I desired inside any lifestyle behavior or brick. That meant that I could literally fall in love with broiled chicken & out of love with fried chicken. I could fall in love with the treadmill & out of love with sitting in front of the television. I could fall in love with self-discipline & out of love with clutter & waste. Wow...this was really like hitting the jackpot. All I had to do was to truly decide what I wanted, as well as what I didn't want & then paint the interiors with the right images & emotions. The possibilities were endless.

Getting organized is key to high level success, whether you are working with disorderly eating, a disorderly life or a disorderly relationship. Keep in mind that all of the aforementioned are actually relationships of a sort. You have a relationship with yourSelf, with your food, with your envionment & with others. So now, let's focus on the JackPot. But since we have some new readers, let me take a moment to help orientate them to our projects...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

HITTING THE JACKPOT

Consciously deciding to be happy & successful was a new venture for me. Now this may sound somewhat ridiculous, for indeed, who decides to be unhappy & unsuccessful? The answer may surprise you.....most people program their minds for just that, for what we think is what we actually request from the subconscious mind & Universe. The subconscious mind is a servo-mechanism that works like radar. Probably you have heard about the Law of Attraction & this is exactly what we're discussing here. In the realm of disorderly eating, most people practice negative or failure programming. I know this for a fact, not only from years of working with patients & students, but from my own history. Yes, I still work daily with re-programming this area of my subconscious mind because my old programs were so deeply etched over the years, but because I've worked diligently in my own Recovery, I'm happy to say that my life has changed dramatically.

Hitting the JackPot means making those new lifestyle behaviors into happy habits. This is accomplished by designing new, highly emotionalized imagery or imaginology. For example, when I see & then put on my exercise clothes I feel an intense excitement in my body. How did it get there? I put it there. In the past did I feel that? No, of course not. In fact, I felt just the opposite...something like "dread." "Oh goodness" said the mind. "I have to go to the gym & it will be painful, boring & take forever." Obviously, these emotions would not bring the JackPot home. Let me give you another example. Because I live in a hot, humid climate, I have to do my walking on the treadmill. In the beginning I simply hated it & could just about go for ten minutes without being tired. Besides my body being an enemy of sorts, the mind joined it. "This is long enough. The body is filled with aches. Who needs this? Time to go home. You can do more tomorrow." Of course, tomorrow brought more of the same. Now, there is a different mind program in place, making the treadmill a truly enjoyable & competitive experience for my mind & body. The outcomes are just the opposite. Because I'm very health conscious, I do two miles for my blood sugar, two miles for my HDL's & two miles for my LDL's. Do I feel tired? No... & what about the mind? It's a happy companion, working along with me to get the job done.

In the next blog, I'll go into another Goal-den Brick, one that forms a very important part of my Recovery Foundation & will do the same for you...




Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Exercise? Me?

Foundation Golden Bricks may differ for each of us, but even if one doesn't have disorderly eating issues, there truly must be a foundation brick for nutrition, as well as one for physical exercise. In fact, these should be put in place in early childhood. Unfortunately, this was not the case for me, although I was very physically active as a child, up until the time I was married. While I always enjoyed sports, I never thought about exercise as being a part of my daily health regime. Regime? I have to laugh as I write this. I never thought of any regime whatsoever, simply living my life from the end of a swinging rope. On the other hand, it wasn't like I never thought about exercise, because I did. I joined many gyms, but never lasting very long. The same with purchasing other exercise equipment, books & videos. I tried leaving my exercise clothers out, running shoes by the door, packing a gym bag to keep in the car. Quite honestly, I was an embarrassment to mySelf. Despite being very disciplined in my work, nothing seemed to carry through into my own self-care. There were times when I thought about it, but my mind was able to keep those ideas well away from me....perhaps someday, but not now. There was simply no time to fit anything else into my busy life & besides, I had no energy.

Now, I know that I was not alone with my exercise woes. In fact, I had enough friends to help me stay in my unproductive & unhealthy state. We ate our unhealthy diets together & shared exercise horror stories, convincing each other that none of this was possible for people such as us. It felt so good to have such supportive friends, but the day I woke up & knew I had to change, was the day I felt very much alone & afraid. As I looked around, I honestly did not have one person in my life who had a healthy eating plan or exercised routinely. And so, I was going to have to design some very important foundation bricks & learn to live within them.

Designing hypnotic images truly saved my life. Without these living foundation images, I was easily swayed to return to my old procrastinations, for indeed, they were extremely strong & very well etched into my subconscious mind. You might say that I was a true expert at procrastinating about food & certainly with exercise. The first golden brick I designed was the one I discussed in the previous blog, the food golden brick. The second focused on exercise. I remember thinking that I would not be successful & was very worried about it, even more so than the food. However, it is a basic premise in hypnotherapy that negativity has to be completely removed....no images, no thoughts, no inner or outer discussion...nothing but positive & motivational thoughts & images. I knew that I was not to look for negative conversation from others & if I found others talking in negative terms about their experiences, or trying to draw me in, I was to leave the venue. I remember doing that a few times, but then realized that I could turn the conversation around without seeming like a preacher.

As a therapist, I've taught the ins & outs of these awareness techniques to all of my patients & students, for few of us have ever learned to view ourSelves & our issues through these lenses. I'll share some of these with you in just a moment, but first I'd like to welcome new readers...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

THE GOAL-DEN EXERCISE BRICK

I utilized the "automatic writing hypnotic journal" to build my Goal-den Exercise Brick, the reason being that I had a tremendous history of resistance & failure to long-term discipline. Writing about my history helped to clear my "creative space." In order to make changes, just like in redecorating a room, everything must be removed. Then, you can put useful things back in place, while getting other things that you might need. This was my approach inside my newest Goal-den Brick. It is clean, clear, bright & happy. Remember, no negatives are allowed to exist. Emptying through journaling took care of this. I then remember hanging a calendar on one of the inner walls of my brick.

I remember not being able to circle the five days for exercise. Each time I went to do this, I hesitated. This was resistance. I then went deeper into my trance state, disallowing any inner conversation. I remember stepping away from the calendar & locating things I needed which included a gym membership because I live in a hot, humid climate & the weather had always provided an excellent excuse. In the past, rainy days were happy days! I also needed some new shoes & clothers that didn't hold moisture. Then, back to the calendar. Since I was still resistant, I called in my Higher & Therapeutic Selves to take care of this. What was extraordinary, was that it was accomplished "just like that." No discussion....just done. It was made clear to me about the timing & other details were simply presented. I remember feeling a sense of relief. It was decided & it was over. From that day forward I never, ever had another inner negative discussion about exercise....strange but true. Now why was this is different from my previous years of "exercise debate"? I'll share some thoughts about this in my next blog.


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Goal-den Brick Building

Recovery from disorderly eating means changing many things, not just one. In the past, all I thought that I had to change was my diet, but I was very wrong. I remember the day I realized this & it was just like lightening struck me between the eyes. Quite honestly, I was very frightened. I remember thinking," if I wasn't successful in changing my diet, how was I going to change all the things that I knew had to be changed?" The answer to this question was like a stone that dropped at my feet.A very rude awakening. "Do it or die" the inner voice said. "Oh... OK", was my automatic response. I still remain surprised that I didn't follow my usual pattern of questioning & defending. Instead there was no discussion, no argument. It was settled as simply as that. Part of me hoped that I had turned a corner & the rest would be just as comfortable.

But, this is not the way life is for we need the lessons in order to grow & mature. I remember becoming very still, most likely because I had little idea where to go from "do it or die". But, because I didn't argue, I soon learned that this was the key to being rewarded & I would receive all the help I needed. I came to understand that is what happens when you simply stop fighting. It's called acceptance & this state of mind opens the communication to & from the Higher or Creative Self.

Through the years, as an RN & therapist, I've dropped many stones at the feet of patients, most of them still arguing & obstinate. Not all of my patients have eating disorders. However, in the realm of getting well, everything seems to be connected to a lack of discipline & a desire to be right at all costs. Getting patients to put down the gauntlet & instead, to come into acceptance & discipline is interesting to observe. Once discipline is placed on the life path, other issues seem to line up as well, bringing joy to life, even in the face of illness.

If you've been reading along with me, you already know that my eating issues had become very serious & I soon came to understand that building a set of disciplines would only be a part of what I needed to do. But, before I could do that, I needed to know what I truly wanted, not in just one area, but in all areas. While this may sound rather obvious, it is often the part that is left out of the mix & in the past this is what led me to fail. What one truly desires needs to be very clear & well defined. It also needs to be emotionalized. One needs to get inside the specific desire to feel connected to the emotions. This is the basis of goal-setting. Missing out on specific details, makes it much more difficult for the subconscious or creative mind to build the motivational plan & so if one trips even slightly, one can get stranded on the path to nowhere. This is not a good place to be.

In the world of disorderly eating motivations need to be strong & this comes from high level goal definitions. Luckily, most days we follow life patterns, making it easier to define our images & manage our emotions. In my self-work, I found it enjoyable to build "goal-den bricks" that would build on each other. Since I never had a good foundation, I found it best to start from the beginning, just as I would if building a new house. I'll take you through the design of some of my bricks. Perhaps this will give you some good ideas for your own that will work within your life patterns. But first I'd like to welcome new readers...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

GOAL-DEN BRICK BUILDING

I found it useful & still do, to design my bricks inside a very special leather bound book. This book really exists & sits on my desk. Writing in long-hand is much better than typing on a computer screen. I think this is because it takes so much longer to get the ideas on the paper, giving the subconscious mind the opportunity to converse without rushing. It seems like we're always rushing.

As I mentioned earlier, I was without a sound foundation in relation to my eating behaviors. I literally had no discipline, eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it. I was a binge eater, a walk-by eater, a secret eater & an imbalanced eater. I rarely thought of what my body needed & when I had dieted in the past, my focus was only on what foods to take out or to deny myself & never on what foods to put into my daily intake. The first brick I needed was one of very clear definition that focused on the exact foods that my body required, whether I liked them or not. I came to realize that I really didn't dislike most of the foods I needed, but they were too much trouble to put together & I really did prefer to eat pizza, sandwiches & other assortments of fast foods. As I studied this brick, I came to realize that I could eat the foods I liked, but I had to improve the ingredients. This meant that I had to spend time planning, organizing & preparing. I also came to notice that I didn't treat mySelf very well. I ate standing up, while walking, talking or watching TV or playing on the computer. Observing mySelf inside my brick was unpleasant. I decided to stop all of that & brought a proper china plate, silverware & a crystal goblet to my workplace. Of course, others were quite amused with my behavioral changes, but I really didn't care. I was on a mission & I'm still on that mission.

Visiting inside this major foundation brick I'll show you my meal clock, my beautiful plastic containers, my cookbooks & organizing area. Happy emotions hang out here & accompany me to the supermarket & specialty stores. You will not find any negativity in this area, or in any other goal-den brick. Everything here is about designing the most perfect life I can for mySelf & in so doing, for others around me. When we come back, I'll take you into other adjoining bricks that form my life foundation & then we can travel up to some newer areas that were made possible because of the great foundation I've built & I hope by now you know that you can do so as well.


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Fresh Start

Cleaning, clearing & then rebuilding old rituals takes courage, a hot desire, commitment & persistence. Remember, a good part of any ritual is on auto-pilot & you may find yourSelf inside the ritual without even thinking. However, this does not mean that you have failed & should give up. It simply means that you need to wake up earlier. Just because you find yourSelf inside a negative ritual is no reason to stay....just the opposite. It's a reason to leave. As you dismantle your old ritual & build a new one, it will be even easier to change positions.

This was a big issue for me, especially in the beginning of my wellness trek, because my ritual was very old, having so many tangents that were added over the years of it's existence. I thought of it as a big, heavy tapestry, even bigger than mySelf. In the past I had tried to change some of the threads, but no matter what I did, it never seemed to be enough to effect a long-term change. Now, I had no choice. My physical health had taken a toll & the tapestry had to go.

There are different approaches to making lifestyle changes & dismantling habits. As I mentioned above, I had tried to remove some of the ritual threads, but had been unsuccessful. I also found this to be self-defeating, as it reinforced my failure. This time I had no choice but to throw out the ritual. In the practice of self-hypnosis the chosen imagery can be very quick & powerful. I knew that I would discard the ritual tapestry, but I also knew that I did want to save some of the threads, especially the ones that were symbols of my resilience. Over the years I fought through some changes. For example, I had resolved my issues with letting others make my food decisions for me. I no longer ate something because someone would supposedly feel bad if I didn't eat it, or if everyone else was having it, so therefore I needed to have it. Those were important threads for me to keep & to weave into my new tapestry.

My old tapestry was very emotional, wrought with anger, sadness, depression, worthlessness, helplessness & hopelessness. Some of my emotions were very connected to specific people & so I decided to build an alter of sorts to honor those who were responsible for teaching me some of my most valuable lessons. Remember, we learn through positive & negative examples. Here was an opportunity for me to practice forgiveness, thereby setting me completely free from those who had held the key to my prison for so long. This part of my new ritual & tapestry reminded mt that I held no anger towards anyone, including mySelf. The past was over, the path ahead was clean & clear & I was about to develop a new healing garden that would house my ritual & tapestry, for I would be weaving many new experiences into the fabric of my life.

You may wonder about the old ritual popping up on auto-pilot & finding mySelf in the middle of it. Yes, this did happen & still does at times, but remember, I am no longer the same person & I have the Key to get out. Here are some of the things that became part of my new auto-pilot ritual. There were times when forbidden foods seemed to magically appear in my supermarket basket, but they were returned to the shelves or left at the checkout. There were times when the desire to hide & binge pushed themselves to the front of my mind, but I now had a new ritual garden....one that was growing powerful roots & so these seemingly negative thoughts became opportunities for me to strengthen the new rituals. And, you can do the same. Allow your own mind to guide you, as I invite you to walk through my therapeutic shifting process with me.

But first I'd like to welcome new readers...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

NEW RITUAL GARDEN

As I mentioned earlier, I found it easier to dispose of my old ritual, except for a few threads. I did this in the "theater of my mind". It was a simple as telling it to go completely. That's what the power of the creative mind is all about. I remember the day I did this. A light came down, leaving the area completely empty & very clean. The first thing I did was to set up my alter of gratitude & forgiveness. In the development of imagery, it's a good idea to make important metaphors very detailed, so I spent quite a bit of time in this area of my mind. It took me awhile to be able to place pictures of those people who I felt had injured me the most, but after awhile, it became easier. In the meanwhile, I placed an object that represented them, instead of the picture. Another area of my garden or ritual was an actual kitchen with very modern appliances. I was no longer afraid of food & wanted it well represented, so my subconscious mind understood what was needed by my body systems. I also took time to think about foods that I liked. It was during that time that I improved my cooking skills, because when I had the most problems with bingeing, my food shopping & prep was dismal. The new ritual garden also included an area for deep relaxation & a leather bound book filled with future images. I'll share those with you in the next blog.

Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Inside the Ritual Nest

As I entered the Foodie Ritual Area I was surprised at the level of detail that had been developed over the years. My addictive childSelf was willing to show me the deepest elements, those that were the seedlings for the rather complicated working ritual that was now in place. I had some rememberance of the seedlings, but not all of them. Being able to visit them in self-hypnosis truly touched my heart. I can remember my early child, but being able to feel the deep emotions, truly opened my heart, allowing a pouring of sadness to release. I could feel the pressure before the release & that did frighten me for a moment, but the Higher Part of me was present, encouraging me to just let it flow & so I did. The untimely & surprising death of my father & the shock that separated my mother from me, had to be interpreted by a three year old child, who had no other support. The childSelf I was invited to enter was frightened, confused, anxious & very disturbed.

There was no point of reference for her to grab hold of & so the emotions were raw & scary, especially as more people arrived at the funeral that was held in the home. Visitors hugged her, while crying & screaming. The addictive childSelf took me to a little "nest-like" place, a uterus of sorts. Inside the nest were pacifier cookies & candies, some provided to the child & others secretly taken from the mourning table. These were especially addictive, for they combined mourning with sugar treats. This was to continue throughout her childLife & even into her adultLife. The "nest-like" place took many different forms, mostly hiding places that were closed in & secret....the car, closets, corners of rooms, the attic, basement & behind certain bushes & trees.

As the childSelf grew, the nest became more & more useful for releasing emotions, especially those related to insecurity, emotional & physical pain & critical emotions. Physical pain was also invited because it made it easier for emotional pain to be expressed. This pain announced itself in multiple body aches, headaches, tightness & weakness, always accompanied by fear. Sometimes the childSelf binged, almost inviting the pain to appear, as if it's presence would fill the void. The kinds of foods were mainly unhealthy, the amounts huge. At times there was an acutal fear of the foods, the Self realizing the danger of what was about to happen. That fear could even start in the supermarket as the foods jumped into the shopping cart. There was also fear of body sensations, believing them to be a hidden illness that then connected itself to fear of death & dying, bringing the nest back to it's original purpose. As the child grew older, the insecurities also grew, for there was no parent figure to help the child find her way back to balance. In fact, others thought the child was very well adjusted, for she hid everything very well & the nest, even though more complicated, was a deep secret. Even though she was very afraid of illness & accidents, she entered the health care field, as if defying the original fear, but the eating issues worsened & the secret was forced to become further submerged.

Before I go ahead & share some of the therapeutic techiques I utilized for mySelf & taught to others like me, I'd like to welcome new readers...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

INSIDE THE NEST

Disassembling the old ritual & the nest in it's present form was going to be necessary. Releasing on food was no longer possible, as I was heading towards the door of adult onset diabetes. I was already hypoglycemic, the frightening symptoms causing me to run to the nest, but I was already aware that the food was taking me even nearer to the killer diseases, so this was no longer workable. Awareness is a powerful tool, especially if it is utilized in a very deep relaxed state. That means, below the conscious level, where the brain waves are slower & the stress chemicals aren't being produced. For me, this meant learning a special kind of meditation, one that could be practiced "in the moment." As I learned to be a close observer of mySelf, I was shocked at the levels of stress I produced & stored in my body. No wonder I kept my ritual close by my side & always knew where to find my portable "nest."

Managing my thoughts was paramount to re-defining my ritual. I realized that I truly needed a ritual, but one that was very different from the one I had since childhood. Of course, my childSelf was not happy, but interestingly enough, that unhappiness passed very quickly, once I made it clear that I was now in charge. I believe that the childSelf was relieved at finally having a mature ParentSelf. In the next blog I'll invite you to visit the interior of my new ritual habitat.


Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers

Underneath the Foodie Mantra

Be clear...emotional eating & the binge is not about the food. Like the iceberg, the main components are located below the surface. So, it was one thing to take my addictive childSelf out of hiding, but quite another thing to deal with the causative factors & her "foodie mantra." Willingness to change means willingness to become aware & until that permission is granted, it is rarely possible to get a full view of the true problem & such was the case regarding my food thoughts, bingeing & obsessions. By inviting my childSelf out of hiding, permission was granted for me to enter the food behavior hiding place that is located well below the surface..deep in my subconscious mind

Despite gaining permission, I remember stalling at the door to this area, somewhat frightened of what I would find. It is not easy to enter into pure honesty. Despite my nervousness, my addictive childSelf pulled me energetically, probably thinking I was going to join her in the old hangouts, but of course, this was not to be. Instead, we were going to stand side-by-side, while I reviewed the extent of what had already happened & the already present ramifications. These would be hard to own, because what was done was done. However, I had my futureSelves to consider & I needed to know specifically what wouldn't be happening ever again. As I "read" my body sensations, I could feel anxiety & inner-trembling, probably the anticipation of having to face up to my weaknesses & then accepting the finality of letting go....this was to be a true & difficult commitment, but one that was necessary for healing, not only for my body, but for my mind as well. I had lived a life of lies, excuses & hiding & all of these would be leaving at the same time. There would be no discussion, no guilt...no shame...but I did expect a tremendous feeling of loss & that was to be.

The childSelf did need to stand by my side, but it's important to know that she was not truly participating in the seriousness of the experience, for the addictive child does not understand, nor care to understand the serious impact of over-eating, under-eating or eating foods that have no nutritious value. Her interests are found only in the special ritual that accompanies the eating, including the excitement of thinking about, then finding the foods of choice, followed by eating ,sometimes slowly or other times shoving the food quickly into her mouth. None of this had anything to do with nutritional needs, nor hunger, but instead, representing pure emotional release. To her, everything was about fixating on the ritual, for all parts were related to the emotional release. Once we were inside the door, I wanted to encourage my childSelf to open the ritual so I could see inside. I felt certain that I didn't know all parts of it, nor from where they originated. I was also interested to know how the ritual was "fired", so I could work to dismantle those elements as well. Upon entering, it was clear to me that the ritual, nor it's parts, could no longer exist. I believed that dismantling them & removing them completely would be much easier than doing this piece-meal....like emptying a room completely, instead of just doing a corner at a time. For this, I needed the child at my side, so hopefully she would guide me into the deeper recesses of the room. I was soon to find out that she wasn't about to disappoint me...

Before I go ahead, we always have new readers & I'd like to welcome them...

A NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. http://beyonddisorderlyeating.blogspot.com/
A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

THE ADDICTIVE CHILD'S PRIVATE ROOM

Once inside the room, I was stunned with the state of affairs, but of course, thisarea had been operational since I was a young child. Despite being over-loaded, it was actually quite organized. My childSelf seemed to take pride in this, making it easier for her to show me where things were. She was impressed with my interest, obviously appreciative that I wasn't angry not threatening. Luckily she missed the fact that I was appalled, perhaps because I decided to put that aside, for any criticism would have built resistance for the "show & tell." Part of me was pulled towards the seemingly mountains of food that had either been ingested or hidden through the years, but I decided that i preferred to enter the ritual first, for indeed, this was a core issue & would help to answer some of the areas that were nearer to the surface. My childSelf was fine with this, almost excited to share the intricacies of the ritual fine-tuning.

I'll share most of this with you, but space in the blog is a bit of an issue, but here's something I learned. Emotional eaters tend to preferto practice their ritual alone or if they share with others, these partners are carefully chosen. These are not the usual people one meets at a dinner party...but special addictive companions. In the case of my child, her ritual bliss was always about being alone & made especially potent by the preference of secrecy. For example, while she liked to binge in the car, she would never eat or even chew at red lights because the driver in the car next to her or behind her would be watching, thereby invading her secret. I was coming to understand that the more my childSelf trusted me, the more she would share & so staying open & non-judgmental would be key to my healing.

Copyright 2009 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be copied or reproduced without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht is author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It. She is also the writer/producer of over 350 mp3/CD programs in the areas of medicine, health, prevention, addictions, self-development & sports for adults & children.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.bohorquez
http://www.twitter.com/elizRN

http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
http://www.sugar-addiction.com
http://www.international-medical-health-writers