Forgivness is the key

Without forgiveness life is governed by... an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.  ~Roberto Assagioli

New Year’s resolutions are all based on a desire to make a change.  A new year, a new life.   On January 1^st, the intention is powerful, the motivation is strong…but within a few weeks or even days…that goal may seem unreachable and old habits return. Why does this happen?  What stops you from following through? 

Limiting beliefs.. those messages in your mind.. some real,  some imagined, become the roadblocks to moving forward in life, derailing actions that lead to unfulfilled goals.   A limiting belief, you hear it when the voice in your head speaks and that message stops you from following through.  Sometimes that voice is your own; the negative self talk, doubt and lack of confidence, and sometimes the voice is from your past. 

 Perhaps a fear of success or fear of the unknown is your roadblock.   These are natural feelings, yet not the most beneficial to you when your habits and behaviors are life threatening or affect your quality of life.  Behaviors like smoking, overeating, poor sleep patterns, or fears and anxieties limit you in so many ways.   Although you  can rationalize and tell yourself  that those limiting beliefs are non truths, unless you  forgive others and most importantly yourself,  chances are,  that message will continue to play non- stop and stop you..in your tracks.   The mind is very powerful, your thoughts, intentional or not, not only influence your actions but affect you emotionally, physically and mentally.   You need to reduce stress, eliminate negative beliefs and change habits, which leads us back to your New Year’s resolution. 

Make a change, change your mind.   

Hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Technique are the strategies that will help "make that change" for a better life. 

Theta -The Brainwave

It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.  ~John Steinbeck

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night with a wonderful idea, epiphany or solution to a problem?  Your ability to think differently, perhaps even totally "outside the Box" is heightening in the Theta brainwave state.  This is a natural state of mind that we go through during the course of the day, day dreaming, in the zone, in meditation and repeatedly during sleep. Theta is the period of peak performance and learning, concentration and creativity..hypnosis is the theta state. 

Gettimg ready for NGH convention

Truly looking forward to the weekend and all the knowledge to be shared at the NGH convention in Mass..this will be the first time I have been there since my retirement from teaching. Very exciting. Will see westchester guild members.

One thousand Americans stop smoking every day ....

 BY DYING.  ~Author Unknown

Don't allow yourself to be one of those people!!  There are options for you.. and hypnosis is one of the most successful tools  for smoking cessation.  You can walk into a session a smoker and within half an hour you have totally given up cigarettes (or chew).  Although there may be a natural feeling of loss at some point, you have the tools to manage this craving, desire or loss and move past it.  The risks of smoking are high and the motivation to quit should  be internal, heartfelt and real.

Do you want to:
Improve your heath,  breathe easier, live longer?
Enjoy time with your children and grandchildren?

Reasons to quit smoking from the  http://www.smokefree.gov/ website

	I will feel healthier right away. I will have more energy and better focus. My senses of smell and taste will be better. I will have whiter teeth and fresher breath. I will cough less and breathe better.
	I will be healthier the rest of my life. I will lower my risk for cancer, heart attacks, strokes, early death, cataracts, and skin wrinkling.
	I will make my partner, friends, family, kids, grandchildren, and co-workers proud of me.
	I will be proud of myself. I will feel more in control of my life. I will be a better role model for others.
	I will no longer expose others to my second-hand smoke.
	I will have a healthier baby. (If you or your partner is pregnant)
	I will have more money to spend.
	I won't have to worry: "When will I get to smoke next?" or "What do I do when I'm in a smokefree place?"

Food GETTING TO THE ISSUE

If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution.  ~Author Unknown

Why do people overeat?
If you tend to eat more then your body needs for good health and wellbeing, you may wonder why you can't just stop the mindless eating patterns.

There are many reasons someone has poor control when it comes to food.

Sometimes it's chemical:

We know that eating carbohydrates prompts the body into producing serotonin  in short bursts.  Serotonin is a feel good chemical (neurotransmitters) naturally produced in the body and  is the same chemical found in prescribed antidepressants.  You eat ..serotonin levels increase... you feel good.... the serotonin levels drop....you feel sluggish, let down....you eat some more...you feel good.... and so the cycle goes..

So food can make you feel better mentally and  act as an anti-depressant. 
Who doesn't want to feel happy, content and wonderful? 

Sometimes it is emotional:

Feeling sad, depressed, lonely may trigger you to eat more,

although this brings us back to carbs and serotonin. 

If food actually makes me happy physically and mentally why stop eating?  

You create a habitual pattern ingrained in your subconsciousness mind

Hypnosis can work on two levels to address this issue.  First by identifying the triggers (emotional and/or physical) and through forgiveness for self and others releasing the triggers that prompt the over eating and repatterning the neuro-pathways that make eating mindless and habitual.  On a second level the process of hypnosis has shown to have a positive effect on blood pressure, and serotonin and dopemine levels in the body.

How large are your food portions?

My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four.  Unless there are three other people.  ~Orson Welles

The USDA has realeased a new food guide... finally one that makes visual sense... we eat one meal at a time, usually on a round plate and understanding what a healthy portion size looks like is key to filling that plate properly.   Finally a guide that can be duplicated on your plate. As a home ec teacher, although I used the pyramid to help students sort food groups, we always used paper plates to plan a meal.. not only considering the portion size but the appeal of color combinations and even being able to image the flavors and how well they work together... Now my suggestion ,. when you sit down to enjoy your fantastic meal...use a smaller plate.. 9 inch is a good size..  

Open Exchange

Please read my article in Open Exchange http://www.openexchange.org/features/JAS11/calabro.html

Golf is not a Game of Perfect

Dr. Bob Rotella says, in his book Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,  that "golfers need selective memories, retaining the memory of great shots and forgetting bad ones.  Selective memory helps a golfer grow in confidence as he gains experience and skill."  Dr Rotella continuely points out that the great golfers,  Hogan, Nicklaus  & Couples use relaxation and visualization when swinging the club.

The Rules

To lengthen your life, shorten your meals.  ~Proverb

Three small meals a day can make all the difference in the world when it comes to a healthy life.   Feeling full and enjoying every bite takes  conscious effort.  Do you really know how many calories you are consuming in one sitting or for that matter while you are watching TV or at the computer?  Research shows that minimal caloric intake can add years to your life... we are not talking about a restrictive diet..let's talk about a realistic plan.. eating the foods you enjoy... tasting the favors and pushing away from the table .. visualizing a smaller portion and knowing that you are not being deprived of anything.    Changing habits and setting realistic goals, that reinforce and encourage you to stay on task.. hypnosis is a powerful tool..it allows you to change habits.. and forgive and release limiting beliefs you may have when it comes to food and your self image

fight or flight

Panic is a sudden desertion of us, and a going over to the enemy of our imagination.  ~Christian Nevell Bovee

Have you ever been to a Scary Movie, your heart beating faster, quick breathing, feeling chills and goosebumps, ready to jump out of your seat?  Why panic? You are perfectly safe sitting next to your friends, in a comfy warm environment yet your body is pumped full of adreneline and you are prepared to run at any moment.    Your Imagination has taken over your body..you are in fight or flight mode.    Pretty amazing when you think about it, the problem is this process happens over and over again in everyday life .. whether it's your reaction to the kids, your boss, your spouse, the other driver or even your own inner thoughts, you are are experiencing chronic stress  Long term adreneline levels are damaging your body by affecting your blood pressure regulation system,thus  creating scar like tissue within your blood vessels... a prime location for clots to develop. Your immune system is also affected, reversing the production of white blood cells.   Relxation methods, Emotional Freedom Technique and Hypnosis can help you shift prospectives and change habits that may contribute to your stress. 

The worst club in my bag is my brain. ~Chris Perry

The worst club in my bag is my brain.  ~Chris Perry.....

....very telling statement.  If you play golf or for that matter any sport you understand what this means....those negative, recurring thoughts, put downs, replaying the last shot in your mind when you should be focused  on how well your next shot will be. The tenseness of your muscles as you relive that last move, the should'ves and could'ves that only make you feel the rush of anger and adrenaline.     So what do you do about it..........?  How can you train your brain to allow your body and mind to move on?   "Every shot (hit, play) is in the past...reliving it in your mind will only make your muscles freeze up or  repeat the motion(s) that you were not happy with to begin with.     Practice relaxation methods...Tapping...and mentally rehearse the movements before you play the game.   A mental rehearsal has the same affect on your muscles as the real thing.  Get in the zone!!

http://www.golfbeautifullie.com/

golf a mental game

Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course - the distance between your ears.  ~Bobby Jones

Making connections

Just made a connection between twitter and blogger... there is always a way to find a solution.. sometimes it comes from an outside source and sometimes it comes from within.  Just as in life.

The end of overeating.- "Mind over food"

I mention this book by David A. Kessler, MD because it will help anyone understand that we are bombarded with messages that encourage us to eat more then we should.  Whether that message was a direct negative statement from "an authority" (parent, sibling or friend or foe) or the subliminal messages we receive through advertising, the media and marketers...our subconscious mind believes what it hears..  In most cases that message is engraved in your mind...that little voice telling you what to do, what you deserve, what you will be and how you will act.   Eating is a personal experience......

Golf - Positive practice

"My body is here, but my mind has already teed off."  ~Author Unknown


What's the attitude?..  is it that you have teed off in your mind or that you are teed off in anger over your last shot..........Change the channal  to a positive attitude ......... Do a Mental rehearsal.......Play the course ...........Every club in your bag.....all in your mind before you hit the links   

Thomas Tutko, PhD Co-founder, Institute of Athletic Motivation and Professor of Psychology, San Jose State University says that getting to a state of relaxed concentration and over-learning are techniques that will enable you to perform at your  peak level. (Sports Psyching-Playing your Best Game All the Time)  Hypnosis is a state in which you can mentally rehearse any sport.

Sugar Addiction

Reading suggestion:   The end of overeating.   Taking control of the insatiable American Appetite  by  David A. Kessler, MD

Sugar is addictive. 

Mind over (food) matter

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." 
 ~Mary Engelbreit

Once you think differently about something the changes will come.    If you are consistantly thinking about food, then you will eat more food.  We form habits over a lifetime...eating becomes a habit...sometimes, totally out of control.   Typical diet plans make you think about food, and the more you think about food the more you want to eat it!!! On a diet-You are forced to consider these questions.

• What can I eat for breakfast,..... lunch ...............and dinner?
• What can I eat as a snack?
• How much can I eat?
• How much does the food weigh?
• How many calories/points/portions are in that food?
• When can I eat ?
• What can I put on my grocery list?
• How Many...... are allowed? 

Just reading this list makes you hungery....
Change your mind and your behaviours will change... Hypnosis deals with the subconscious mind, the mind that controls your autonomic nervous system. Changing patterns of behavior on a subconscous level and taking action will enable you to improve your quality of life.

Mind Body Connection #3 Cortisol & Hypnosis

The stress hormone - Cortisol - produces and maintains high levels of glucose necessary for the response to stress. High glucose levels in the body have a direct relationship to many diseases.  According to Mr. Bruce Lipton, cellular biologist, “The brain can ultimately control the activity of tissues and organs. I believe that the most powerful information processing by the brain is the domain of the subconscious mind and that it can shape tissue responses. These signals can actually influence the membrane to engage selected genes that then actively respond.”

Your body will respond to your thoughts, beliefs and perceptions, real or imagined.   Hypnosis can help you address these thoughts and during the hypnotic state decrease stress levels that affect the heart and immune systems.

Mind Body Connection #2

When you have a thought, your mind sends out signals. This can be in hormones, growth factors, or other chemicals which stimulate oscillations of nerve cells which create a field that influence other nerve and neurons.

In the book, The Emotional Brain, neuroresearcher, Dr. Joseph LeDoux talks about how emotions are hardwired to stimulate our Central Nervous System, which in turn stimulates our Autonomic Nervous System. This is how a sight or even the thought of a sight, cause a bodily reaction.

Do it now--think of something that you dislike or that frightens you.   

How does it physically Feel?

This is how bodily symptoms are related to emotions. Emotions and feelings are not the same. You may not even know (be aware of) that an emotional response is happening. You may have the signs or symptoms of anxiety, such as high blood pressure or sweating for example, but not “feel” anxious. Our emotions are often not at a conscious level.

Men Suppress Food Cravings Sciencific American

It seems that men have an easier time suppressing their cravings for foods, compared to women.   Read this article intro.

Mind Body Connection #1 Real or Not

As humans, there is an obvious need to protect ourselves.  Growth is also vitally important, even if you are a fully-grown adult, every day billions of cells in our bodies wear out and need to be replaced. For example, the entire cellular lining of the human gut is replaced every seventy-two hours.              Humans unavoidably restrict their growth behaviors when they shift into protective mode. If you're running from a mountain lion, it's not a good idea to expend valuable energy on growth. In order to survive - that is escape the lion - you summon all your energy for your fight or flight response.    Your levels of Adrenalin and Cortisol increase, which over time have a toxic effect on the system.  Adrenaline is a good response to short term stress, but long-term production of it exhausts us, affects our blood sugar and thyroid levels, suppresses our immune system and makes us prone to illness and tiredness. You may not be running from a mountain lion, but you do deal with everyday life and the stress it brings.  Here is where the mind body link is most important to understand.

                Your subconscious mind does not distiguish between what is real or imagined (perceived).  If you see or percieve something as a threat on a conscious or subconscious level your body will react to it

Welcome - Eliminating Limiting Beliefs

The way we react to life will affect us emotionally, physically and mentally.  Are you ready to eliminate your limiting beliefs?  Of course you can.... Even though it just may seen like a huge challenge to make a change, a change that will relieve the stress and discomfort you feel daily, it can be done.     Hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Technique are the strategies that will help "make that change" for you.  Both methods are quick and produce amazing results.  This blog addresses Hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

We explore the science, strategies for success, methods and resources for information.  ESC