Lessons on Living Fully

As You Thinketh, So You Are

2011-06-06T17:47:31Z

One of my favorite little books of wisdom is "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen.

The theme of the book is the power of our thoughts. Below is one of my favorite passages, which I memorized years ago:

"Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, a man ascends to Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.

Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this -- that a man is the master of his thought, the moulder of his character, and the maker and shaper of his condition, environment, and destiny."

How do you interpret this passage? What impact did it make on you? How can living by it help you live a greater life?

I'd love to hear your comments and experiences, so feel free to leave a useful comment. I also encourage you to get the book and read it--often. It's about $6 and can be read through in about an hour, though you might want to take longer to digest all the amazing ideas in it.

Smile Often. Laugh Daily. Dream Big. Live Fully,

HANDBOOK FOR LIFE

2011-01-26T03:24:00Z

HANDBOOK FOR LIFE

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Take time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2010 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up..
37. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
38. Your Inner-most voice is always happy. So, be happy.
39. The best is yet to come.
(Author Unknown)

Live Fully,

Taking the Plunge for Special Olympics

2011-01-17T23:05:00Z

You just gotta doing something crazy once in a while to be living fully!

I'm plunging into the icy cold Atlantic on February 5th, 2011 (wearing a prom dress) to raise funds for the Special Olympics.

Crazy? Definitely!
Fun? Sort of. (A group of us is plunging together wearing prom attire and will warm up afterwards with some schnapps!)
Forgettable? No way!

You can make a donation by visiting my FirstGiving page: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/lisa/2011-polar-plunge-winter-festival by February 5th, 2011.

Or find a plunge going on where you live and sign up to plunge!

Live Fully!

Forgiveness Prayer

2010-12-16T19:43:00Z

Forgiveness is not for or about the perceived "offender." It is for and about US.

It is not about saying what the person did was "okay." It is about saying WE choose to be okay despite it.

Holding on to resentment continues to keep you tied, energetically/spiritually, to the other person and/or the event.

When you can allow your self to release the person and experience through forgiveness, you free yourself from the cord that keeps you connected and held back or re-opening the wound over and over again.

But, HOW do you forgive? Especially when the hurt is very deep or the hate is very strong?

Here is a forgiveness prayer my minister, LeRoy Lowell, used for himself to heal some really deep pains and the ways he hurt others because of them. He said it every day. It helped turn his life, relationships, health and finances around.

All that has offended me, I forgive.
Within and without, I forgive.
Things past, things present, things future, I forgive.
I forgive anyone and anything tht could ever need my forgiveness in my past and present.
I positively forgive every one.
I am free and all others are free, too.
All things are cleaned out between us now and forever."

If you know EFT, it would be even more helpful to tap on your various points as you go through the words a few times.
Let me know of any shifts you get from using this.

Live Fully!
Lisa
***************************************
"Creating healthy, natural, lasting change thru' the power of your mind"
Lisa Smith, MHt, CC, NLP, EFT-1
Life by Design, LLC
www.hypnocoachlisa.com
To contact me directly, call 757-631-9940 or click here to email: hypnocoach@cox.net

BEST OF THE BEACH 2010, SILVER WINNER 2010 for Best Weight Loss Center, Therapy Center, Training Center, Women's Fitness Center; BRONZE for Best Nutritional Studio; 2009 BRONZE WINNER for Best Weight Loss Center

BLOG: Lessons on Living Fully blog.hypnocoachlisa.com

Get F-R-E-E stuff, like a healthy mind & body ezine, 25 Top Ways to Motivate Yourself, a relaxation audio/video, and MORE! www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Free_Stuff_.html

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Life Lessons

2010-12-09T06:14:00Z

In case you haven't received this in your email yet, I wanted to pass along these "Life Lessons" written by Regina Brett, a 90 year old woman.

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

Regina Brett, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio.

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Live Fully!

Do You Notice Beauty In Odd Places?

2010-12-07T02:48:11Z

Passing along another good story someone emailed to me.

.. . . Something To Think About . . .

THE SITUATION

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

Live Fully!

I Woke Up Dead This Morning

2010-12-06T04:31:57Z

Passing on a great short story someone passed on to me today. Great reminder to make use of our time here--we never really know when we might wake up dead.

I Woke Up Dead this Morning
By Richard Parsons

I woke up dead this morning, and I was quite surprised. I felt pretty good when I went to bed last night. I wasn't expecting this so soon. At least it seems to have happened too soon. God, where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday I was a kid shooting spitballs through a straw and being sent to the principal's office to see the much feared Gertrude Collins and her aerodynamic paddle. Where has all the time gone?

The coffee tasted about the same as usual this morning. The headlines in the newspaper were the same as any other day. Different day, same bad news. I took a quick glance at the obituaries to see if I had made the morning edition, but realized that it was too soon. Except for me, no one else knows that I'm dead. Gosh, it might be days before anyone realizes that they haven't seen me or heard from me. This should prove interesting! It's not like I can pick up the phone now and call someone to let them know that I'm dead.

I decided to go for an early morning walk. It was depressing though, because when I said "good morning" to people, they didn't make eye contact or give any form of reply. They acted like they couldn't see me or hear me, but that was really no different than any other day in the city. In the past, I always chalked it up to their being preoccupied with their busy lives. Now I was beginning to wonder if I had been dead for longer than just today. For an instant I thought that perhaps they were the dead ones and I was still alive. Then I said to myself, "Who would want to be alive in a dead world." On that sad note I turned around and went back home for another cup of coffee. This being dead thing was really starting to bother me.

Just the other day, I was telling a friend about all the things I still wanted to accomplish with my life. Funny now that I said that I didn't fear dying, but rather feared not living. I first made that statement over five years ago when I had my first heart attack and wasn't sure if I was going to live or die. And now, as Job said, "That which I feared has come upon me." If I were still alive, what would I do differently today? Well, that thought is, as they say, a day late and a dollar short. Am I really dead?

All of the sudden, I'm not sure. Being alone, I don't have anyone to ask. God, how many nights have I gone to bed with a bit of sadness and fear about being alone. How often I've thought that if I were to get sick during the night, or needed help, who would be there for me? And if I died, who would know? Hey, is that my phone ringing? Gosh, if someone hears my voice, that means I'm still alive. Hello, hello! Ah shit, just my luck to get another automated telemarketing message. Ironically, this one was advertising life insurance. I should have pressed option one to speak to a live agent, but I thought I'd be bored to death listening to elevator music for 30 minutes. Bored to death! Wow, that statement takes on new meaning now. Actually, I'm bored with death. Come to think of it, what happened to that white light and those angels who were supposed to transport me to the pearly gates? Perhaps there's an energy crisis in heaven too. And God probably had to lay off some angels due to the poor economy. I guess things are tough everywhere.

My mind keeps going back to what I said about my fear of not living. I thought perhaps I would be wiser after death, but I still don't know why I put things off when I was alive. I guess we all think we have plenty of time, and we'll get to those important things tomorrow. Then, suddenly, like with me now, tomorrow never comes. I wanted to get back to writing. There's that book I've been working on; there's those short stories I wanted to write; there's things that I wanted to learn yet. I wanted to spend more time with my grandchildren. There were plans and ideas to help others that I wanted to implement. The older I got the more I realized that there were many dreams still locked inside my spirit, and there was my God given potential that I hadn't fully lived out yet. Now I'm really angry with myself. I hope God forgives me for disappointing him. He invested a lot in me, and I'm not too sure that he received as much return on his investment as he had hoped for.

Perhaps there are other dead people out there who are angry at themselves for the same reason I am. Hey, maybe I could organize a therapy group. We could call it the How to Cope with Regret group. Actually, I would rather be alive and offer a group for the living, especially for those who are like I am, or rather, like I was. People who put off living fully till another day. I would encourage them to "do it now." And I would do another group for those who have no clue about the treasure that's inside them because they're spent a life time believing the lies they've been told about themselves. And yet another group for those who go through life being complaining victims instead of taking responsibility for their lives by putting the word act into action. Of course I won't be able to do those things either. At least now I have a real excuse because, I woke up dead this morning.

Life really is about loving more, learning more, laughing more, giving more, and growing more. Life is about more! It's about abundance; overflowing abundance, not for collecting, but for the joyous giving of ourselves. We are most alive when we live. And we live by discovering the abundant treasure God has placed within. And not just discovering it, but also doing the hard work of digging it out.

I think I'll have another cup of coffee while I wait to see what happens next. I feel very cold now, and the light is growing dim. Mom! Dad! Is that you?

Oh my God! What a nightmare! I dreamt that I woke up dead! I am alive! Thank you God for one more day to live. I promise to live it fully. Would you help me, please? I don't want to wake up dead.

Live fully!

Carrots, Eggs or Coffee--Which Are You?

2010-02-11T03:35:36Z

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee (author unknown)

I received this in an email today and wanted to share it with you.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things
were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and
wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as
one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen.. She filled three pots with water and
laced each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she
placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed
ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word...

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots
out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a
bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to
her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did
and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take
an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard
boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter
smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it
mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the
boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its
thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through
the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee
beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had
changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain
and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial
hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my
shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff
spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the
very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it
releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things
are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

===========

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate
yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot,
an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you
strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they
just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest
future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until
you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone
around you is crying.

You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to
you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or
another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who
make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those
whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.

If you don't send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten
someone's day with this message!

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!

Live Life Fully!
Lisa

Is Your Ego Voice Getting in the Way of Growth?

2010-02-08T20:22:00Z

Is your head getting in the way of what's for your highest good?

I recently had a woman come to me for the f.r.e.e. initial consultation I offer when someone contacts me about my services. After we reviewed her pains and challenges, her goals and desires, and what services I could offer to assist her to move from where she was "stuck" to where she wanted to be instead, she asked to "think on it" so she wouldn't make a "rash decision."

This, I have found, is the "kiss of death" for achieving our goals--"thinking" too much about it. That's when we start to listen to the voice that keeps us stuck. My goal is to help teach people to listen to their "inner voice"--the one that comes from intuition vs. logic/safety/fear.

Whether people choose to use my services or not, I want to encourage them to take SOME action after our consultation; to do SOMETHING different than what they've been doing.

Coming to me for a consultation--or even just contacting me--is a sign that someone is in a position of wanting to make a change and ready to do so; they're just wondering if I can be the resource to help them do that. They've realized that what they're doing/experiencing is not working for them and they want something different. But they feel they are lacking something that prevents them from doing it themselves--resources, accountability, support, mindset, a combination.

With one recent consultation, the person told me they had chosen a different hypnotherapist to work with. I congratulated him on taking decisive action by following through with someone, even if it wasn't me. In this other case, the woman "thought her way out of" working with me after she went home, yet didn't seem to have a "Plan B" that she was prepared to implement instead. I wrote her back and asked her to think of some of the things we discussed in the consultation:

* What do you WANT most?
* What is the single biggest OBSTACLE standing in your way right now from getting/having that?
* What is the biggest ACTION you could take right now to remove/move past that obstacle?
* How are you going to get new resources to help you do that?

Remember, nothing changes unless something changes. Too often, we put off assisting ourselves with challenges, hoping they'll just resolve themselves on their own, denying the amount of negative impact they are having on our lives. But all these "put-offs" do is deepen the problem and keep us stuck in a less-than-satisfying life.

What are you "tolerating" in your life right now? WHY are you tolerating it? The EGO voice tries to keep us stuck. Listen to the WISE voice that knows what you deserve and are capable of, and answer the questions I have posed here, then create some ACTION that will move you toward what you want, and a plan (and/or support) to keep you in action. STOP SETTLING and stop rationalizing not taking action or doing something different.

One final note: I have been in a "stuck" place many times, held back by my fear/ego voice that rationalized all kinds of "intelligent" reasons not to do something BIG or take a leap of faith to bring me to the next level. It sucked. Once I made a decision to do something BOLD, something different--often choosing to work with a coach or mentor as part of that leap (and ALWAYS with God)--everything changed for the better and I was so thankful for having done it.

Your move...

Live Fully!

How to Deal with Difficult People

2010-01-14T23:42:47Z

I had a boss once that was THE WORST micromanaging, anal-retentive person I'd ever worked with!

I was SO on the verge of quitting so many times while she was my boss, waking up each morning dreading going into work, even though I loved my work and helping people with hypnosis.

I finally remembered what I knew about the law of attraction--what we focus on expands.

I realized I was making the problem worse by focusing on how miserable I was and how much I didn't like her. So, I switched my focus and began to focus on the aspects of the job that I loved and the aspects within her that I COULD like or admire.
I also asked to have a conversation with her to find out her thoughts on why she wanted things done a certain way so I could help her get done what she wanted to and not be fighting her all the time, as well as to get to know her a little more on a personal level. She said she really appreciated that I came to her and asked to have that conversation.

Things were definitely easier between us after that. Although I still didn't agree with a lot of the things she asked us to do or how she went about managing things, I understood her better and didn't get so upset by her requests (she'd had a lot of rejection in her life and therefore had a strong need to try to be in control; she also had low self-esteem even though she tried to come off as highly competent and "together").

Interestingly, as well, within a month of that time, someone else bought the franchise office I was in and she was transferred to another office!

Try to do the same thing with anyone in your life that you are having difficulties with. Have a conversation to learn to understand them (not to make them wrong or point out what you don't like about what they do). Especially try to get to know them on a personal level (being curious but not intrusive). You might be surprised at what you find out. They might even start to feel like you care about them and therefore act differently toward you (and others in the office if you work with them). Focus every day on their GOOD qualities and even compliment them on those. It will change not only you, but also them.

Live Life Fully!
Lisa
***************************************
"Creating healthy, natural, lasting change thru' the power of your mind"
Lisa Smith, MHt, CC, NLP
Life by Design, LLC
www.hypnocoachlisa.com
To contact me directly, call 757-631-9940 or click here to email: hypnocoach@cox.net

BEST OF THE BEACH, BRONZE WINNER 2009 FOR BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER

BLOG: Lessons on Living Fully http://blog.hypnocoachlisa.com

Get F-R-E-E stuff, like a healthy mind & body ezine, 25 Top Ways to Motivate Yourself, a relaxation audio/video, and MORE! www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Free_Stuff_.html

Visit my weight loss website:
www.WinningWithWeightLoss.com

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What If...

2010-01-12T18:01:52Z

Every day, consciously or unconsciously, we make "what if..." statements or evaluations to ourselves (and even to others).

It's how we complete that thought that determines our moods, actions, and results each day and throughout our lives.

If you follow "what if..." with negative predictions, such as
What if...I don't get that job?
What if...I try it and it doesn't work?
What if...they say no?
What if...they laugh at me?
What if...I forget what to say?
What if...I lose money?
You're going to be operating from a feeling and place of fear. That will put up a "red light" to positive action and therefore be less likely to yield positive results for you.

When you're in fear mode, you are reactionary instead of thoughtful & creative. When you're in fear mode, you have a whole different physiology (protection, weakness, neutrality vs. openness, strength, growth).

However, if your "what if..." thoughts are followed with positive predictions, such as
What if...they DO hire me?
What if...I try it and it works great?
What if...they say yes?
What if...they accept what I'm saying?
What if...I speak my thoughts effortlessly?
What if...I make gobs of money with this?
What if...if it could be easy and fun?
You're going to be operating from a feeling and place of peace and/or excitement. That will put up a 'green light" to positive action and therefore be more likely to yield positive results for you (or at least allow you to enjoy the journey of pursuit).

When you are in the mindset of "positive possibility," you are thoughtful & creative; your physiology is one of openness and strength, and allows for growth (physical and emotional). (In fact, studies show that optimists live longer, healthier, more successful lives than pessimists).

Everything that follows your "what if" is just a POSSIBILITY. None of the possibilities has happened anywhere yet--except in your imagination--so why not choose to predict a positive outcome?

PUTTING IT INTO ACTION:
The next time you find yourself in fear or procrastination mode, check in with your "what if..." thoughts. For every negative one you uncover, follow it with "but what if... (the opposite, positive possible outcome)" with a twinkle in your eye and a smile. Even visualize the positive "what if" outcome. Imagine what that would FEEL like. REALLY see it and feel it. Once you're in that good feeling state with a sense of optimism, your creative mind is engaged. Take the next best action that comes to mind to bring it about.

What if you could...

Live Life Fully,
Lisa

Seeing is Believing--Or Is It?

2009-07-07T02:35:00Z

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.

Recognizing Hidden Thyroid Issues

2009-06-21T22:34:00Z

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!

***************************************************************
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.

Receive bi-weekly tips, tools & techniques for a healthy mind & body with Healthy You! ezine at: www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Free_Stuff_.html

Want resources for healthy, natural weight loss? Visit: www.WinningWithWeightLoss.com

To contact me directly, call 757-631-9940 or email: hypnocoach@cox.net

Getting Out of the Lack, Fear & Worry Cycle

2009-05-22T20:34:00Z

A client of mine this week emailed me that she was let go of the job she had just gotten 5 months ago after being out of work for some time and being the sole support for herself, her 2 kids, and her husband (who is sick and can't work). She is devastated and overwhelmed with worry and anxiety. She hasn't told anyone but me yet (not even her family), because she doesn't want to worry them and is hoping to find some work before the last paycheck comes in so they won't have to know.

As you can imagine, this is a huge burden she's carrying and she is making herself sick, crying all the time, not eating, not sleeping, constantly in knots, and nauseous. It is shaking her faith in God and creating a state of hopelessness. I have been in similar situations and know all too well that feeling. Perhaps you are in this situation as well, or at least know someone who is.

So what do we do when this happens? How do we change the situation? How can we keep from going deeper down into the pit of despair and hopelessness? Here is an excerpt from the email I sent this to assist her in shifting into a more resourceful thought process and feeling. This will better position her to take positive action that will serve her instead of reacting in fear with actions that are much less likely to create an effective outcome.

**********************************
I can tell you from experience that although it creates a lot of stress and worry, having a "crisis" happen often puts a fire under us that moves us out of a "comfort" zone where we're not growing and into massive action that gets results. I have definitely experienced this several times in my business (including taking the business to full-time in the first place). Everything goes in cycles--it's never ALL UP or ALL DOWN. But we can learn to anticipate and flow with those cycles more easily instead of fighting or reeling against them, which just makes it worse. What we resist, persists!

Also realize that everything is a matter of perspective. Life is 9/10ths perception. And when we get into a state of fear, we literally coil up and become protective instead of creative. This is the worst thing we can do. Instead, begin to infuse some positive ideas,
perspective, and hopefulness into your brain to counteract all the negative going on in your head right now. You cannot solve a
problem from the same mindset that created the problem.

Here are some AWESOME resources I recommend:
Go to John Assaraff's and James Ray's websites and sign up for their newsletter/blog, watch their videos: http://jamesray.com/resources/
http://www.johnassaraf.com/free_resources.php
Check out some of Jack Canfield's short but inspiring You Tube videos. His website has some great resources, too. www.jackcanfield.com
Listen to "Everything is Energy" radio shows: www.everythingisenergy.com which help you to understand how the energy you exude is the energy you continue to attract, and teaches you techniques to shift your energy.

Also consider this idea: Your boss letting you go had absolutely NOTHING to do with YOU, your work, or your value.
You can choose to think/believe THAT, or you can choose to think what you automatically concluded: "I did something wrong. I wasn't good enough. This is about me." You get to choose what you say to yourself about the experience. There is no TRUTH--only belief.

So, I would encourage you to refrain from blaming yourself and putting yourself down--it's counterproductive and takes energy and creativity away from looking ahead to what you CAN control and focus on, which is creating ideas, identifying resources and options, generating action steps, and taking action on them.

Worry is not productive, either. Worry is the negative use of the imagination. What do you think would happen if you got out of the negative "what if" scenarios going on inside your head and shifted into positive possibility? To do that, go to those resources I gave you above. Create a shift. That will make all the difference. Negative thinking creates negative energy that acts like a magnet, attracting MORE negative energy. Don't take any actions until you put yourself in the right mindset to take actions that will truly serve you.

So, take time each day to watch/read/listen to the resources I listed above. They are some of the tools I've used to help ME shift when I've gotten stuck in that state of fear, doubt, and worry, so I know THEY WORK. There are many more, but those are a great start.
--
Live Fully!

p.s.--I also have some release techniques I teach and use with my clients to facilitate this shift quicker. If you'd like to learn more about those, call me for a fr*e consultation.
***************************************
"Creating healthy, natural, lasting change thru' the power of your mind"
Lisa Smith, MHt, CC, NLP
Life by Design, LLC
www.hypnocoachlisa.com
To contact me directly, call 757-631-9940 or click here to email:
hypnocoach@cox.net

BLOG: Lessons on Living Fully http://blog.hypnocoachlisa.com

Get F-R-E-E stuff, like a healthy mind & body ezine, 25 Top Ways to Motivate Yourself, a relaxation audio/video, and MORE!
www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Free_Stuff_.html

Want resources for healthy, natural weight loss? Visit: www.WinningWithWeightLoss.com

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Facebook: http://profile.to/CoachLisa
FB Fan page: http://company.to/LifebyDesign

Installing Love

2009-05-12T04:32:00Z

Read this today and HAD to pass it on!

Tech Support: Yes, how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to
install Love. Can you guide me through the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to

install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running ?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment

running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current

operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer

disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module

of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge

and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can

you turn those off ?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness.

Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been
completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You

need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error -

Program not run on external components." What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on

Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it

simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files:

Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system

will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also,

you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your

Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files.Smile is playing

on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over

My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything

gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before

we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone

you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God.

God/Tech Support: You're welcome, anytime.

- Anon

Live Fully!

Hidden Food Allergies Keeping You Fat

2009-04-29T00:53:04Z

Are you eating less, eating healthier, exercising more, but STILL not losing weight?

You may be experiencing inflammation in your body that blocks fat-burning by consuming foods that you are sensitive to.

Learn more and how to get tested for food sensitivities in this great article about this by my mentor, Jonny Bowden.

http://www.jonnybowden.com/2009/04/are-hidden-food-allergies-making-you.html
--
Live Fully!
Lisa
***************************************
"For healthy, natural, lasting change."
Lisa Smith, MHt, CC, NLP
Life by Design, LLC
www.hypnocoachlisa.com
Lessons on Living Fully -- http://blog.hypnocoachlisa.com

Visit my website for lots of F-R-E-E stuff, like a healthy mind/body newsletter, 25 Top Ways to Motivate Yourself, a relaxation audio/video, and MORE! www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Free_Stuff_.html

Want resources for healthy, natural weight loss? Visit:
www.WinningWithWeightLoss.com

To contact me directly, call 757-631-9940 or click here to email: hypnocoach@cox.net
http://www.twitter.com/FitBizCoach
http://profile.to/CoachLisa

Why Counting Calories Will NOT Keep Weight Loss Permanent

2009-04-07T16:34:00Z

One of the things I teach my clients seeking weight loss is that the old method of simply calculating calories consumed and calories burned is NOT going to help them sustain weight loss.

Yes, it will usually initially produce weight loss because you start consuming less food than you were previousl. However, there are so many more elements to the way that the body deals with those calories that need to be understood and utilized in order to reach your ideal weight and KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF.

What type of food those calories come from is of great importance. Your body will metabolize (break down and turn to energy to burn or fat to store) different foods in different ways (and the way your body does that will not necessarily be the same as someone else's body does it).

Five hundred calories of a processed sugar food (like candy) will create a whole different metabolic and hormonal response in the body than 500 calories of a healthy fatty protein (like salmon) will. The first will deplete nutritive stores and cause hormonal responses to store those calories (and satisfy appetite for a short time) and the second will add to nutritive stores and cause hormonal responses to burn those calories (and satisfy appetite for a longer time).

Here's an article I found by James LaValle from his Total Health Breakthroughs newsletter that explains a little bit more about this and helps you understand about the effect of sugary foods in the body: The Fallacy of Calories In, Calories Out

To understand the role of balancing your blood sugar as the Master Key to weight management and diabetes prevention, see my 3-part Healthy You! newsletter series from February to April 2009 here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

If you need help curbing your sugar cravings from the emotional aspect, visit my website store to order your "Curb Your Carbs" hypnosis conditioning CD.
www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Store.html

Live Fully!

Explaining Hypnosis and Lasting Change

2009-03-29T23:10:00Z

Hypnosis has had a long history and difficult transition into acceptance by mainstream society and the medical community. However, its continued effectiveness for millions who have used it and the mounting research that has been conducted with it over the years, are finally raising it up as a valid and useful modality for habit change, learning enhancement, and healing.

Conscious and Subconscious
Let me explain a bit about how the mind works and what we do know about the mechanism of hypnosis. The conscious
mind is the rational, mind. It deals with analytical processes (math, logic, reasoning), temporal awareness (time and
space), stores new memories and skills temporarily, and engages force of will ("willpower") to actions.

This level of the mind is very good at analyzing, organizing, making decisions. It is capable of incredible focus and
concentration. However, its limitations are that it can only perform one task at a time, can only deal with the familiar
and concrete, and is finite.

The subconscious mind is the creative and conditioned part of the mind. It deals with emotions and imagination and works through symbols and metaphors. It stores programs, patterns, and habits to create autopilot responses and actions to save us time/energy and to protect us. It stores memories permanently.

This level of the mind is creative, infinite, capable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously (e.g., regulate heartbeat, breathing, coordination, etc.). Its limitations are that it cannot make decisions/judge/evaluate, and everything in here is "truth" (according to how it perceived and recorded it at the time).

The Gatekeeper
In between the Conscious and the Subconscious levels of the mind is what's metaphorically known as "the gatekeeper,"
though the technical term for this filtering system is "the critical faculty." It's job is two-fold:
1) to take information from the conscious level and decide whether to pass it down to the subconscious level or not, and
2) to bring information up from the subconscious to feed the conscious mind into taking some action.

The critical faculty tries to keep things congruent as it passes from one level to another, especially with the information that it allows to enter and be stored away in the subconscious. It checks it agains emotional links, memories, and beliefs to protect current programs (these programs are designed to make things easier for us and to keep us safe). Therefore, if new information is incongruent with the "order" and information that is currently stored in the subconscious, it will either kick the information out (not allow it to enter the subconscious) or modify/alter it to match more closely what's in the subconscious (often grossly distorting it from its orginial form).

Any info. allowed past the "gatekeeper" is taken by the subconscious mind as absolute Truth, and therefore, can be very difficult to change.

Creating Lasting, Easy Change
We will almost always do what is familiar, to avoid internal conflict with our programs. To experience significant change,
we must alter the programs running at the subconscious level. To do that, we must bypass the gatekeeper--the critical
faculty. Once we do that, we gain access to the subconscious mind where we can implement, through suggestion, the selective thinking that will assist us in achieving our goal(s).

Hypnosis is the bypass mechanism around the Gatekeeper. It relaxes the gatekeeper from its hypervigilant state, which
allows fairly docile information to be allowed into the subconscious and new patterns to be conditioned. However, the gatekeeper is not completely "de-activated," which means that truly harmful or highly incongruent information/suggestions will still be able to be kicked out or modified by the gatekeeper.

This is not brainwashing. It is simply a way to allow beneficial information to be accepted into the level that is most effective
to initiate permanent change or to influence the body to respond in a certain way (e.g., boost immune system, change blood flow, ignore or diminish pain signals, etc.).

There are a large array ways that people (my clients, myself, others) have positively utilized the process of hypnosis to enhance their lives, often in seemingly miraculous and easy ways. Visit my website for more information and to watch/listen to a hypnotic process on line, then call for a no-cost consultation (can be done by phone if you are not in my area).

Live Fully!

Cream Cellulite! (It's No Miracle Cream)

2009-03-26T13:13:00Z

Have you ever sunk money into buying cellulite creams, or thought about it, hoping for an easy and "miracle" solution to your unsightly dimples of fat? If so, you're not alone.

According to Allison Winn Scotch of Prevention Magazine, in 2008, "American women spent nearly $100 million on creams, lotions, and other topical treatments in hopes of eradicating cellulite from our thighs and butts."

However, a 2006 study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery concluded that the BEST way to lose cellulite is to lose pounds. Yet, crash dieting is not the way to go; that can reducing skin's elasticity and make cellulite more noticeable. You must lose weight GRADUALLY, adding targeted muscle toning to firm and smooth the underlying tissue.

Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., co-author of No More Cellulite (Perigee, 2003), outlines a comprehensive exercise and eating plan to burn fat, build muscle, and shed pounds safely.

Read more about the findings, and use the eating & exercise plan created by Prevention Magazine based on Dr. Wescott's research here:

http://health.msn.com/fitness/womens-fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100234587&GT1=31036

Live Fully!

Prayer for Financial Healing

2009-03-16T16:50:10Z

A friend sent me this prayer the other day and I really loved it.

I thought many of you could use it at this tumultuous time in our world. I pray that it gives you encouragement, as it did me.

Prayer For Financial Healing
- Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

From the deep reaches of my heart and soul,
To the highest love in heaven,
I pray for a healing of my financial situation.
I reach a hand to the abundance of the universe,
And pray that I learn to transform my fear into possibility.
Let me open to all the good that exists in this world.
I lift my head up to the sun
And pray that I am inspired to turn darkness into light.
Let me raise myself up beyond my problems.
I look toward the future and what-could-be
And pray that I can believe in myself and my abilities.
Let me know in my heart that I have great strength.
I honor the place of fear that has gripped me,
But I pray that I do not let it own me.
Let me do what I can to bring peace to my financial situation,
And trust that this too will pass.

--
Live Fully!
Lisa
***************************************
"For healthy, natural, lasting change."
Lisa Smith, MHt, CC, NLP
Life by Design, LLC
www.hypnocoachlisa.com
Lessons on Living Fully -- http://blog.hypnocoachlisa.com

Visit my website for lots of F-R-E-E stuff, like a healthy mind/body newsletter, 25 Top Ways to Motivate Yourself, a relaxation audio/video, and MORE! www.hypnocoachlisa.com/Free_Stuff_.html

Want resources for healthy, natural weight loss? Visit:
www.WinningWithWeightLoss.com

To contact me directly, call 757-631-9940 or click here to email: hypnocoach@cox.net
http://www.twitter.com/FitBizCoach
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lisa-Smith/591558253