Gifts from the Source

Living with disorderly eating or addiction is like existing in a dark room, waking each day to the same problems that seem never ending. If you are anything like me, you have tried hundreds of times to get the issues under control, only to find failure lurking around every corner. My disorderly eating & sugar addiction began when I was three years old. By the time I was six, I was adept at hiding food, especially sugar. I remember eating continuously & became the butt of family jokes & then discipline. I remember being embarrassed, ashamed & humiliated. I was even made to feel guilty for taking more than my share. However, none of this stopped me. It simply intensified my desire to eat more & hide more. Luckily I was a very athletic child & never gained much weight, but as I entered adolescence & adulthood, the binges became more intense, the secrets intensified & my weight yo-yo'd.

Underneath all of this, my self-image shattered & my self-value or esteem was practically non-existent. People said hurtful things, but none as damaging as the things I said to mySelf. I had lost my self-respect. No one, not even those closest to me, had any idea of my secret eating life & no one was able to see behind the huge, false-image facade I had built to protect my truths. Even I was afraid to look at who I had become, for it simply seemed too much for me to manage. It wasn't that I didn't try, because I did...over & over again. In fact, I remember feeling ashamed when I would make some efforts in this regard. No one took me seriously & looking back, I think this was one of the most hurtful things of all because I felt very isolated. After I found my own path to recovery, this was the kind of pain that I was to see repeatedly in my clinical practice & of course, I could more than empathize with it.

Despite being an RN & Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, my recovery didn't "just happen." Eating disorders are complicated issues, having many facets. In the beginning, I believed like most people believe, it's a matter of staying on a diet & exercising. Being a very disciplined person, I did all that, but could never do it long enough to sustain what I was told was a healthy weight for me. All of these failures piled up, eating away at my self-image & esteem. I felt grossly inadequate, despite being very successful in my work. Ten years past....& then another ten. Each morning I woke up in the same place with the same thoughts & the same hauntings.

One day I woke up & things were not the same as they had been. On this very special day I was given a gift of very specific information that would open the mystery to my eating issues. I remember hearing the message, "pass it forward." That day I dedicated mySelf to doing just that & this book is a part of that dedication. These are the gifts from my Source....to yours.

But first....NOTE TO NEW READERS:

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

THE PATH TO RECOVERY

The path to recovery is graced by being in direct communication with one's Higher Self. In past chapters I've touched on the need to be free of co-dependent relationships & to be self-responsible. I've mentioned many times that you are the writer, director & producer of your own life. You have a Therapeutic Self comprised of your Parent, Teacher & Physician Self. These are the elevated parts of your personality. Your lower-Self is comprised of your child, student & patient. These are the needy parts. And then, there is your Higher Self, as depicted by the "light." This is your Power Source, where you go to replenish energy & to build your self-image & esteem. As you can realize, this is a very self-sustaining organized unit, one of healing, leading to recovery.

We communicate with our Source in meditation, both formal & informal or in the moment. The Source is always available & ready to communicate. It is here that we receive guidance while building the self-image & esteem. There are certain things we know for sure & one of those things is that we are unique individuals. There will never be another person like you ever again. You are entitled to many things, simply because you are you. These include, but are not limited to respect, love, compassion, forgiveness & prosperity of many kinds. Your Higher Self or Source is there to guide you through your life journey. It helps to make up an image for this incredible relationship. I sense my Higher Self as a benevolent Parent, always ready to show me the way.

As we sit in meditation or awareness of our Source, we also bring issues to work on. These could include a need to build confidence, to become better at self-discipline, need for specialized knowledge, need for self-respect, gratitude & forgiveness to name a few. We also take this time to honor ourSelf & our achievements, for we all have many. Most of the time in life we wait for others to do this for us, but we do not need to wait. While it's nice to hear these things from others, you are no longer needy. You are no longer a victim. You take care of You. From now on forward, you are responsible for taking care of yourSelf, just as you would care for a child of yours & this how your Source cares for you, for you are the child of your Higher Self or Source. You are valuable. This is how self-image & esteem grows.

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

Bicycle Riding to the Source

In most life experiences, we get into trouble when we are hanging out solely with our "immature Self." This goes double for dealing with the many aspects of disorderly eating or addiction. Sometimes it seems it's just the emotions we employ & how we think in their presence, but remember, to the subconscious mind, all thoughts are goal requests, acting like radar & pulling aspects of those desires towards us. Suppose you're in the supermarket & the smell of donuts permeates the air. The immature Self senses the opening & starts moaning & groaning about wanting one. Heighened sensory images can be very powerful, especially the sense of small. If you entered the supermarket without your Mature Self in place, then the immature Self has all the power. Not what we want when dealing with addictive eating.

The Mature Self is not just about discipline, for it's much more than that. This part of the Self enhances the self-image & self-esteem, thereby forming your inner power-base. When the self-image & self-esteem are strong, it's much easier to pedal through life.....less falls & less skinned knees.

When we are working to change disorderly or addictive eating, we need the Therapeutic or Mature Self to be ever present.We also know this Self as the Parent, Teacher & Doctor. The immature Self is comprised of the child, student & patient. We needour Mature Self to be strong & powerful & filled with hot, passionate desire. We need it to be assertive & to stand very tall in the face of opposition.

Those of us who have been engaged in fighting unhealthy weight or eating issues know how difficult it can be to stay on the bicycle & to keep it from wobbling on scary terraine. It's seems so easy to fall off, sometimes finding the Self wanting to fall off, as strange as that might seem, but if it's happened to you, you do know what I'm talking about here. Usually in the moment of the fall, the immature or addictive Self arrives, making it difficult to get back on & pedal forward. Remember, immature Self is both creative & incorrigable, loving weakness & always ready to jump in with compassion for the injuries, eager to share it's backpack of bandaid excuses. On the other hand, the Mature Self has a completely different agenda following any fall. The Mature Self is about courage, responsibility, discipline & persistence. This is not a willy-nilly Self, but one brings strength, self-respect & power to the moment.

As you come into heightened awareness, it will be easier to notice your immature Self. In the past, it was probably successful in hiding from you, but not any longer. You have chosen to see it & this is a very good thing to do. Once it is exposed, it can be healed & then brought into the desired goal with good discipline. In fact, you will want to encourage your inner mind to show you even more immature aspects of your personality.....the more you see or become aware of, the more you can heal & the more powerful you can become at riding your bicycle, perhaps taking paths that you have never explored before. Let me share some ways to go about doing this & at the same time show you how to stay energized through your daily rides.

But first....NOTE TO NEW READERS:

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

PEDALING THE DAILY PATH

In previous blog/workshop entries you built a few Pods on your path. Later on I'll help you to construct even more of these, but for now, let's talk about how you transport yourSelf between the Pods. For this, you'll be riding your "bicycle." Even if you don't know how to ride one, in the practice of Interactive Self-Hypnosis, you do ride very well. In fact, you're impressed with how well you ride....perfectly balanced with lots of power in those legs, truly propelling you forward. You are happy & delighted with your talents & strength. Sense that now.

Of course, there are pebbles, even some stones on your daily path. This is normal & natural, so you are accepting of them, actually gaining confidence as you navigate your bicycle through them. Yes, it does take more energy, but this is of little concern because you have an ongoing energy source to refill yourSelf. Let me show you where it is. I'll pedal my bicycle ahead of you, so follow me down the Path to the right. At the end you will see a big light, just like the powerful sun. There is a chair there for you & a guest chair for me. Park you bicycle over there & come sit down with me. Make yourSelf comfortable. Tilt your eyes slightly upward, closing them after you read these instructions. You can sense the power of the light as it touches your head, your face & enters your body. This is your Source...your HigherSelf. It's desire is to refill you for your life journey. The more frequently you come here, the quicker you will be able to refill, because you will never be "on empty." Empty desire or energy puts you at risk for immature activities. Remember, the immature self is motivated by weakness.

In the next blog/workshop, I'll invite you to open your mind to more Gifts from your Source, thereby building your self-image & self-esteem.

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

Parenting the Immature Self

Earlier we touched base with the importance of INTENTION & DESIRE. It's logical that if you want to achieve something, first you need to know what that is & then you need to truly want or desire it. The thing that you want is called your "goal" & the desire is the push to get to the goal. If you want to lose weight or curtail disorderly eating issues, you will have to take aim at many different goal-aspects. Not doing so will make it much more difficult to achieve your over-arching goal, whether it be losing weight, maintaining a healthy weight or managing emotional or compulsive/stress eating. This is why we're working with developing numerous Pods on the time-line. But even when Pods are super-clearly defined & the desire to achieve is present, there will be moments in time when the old, stand-by disorderly patterns will appear in full-force. This usually happens when the level of stress is high.

If you've been reading along, you will remember the image of the "circus of the world" & the "golden egg shape." The circus symbolizes stressful living & the golden egg shape is where you go to separate yourSelf from the stress, but also to be in direct communication with your HigherSelf. When you are present in the circus, or stressful life experiences, your level of desire tends to break down. Your HigherSelf, on the other hand, has the direction, stability & power that you need in these moments, but in order to access it, you must have open communication.

But first....NOTE TO NEW READERS:

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

ENTER THE IMMATURE SELF

When disorderly eating behaviors are present, the immature Self is usually front & center. It's possible that you may not have been properly introduced to your immature Self, but if you just stop & listen to your words or thoughts, you will be able to identify this part. If you have ever spent time with a teenager, you will be able to identify the adolescent values & goals, with the teen pretending that these are adult approaches to life, which of course, they are not. The immature Self does not want to change the many lifestyle areas that need to be changed in order to go towards health. In fact, there may be little interest in health, or at the most, the interest is simply "lip service". Disorderly eating usually means that there are many areas that are in disarray. This, of course, makes the immature Self more defensive, looking for excuses at every corner. The presence of this immature part of the personality is usually the reason for procrastinating about getting started with bringing order to disorder. Just think about the average teen's room & you'll get the idea. The desire & motivation to put things in their place is usually not present.

So, what now? Well, obviously you are not going to leave the future status of your health to your immature Self! You might have done that in the past, but remember, the past is past & now is now. Your future is unfolding on your time-line & you are the writer, director & producer, not your immature Self. You are the Parent, not the child or adolescent. Just the fact that we are bringing this "knowing" to the light, will make a difference in what happens next. The immature Self is no longer incognito & you truly get it. Just getting it will make living inside your Pods much easier, but sometimes it still isn't enough. When stress gets high, the immature Self attempts to take back control, pushing you, the Parent Self. If you have children, then you have experienced this. You know what it is to throw your hands up in the air, simply giving up & giving in. But, once again, that was the past & now is now. You have your HigherSelf who will take over for you while you recover.

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR HIGHER SELF

Communicating is not something you do just when the going gets difficult. This would be tantamount to having a great friend or mentor, but only being in touch during difficult times. It's important to practice this special kind of communication. Like anything else, the more you practice, the better you will get at accessing this important part of yourSelf. In fact, you can do it in any moment you choose, for the HigherSelf is always present. It's just like making a phone call. You have the desire or need to phone someone & so you get your phone & call the number. You are quiet & focused. You tell the person on the other end why you are calling, perhaps asking questions or relating something. Then...you listen to what the other party has to say. Go ahead & practice this right now.... Make it real for you. It truly isn't complicated. As for mySelf & what I teach my clients....we're in touch with our HigherSelves at least six times a day & then some. The regular "calls" are programmed throughout the day & are called "fractionation", meaning that the day is broken down into parts. Sometimes the call is just about wanting to hear the breathing of the HigherSelf....a grounding or centering exercise. Other times it is for something more specific. However, one never has to wait for the next fractionation. If, for some reason, the immature Self is trying to take over, that is the moment to make the call! You are never alone!

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

HouseWork

Pods give us a place to organize, self-discipline, as well as to motivate. It is here, within their walls, that we clean & clear disorder & as well as bring in new choices. Pods save us decision making time & for most of us, that can mean a lot. Pods give the different areas of our life, including our goals a home, a place to live & to grow. Every goal has many parts & it's not uncommon for certain parts to have their own Pod homes. In the last blog/workshop I invited you into my breakfast Pod, one of the most important Pods on my path, for it was in this area of my life, that disorder disassembled the rest of my day, almost ruining my life.

In my own quest for balanced eating, I decided to build Pods for each meal, as well as for snacks. I also have specialty Pods for eating out in restaurants, as well as socializing around food. I have Pods for food shopping & food preparation. The reason I place so much focus on the habits surrounding my eating is because these very habits took me to the door of the killer diseases. While my habits are much better now, I still keep the Pods for motivation & self-direction. Their interior decor has changed over the years, but I still have some of the same pictures on the walls.

Pods are like little rooms or houses. They don't stay clean & orderly by themselves. This means "inner housework." Oh no...!! More self-work? Yes & why not? We're talking about your life, not just for today or tomorrow or until you fit into those jeans in your closet. That's not what this is about. The reality is that if you do not get your ducks in a row, you stand a very good chance, just like I did, of developing one of the killer diseases. And, if you are a parent, you are also responsible for your children's Pods. Trust me...I can read your mind. "My kids will never agree to this." "I can't do more than I'm doing." "I'll think about this, but this is not a good time to make changes." "I'm too stressed to address any of this."

Let's step back for a moment. If this is what you believe, then this is what you will receive. That would be fine if this were only about your jeans, but it is not. I'd like to suggest that you practice a little future-paced imaginology here. Relax & bring yourSelf inside your physician's office. The mood is a bit grim. You can feel it. You are being handed the results of some tests, either for yourSelf or a family member. The words you hear are somber."I wish I had better news for you. If only you had changed some of those things we talked about last year. It could have made all the difference, but now, there is nothing much that can be done." Now, bring yourSelf back to the present & take a relief breath. It's time to do some housework...

But first....NOTE TO NEW READERS:

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

PRIMARY OR DEEP DIRT

Anyone who ever cleaned house knows that there is a difference between deep dirt, surface dirt & clutter. When we enter a new Pod, we may be surprised to find out that it really isn't new. Take my breakfast Pod as an example. I've had breakfast habits from the time I was a child. If I look around, I can find all of them. My childhood breakfasts were about what my mother gave me to eat. I can still taste the hot, grainy cereal & looking forward to summer when the cherrios box would appear. In those years I deplored hot cereal. Eggs were for Sunday only.This had nothing to do with cholesterol, for no one ever thought about that in those years. Eggs were special & were always counted. It was in these years that I developed a deep love of cheerios & can still taste them, even though I haven't eaten them in decades. If my childSelf was to do the shopping, there would be several boxes in my cupboard....just so I wouldn't run out. I'd eat them for breakfast, for an afternoon snack & have a big bowl before going to sleep. This is an example of "primary or deep dirt." There is a rule in my breakfast Pod regarding cereal. The only one allowed is steel-cut or Irish oatmeal...it holds the blood sugar stable & is high in fiber.

I have plenty of "deep dirt" areas, much of it primary, meaning that it comes from way back in my life. Here's a glimpse at some of mine. Perhaps we share some of the same dirt. Donuts, especially jelly with powdered sugar, waffles, pancakes, chilled chocolate covered donuts & left over pizza. As I entered my teen years I started to skip breakfast & had a candy bar in the middle of the morning, preferably a frozen milky way that was a bit soft, but still cold. Notice how special some of these choices were. " These foods & I had & still have a special relationship. That's a part of the "deep dirt. As I entered college & nursing school, I still skipped breakfast but started drinking lots of black coffee. By lunch time I was a starving, jittery mess, but would only allow myself a small lunch, UNLESS I binged. That's another Pod history of "deep dirt."

SURFACE DIRT & CLUTTER

Lighter or surface dirt tends to appear when life is disorderly & lack of planning has slipped in the door. For example, if I ran out of my healthy breakfast choices, especially the steel oats. It takes a good half hour to cook them & if I'm not paying attention, I may run out. I certainly could substitute an egg or make a small omelet, but it's usually on those days that the "deep dirt" returns, suggesting that I just forget about breakfast & grab some coffee on the way to work. This is an example of how something so simple, yet so important can fall apart & how the subconscious mind can be pulled into the "dirt" by those pernicious emotions. Another kind of surface dirt that comes to bother me is a lack of appetite in the morning, especially if I've binged the night before. Now you can begin to see how everything is connected & how easy it can be to fall back into disorderly eating.

In the next blog I'll clean up some of these areas hypnotically, so you will get the idea.

( continued in next blog/workshop)

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

Interior "Pod" Decorating

In the practice of Interactive Self-Hypnosis we work within specialized images or FRAMES or PODS that help us to contain a goal or activity. These are extremely useful, especially if a particular goal has many parts to it. Eating issues & addictions always fall into this category because there is so much to orchestrate. What's interesting about PODS is that they are connected to each other by the "over-arching goal", thereby sharing positive energy, success & motivation. Let me paint the picture with some clearer colors. In your mind's eye, notice a series of separate small buildings or PODS sitting along a path. Each POD has it's own name of address, for example breakfast, lunch, dinner, exercise, snacks, etc. The sky above is labeled "healthy weight management." That's the over-arching goal. As you enter each separate POD, the focus in only on that particular building, for example "breakfast." With the focus being only on this meal, it is much easier to deal with what needs to happen here. Once you are finished in this particular area, you can go on to the next....& ....your success will attach itself to you. You then enter the next POD with heightened positive energy & motivation. Today, we'll work on decorating the interior of some PODS, making them independent subconscious mind programs.

But first....NOTE TO NEW READERS:

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

INNER DECORATING

While everyone's Pods will be different, I highly suggest that you place your most important lifestyle needs in place on the Pod Time-Line. In addition to the suggestions above, I have Pods for shopping, managing foods within my home, including alcohol, restaurant eating, daily exercise & socialization in regard to food & drink. How the Pods are decorated will depend on what kind's of self-discipline you choose for yourSelf. Obviously, my decor may be very different from yours because my disciplines will vary from yours. Also, you may find yourSelf redecorating, especially when you find out that you have set your expectations a bit low for yourSelf. This is because you might have failed in the past, but most likely that was because your planning was faulty.

Once your Pods are in place, it's important to know how to work with them in order to creatively activate your subconscious mind. Here's a mind exercise that I utilize for mySelf.

MIND EXERCISE

Take a moment to relax deeply. Remember, you want to slow your brain waves, turning off & releasing all stress chemicals. This is a centering exercise, making yourSelf ready for new mind programming. Each time you enter a Pod, you are re-etching a new subconscious mind program.

Outside each Pod is a chair. I ask you to sit in the chair, inviting stillness to enter your mind & body. There are many ways to do this. A simple technique is to breathe from your lower belly, just as if it contained a balloon of any color you desire. I like to sense my body being gently pulled down by magnets. You also might like to employ your "Golden Egg." When you are ready, enter this particular Pod. For sake of discussion, let's enter my breakfast Pod, remembering that yours may be different. Sense that you are now inside. It helps to look outside a window. This will deepen the focus, making it easier to program the subconscious mind. The table is set with the very healthiest breakfast foods in the right proportions. Go ahead & mentally sit down with me. Feel the table, the utensils, the dishes, cups, etc. I invite you to taste my foods, noticing that you can enjoy them, even if they are different from what you usually eat.

When you are finished eating, I'll direct you to look at pictures on the walls of this Pod. Here is a picture of me at my healthiest weight. The numbers are written on the frame. I show you how to "tap tap" on the frame & now....the me in the photo is speaking to us, telling us how wonderful it feels to experience this healthy body & mind. Let's visit some other photos. There is one of mySelf of next month & one of next year. I rather like the photo of my oldest Self who is very healthy....still exercising with plenty of energy. All of these photos are motivators connected to breakfast only. Of course, similar photos will be found in the Pods for other meals. I also have a picture over here of my emotional children, all healthy & energetic. These are positive emotions that share my life. We have a wonderful time together. You might notice that everything in the Pod is about me & my health. This is my life & I get to choose how to manage it. My Pods have nothing to do with anyone else & no one else enters my Pods. These are private & personal areas. When it's time to leave, we do so with respect to the Pod, showing gratitude. Notice there is a space between the exit door & the entrance to the next Pod, just like houses in a neighborhood. We take some time to relax & breathe, before heading forward to our next focus area.

( continued in next blog/workshop)

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

Introducing Pods & Habit Review
originally posted: June 23, 2009

There are many parts to planning. In the last blog/workshop I invited you into a simple, self-hypnotic planning session. Today I'd like to address another inner technique that my clients & I find very useful. It's an inner organization tool that I call "daily pods." It's a great way to add definition & self-discipline to each separate area of life practice. The more detailed your self-discipline, the higher your level of success, something we all chase after. Let me give you a bit of introductory background.

Each morning you wake up to your daily life. most of your activities will be on automatic pilot. you might not even remember doing some things, such as brushing your teeth, drinking coffee or driving to work. Automatic pilot is a trance state that can be very useful for what is considered the habitual activities of life. After all, it would be exhausting to be aware of each & every moment of life that transpires. As you go through life, many new activities are placed on automatic pilot as their level of proficiency is raised. Learning to driva a car is a good example. In the beginning, the student driver is hyper-aware of all aspects of driving. Once experience sets in, the driver may not be aware of driving from point A to point B. Of course, the subconscious mind is programmed to awaken the individual if danger is noted, or if the journey becomes rough for some reason.

NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. LINK

A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

IMPORTANCE OF REVIEWING HABITS

Sometimes we forget to review habits, leaving them in their original automatic pilot mind file. It's a good idea to review these mind files, even before wake-up calls. Sometimes we get sloppy in our self-care. Habit review is a form of prevention, keeping you free of bringing complication into your life. Not paying attention to automatic pilot files can get you into trouble, especially if new information is needed, or if the direction is off-course. Keep in mind that habits are re-etched in the subconsicous mind each & every time they are performed. Some are very deeply ingrained, perhaps originating in early childhood. Some habits are triggered by emotional crayons, often as stress releasers, even if they are unhealthy. Smoking, sugar, food addiction, bingeing & alcohol fall into this habit category. Of course there are other habits for managing stress. Look around & see if you can notice some that belong to others. Compulsive gambling & shopping are two common ones.

It's especially important to review habits, especially those that are related to health outcomes. Once you begin to look in a focused way, many will come to your attention. Some may apppear innocent, even silly, but that is an illusion. Take flossing your teeth for example. If you do not pay attention to consistently flossing well, not only can you lose teeth, but ongoing, sub-clinical infections can lead to serious & even life-threatening diseases.

There are additional benefits to paying attention to already formulated automatic pilot programs. These programs already have a level of self-discipline in place that has been ingrained through continuous etching or repeating of the habit. Ingrained self-discipline is like gold waiting to be discovered. You are now ready to capture this gold through the use of PODSS. Pods are very special interactive self-hypnotic images that encourage the subconscious mind to participate in your life discipline.

INTRODUCING PODS

Pods are like rooms that hold the particular discipline or activity. These can be automatic pilot activities or those that are especially important for initiating a lifestyle change, or for enhancing health & performance. They are particularly important for the management of disorderly eating & addictions. Health & performance Pods can include breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, teeth care, exercise, water, meditation, to name a few. When you set up a Pod & then work with it, your subconscious mind sees this as a very important focus & will work with you by sending creative suggestions to your consciousness. Your subconscious mind will program for change, bringing forth details that might have slipped through the cracks. You may experience some Eureka or serendipitous moments.

( continued in next blog/workshop)

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

Planning Hypnotically
originally posted: June 22, 2009

If you wanted to go on vacation, first you would have to decide where to go. Then, you would visit the place in your "mind's eye", most likely reviewing the smallest of details, even if you have never been there before. You would also eyeball obstacles, finding ways to climb over them...especially if you really wanted to go. So, why then, would it be different when deciding to "travel" to a healthy weight? Unfortunately, most people who decide to lose weight, simply say "I want to lose weight" & then spend little to no time working out the plan. It's as if the decision alone should be sufficient for success, but that's not the way the mindBody works. Just like with the vacation, the desire must be there followed by a strong commitment, then a plan has to be designed, as well as a review of possible obstacles with a plan for over-coming them. Then there needs to be an additional plan for inner & outer motivation to keep you going over the years. Years??? Yes, years & then some. It's always best to bring out the truth....unless you never want to be finished with this particular life project.

How come some plans work & others don't? To my mind, planning should never be done "on the run." In fact, no serious planning should be done in this way. You are a very important person & your health should be paramount. If it isn't this is the time to ask the question, "Why isn't it?" For myself & for my patients, all planning is accomplished through self-hypnotic suggestion. As the plans are being orchestrated, the subconscious mind acts as a powerful assistant, not only helping in the design, but planting them as we go along. Just a side-note here; while the book I'm writing is focusing on obtaining & keeping a healthy weight, scale issues do not stand alone. What I mean by this is that having a healthy weight means living a completely healthy lifestyle & in so doing, other areas of your life will be changed as well....of course, for the better.

NOTE TO NEW READERS:

This experiential blog/workshop is based on my new book, "How Many Cookies Will It Take to Make Me Happy?" If you are new to my writing, you might want to read the earlier mini-chapters. They are available on FaceBook, The PublishersMarketPlace & at the following link. Remember to scan down to find the earliest chapters & work your way up. LINK

A bit of background.... we are working with creative Interactive Self-Hypnosis imagery, planting suggestions directly into the creative subconscious mind as you read along. What appears like a story is a series of self-hypnotic sessions, designed to bring about desired lifestyle changes. The inner mind is creative & rather child-like, loving to play with images, especially when they are emotionalized. Just like the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well-planted mind images, can be worth hours of therapy. We can actually change or motivate in 1/200th of a second. So come along & look forward to some lifestyle-changing events.

SELF-HYPNOTIC PLANNING

Where do you start? Actually, you start at the end. For most people this is a rather strange place to begin, but remember that the subconscious mind works backwards. It sees the "end goal image" & then works to develop the plan to reach it. I'm going to take you into one of my planning sessions with mySelf, so you can better understand how the mind works in this regard.

I'll begin by relaxing deeply, making certain that I won't be disturbed. All time spent on mySelf is preserved time & is always honored. This is a matter of self-respect & is extremely important to the subconscious mind. This is about elevating my self-image & self-esteem. Remember the affirmation "I AM." To the subconscious mind, that underscores my value & sets the stage for what I expect in the way of help with my planning. I only expect the best.

I'll work with an image I designed many decades ago of mySelf at my ideal body fat percentage & lean body mass. I place those numbers on my mindScreen or on my imaginary table. I do have an ideal scale weight number as well, but it did take me some time to choose a healthy one for me, the reason being that I was so poorly educated about scale weight, that I had always picked numbers that were too low. This caused me to lose valuable lean body mass & led to decades of yo-yo weight issues. So, now the numbers are in place & an image of my healthiest Self is coming down the Path & is now sitting directly across from me. We are joined by my Highest Self & my Therapeutic Self. These parts of me are energized by my Highest Power or Universal Self. Your choices will depend on your own personal beliefs. The reason I bring in these parts of mySelf is to truly empower me on the deepest levels. This is important work. It has to do with the quality of my life...today, tomorrow & up the future path. It also impacts the lives of my family & as I always say, we do share our lives with others.

There are many images to utilize in planning. Remember that planning is fluid & so there will alwyas be both old & new plans on the table. The ideal healthy Self already knows the plans & what has "already" been edited. These are now being presented to me. Since I'm a very visual person, mySelves know to take me directly into the plans, as if we were back in the "theater of the mind." When I first started managing my health purposefully, the images we entered were different from those we'll enter today. However, many of my very first planning images are still active. The shopping plans have remained the same for decades. Come in with me & I'll share parts of these with you. There I am, in my home with an ongoing shopping list that lives on my fridge. I am showing you an additional list that lives in my daytimer. Sometimes I think of something during the day, but then transfer those items to my main shopping list. I don't purchase anything that isn't on the list. If I see something in the supermarket that I might like to purchase, my rules are that I don't purchase it until the next week. This has kept me out of compulsive purchasing & dealing with the tantrums of my "inner compulsive, demanding childSelf."

Today I'm being invited into some new planning areas. One has to do with changing breakfast foods. My physician has suggested that I integrate a whole grain & so I'm being shown how to get this cooked & ready for the week. In the past, I'd make excuses that I didn't have time, etc. While this is just a small plan, it will have a big impact on my health. I've thought about doing this for some time now, but now the plan is set & it's so easy for me to change. I'm also going into another planning area...this has to do with my being out of the office for many meals during the week. I'm being shown many possibilities & I'm actually participating inside those images now. My helpers are by my side...

( continued in next blog/workshop)

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

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

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

Send author a comment on this post

Re: Learning Self-Hypnosis - blogRADIO - Mountain Climbing (October 13, 2008)

Good post. It's interesting that you mention the impostor syndrome.

Over 20-years ago, I saw Paul Newman in an interview say that he always had the
feeling that someone was going to come through the crowd, take him by the arm and
say, "It's over Newman. It's all been a mistake. You're coming back to paint
houses."

When he said that, I immediately understood the feeling. Later I learned that he was
describing the impostor syndrome. The Impostor Syndrome is the feeling that you are
not as smart, talented, or skilled as people think you are. It's the feeling that you
are a fake and have been getting away with something and are about to be found out.
It affects 70% of adults and is especially prevalent in high achieving women.

I've spent the past two decades living with and learning about this common
condition.

The Impostor Syndrome is a fascinating topic and the subject of my new book, "The
Impostor Syndrome: How to Replace Self-Doubt with Self-Confidence and Train Your
Brain for Success."

You can download Chapter One, "Paul Newman and I" at
http://www.JohnGraden.com

Re: Clearing Clutter... Inside & Out (December 16, 2007)

Hi Elizabeth:

When I was a behavioral health case manager for a major hospital in Florida, I had
the occassion to view many peoples homes; and many of these people were very ill.
Some of them were more able than others, to allow the clutter in thier lives to fall
away or be removed.

A fellow nurse case manager once said to me: "I can't be sick or die yet ..... I
haven't cleaned my house" Sometimes I wonder, if I became ill today - would I
feel okay having others judge the inside of my house and closets and drawers?

Perhaps the greatest gift that we can give to ourselves is simplicity and a clean
clutter free environment. There is a freedom and a quality of energy enhancement in
room that is free from excess or accumulation.

Freedom from accumulation allows the psyche to be less burdoned as well. It is a
shedding of a skin and a purging of the unused, that will release us. Release is
freedom and freedom is like the breeze through a tree - flowing and natural.

Releasing objects and clutter give me a place and a space to be more natural and
flowing.

Christina Hyland R.N. PhD

Re: Working Through Self-Anxiety (December 5, 2007)

Thanks for this post. I have the added challenge in my life of anxiety and panic
disorder. I just heard yesterday that I need to go back after a mammogram for further imaging, due to a "thickening" in my breast. Talk about feeling
overwhelmed by anxiety! I take a lot of comfort from your writings and it's especially helpful to see your
personal fears and concerns shared via the journal entry.
May we all live in saftey, be happy, be healthy and live with ease, Suzanne

I enjoy each and every one of your blogs. Particularly
today, because the ability to speak up for ones self and set boundaries is empowering and enlivening. We are all faced with particular situations when we hesitate or second guess ourselves .... "should I speak up or just hold the peace" There are great lessons in becoming assertive in a balanced sort of way! I thank you for reminding me this morning in your blog.

I too am an R.N. and a certified hypnotherapist. I am new
to hypnotherapy, but have studied holistic psychology for
quite some time.

Again, I really enjoy your work! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Christina Cameron Hyland R.N. Ph.D.
www.globalintegrativehealth.org

Re: mindART - Working with Imagery (August 26, 2007)

Eliz, I am glad that I am able to comment on this post. In my ongoing psychotherapy,my therapist has told me that it is good to put down ANYTHING that I FEEL during the course of the week. Examine it, see if I can make changes and objectively observe any results be it positive or negative. Today is Tuesday August 28 and I have a session with him at 10:00. I am very excited in this session in such a way that I have created a scenario where I can be on the offensive or the defensive. I mention both of these areas in a positive way. I am sure that you are familiar in hockey,the position of goalie and that of either the offensive right or left wing or center. If I am the goalie I am trying to stop the offensive from scoring. I use this analogy because(I love hockey in the first place)which I think has a very positive outcome on what happens during this analogy that I play out in my mind. Trying to find ways to either stop the offensive from scoring or...if I am on the other side of the puck I am trying to find ways to score. I mention both of these scenarios because of the different things that come up during the course of life. Writing this down is helping me greatly. Attaching scenarios that I am familiar with that affect me in a positive manner I believe helps me a great deal. I thought I would mention these two images because I have been using them as of late and I also LOVE to work with imagery. This is a bit of a lengthy comment here but I am very upbeat on results. Thanks for this post.

Re: Inside Secret Eating (July 5, 2007)

That could have been me! How do I break this habit?

Re: The Creative Body Connection (July 26, 2006)

Seeing everything in a drawing like you put it in this article here makes me get in touch with everything a heck of a lot more clearly, Eliz. It appears that I have PLENTY of work to do since I have been diagnosed with GAD. That was about 5 years
ago and it has been going up and down with me as well as my seizures ever since. I also believe that I am identical with Jennifer here in that I do not talk about what is bothering me, ever, except to a psychotherapist that I see weekly. I am sure that I have plenty of points within me that are storing a hell of a lot of tension. It is no wonder that I am trying to deal with all my s

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht has been working & writing in the field of mindbody health, self-hypnosis, addictions, creativity & optimum performance for over 30 years. She is a graduate of Rockland Psychiatric Center, SUNY; Graduate Nurse Intern, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University, N.Y. She is President & Program Designer, Sarasota Medical & Sports Hypnosis Institute, Sarasota, FL & online at http://www.hypnosis-audio.com & http://www.sugar-addiction.com

She has written & produced +350 audio CD programs for adults, children, students & athletes, as well as several books in original Interactive Self-Hypnosis. She specializes in the food connection to addiction, optimum health & performance. She is the author of Sugar...the Hidden Eating Disorder & How to Lick It, as well as Beyond Disorderly Eating...the Truth About Sugar & Binging & How to Stop