Library Visit

It's been a long while since I've been inside my own library. Rather like the cobbler who walks around with holes in his shoes.

It's interesting how we choose careers based on our own needs. The medical profession is famous for this. Always looking to fix others. I'm reminded of our professor of psychiatry who had a special handkerchief for opening doors. I entered the field of nursing through a back door. Fear of blood, accidents and death. The automobile accident that killed my father. My early child negatively impressed with the image of the "jaws of life" that extricated him from the car. Big bear teeth compressed on my daddy's body.

I've always been impressed with pain and death. Pain, both physical and emotional. The fear drawing me closer, while the child wanting to run, hide and just peak from around the corner. A sick enjoyment of feeling frightened, even wanting to vomit. Living life on the edge, an early indication of the addictive tendencies that would shadow my life.

I don't cry about my life. My father's death and all that followed did pave the way for an interesting life and career choices. I know how to enter dark places and learned how to exit them as well. For all of this, I'm grateful. Would it have been better not to have had these experiences? One could argue that, but as an observer of life and it's inherent difficulties, I know that I prefer knowing what my experiences have given me. How many people find themselves in pain, but stay stuck? My career choice is more than obvious.

However, fixing others is not the same as fixing oneself. This is what I want to discuss with my "journal master." I understand my attraction to my career, but I'd like to be able to place myself first without having to think about it. Growing up bathed in guilt and shame, a chambermaid of sorts, it's been difficult for me to make an easy slide from that awareness into placing myself first. Yes, I can do it, but placing "me first" on auto-pilot is still an awkward maneuver and I'd like to change that. My current auto-pilot goes something like this:

"Take care of everyone else first, then you can take care of yourself. If there is no time left, then wait for the next day....or the next....or the one after that, for indeed, it really doesn't matter." One day, when my children were young, I remember looking in the mirror and being shocked at what was reflected back at me. "When did I wash my hair last?"
"Cook what other people like, for their desires are more important. It doesn't really matter what you eat. You like everything anyway." I believe that the early seedlings of my "secret bingeing" are housed in this department. I'd certainly like to place these in some protective box, where I can see them, but they are without power. I still feel their presence on occasion.

"It's OK to purchase things for yourself, but always bring something for the others, for if not, you will appear selfish." Other seedlings live in this place. Purchasing, hiding and then bringing things out "pretending" that they aren't new. Games we play.

Oh...this looks terrible on paper. Me, a therapist, thinking like this? Or...I could also say, "me a mother" thinking like this? Or, "me a wife" thinking like this? Or, "me a friend or colleague" thinking like this?

My "journal master" stands by my side, hand on my shoulder, telling me that "while these truths are uncomfortable, shedding light on them will bring me to a higher balance." It's time to go to the library and make some choices.

Relaxing deeply and going down the spiral staircase is easy for me. I'm energized by my self-work. Taking special time only for myself is something I've always craved. Making the decision to be present daily is already showing it's value in my daily life. I am grateful for the guidance of Spirit. Now realizing that I am spirit, everything becomes easier. Noticing that I carry my two birth books. What I've come to learn and what I've come to teach.

Finding myself already inside my library. On the shelves in front of me are all of the articles, books, patient care plans, family care plans, folders of notes, years of day-timers and every audio program I've ever written or recorded. I'm stunned at the accumulation of accomplishments over the decades. Like most people, tending to forget what's been achieved, only choosing to see what has been left undone....dreams, etc. Realizing that "yes, these were also once dreams, but now they simply sit, unnoticed." I'm asked to give gratitude for all of these things, including the ones that appear partially finished, for these are seeds of pure creativity, ready to teach as well.

So, nothing is really unfinished? Everything is "finished unto itself." Realizing how cruel and hateful I've been to these dimensions of my life. Asking for forgiveness and honoring the creative undertaking.

Scanning the self-hypnotic audio programs. Looking into the written scripts, all reading like new. Remembering writing these, often wondering where the words came from, but now I know. My spiritual self residing in my human body. Of course. No wonder it was so easy to write these, but now comes the question, "if Spirit wrote these and I am Spirit in a human body, then why do I still find myself buried in old issues?"

Everything is "finished unto itself." "Are you telling me that I'm NOT buried in old issues? Then, what are these things that I'm experiencing?" I'm eager to gather information about my disorderly eating and "ego" disruptions. Waiting for the pen to flow the answer onto my paper.

As per the pen, "You are never in the same place. Even if you have been to a place before, it is not the same place. Everything changes. Your issues, environment and even you are in continuous change. Every time you address an issue it is different. Different time, place and individual. Each time you read something you have already learned, researched or written, it comes with a brand new message. Spirit brings what is needed in that moment. All you need to do is to be in a receptive state with a willingness to change."

I'm filled with new excitement about what's on the library shelves. Where to begin...again? "Why not start at the beginning," suggests the pen.
"The beginning of what?"

"The beginning of anything."

Hide and Seek

Oh....that desire and search for one's "true Self." Perhaps that's a reason why I'm journaling again. Tossing off all the encumbering coats, hoping the person I'm looking for is somewhere underneath.

My "journal master" finds this a delightful subject, encouraging me to put pen to paper. This subject has always intrigued me and I do admit to being on this journey, but it's been a long hunt and wondering if this is just one of those never ending, fruitless games life Farmville. Never enough crops, buildings or animals. Do self-searchers have levels like farmers? Wondering what those statistics say about my progress....and is it progress that I'm looking for OR is it the true treasure....my true Self.

Life is both long and short. Considering if there is actually such a person, and if so, where is she and how can I find her. Is she living in an exact place on my time-line? Is this all nonsense? Should I care?

Then wondering IF she truly exists, do I want to find her? And, for what purpose? Suppose my true Self doesn't get along with my husband, kids or anyone else. What if she doesn't like my career choices and has desires that aren't within my means? What then? More stress? Since I can't imagine anyone free of problems or issues, does she have a new variety for me to deal with? Certainly don't need that.

Remembering the time when I had psychotherapy after being very ill. No longer knew how to be well. Remembering my family not approving of the "new me." I imagined myself a chameleon, changing back and forth, of course, always to please others. My psychotherapist likened me to a caterpillar who was turning into a butterfly. No wonder I was more confused than ever. So much for looking for my true Self.

I ask my pen to answer "do true Selves have eating disorders?" Wouldn't mind being free of that. Life without bingeing or craving junk. Now, that might be worth leaving town for."

That last question must have popped the cork because I'm told that it is time to go deeper down the spiral staircase. Reminds me of my mother when she had enough of me. Yes, I know how to do this, so catching up with my deepening breath, I sit comfortably allowing the breath to take me deeper down. Pleasurable sensations as the body opens, releasing stored tension. The mind quiets, stillness prevails. Comfortable, like being inside a protective womb. Noticing the thoughts going down the path, to a place where thoughts go. Relieved of their duties. Probably exhausted from residing in my super-active mind....like traffic in Times Square.

Finding myself on the golden path and going in the direction of the light. This is where I usually meet up with my emotions, both negative and positive. But, today things are different. My past and future paths are filled with people of different ages, even babies being carried in baby-backpacks. I'm surprised that the very oldest people are walking without any help or devices. While they look old, their energy and spirit are obviously high. I'm confused regarding the number of people and return to my journal to clarify what's going on.

When journaling hypnotically, the pen writes by itself, without any efforting on my part. The question is known before even asking. The people are taking the places of the emotions. The ones from my past path are sitting on the left. Those from the future path, sitting on the right. According to my pen, other than the obvious, this holds no importance. It's not like one side is negative, the other positive as when the emotions appeared. They are simply divided into past and present. The youngest baby is my birth self. The oldest woman is my last self. Each individual carries two books. One represents what they have come to learn; the other what they have come to teach.

"Oh....then...my true Self is somewhere in the crowd?"

The pen writes, "Your true Self is everywhere...in the self-images and in everything else. It has no boundaries. It is not your body, your mind, your thoughts, your emotions, your habits, behaviors or addictions. While it is present in those things, it is not those things. Your true Self is a spiritual essence. Look to the light."

Rays coming down, infusing all who are present including myself. Or, whoever I am, for at this point I know nothing at all, except that "I am."

This knowing is both old and new. I can't say that I didn't know this, because I did, but to sense this in the inner environment where I now find myself, is new. Yes, I have felt the connection before, but not in this way. The difference seems to be the presence of my time-line people. These are my mentors, both past and present. The two books that they hold are filled with gifts for me. A new understanding emerges. The books will guide me forward, even the books of the past individuals. Exactly how this will happen is not clear to me, but I'm assured that all will happen as it is meant to be....now that my connections have been made whole.

Apple Carts & People Pleasing

Underneath personal "disorder" or "chaos" you can find the clues for healing.  In this section of my blog, I invite you to look inside my own "inner journal", as I continue to manage my own disorderly eating issues.

----------------------------------------

Oh, these darn "apple carts."

As I wander around my life areas, the carts seem to be strewn all over the place. I'm stunned to even find them in my Adult or Teacher Self area. What is this telling me? Of course I know without even asking my Journal. I'm a born pleaser. Even in areas where I excel, I'm so careful not to upset others. In fact, this has matured into a skill of mine. Yes, I'm an expert at not upsetting others.

How do I do this?

By "super-policing" ...noticing early indicators upset in others....perhaps even before they do. I remember someone telling me that I would make a wonderful "English butler." Taking care of everyone's needs, real or imagined, even before the need was born. Obviously, this is a very wearing job and not a healthy one.

The rationale in my conditioned mind goes like this. " IF all needs of others are met, then there will be no interruption in whatever it is that I want to do for myself." And..."if all apple carts are kept upright, then no time needs to be spent picking up the spilled apples." Obviously, this is a very wearing job and not a healthy one.

Question. How to resign from my "English butler" duties and what about those apples that will inevitably spill because there is no butler? Who will keep the carts steady or be responsible for picking up the apples?

Answer. "No one."

As for resigning, consider it done. No one can Journal in this area and not resign. It's a given. This is the power of Inner Hypnotic Journaling. Uncovering a block or unwanted behavior or habit, then releasing it. While you may find yourSelf missing your butler uniform, notice that it is no longer "fitting."

"OK, but what about the apples?" Another indication that it's tough to let go.

"Let the apples roll where they may. You will soon come to realize that the large majority of them don't belong to you." Oh, my control issue appears. The part of me that wants to own and rule all the apples. If I take ownership, then my life will be easier. Another ridiculous story of my conditioned mind. My tired body and mind speak out. "All this apple tending is exhausting. It would be a huge relief to just let go."

All of this looks good on paper, but what about in real life. Questioning if I would really be able to just look the other way when the apples fall and roll. Will I feel guilty? I'm so used to caring for everyone and every thing.

Obviously my desire to control is not going to go quietly into the night. This is such a huge conditioned habit, one that can be traced back to early childhood. "Keep Mommy happy and you will be happy," goes the story. "Upset Mommy and life will be hell for everyone and you will be the cause." Early apple cart training.

Early stories are often very potent and best cared for in deeper trance, so I choose to go there. When the childSelf makes her appearance on the pages of my Journal, this is an indication that a deep release is possible. When she hides, then things are more difficult, so riding my breath now....going deeper down with ease, as if she is helping me to get there quickly.

She's waiting for me as I disembark from my traveling breath. A bit scruffy, but obviously a very responsible child...too responsible for her age. Reminds me of images of children laboring in factories and fields. Uncomfortable to see this. It's a lucky day for me. She is opening the "origination door." This is the earliest mind program. The program that started the need to please. The door is very heavy and I offer to help. "No, I can do it," she says. I find mySelf crying. She's so independent for someone so young...or is she? Sensing this is another part of the mind program. "I must pretend to be strong so I can take care of everyone and every thing."

I push the door open with her. Never again will she be expected to do these things....never again. We find ourSelves in the living area of our house. Our mother is lying on a chaise meant for the garden, making the scene even more imbalanced. Garden furniture belongs in the garden, not in the living room. Mothers don't do these things. Symbols of chaos despite the quietness. Is mother dying? In the eyes of the child, the mother symbol is already dead. The mother is severely depressed following the untimely death of the father. The mother is very angry, but holds it in place below the depression. The father died on the child's birthday and the child is held hostage in the mother's memory bank, as the two are linked together for life.

The child's job is defined by the mother. "Mother is sick and so, be a good girl and keep mother happy. Can you do that?" Of course, I know the child's reply. I've lived it.

Lesson Plan...No apples must fall from the cart. If the apples are kept steady, then things will be better. Always tend to the cart first before doing anything for yourSelf, for the mother is the most important person. If the mother is upset, she will also die and the child will be responsible. The child will become an expert at caring for the cart and all apples will be her responsibility.

I kiss the mother good-bye and take possession of the cart....flipping it over and watching the apples roll this way and that way. The child is frightened, but as laughter fills the image, the child begins to smile. Falling apples are not the end of the world...

Stepping Out of Procrastination

Stepping into change is often difficult, or so we would like to believe. Most of us tend to repeat "trying" and often deciding that the areas in which we seek change are simply unattainable. Why this inability to change such important behaviors that threaten our health? The keys below may open some doors for you. It's time to move past old failure patterns and onto the path pointing towards Optimum Health.

KEY: I

If you want to change, you must begin to think differently. It's not enough to daydream a resolution. The road to permanent lifestyle change takes time and a special kind of planning and execution. Pre-resolution work includes having a solid look at past failures and locating facets of the resolution that need revamping. The willingness to observe and work with past failures is key to success. In addition, it's time to grow-up, wake up to truth and move out of unrealistic expectations.

Meet Sue, a successful, but burned out executive who brought her resolution daydream to my practice. "If I lose weight, my life will balance. I'll be completely happy and never complain again! However, I've never been able to lose weight and keep it off and so I guess I need some magic! Perhaps I shouldn't do this before the holidays or while I have so much stress in my life." It's easy to see that Sue is already lost in mind confusion. She has no plan and has even programmed herself for failure before beginning.

KEY: II

Sue looks for magic, but magic has no place here. Heightened awareness is the route to success. The idea of magic erodes her personal power. Her mode of travel needs change, as well as her power of observation. She needs to train her mind to notice the unfolding moments of her day, what works and what doesn't. These are small resolution facets including thoughts emotions and actions. As they are brought to awareness, stress is released and the facets are ready for editing change. These then become new mind etchings, the beginning of new patterns, that will enhance Sue's ability to succeed.

KEY: III

It is imperative to uncover the auto-pilot programs. This is a matter of becoming expert at self-observation. As Sue learns to pay attention to her body communications, emotional patterns and built in resistance, she will spot these, as well as other pattern facets that may have gone un-noticed for years. Once spotted, she can work to reprogram these with those that benefit the resolution. On auto-pilot, Sue is out of her personal editing-game. Her heightened awareness is blocked and she can't spot the facets. She is blinded and may trip instead of skip on the stones that line her path. The chances that she will fall and not get up are very high. She might appear next year with her weight loss resolution, but this time more heavily etched for failure.

KEY: IV

The practice of heightened awareness, also known as mindfulness is vital to both stress management and achievement. Adding Interactive Self-Hypnosis helps to position images that assist the mind in waking up in specific moments. As Sue learns to apply this practice to the facets of her resolution, she will notice that she is awakened to other moments that have connections she might have missed, especially stress-related ones.

The actual practice tools are very simple, their power sitting in this simplicity. Sue learns to purposefully experience inner stillness, fractionated throughout her day. She comes to know stillness as separate from mind chatter. As her mind wanders, Sue brings her attention back to the sensation of stillness or the goal at hand. She comes to understand that her thoughts are mind programs that are presented by her emotions and as she isolates these she can examine the contents further, simply by request to her subconscious librarian. As Sue goes throughout her day, she begins to notice the playing of thoughts and emotions as they apply to her resolution facets. As she contains these in her consciousness, she is free to edit, as they were caught in a mindful moment.

It's important to know that there are many health benefits to this practice of awareness coupled with interactive self-hypnosis. When thoughts are predominating the awake state, the brain waves are going very fast, producing a large quantity of stress chemicals. These chemicals are responsible for making important changes in the body, often disrupting important systems, such as blood pressure, heart rate, metabolism, blood sugar levels, gastro-intestinal functioning including digestion, endocrine function and that of the neurological system. During the practice of fractionated stillness, the brain waves and stress hormone productions slow down, bringing homeostasis or balance back to the body and mind. The mind is now free for the programming of healthy active imagery.

Sue is learning to wake-up to her emotional and thoughts that make her life patterns and resolution facets. As she works to couple awareness with "Interactive-Editing Imagery" she removes herself from her failure mode and utilizes this moment to transition to one of success.

Self-Examining Eating Issues

Why do we have disorderly eating patterns and why is it so difficult to overcome these? I’ve worked with thousands of patients over the years, both in my office and online, most asking the same question. Some know the answers, but do not welcome them for it’s easier to stay in denial, to give permission to fail, so as to not face the truth and do the work involved. Lynn-Ellen, a high profile television writer, attended one of my workshops. Her food and beverage intake assessment made it easy to know why she was over-weight and I was surprised that she didn’t seem to know this. When I suggested some changes she became incredibly angry and went into a tirade about how stress-filled her days were and if this were the way, she certainly would have done it by now. Lynn-Ellen is an emotional eater who will need a very different approach in order to be successful at losing weight & staying healthy.


For the emotional eater, the idea of changing one’s eating habits can be very frightening and even simple or mild changes can be met with all sorts of procrastination devices. The level of creativity and emotional states enlisted to protect the self from even beginning to change can be quite something to observe. Food related thoughts can play out in the DVD of the mind throughout the day and especially when stress is high or when involved in triggering situations such as shopping, restaurants, social occasions and the workplace. Certain emotions have higher trigger value than others depending on the individual.

Some emotional eaters trigger when home alone or in the middle of the night, even keeping food hidden under the pillow or the bed to avoid bringing attention to a cupboard raid. Others eat in the car, hiding wrappings under the seat until they can dispose of them safely. The time of day can a full-blown binge, many occurring on the way home from work, a good time to release work stress before entering home-based stress. Compulsions can be intensely draining, attacking the emotional eater with real physical and/or emotional pain.

How does one begin to take control of such a complex situation and stay motivated long enough to build new habits? In my experience, I like to take the emotional eater into a nutritional self-discipline, working forward from there. It helps to know that practicing poor nutrition is not a small thing. It’s akin to digging a big dangerous hole while teetering on the edge. For most of us, there is no time to waste. The following steps are etched into the mind and traced over and over again.

The Physical Component

Lynn-Ellen needs to get to know her self and what her body needs. Each of us was born with genetic tendencies towards all sorts of things, including certain diseases. Genetics are wonderful wake-up tools because they guide us towards knowing what our body and mind needs in order to stay well over the course of our lifetime. Ignoring genetics is asking for trouble. The body and mind have specific needs in relation to food and beverage, as well as timings for having these. The body is a machine that needs to be taken care of in a very specific way. If this is ignored the mind will be headed for trouble as well. Everything is about getting this right.

The Emotional Component

Managing disorderly eating means being willing to look at many aspects of our personality, including the lessons of our early mentors, including parents, family members, siblings, teachers, friends and whoever handed us our belief system. Whether we are addicted or not, part of what ails us can be found in these lessons. Once we are willing to identify these and not shy away, we can learn to release them or at least part of them. Lynn-Ellen, like many of us, didn’t get the self-nurturing she needed as a child, or even later in life. Perhaps she weren’t allowed to express her emotions in a healthy manner. Maybe she didn’t learn to self-regulate or to set healthy boundaries for her self.

When these tools of self-management are not sufficiently developed or missing entirely, one tends to go to excess to manage the unresolved stress. Going to excess over and over again, etches the habit into the subconscious mind where it is ready answer to any stress chemical production.. It can certainly be frightening to be without one’s habit when stress appears.

The Higher Self Component

Each of us has a Higher Self. This part is mature, balanced & knowing. This part does not hide from the truth, no matter how painful. It embraces it, getting to know it intimately. The Higher Self understands that facing reality is the way to freedom from emotional eating. Connecting frequently through the practice of Interactive Self-Hypnosis or specially designed inner work allows one to self-examine & to manage the surrounding emotions. Lynn-Ellen is learning that managing her emotional eating is a journey in self-discovery & can be the catalyst for change throughout a good portion of her life.

2010 copyrighted.  May not be reproduced without permission of author.

Follow My Community

Releasing Old Drama

In this section of FaceBook University, we're working with my program, "Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It." There is an additional workshop going on & that one is about "Interactive Self-Hypnosis." The workshops are free & open to all Fans of my Pages. Those links are on my FB Wall.

Releasing Old Stories & Drama

Coming out from behind the rock is easier for some than for others. A lot depends on your past & present level of drama, as well as your family emotional & medical history. If your early years contained lots of punishment, including criticism & humiliation, you tend to attach those to your daily life moments & to your addiction or eating issues. If your family practiced poor eating habits & there is a history of adult onset diabetes, circulatory & heart disease, along with other chronic conditions and/or addictions, including alcohol, drugs, nicotine or others, you may or may not have difficulty coming out of hiding because of the physiological & psychological reasons. You may have failed many times, not being able to manage your hunger levels, thinking something was wrong with you, but not knowing what. The mystery may keep you from trying something different.

Sometimes, people with eating issues feel shame, not only about themSelves, but about the habits of their families. I've met so many patients throughout the years who became "addicted" to not being like their family because they were so ashamed of the secrets that went on behind the walls. There is also the fear of not being loved or accepted if one were to change, especially in co-dependent relationships.

Food addiction, especially sugar & high glycemic carbohydrates have woven physiological & psychological components. This was the problem that I had & even though having the ability to be very disciplined in other areas, I was not able to break through this food-related addiction. I remember being so crazed by this that I felt like I should be institutionalized. Obviously, this was a very low moment for me, but the truth of the matter was that I simply could not understand why I couldn't stop some of the things I was doing. It was like some other being took over my body & I was just the observer.

The things we bring out from behind our rocks will all be different, but they will all be "old dramas & stories." Here's the moment of truth...we only two choices with what we bring out....we either choose to keep them & keep talking about them OR we choose to change. I'm sure that you know plenty of people who have chosen to keep their "old dramas & stories, perhaps even adding more fictionalized episodes to them." They talk about their weight, dieting, foods that haunt them, why they can't change, when they might be able to change if they could change, which, of course, as the drama/story goes, they cannot. Some of the stories go back decades & all set out to prove that they are imprisoned by these, keeping them victims. No one can save them. People have so many versions of old food stories that they could publish volumes.

One day, I think I was standing by the water cooler at work, I became aware of a tremendous tension in my body. In that moment, I decided that I had enough of listening to others & responding with my own competitive versions of "I'm a bigger victim than you are." That moment was almost like being stung by a bee. It came as a powerful THOUGHT, almost like a "mind-blast." You know the kind. I simply knew that I didn't want to hear another word about food issues & that I had to dig mySelf out of my own hole. There was only one shovel & I owned it.

Here are some truths. In addiction, or anything else for that matter, what you think is what you attract, so if I was continually "feeding" my mind with my food stories & those of others, I was making my issues worse. On that day I told my colleagues that I wouldn't be sharing in any of these conversations any longer & that while it didn't have anything to do with my respect for them & I certainly wasn't judging them, it just wasn't what I needed to be doing. Even though I said this in a kind way....goodness me! What a reaction this caused!! It was quite obvious that this "food thing" was a highly emotional topic & very personal. In that moment I felt alone & realized that I wouldn't be spending any more time at the water cooler.

I had another experience on an email discussion group. I sent a post suggesting that instead of repeating what we believed we couldn't do, that we should work on "writing new stories" & placing ourSelves inside of these, inviting our subconscious mind, Higher Self or Power or whatever one believes in, to help out & to turn in the direction of health. It didn't take long for an email to arrive in my mailbox dropping me from the group. What this told me was that people preferred staying behind the rock where it was safe, but of course, that is just an illusion & a dangerous one at that.

My own family wasn't especially intrigued with my ideas either. But at least they didn't drop me! From that day on the "old stories" were off the radar. As I began to walk a new road, I sensed a lot of fear in my family. I never suggested that they should change, but seeing me change was very threatening & I had to wear my "courage coat."

Now, as a Clinician & Educator, I do believe that we must face these old dramas & stories. Going further, we must take them apart & that is for several reasons. If we don't face them, then it is difficult, if not impossible to heal them. What's very interesting is that as we face them, open them & communicate with them, these very parts of the "old stories" will take us into the areas of healing that are often hidden from consciousness. This is why we utilize "interactive self-hypnosis." As you stick with me, we'll get into this type of specialized imagery.

But, for now...I'd like you to take some of your "old story books" that you brought from behind the rock & write down their titles. After you do that, find a place for them in the "library of your mind"....on a back shelf, where they can be made available for some work we can do later.

Here are some of mine. You could also call these your "beliefs."

"I'm Sugar Addicted"
"I'm a Carbohydrate Addict"
"I Don't Like Healthy Food"
"I'm Always Hungry So I Have to Eat"
"My Refrigerator Speaks My Name"
"I'm Lazy When It Comes to Cooking"
"Junk Food is My Best Friend"
"The Happy Binger"
"I Love My Secrets"
"I Love Cookies & There Are Never Enough"
"I'll Never Be At a Healthy Weight Until I Die"
"I Have No Will Power & I'm Stuck"
"I'm a Loser & That Has Nothing to do With Weight"
"I'm Not Good Enough"
"I Can Never Stop This & I Don't Want To"

ohh...there are so many more, but this is it for a start.

Copyright 2010 Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
May not be reproduced without permission of the author.

The Coming Out Party

I have asked all of you to come out from behind your "hiding rock" & while you may notice others coming out with you, because this is the way "imagery of the mind" works, each of you will come alone. Here's why. You were born alone & will die alone. The place in-between is called "Your Life." Please repeat that aloud! This is not the life of anyone else, but Your Life. It doesn't belong to your mother, father, children, husband, significant other or anyone else. It's very important for you to understand this, because most people with eating issues are co-dependent & have been since early childhood. Unfortunately, those of us who have eating issues & I include mySelf, live lives that are so intertwined with the lives of others, that we often don't know where we end & others begin. This is what we'll call a "co-dependent mindGame" & it needs to end because here we are beginning a new Journey.

Now, I already hear your question because I've heard it so many times, even from my own co-dependent self. How can I be separate from others & what about my responsibilities to others? The first part of the question is easy to answer. When your umbilical cord was cut, you were separated from your mother. Yes, she & others brought you up, but you were a separate being from that moment forward. Even when you believed that you were connected, that was a fictional story you told & sold to yourSelf. Perhaps you fell in love with the story & maybe you're still in love with it. Being separate can be both easy & difficult. It can be enjoyable & painful. Here's a sample of a descriptive "life script." You were taught things & then you went off into the world to practice them on your own. Sometimes you succeeded & other times you fell down, but then you got up & learned from the fall. In some parts of the story of life-script, others came to rescue you, even when you were completely capable of taking care of yourSelf. Perhaps they meant well. They loved & wanted to protect you, but even so, this was the birth of controlling, often stunting your confidence in yourSelf, as well as taking away your right to figure out your own issues.

In life, everything is about balance. As a child, it was difficult to see what was happening. I know you have seen children that fall down, then look around before crying, making sure they will be heard & then rescued. Unfortunately, this can become a very bad habit & is very connected to the development of co-dependency & connected addictions.

Now, back to the second part of the orginal question, the part about you being "first" & the notion that you are the most important person in your life. Obviously this is not my original idea. I didn't make it up & I know you have heard it before, but hearing something does not mean learning or internalizing it, so here it is again. Throughout this program we'll be working on internalizing it. You are responsible to yourSelf "first." If you don't respect & care for yourSelf, then you cannot respect & care for others. It's as simple as that. You must lead your own parade. You are the drum major & everyone else follows. It often helps to know that others also have their own parades, where they come first. This is their parade, not Yours. Image this in your thought processes. Everyone has their own life path for their own parade. We are all self-responsible for our own parade & what is magical about this, is that there tends to be less conflict between parade leaders when we live within this image. It's true that life is never without conflict, but when we meet from a position of respect & honor, first for the Self & then from the other, solving issues becomes much easier.

So, just a few other things I want to share with you as we begin this journey. Once again, no one matters here except you. The changes you are going to choose to make belong to you. You own them. You don't need permission to change. Now, that may be a hard idea for you to swallow, but that's only because you've been practicing co-dependency for so long. You've grown up feeling that you are responsible for everyone & for everything. You probably live in a black & white world. Things are either good or bad. You are guilty or innocent & most of the time you are guilty. You probably stuff your emotions or express them in harmful ways, negative food behaviors falling into this category. You may have other ways of expressing your internal stuffed strife. Most of us do. These can include all sorts of things, because over the years we tend to be very creative. We may turn to alcohol, smoking, drugs including prescription, over-the counter & sometimes even illegal substances.

We may have issues with shopping, hoarding, hiding, lying & most likely have a closet full of self-masks for every occasion. We are so skillful that we can pretend to be all sorts of characters, playing out all sorts of emotions, but none of them are really who we are. An unauthentic life can be very frightening, because if you don't know who you are, you may not like your authentic Self & perhaps no one else will like her either. This is pure story-telling & something you will learn to edit down the path.

If you have been behind your "hiding rock" for a long time, the You that comes forward may be quite immature or perhaps You will be wearing an"inauthentic mask" glued together with guilt, shame or excuse glue. But, it really doesn't matter. All that is important is that you have come out & agreed to work with the program. It doesn't matter if you are nervous, annoyed, disheartened, depressed, afraid of failing, feeling a lack interest or anything else. If you have come out & have honestly & wholeheardedly agreed to work with this program, you are already successful. You have already begun to mature.

Here everything is about growing up & accepting the fact that You are separate & self-responsible. You will learn things, you will go forward into the world, sometimes you will succeed & other times you will fall down. You will then get up, learning from your fall & go forward. It's as simple as that. You will come to understand how your disorderly eating issues are connected to your immaturity, your inability to accept being separate & self-responsible. You will learn to love, honor & respect yourSelf as a separate being. Sometimes this will be easy & other times it will be difficult. You will give up your inauthentic masks, along with many aspects of old habits & behaviors, no matter what their age. Some will go easily & others will kick & scream, but they will go.

2010 Copyright May not be reproduced in any fashion without permission of the author.

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
Clinical Medical & Self-Development Hypnotherapist
Author - Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It

Workbook Day 16 - Smaller Bites!

The great end of life is not knowledge, but action."......Thomas Henry Huxley

I'm sure you know many people who are always planning to make some kind of change. They are also famous for over-planning projects, often not being able to move to action. Letting go is vital for success. As you learn the art of letting go of you thoughts, emotions and body sensations, you will find yourself letting go of other parts of your life. The more aware you become, the easier it is to let go.

The Inner Coach part of this program was designed to teach the process of awareness, change and letting go in small workable segments. On the surface some of this work may appear child-like, perhaps considered as far too easy to make any appreciable change. But nothing could be farther from the truth. The answers to big dilemmas lie in simplicity. Throughout these daily lessons you are learning a large variety of tools, some meditative, some self-hypnotic, some utilizing other techniques including neuro-linguistic programming, mind management skills and specialized imagery.

Metaphors or images designed specifically for you are obviously much more efficient, as they correspond directly to your present subconscious mind programs. You have already begun to do work in this way in earlier lessons. When you work with a handful of your favorites, you will find yourself making changes well beyond your current conscious dreams. You all tend to live with such limitations. Even for those trained in these processes, the limitations are still there to be reckoned with. The good news is that the mind is filled with gifts. Each time you wake yourself up to any limitation, be it a thought or emotion, you can transform it into a gift. Keep in mind that you will be rewarded with bigger gifts when you indicate willingness to work with bigger limitations.

A tool you are going to introduce today is the tool of silence. Our days are filled with all kinds of noise and vibrations. Some our outside, others inside. As you become aware of noises, whether they be inside or out, you can introduce silence into parts of your day.

I can well remember learning this technique many years ago. Looking into myself, I realized that the first moment I recognized noise was even before I woke in the morning. My mind radio was already turned on, churning out things to do, making judgments, the usual should list and should not list. And right there before my eyes, the infamous "to-do list." With one eye opened, I switched off the alarm, turning on the real radio in some attempt to wipe out the internal radio. During those days I even had a real radio in the shower!
My meditation teacher advised me to notice my thoughts and label them. This simple mind exercise allowed me to let go of them. I sat on the side of the bed in silence for a few minutes just observing my breath. NO RADIO. As I write this, reviewing those moments in my thought bank, I can feel the sense of loss I felt at that moment. NO RADIO......How I missed the distracting noise. The silence was deafening and frightening. Label the arrival of my emotional state..................Now, into the bathroom , mindfully brush my teeth and shower while observing the arrival of thoughts, emotions and body sensations and labeling them. I started to hate the word "labeling." I WANTED MY RADIO. I WANTED TO SHUT OUT THIS SILENCE. My journey had taken a new road and my emotional child self did not want to go!

MIND EXERCISE

This morning exercise is a good place to start. Throughout the years I have limited my morning noise to the water running, the toilet flushing, the coffee perking and small, benign conversations with my husband. NO RADIO, NO TV.. NO ARGUING.

Deepen yourself now and call forth your Inner Coach. Choose a different deepening tool, one that you haven't worked with this week. Ask your Coach for the silence building file. Open it, notice you are the author and begin your review. Everything you need to know is already there. It simply hasn't been brought to consciousness. Remember to take some notes along the way.
Ways to bring silence into my morning and my day. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

While you are at this wonderful slow brain wave state, let us go ahead and place a living, emotionalized plant.

• I look for silence.
• I practice finding and experiencing silence.
• I know more than I think I do.


NUTRITIONAL INSIGHTS:
Let’s have a look at lunch. Either you have this at home, at work or in a restaurant of some type. Most of us eat around noon or one o'clock. It is important to plan somewhat. If you eat at home or take your lunch to work, it is necessary to have the foods you need available without much hassle. You do not want to add stress to your food needs. While this may sound elemental and even child-like, my experience tells me otherwise. Those of fail to plan.....tend to fail.

Over the years I've found that a good shopping list, as well as an unfussy nature go far in the planning of lunch. Most of us tend to eat the same things week after week and while that is fine, when you change our nutritional food choices for the better, you often get bored more easily than before. For instance, if someone liked pizza and I said o.k., eat pizza everyday, few would have a problem. But taking pizza lover and suggesting that he/she have a large vegetable salad and broiled chicken every day, that person would tend to tire of that quickly, especially if it wasn't a favorite. Keep a good varied choice of foods available, trying to eat things you really like that are acceptable for lunch.

Personally, I have grown fond of brown bagging. I put quite a bit of thought into this process. Throughout the years I have developed some pretty good choices with little work. My biggest challenge is making sure that the needed food is in the house. Making extra stops to the market or thinking about food planning other than one day a week, isn't my idea of high level living.

Your Inner Coach is always willing to come up with some great ideas. Once engaged in the process, you will also start to notice suggestions in magazines, as well as many other ways. For now, ask to see the "new ideas for lunch file" from the subconscious library.
Some new ideas for lunch include _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

This is a great time to place some colorful and tasty affirmation plants. Be sure to energize them with emotional fertilizer.

• I care for myself at high levels.
• I look for new food choices.
• I treat myself well.
• I enjoy creating great lunches for myself.
• I am proud of my achievements.

MINDBODY WORK.....

Today you are going to wake up one of your intelligence factors. You have seven types of intelligence. They include linguistic, visual, physical, musical, intra-personal, inter-personal and logical or mathematical. You are going to work with your physical intelligence through your kinesthetic or feeling sense. The more exercises you do utilizing a variety of intelligence's, the more synapses you will develop in your brain tissue.

MIND EXERCISE:

Go to the alpha state, sitting on the wave of the breath for a minute of so. Close your eyes if you prefer, after reading through the exercise. . Now take your hands and very lightly trace your face. Feel the entire outline, just as if you had never felt your face before. Now, take the tips of your fingers and very gently feel your eye placements, your forehead, your nose, your cheeks, your lips and your chin. Go back over the entire surface again, feeling the texture of the skin, noting and labeling at each observation. Imagine the skin covering your face with no structure underneath it, just like a paper parchment bag. Now feel the area in once again and slowly open your eyes. Note any experience.

Take a few moments to record your experience.

Inner observations about my face _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Take this moment for inner planting.
• My body sensations are valuable assets.
• I have seven intelligences to explore.
• As I explore my assets my problems diminish.
• I'm in control now.
• I'm having a fresh start.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR...

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.


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

Workbook Day 15 - Story Telling

Death is not the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss is what dies inside us while you live.".....Norman Cousins




Join my FB Fan Page for Complimentary mp3 Interactive Self-Hypnosis Programs
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Elizabeth-Bohorquez-RN-CHt-Clinical-Hypnotherapy/291281174682?ref=mf

Few of us know how to live in the present moment. That is one of our goals in doing this work with Your Inner Coach. As you might have noticed following the knee tapping exercise yesterday, you spend quite a bit of time in the past and in the future.

Future thoughts are especially interesting. I have a student who can develop in any moment, the most imaginative future happenings related to her daughter who lives in another state. Many of these happenings are based on fears. It is interesting to note that they bear no resemblance whatsoever to the past happenings. They are pure fiction........and dangerous fiction at that.

One of the things that you must remember about the functioning of the mind is "what you think is what you get." The thought actually becomes the goal. Whatever you are playing in the VCR of the mind, is what the mind sees as the goal. Now, if that doesn't scare you into becoming mindful of your thoughts, I don't know what will!

I explain to my students that the mind is just like a DVD, thoughts are simply disks you play in the machine. What makes these disks a bit different, however, is that the thoughts are all chemically coded. When you play the disks, those chemicals come spewing out into the body with the potential of causing all kinds of havoc, from elevated pulse and blood pressure, to increased stomach acid, irritable bowel syndrome and a variety of other ills. The concentration wanes, putting the creative brain is put to rest. All this can happen without our awareness. By the time you wake up to your body sensations, or realize you are having emotional or concentration problems, it is far too late for the easier techniques. This is why I encourage you to work on training your brain each and every day.

MIND EXERCISE.

Spend a moment going down to your alpha level and then deepen further. Use a different tools this time. When you have arrived call your Inner Coach and ask for the file about old disks you have been playing recently that are not to your benefit. Go ahead and spend a few moments in review. Remember to record.
Recent disks I've been playing that are not to my benefit:

_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

NUTRITIONAL INSIGHTS:
Many people have questions about food sensitivities, even wondering if there even is such a thing. In my practice I see many people who appear to be sensitive to certain foods. The reasons behind this is not always clear, but my thinking is if something bothers you, either stay away from it, or see if you can change something which will limit the reaction.

Let me give you a few examples. If you develop flatulence or gastric acidity following milk products, tomatoes, or other acid producers, you might cut them out for awhile, seeing if you feel better. Write this on your daily log,. After a few weeks, put the food back in your eating plan, and notice what happens. If you have a sensitivity, you will certainly know! Some common foods which cause difficulties include dairy, corn products, wheat products, as well as the acid producers like orange juice, grapefruit, tomatoes, etc.
The other day I discussed carbohydrate sensitivity. Often times the reaction to the food is one of over producing insulin and not the food itself. You can learn about this if you pay attention to what you are eating and the body sensations. Also know that the reaction may not occur for a few hours and in some people up to a few days. So when playing detective, remember to look back at the earlier evidence!

Remember that many small changes, lead to powerful outcomes. With this new information in place, think for a moment about another change that will take you further down your path to high level health and performance. Remember to commit to paper.

A nutritional change that I'm adding to my new discipline is:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Take yourself to the alpha brain wave state and image this new change on your programming screen AS IF it had already been in place for the past few weeks. Emotionalize it and bring it to action. See it as easy and the outcomes as better than ever expected. This exercise is a combination of interactive self-hypnosis, future pacing both images and expectations.

And now, just a bit of gardening.

• I care for myself at high levels.
• I am aware of my body sensations in relation to the foods I eat.
• I am becoming more and more aware nutritionally.
• This work is changing my life.
• I am ready.

MINDBODY WORK.....

Most people are completely unaware of their thought patterns and rarely do anything constructive with what automatically plays on the mind radio. Remember that all thoughts are seen as goals by the subconscious mind and that thoughts have chemical codes, actively changing the mindbody physiology, some of them radically. You alone have the power to change this process. Since most of it is unconscious, it is most important to train your brain adequately.

MIND EXERCISE:

You have been practicing with past and future "fantasy" thought patterns. Now I would like you to do the exercise again, but this time observing negative and positive thinking patterns. Use the left knee for the negative thoughts and the right knee for the positive thoughts. Sit with your breath wave, expecting nothing, just focusing on your belly breath with great interest, just as if you have never seen it before. When your mind wanders to the thought, label it "thought" and tap the appropriate knee. Go back and climb on your belly breath. Spend 3-5 minutes with this exercise. Try to practice it later in the day as well. Give your brain these new instructions to work with you.

Recognizing your most familiar negative and positive thought patterns will allow you to catch them more frequently. Once caught, you are free to edit and open them for additional insights. Positive thought patterns are also valuable and often need editing as well. You can invite them to visit more frequently, or to connect to certain mind files that would benefit from them. For instance, at work you might like to enhance the thought patterns connected to your sense of humor emotional crayon.

Time to do some recording work now. Make note of some of your most frequent negative and positive thought patterns.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Before you finish up for today go ahead and do some planting. Remember to see all affirmations as positive and active. Attach powerful emotions as fertilizer.

• I stay aware of my thought patterns.
• I notice and label them.
• I am making important changes in small segments.


NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR...

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.


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

Workbook Day 14 - Thought Popping

"For every disciplined effort, there is a multiple reward."............Jim Robn

Back to managing thoughts with Awareness Banking. Why is it that thoughts just pop up in the mind? There are many reasons for this, but the most important consideration is that the mind has not been well trained. It's been left to it's own devices. This concept reminds me of when the teacher leaves the room and the kids take this opportunity to go wild. The same thing happens to the mind. When the teacher returns the disruptions might continue if he or she doesn't have good control over the class.

You can gain control over your thought processes by paying attention to them as an observer. This is very different than being a participant or actor in the thought process. In an early chapter in this book you learned exercises to enhance this skill.

MIND EXERCISE.

Lets practice right now. You don't have to wait for a special time to practice. You can elect to practice in any moment you choose. Remember, you are retraining your brain to do much of this work for you on a subconscious level, so it is important to practice frequently.

Take a moment to go to your alpha state and then go even deeper using a different skill than before. You might like to check back into the earlier chapter and find something you might like to try. This will keep your tools sharp. Once you have deepened, keep your focus on your belly breath. Before long you will find yourself up in a thought. Observe it and mind label it "thought." I'd also like you to notice what kind of thought this is, just as if you were putting them in organizational file folders..

Some examples might include:

• To do thoughts
• Goal thoughts
• Worry thoughts
• Emotionally charged thoughts.

I'd like you to develop your own your own filing system. As you label you thoughts you will literally place them in a file with their category or name. Follow this labeling with another trip back to the breath. Stay with the breath until you are thought-interrupted again, continuing your labeling process and filing away all thoughts.
There is a tremendous benefit to this filing system. The mind is now getting the idea that you do not need this information (thoughts) right now. It will learn to wait for the time when you will request them. Obviously, there are some thoughts you will never request, but there are files you may want to utilize. For example, let's say you have a file for "creative projects." All you would need to do to access this file would be :

• Go to the alpha state
• Request the file "creative projects."
• Open the file and find what you need.
• Ask your Inner Coach to locate even more "creative projects" from your library..

Since you are in your subconscious mind, why not take some time now with your Inner Coach. Ask to be shown the filing cabinets and system. I'm sure you will notice that you could certainly benefit from some inner organization!

NUTRITIONAL INSIGHTS:

Just as the mind needs organization, so does the body. How much food do you need? The question could also be how much gas does your car need? The next question might be, "how full is the tank and how far do you need to go? If there is a long time between breakfast and lunch (more than 4 hours), or if you exercise aerobically at a high level, the body will need more fuel. It is important to eat sufficient food for your learn body mass. Look back to your blueprint and review those numbers. They are vital to the functioning of your mind and body.

Your body has built-in mechanisms to teach you. Your hunger levels are one of these mechanisms. Have a look at yours. . Earlier in this book you learned the difference between body hunger and mouth hunger. It's important to review this, because there is much to learn from body sensations. If you are having a lot of mouth hunger, look at your emotional states, as well as your thought processes. Are you building excess insulin from stress? Have you been doing the body scanner and practicing emotional management with Awareness Meditation?

If you have body hunger before 4 hours, look to see if you skipped a meal, ate too little, ate high glycemic foods, had extra sugars or caffeine somewhere in the last 24 hour. Don't just look at the meal before, Look to the last 2-3 meals, even if that means looking to the day before. Remember, you are the mind and body detective. This is how you solve the mystery of your sugar addiction and eating disorder. Those who do the work win!

It's a good idea to start noticing if you feel hungrier when you eat specific foods. For me, one of those foods is corn, especially on the cob. My body must be very sensitive to corn sugar and I probably over-produce insulin in reaction to eating this food. Does this mean that I shouldn't eat it? Only I can decide that. I might try eating a smaller amount and certainly making sure that I have sufficient protein, as well as low carbohydrate foods at that meal. I may even decide not to eat any other high glycemic carbohydrate at the same meal and see how I feel. Looking through the magnifying glass at the way our mindbody works helps us solve our mystery.

This is a good moment to decide on another nutritional change for this week. The more you learn through this Inner Coaching, the more changes you are ready to make. Knowledge clears the path for change. Now you must make the choice and then the action plan.
An exciting nutritional change I will make this week will be: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Making changes go right along with planting affirmations. They are like the fertilizer for the change plant.

• I care for myself at high levels.
• I am aware of my body sensations in relation to the foods I eat.
• I am becoming more and more aware nutritionally.

MINDBODY WORK.....

A goal of this work is the development of a focused mind state. There are many reasons why this is such an important goal. When your mind is focused you are awake for the moment at hand. You can see the emotions, the thoughts and notice if you are on goal path or not. With mind flexibility or flow, you can gently move from where you are to where you want to be. There are many exercises to enhance this ability. In this work you will have the opportunity to practice many of these.

MIND EXERCISE.

Lets practice an exercise that will allow you to be even more aware of your thought processes and especially specific thought groupings. Go to the alpha level and ride your breath for a few moments. Keep your focus on the breath. When you find yourself up in the thought process, note whether this is a "past thought" or a "future thought." Place your hands on your knees, and allow them to rest there. Stay on the breath. If a past thought comes into the mind, tap your left knee. Return to the wave of the breath. If a future thought comes to mind, tap the right knee. Return to the wave of the breath. Practice this awareness exercise for five minutes or so. When you are finished, not whether you had more past thoughts or more future thoughts. You do not need to do anything with this information, other than to be aware.

Practice this exercise whenever you have a few minutes. When the brain is trained it will automatically label the thoughts for you. You will become aware early on, when you are lost in the past or future. Your goal is to stay in the present as much as possible. This keeps a handle on stress chemical production and allows you complete flexibility of mind.

Take some time to record this work. The actual process of recording is very valuable as it engages several senses. Also, once a goal or idea is put to paper, it becomes a subconscious planting.
My experience of past and future thought patterns: _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Take an additional moment and place some affirmations just below the alpha level. Notice how you know to do this very easily. You are learning and applying as you learn. These are tools you are applying are those of stress managing and accelerated learning.

• I stay aware and awake.
• I find time to practice my new techniques.
• I am changing in small increment, and they are adding up.
• My small moments build on each other.
• My small moments are valuable in themselves.
• My small moments lead the way to my greatness.
• I am comfortable with my greatness.
• I am a teacher and student in each moment.
• I share my greatness and receive the greatness of others.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR...

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.


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

Workbook Day 13 - Thoughts & Etchings

The ancestor of every action is a thought."......Ralph Waldo Emerson

Working with though processes is a major part of our work. The tools for this include both body scanning, awareness and active meditation. You read about these earlier in this book. It is important to work with the tools and to wake up to the fact that they are always available on your tool belt. Living in awareness is like driving a bus. Thoughts and emotions are street signs. They let you know when you are on the right road, as well as when you are not. You will come to learn that being on the right road does not mean that you don't steer the bus and look to avoid potholes. Awareness also helps us to understand that being on the wrong road is not a crime and that there are important lessons to learn including where you made the wrong turn.

For this work you will be utilizing the visual and auditory metaphors of the internal radio station. Right now begin to listen to the chatter in your mind. This has been playing as background music continually. Unless you purposefully turn this radio off, or change the station, it will continue to play. Not even a chance the batteries will wear out!

It is most important that you take time to give the radio a rest, as well as to evaluate the quality of programs you are playing. You will be doing this through awareness and meditative work. Earlier in the book you learned some basic techniques. In your work with the Inner Coach, you will be experiencing some different applications that are built on the basic techniques. This will give you more flexibility as you go through life.

When I began my practice in stress management and optimum mindbody functioning, I found some students balked at the words meditation and self-hypnosis. I started addressing these tools as the "M" work and the "H" word. Even today I find myself having to educate on the benefits of meditation and self-hypnosis. You learned some of these earlier in this book. These wonderful tools help us to direct our body physiology, as well as our emotions and thoughts. Perhaps this is a new experience for you. As you come to work more and more with these tools you will see how they benefit your life in so many ways. They are key to managing sugar addiction and eating disorder, but you will come to find that they are so much more.

As you practice begin to notice you are paying much more attention to our mind and body functioning. Perhaps you are beginning to notice your body sensations at much lower levels than before. This is real progress. The earlier you notice the body sensation, the easier it is to release it and to free your body from the production of stress chemicals. As you begin to notice thoughts and emotions at much lower levels you will become aware of the triggers to the body sensations. A familiar example is saying that someone pushes your buttons. While that can be true, what is important is not only how you push your own buttons, but the level of sensitivity of those buttons. This work will allow you to notice and adjust this sensitivity.

MIND EXERCISE.

For many years I taught nursing students the management of psychiatric patients. They learned to look for the prodromals, those triggers of behavior that preceded the patient's outburst. You can utilize those same ideas for yourself. . As you observe your body sensations, start to work backwards. What emotion has been hanging around you? Now go back even further..........what types of thoughts have been playing on your radio station? Think way back in your day. What were you thinking about upon awakening.? What was the very first thing you noticed on your mind? How about in the shower, or when you were brushing your teeth? How about at breakfast? What type of conversations did you have with family? What about your thoughts in the car, etc.? You get the idea.

You are continually writing happenings in your book of the day. The happenings are colored with emotional crayons. These become memories and connect up with past books and future books. Past books reinforce beliefs about your experiences and future books spell out expectations that are also colored and reinforced. Slow your brain waves now and ask your Inner Coach to bring you the book you are writing about today. Remember, you are the writer/producer/director of all your happenings. Open this book and review the following.
Some thought patterns I experienced today and the emotional crayons I utilized to color them.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

NUTRITIONAL INSIGHTS:

Many people in our country eat a very poor breakfast, some do not eating. stating loud and clear, " I hate breakfast." "I have no time for breakfast." "I am nauseated in the morning." "I'm not even awake." "I find the whole idea revolting." It's not uncommon for sugar addicted people to have a coke and a donut. When I ask these same people what time do they eat first in the day, most will have something after arriving at the office, usually coffee and whatever is available in the kitchen. Certainly there is no nutritional plan in place here and the day is now set up for major sugar addiction issues. But since you are reading this book the assumption is that you are hanging up your old behaviors for healthy change.
The nutritional plan is absolutely necessary for recovery and certainly without it there can be no thought of high level functioning. Your mind and body need this nutrition to function. It also sets the discipline for your internal machinery. Make no mistake, if you do not give your body what it needs throughout the day, it will continue to let you know about it, even to goes far as to interfere with your sleep process! I have had many students who complained of sleep disorders. Once their nutritional intake was corrected sleep was not a problem.

What makes a good breakfast? Please go back to your "blueprint" , reviewing the suggestions made for you. It's also a good idea to look at breakfast creatively. What are some protein foods you enjoy and would consider eating in the AM? Remember, you don't have to wolf this down the minute you wake up! Many people prepare breakfast the evening before, micro-waving it at work.

MIND EXERCISE.

Perhaps you would like the help of your Inner Coach or inner librarian. Go ahead and induce a visit to your alpha state. You know how to get there. Envision your Inner Coach coming forward, chatting along the way with your inner librarian, perhaps about foods you enjoyed as a child or when on vacation. Ask for the book all about creative ideas for breakfast. Notice you are walking through the supermarket and are taking new choices off the shelves, of course reading the labels. Take yourself into that wonderful little restaurant over there. Sit down and read the menu, inwardly knowing that you can prepare these things for yourself. Take some mental notes from this creative book and follow through with some notes below to further etch this important program into your subconscious mind.
Some creative ideas for breakfast include:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Since you are planting and etching, go ahead and plant these.

• I care for myself at high levels.
• I always eat breakfast.
• I respect the needs of my body and mind.
• I care for my body and mind and they reward me!

MINDBODY WORK.....

Lets go back to your garden. A few days ago you were planting some powerful seeds. You planted your desires, sense of purpose, clear sensory goals, the all important planning and organizing seeds, as well as patience and perseverance. Do a mind check now and notice if you are developing a certain ease and willingness to acquire new learning and skills. Adults learn differently from children and this book is written to meet those needs. I hope you are also developing a positive relationship with your Inner Coach and that you are brining a sense of play and pleasure in relation to your work. Perhaps you might like to draw a little picture of your garden plan and place it where you can admire it during the day.

All gardens need nutrition or fertilizer of some sort, mulch to keep down the weeds, as well as a good supply of light and water. There are certain thoughts and emotions that appear as weeds in your beautiful garden. You want to be on the lookout for these. The weed you are going to look out for today is a cluttered mind, one where the thoughts just keep zooming through, like taxicabs on a busy New York street. Take a moment to stop now and observe the activity of your thought processes.........are they zooming? Don't get in any of these cabs, just observe them.

MIND EXERCISE:

Today I would like you to practice noticing the appearance of this cluttered mind state. Every time you catch it being present, simply notice and follow this noticing by bringing your attention to your belly breath. Ride the breathe for a minute or so. This is a letting go or release application. Know that it only takes 1/200th of a second to pluck these weeds. Once you begin to wake up to them, the brain will start to be re-trained to help you with this work. The focused mind state is a very powerful ally in reaching your ultimate goals and creative thinking.

When visiting your subconscious library, ask your Inner Coach for the book about weeds. Open it and spend some time in this area. Take a moment now and locate some of your common weeds. Remember, the more you notice the better your outcomes. You cannot release what you cannot see or feel. Make some mental notes as well as some written notes to etch these ideas.

Common weeds I'm aware of include: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Take a moment to place some affirmation plants in the areas where you just weeded.

• I can see many weeds in my garden and I know their names.
• I'm becoming an expert gardener.
• I plant affirmations in place of weeds.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR...

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.


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
Updated 10 seconds ago · Comment · LikeUnlike
Write a comment...

Workbook Day 12 - Seeds or Weeds?

"The beginning of a habit is like an invisible thread, but every time you repeat the act you strengthen the strand, add to it another filament, until it becomes a great cable and binds us irrevocably, thought and act".....Orison Swett Marden

Through this work discipline you are beginning to form your personal goal quilt. Every one who reads this book and works with their Inner Coach has different goals. Even if the goals appear similar on the surface, such as sugar addiction or eating disorder management, weight loss, accelerated learning, improved memory and concentration, etc., the goal will take on the shape of the person, just as new shoes take on the shape of the foot as they are worn.

You all love to observe people who are high achievers. This observation helps to break down the walls of impossibility. You think, "If he or she did it, there is hope for me." Sometimes however, you say it consciously, but the subconscious is right there with a negative judgmental jibe, "You'll never succeed. Who do you think you are?!"

You are going to utilize role modeling at a different level of consciousness, a level where the judgment visitor cannot reach. You are going to plant seeds right into the subconscious mind where they will be nurtured, growing into beautiful prize-winning flowers, but first you must go off to the seed store to choose the seeds.

One seed you will be looking for is "a strong sense of purpose." This should sound familiar by now. You saw that seed when you were looking at persistence under the magnifying glass. Next you want a "sensory rich vision." This means that the goal is very clear to all your senses. You can see it, feel it, touch it, smell it and taste it! Image the picture of your goal and enhance the picture with as much emotion you can muster from all departments. This is sensory rich visioning. Another seed on your shopping list is "a strong belief in yourself." Also pick out the seed labeled "ability to plan and organize." Remember that one? Now choose "patience" and "perseverance." Add to the pile the "ease and willingness to acquire new learning and skills," "positive mentors or coaches,", and "a sense of play and pleasure in relation to work."

MIND EXERCISE.

Later today take some time to go deeper down. Go to the area of your Goal-den path, stopping at several of your gardens, planting the seeds you acquired. It's a good idea to write the names of the seeds on an index card. Simply open your eyes at the garden, see yourself planting, watering and fertilizing those seeds. During the day, observe your breath, go directly to the garden, weed if necessary, water and fertilize those seeds.

Take some time now to do this inner work. Check which of your seeds need the most care and make notes of these.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

And now some great affirmation fertilizer! Emotionalize these and place them in color and high action. While the words may be simple, the outcomes may be very complex.
• I care for my garden.
• I am focused on my seeds of self-discipline.
• I am growing patience and persistence.
• I like gardening in the mind.

NUTRITIONAL INSIGHTS.....

If you have been following your new nutritional guidelines that you designed, you are already noticing both big and small changes. Perhaps you notice how your hunger patterns are changing. Is it easier to get through the morning without looking for a "quick fix?" If you are a smoker, you may be finding less desire to light up. This is not a coincidence. As you get the insulin in balance, you have fewer hypoglycemic dips and therefore you feel less stressed out. Many people smoke when they feel the body sensations that accompany these insulin imbalances, or use cigarettes to quell hunger. Now this is no longer necessary.

You may also find yourself getting more creative with your meal planning. This planning doesn't need to involve great cooking escapades. Of course, if you enjoy cooking, certainly go ahead, but if this is not your forte, you may still be thinking about your meals in new ways. Perhaps you have reintroduced shrimp, lobster, veal, pork or filet mignon into a noon time treat to accompany your fresh watercress or arugula salad. Eating like a king or queen. So many wonderful foods and so easy to prepare.

MIND EXERCISE.

Go to your alpha state and take the deepening ride a bit further down. Mini self-hypnosis journeys release stress and provide the opportunity to program the mind for change right in the moment. Once you have arrived at the level you prefer, ask your Inner Coach to come forward with some suggestions of foods to add to you meals. Perhaps take a mind journey through the supermarket or to some specialty stores in your town. Notice how many foods you haven't eaten in awhile even though you already like them. Place these in the supermarket cart in your mind. You might also etch these finding further by writing some notes to yourself.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

You are in a good brain wave place to plant, so please go ahead.

• I'm waking up nutritionally.
• My nutrition forms the basis for my mindbody functioning.
• I function at high levels.
• I enjoy planning my meals.
• I think a lot about myself and my nutrition.
• I'm becoming an expert at meal planning for me.
• My body celebrates my meals with the promise of good health.
• My meals hold deep meaning.
• I communicate with my body through my food choices and I am rewarded.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR...

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.


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

Workbook Day 11 - Olympic Gold!

"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.".......John Dryden

You are developing a very special discipline through this work. Many changes that are already occurring are permanent changes. When you program change from the alpha state, you place new material into your subconscious mind. This is very different than struggling with trying to change on the conscious level. You have been clever by engaging your body through improved nutrition to join in your quest for high level functioning. Your entire mindbody unit is working together towards your own Olympic Gold.

Perhaps you don't like the word "discipline." For many this is a "dirty word" and certainly does not impart fun! Actually discipline can be lots of fun and can make you feel terrific. Self-discipline is a skill that can be learned and converted into a habit. With self-discipline you can accomplish anything you desire. When you are self-disciplined the world is your oyster. The choices are limitless. Close your eyes for a moment, envisioning yourself shopping in the market of life, free to choose whatever you want. This is what self-discipline and the tools you are learning offer you.

As you become more self-disciplined your confidence will increase. This will empower you with determination and inner strength. You will begin to feel a new passion for life and any depression or anxiety will appear to lift, floating away like a dark cloud. Your thinking will sharpen and your abilities to analyze will greatly improve. Your creativity will enhance and fill you with great ideas!

MIND EXERCISE.

Take a moment now to ride your breath to the alpha state. Utilize some deepening exercises from the earlier areas of this book. Notice that your Inner Coach has already requested that your inner librarian bring you the book called "Things I am looking forward to through my development of self-discipline" Open this book noting some of the earlier entries. With your mind pen in hand, continue to author this book. Make notes of areas you would like to improve and explore. Remember, self-discipline offers you anything and everything in the market of the world.

NUTRITIONAL INSIGHTS.....

To snack or not to snack......that is the question. A CEO asked me the other day, "Well, if I'm not going to snack on cookies, what should I snack on?" This question sheds light on a false belief, one that states "you all need to snack." I went on to explain the necessity of three balanced meals per day, having a look at his aerobic activity pattern (he did grin at this), as well as his hunger patterns, and whether the hunger is mind or body. I also wanted to know if his schedule required a small fourth meal or snack.

I am a recovered "grazer." It was not until I became involved in nutritional research about twelve years ago, that I even considered the possibility of eating three balanced meals. I also had no idea that I could manage my hunger and cravings in this way. To be honest, I didn't believe it. It only took me one week to realize how wrong I was. In the way my day is organized, I do not need to snack when I follow my eating self-disciplined program. I never miss breakfast and plan my intake around my schedule. If I am to have a late lunch, I make certain that I eat a bit more in the a.m. I do the same if I plan to have a late dinner. Sometimes I will bring a snack to work if I know I will not be eating until really late. This is a good example of organized planning for good sound nutrition.

MIND EXERCISE.

How about looking for another small change to do for yourself today? Which one feels right for now? Remember to state it as if it already occurred.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Take time to plant some affirmations. Notice your emotions are sitting and reading all about your successes.

• I'm waking up nutritionally.
• My nutrition forms the basis for my mindbody functioning.
• New ideas for changes find me and plant themselves.

MINDBODY WORK.....

Today's work is with interactive self-hypnotic. You learned about this tool earlier in this book. Here you will be working with additional applications. You already know that self-hypnosis is the process of slowing of the brain waves and placing suggestions in the subconscious mind with special imagery called metaphors. You have lots of choices when working with self-hypnosis. You can choose your induction technique, as well as how deeply you will go into trance. You might like to go back and review some of these in the earlier sections of the book. A great image to utilize for deepening is counting backwards. You can also add an image of a spiral staircase to this counting and focus on the toe of your shoe going deeper down. Sometimes when deepening, the body sends up a communication such as a part jumping or twitching. Remember that this is only the release of stored stress and nothing to be concerned about. Actually, as it releases you will go even deeper down.


MIND EXERCISE.

It is not necessary to go to go very deep in order to practice hypnosis. The most powerful work for change is accomplished right below the alpha level in an area called theta. After you finish reading your work for today, plan a time to practice going deeper down. If you find yourself deeper than you like, simply climb back up the same way you went down! When you arrive at a level you like, look up and see how far down you are. This cements this level in your mind and body. Take some time to walk around the area where you stopped, noticing how beautiful it is. Perhaps you might like to use the image of the Goal-den path and your goal gardens. Notice the colors, stop and smell the flowers. Feel how soft are the pedals. Notice how far the gardens go to the right and left and how they are divided into sections including mindbody health, work, play, relationships, prosperity, spiritual to name a few.

Deepening practice is a good time to sneak in some affirmation planting.

• I am learning new tools and they benefit my self-development.
• I go deeper and open my stress areas with ease.
• I'm in control of my mind and body.
• I strengthen myself with self-hypnotic trance work.
• I manage my addictions and eating disorders with self-hypnotic trance work.
• Uncovering stress areas are beneficial to my self-growth
• Every moment is filled with value, waiting for me to claim it.
• I move past fear and other emotions easily.

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR...

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.


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