
You know that saying, "I'll believe it when I see it"? What if that was backwards, and the real truth is that "you'll see it when you believe it"?
Let's explore the concept of looking at the world and the events in our lives in this new way and how it can make a huge impact on the experiences we have and the results we get in our lives.
Years ago I was listening to an audio interview of Dr. Wayne Dyer by one of my personal empowerment mentors, Tony Robbins. The title of the interview was, "You'll See It When You Believe It."
It was a very interesting concept; one which I had never considered before, but really made me change the way I thought about so much from that point. And as I continued my self-improvement studies (before I even knew that this was to become my life's work), I was exposed to more and more material and teachers who shared this same concept in different ways.
I learned early on in my training as a hypnotherapist that "the law of the mind is the law of belief." This means that what the mind can conceive and—with emotion—believe, it can and will achieve. This can either serve to help or hinder us. If the beliefs we hold are in alignment with what we want to create in our lives, then we will be experiencing results that we are happy with. However, if our beliefs are not in alignment with what we want to create, then we will experience frustration and dissatisfaction.
The subconscious mind does not know the difference between what we imagine vividly (with feeling) and what we experience in physicality. The same neurons fire, the same chemicals are produced, and the same experience is created. Therefore, we can scare ourselves to death (literally) simply by believing something to the extreme that stresses the body so much that the heart stops. Likewise, we can believe so strongly that we can heal ourselves that we activate the immune response in our body and change the structure of what was once killing us. These are not just old wives' tales. There are research studies proving this all the time. There's even a whole new field of research and study called psychoneuroimmunology that surrounds this whole concept.
The thing about our beliefs is that they cause us to either bring about, or "see," things in our environment or experiences that prove our beliefs as true. We do this by either becoming focused on what matches our belief or by distorting our perception in a way that matches the belief. And the brain can do some pretty amazing contortionist acts to bend things to match our beliefs.
Have you ever experienced a situation and then someone else who was part of the experience shared their interpretation of the experience in a way that was so far from your interpretation—even to the point of being convoluted to you—that you were wondering how they could have possibly come to that conclusion? That's because your belief systems were so different, often in a very dysfunctional and destructive way.
So how can you tell if your beliefs are helping or hurting you? Take a look at the various areas of your life.
* What is working for you? Where are you fulfilled? This is a sign that you have supporting beliefs
in these areas. Keep believing and keep creating those results.
* What is not working for you? Where are you dissatisfied? There are most likely some limiting or
self-sabotaging beliefs that are filtering your ability to create better filters, actions, and outcomes.
How can you change limiting beliefs? The first thing is to discover them, then replace them.
1. For each of the unfulfilled areas or goals, ask yourself what your ideas or beliefs are regarding that issue. You might find yourself with some dialog you heard your parents or other influential people in your life commonly use. For example, if you don't have financial fulfillment, perhaps some beliefs are:
"Money doesn't grow on trees."
"Money is the root of all evil."
"Money ruins friendships."
"If you have a lot of money, people will always try to take advantage of you."
"Rich people are snobs/mean/selfish."
"Money is hard to come by."
Dig deep and write down the good, the bad and the ugly that comes to mind.
2. Write a new statement for each, which supports more of what you want to believe and create (usually the OPPOSITE statement is good).
3. Post these new affirmations where you can see and read them at least twice a day. And when you do, allow yourself to imagine and see/feel what it would be like to hold that belief. Yes, it might be hard to do at first (after all, if you believed it, you wouldn't have to do this exercise), but just pretend for a while ("fake it 'til you make it").
If you do this consistently, with feeling, you should soon find yourself changing the experiences you're having in these areas. If not, it may be helpful to work with a professional who can use energy clearing and subconscious repatterning techniques with you to change some deep-rooted or unconscious beliefs that are resistant to changing on this conscious level.
I'd be happy to talk with you more about this topic and any struggles you may be having in changing limiting beliefs that are stopping you from having the life that you deserve. Contact me for a free consultation to learn more. Or at least start by grabbing some FREE goodies on my website at www.hypnocoachlisa.com.
Live fully!
p.s.—for those of you who were interested in seeing me holding a baby pelican, here is a picture.
HEALTH 101—RECOGNIZING HIDDEN THYROID ISSUES
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As you may have heard, Oprah recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. She didn't realize she had it and neither did her doctors. It was her fans who recognized the symptoms she was describing and urged her to have her thyroid appropriately tested, even telling her what tests to have done to accurately diagnose it.
Oprah is not alone. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists:
* 10% of Americans are affected by thyroid problems—more than the number of those with diabetes and cancer combined
* over half of those with a thyroid problem are not being diagnosed
* for those diagnosed, the standard conventional treatment is noteffective
Why is this? According to one of my mentors, Dr. Jonny Bowden, most American doctors are trained in diagnosing acute symptoms, relying on lab tests, and treating things with drugs or surgery. Therefore, "they often fail miserably when it comes to addressing subtle symptoms in your body that affect the quality of your life."
Keep reading to learn more about the standard vs. ideal tests (even one you can do easily at home) to recognize thyroid issues, symptoms to pay attention to, and ways to effectively treat (and even prevent) the most common thyroid problem—hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
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The thyroid is the "master of metabolism." Critical functions include:
* controlling metabolism
* controlling organ function
* controlling digestive enzymes and stomach acid production
* controlling breakdown of protein and fat
* controlling synthesis and release of hormones and white blood cells
* secreting calcitonin, which is required for calcium metabolism
* basically affects the operation of all body processes
Possible Thyroid Issues
- Hashimoto's Disease (an immune disorder whereby the body destroys the thyroid)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
The most common thyroid problem is hypothyroidism. It is perhaps the most commonly occurring hormonal disturbance in America today. Although women are the most likely to suffer from this condition, it afflicts millions of men and women of all ages.
Why is Hypothyroidism Such an Epidemic?
Unfortunately, while this problem can often be genetic or hormonal (events such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause), or occur after physical illness or severe injury, the more common factors seem to be lifestyle-based.
Lifestyle Factors
Diet—low-fat/high-carb or vegetarian diets
low-cal., nutrient-deficient
insulin-resistance
lack of protein, lack of fatty acids
too many refined carbs and sugars
Certain medications (barbiturates, sulfa drugs, ainti-diabetic meds, aspirin)
Stress
Substances—alcohol, hydrogenated fats, excessive amounts of polyunsaturated fats (soybean, safflower, canola, corn oils), caffeine, tap water with fluoride and chlorine (consumed or absorbed through skin), fluoride in toothpaste, mercury from silver amalgam fillings, and excess estrogen (from birth control, synthetic hormones, herbal estrogens, pesticides, hormone-injected meats).
Goitrogens—a substance found in raw cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts; deactivate them by at least lightly steaming these vegetables.
What Are Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?
* Weight gain
* Chronic or cyclical fatigue/Poor sleep/Oversleeping
* Depression
* Muscle aches/weakness
* Low body temperature/Cold hands/feet
* Irregular periods
* Impaired memory & concentration/Mental slugishness
* Anemia
* Oversensitivity to cold
* Brittle nails
* Hair loss
* Skin problems—Dry, scaly, psoriasis, eczema, burning/prickling sensations
Testing for Hypothyroidism
Self-Tests
I recommend that you start with these simple tests you can do yourself that are highly suggestive of thyroid impairment. Armed with the self-discovery through these tests along with your list of common symptoms, you will bemore confident in having the discussion with your doctor and insisting he/she do not only the standard TSH, but also the more reliable TRH test.
Basal Temperature Test
Dr. Broda Barnes, a pioneer in thyroid research and author of "Hypnothyroidism: An Unsuspected Illness" developed the basal (resting body) temperature test and found through 40 years of research that a consistently low basal temperature is a dependable indicator of low thyroid function.
To perform the test, place a thermometer in your underarm area first thing upon awakening before getting out of bed. For digital thermometors, check when it beeps; for mercury, check after 10 minutes. Lie still and relax while taking. Record the temperature and repeat for 3 successive days. (Note: if during menstruation, take on 2nd and 3rd day only; avoid all alcohol for several days before doing the test). Normal temps should be between 97.8-98.2 degrees F.
Resting Pulse Test
According to Dr. John Lee, one of the foremost authorities on hormone function, a healthy resting pulse rate should be about 85 beats per minute, though the national average seems to be about 72 bpm. A RPR under 80 can be due to hypothyroidism.
Medical Tests
The standard test done today is known as the TSH test. It checks T3 and T4 cell functioning, which are operators of the thyroid. Unfortunately, this is a less extensive test (i.e., quicker and less expensive) than the previously standard TRH test, and has been shown to have a 35-40% "false negative" result when compared to the TRH test (meaning, 35-40% of patients who were told the TSH test showed normal thyroid function despite their extensive symptoms yet were shown to have underactive thyroids through the TRH test). This is one reason why so many in this country are going undiagnosed.
If your list of symptoms and your home tests are indicating hypnothyroidism, trust what that's telling you and insist your doctor (and insurance company) allow you to conduct the more reliable TRH test. Take charge of your health or no one else will.
Treatment Protocol
Standard treatment for hypothyroidism is medications such as Synthroid (which, by the way, has to my understanding, never been approved by the FDA). However, the majority of people report little to no improvement of their symptoms and/or a list of negative side effects from the medicaton.
Alternative medicine practitioners, however, treat the condition by first working on intestinal health and digestion, including detoxification regimens and instituting dietary changes, as well as a good exercise program. Natural thyroid-supporting nutrients such as dessicated thyroid or thyroid glandular (created specifically to each patient by a compounding pharmacist), iodine, B vitamins, various minerals, GLA, COQ10, and Progesterone (for women) or DHEA (for men).
Additional Resources
The more informed you are, the more likely you are to be able to talk to your doctor in an intelligent and confident way about your diagnosis and treatment options. Here are some additional resources that I have found or that have been recommended to me by those who have been suffering with hypothyrois issues and have found relief:
"Alternative Medicine's Guide to Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Environmental Illness," Dr. Burton Goldburg
"Thyroid Power," Shames & Shames
"The Thyroid Solution," Ridha
"The Ultra Thyroid Solution," Dr. Mark Hyman
"Hypothyroidism 101" at http://www.drhotze.com/EN/free_ebooks/
http://www.icarecafe.com/video/39
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
Most importantly, trust yourself and if your doctor is not helping you, find one who is educated and experienced in the subject, will treat you with respect, and help you effectively repair your thyroid!
Live Fully!

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Is there something you're not satisfied with in your life right now or something that has been an issue for a long time?
Have you tried many things to alleviate or improve the situation with limited or temporary results? If so, HYPNOSIS may be the
COMPLETE and FINAL solution. Call me at 757-631-9940 for a free consultation to learn more.
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