Getting over a loved one using Faster EFT

This is a good article from Robert Smith and how to use tapping to reduce the negative feelings of grief. We all grieve differently and for different lengths of time; there is no right or wrong answer.
If you want to move on, but for some reason it doesn't feel right or you just don't know where to start, this article may just be what you are looking for. 

Losing someone you love is a heartbreaking, traumatic experience; and it’s one that can be near to impossible to fully recover from. The fact is, it is unavoidable; and no matter how you feel you cannot change the reality of it. The truth is that the feelings of grief over the loss of a loved one cannot change the event, but they do have an effect on you and those around you. Finding a way to overcome these feelings as soon as possible will help to give you the strength to reach a place where you are able to honor your loved one in place of grieving them.

FasterEFT can help you to make the changes very quickly and effectively; and in addition to using this technique it is helpful to acknowledge and remind yourself of certain facts:

The Effects of Grief

1. If you have lost a loved one, your grief cannot bring them back or undo the event.

2. Grief is a stress state that puts the body into “fight or flight”. This means that while you are feeling grief, blood is being pumped away from your organs to your extremities (to run away or fight), your heart-rate is increased, your digestive system is not working effectively, your body is not healing as fast, the cells of your body are receiving molecules of the stress hormones in place of nutrients, and the activity in the prefrontal cortex of your brain (where your cognitive thinking takes place) is reduced.

While the body is designed to survive in this emergency state for short periods of time (as long as it takes to escape a predator), long-term fight or flight states can cause damage and disease as well as affect genetic expression. For more information on the details of this, read: How Can Emotions Affect Physical Health.

3. While you are in a state of grief, since the activity in your prefrontal cortex has been reduced, your cognitive thinking is impaired. This means that you are unable to think as clearly, communicate as effectively, see solutions, process information, and make objective decisions as you can when you are in a normal, balanced emotional state.

4. Those around you are heavily impacted by the way you are feeling as it naturally affects your choices, decisions, behaviors, responses and communication.

5. You are unable to really honor your loved one with love, appreciation, peace and happiness while you are in a state of grief. The sooner you are able to move out of that state, the sooner you will be able to think of that person with pure love and joy, minus the negative effects.

If you feel it may be disrespectful and uncaring to cut short the grieving process, read:How Long Should You Grieve After a Loss?

How to Use FasterEFT to Get Over Your Loss

Having realized the importance of spending as little time as possible in the state of grief over the loss of a loved one, it’s time to use the technique to get yourself through it as quickly and effectively as possible.

Step One

Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and focus on the feeling of grief. Focus on how you feel about the loss of your loved one. Notice where you feel that feeling in your body, and notice how strong it is. If zero represents not feeling it at all, and 10 represents the feeling being very strong, how strong is that feeling for you right now? Just notice it.

Step Two

Now, using two fingers, gently tap the following meridian points while focusing on the feeling of your fingers on your skin and saying the phrases.

– Between your eyebrows – I release and let this go now

– Beside your eye – It’s okay to let it go now

– Under your eye – I don’t need it anymore, and it’s safe to let it go now

– Just below your collarbone – That’s right, just let it all go; and I’m safe as I’m letting it go now

Step Three

Grab your wrist, take a deep breath, blow it out, and say “Peace”. Go to a peaceful memory and enjoy the feeling of that for a moment. In fact, it is even more effective if you go to a peaceful or fun memory you have of your loved one. A time you spent together that was fun or funny is ideal.

Step Four

Now, go back to the feeling of grief; and notice what’s different. Notice if the intensity of the grief has changed in any way. Notice any sensations in your body. Just notice what’s still there.

Step Five

Go back and repeat Steps Two through Four until the grief has completely gone and has been replaced by your positive feelings and memories of your loved one.

Keys to Remember

These are the key points that will help you to recover as quickly as possible:

1. Your grief, while natural, is doing nothing to change the situation. It is not doing anything that will help you to move forward.

2. Although it is natural to feel that by getting over your loss too soon you are showing disrespect to the person you’ve lost – think, for a moment, what they would prefer. If they love you, they would not want you to suffer. If your places were switched, would you rather they suffer as you have been; or would you rather they focus on the wonderful moments and fun you had together, remembering you with love and joy?

3. Do not stop tapping until you have completely cleared the feelings of grief and loss and they’ve been replaced by feelings of love, peace, gratitude and other positive feelings.

4. From now on, whenever you think of your loved one, if you feel any feelings at all that don’t feel good, use the FasterEFT process to tap them out in the moment. Don’t let them grow – the sooner you tap them out, the easier it is. The idea is to replace all sadness and grief with the good memories you have of your loved one.

Remind yourself that your sadness and grief does nothing to change what happened, and it causes damage to yourself and those around you. And then ask yourself, how would your loved one prefer you to feel?

This article can be found here:
https://fastereft.com/blog/getting-over-the-loss-of-a-loved-one-using-fastereft/

5 Steps to Resolving Chronic Illnesses

For those who have been living with chronic illnesses and have tried everything to find relief, it can be difficult to remain hopeful. It can be extremely difficult to resist falling into depression, hopelessness and helplessness. Tiffany Jeffers and Heather McKean are two, among the thousands of the people who found freedom from chronic illnesses – using FasterEFT. While it may sound too good to be true, when you understand how and why FasterEFT works, it will all make perfect sense.

Once you start working with the FasterEFT Tapping technique, you’ll realize that you’ve stored all of the traumatic memories from your life in your body. In other words, painful and traumatic memories are represented within your body as chronic illnesses. Even the ones you consciously can’t remember – those are the ones that show up as pain and other symptoms in your body. Freedom from severe pain can bring unimagined joy in your life, but only if you apply these techniques.

Let’s take you through how Tiffany went from receiving therapy from the VA to help her live without trying to commit suicide, to living a healthy, active, fun and productive life, free from the chronic illnesses that had debilitated her. Up until October 2013 her conditions included: Severe fibromyalgia; arthritis; chronic fatigue; spinal cord and neck injury; peripheral neuropathy; IBS; asthma; cancer; clinical depression; a range of allergies; and so much more. For the full details of her conditions and how she’s healed, watch her testimonial here: PTSD I had Chronic Headaches, pain, depression, IBS, Cancer, Insomnia and Fibromyalgia.

 1. Use the FasterEFT Tapping technique to change the references held in the subconscious that result in problems in all areas of life, including chronic pain and diseases. The FasterEFT tapping technique disrupts the production of the chemicals that cause the feeling of fear, anger, anxiety or any other negative emotion and changes the meaning of that traumatic memory in the subconscious from “fear” or “anger” (or whatever that memory represents) to peace. This will then result in an automatic feeling of peace and satisfaction whenever you reference that memory in the future.

2. Once you’ve learned how to use the FasterEFT tapping technique by watching Robert’s videos on YouTube to free yourself from your immediate chronic conditions and pain, the key is to keep going. You need to take the responsibility by continuing to address traumatic memories, in order to experience complete recovery. Watch how to use the A.R.T. of Change process to address and flip subconscious beliefs that contribute to chronic illnesses. continued to use FasterEFT on her traumatic memories and other stressors.
This is how Tiffany was able to heal her physical body from the incredible range of chronic illnesses she had suffered from for so many years. This is how, two and a half years later she is still  completely pain free and the life of her dreams with her husband and children, without depending on medication.

3. Make a list of all the things you want to change in your life right now. If that seems like it a daunting task, then start by prioritizing what is bothering you the most right now. It could be health, finances, relationships or a combination. You can even split the list into different categories if that makes it more achievable.
The point is to make a list and then start going through the list addressing each one of those problems using the Eutaptics memory reimprinting process. Turn those heartaches into heart waves! Dare to dream about turning your sorrows in joy, because with the Eutaptics memory reimprinting process, it is possible, and that’s exactly what thousands of people have done! Chronic illnesses don’t stand a chance once you make up your mind to do whatever it takes to live free from pain

Read the rest of the article here:
  https://fastereft.com/blog/5-steps-resolving-chronic-illnesses/

Relaxing Sea and Ocean Waves

The peaceful waves of a crystal clear turquoise sea washing the white sands of an exotic tropical beach on a pristine, wild island in Thailand.

Together with the soothing sounds of gentle waves, this video can be used to create an atmosphere of natural peace and tranquility in your home or place of work. It is suitable for relaxation, meditation, sleeping, studying, working, yoga, etc.
Enjoy! 

Achieving Happiness Without Seeking Success Validation

We’re all used to achieving happiness from external circumstances, events, people and things. We are taught from a very young age to depend on other people’s validation to fuel our own self esteem. Whether this is in the form of compliments, awards, likes, tags, applause. It all depends on how an individual perceives his or her own success validation. True and lasting happiness comes from within yourself, where you are happy, calm and at peace no matter what is happening around you.

If you find yourself unable to resist achieving happiness by seeking outside validation, through social media and things people have written or said about you, and you feel a range of bad feelings as a result, you may want to take back the control.

Why seek Success Validation from the Outside?

There is a reason you feel a compulsion to validate your own self through what other people say and do. And once you pinpoint and resolve that, you will no longer be interested in achieving happiness by curating likes and “hits” on your social media posts. When you’re no longer emotionally affected by the comments of others and thus be able to achieve genuine happiness.

This isn’t about willpower. This is about reimprinting your mind to achieve a more sustainable model of happiness. The reason you’re hooked to seeking success validation by your social media posts, or learning more about what others are saying or thinking about you, is the same reason people do drugs, drink excessive alcohol and watch horror movies. It’s chemical.

Whenever you experience something that makes you feel angry, outraged, indignant, fearful, and any other stressed state, your brain and body are flooded with stress chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol.

This is why you feel drawn to experiences that make your body release more of these chemicals. So if getting onto social media or gossiping with someone makes you feel happy, you are receiving a “hit” of that chemical concoction – whether it’s joy, anger, fear, or any other intense state.

This keeps you coming back for more of the same for achieving happiness. In order to break that compulsion, you need to break the pattern. You need to make the conscious decision to achieve success validation without depending on that particular activity. As you do this, the “hit” you get from those particular chemicals will reduce, and so will the compulsion.

Now, in the beginning this can seem almost impossible – because your body and brain are telling you that you need those chemicals. This is exactly how a drug addict feels, so in a way, you’re addicted to achieving happiness from other people and circumstances.This will be experienced as a physical compulsion – and the conscious mind will then apply logic and reason to try to make sense of these compulsions.

You may find yourself coming up with a range of reasons why it’s okay (perhaps even necessary) to expose yourself to this stuff that doesn’t feel good. There is a way to take this compulsion away – quickly and effectively, using Eutaptics – so that you naturally are not interested in the things you know are detrimental to your well-being and your time management.

A list of ways to avoid seeking success validation:

1. Social media is a wonderful way to keep in contact with friends and family; but it can also be detrimental to those who simply can’t pull themselves away from it. Scientific research into social media addiction has shown that Facebook is the most addictive. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that it allows the user to talk about themselves.  Cut down on the time you spend on Facebook or other social media platforms. Take it slow, instead of being on social media for 5 hours a day, slowly reduce 30 mins every other day. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying social media in moderation; however, if you find it’s affecting how you feel, or impacting on areas of your life in a negative way, it’s time to make a change. Fortunately, there is a way to break this addiction fairly easily and without needing to go “cold turkey”.

2. Does achieving happiness mean needing to comment or reply to comments on videos, posts, pictures or anything else? If you find yourself unable to resist reading stuff that other people have written, and feeling a range of bad feelings as a result, you may want to take back control. This is not about willpower and dragging yourself away; there is a reason you’re feeling this compulsion, and when you resolve that, you will no longer be interested never mind feel emotionally affected by the comments of others.

Read the rest of the article here:
https://fastereft.com/blog/achieving-happiness-without-seeking-success-validation/

You Are Special!

Calming video of Cabo San Lucas

Sometimes, I imagine myself sitting on a beach, the warm sun bathing my face as I listen to the water greet the shoreline. I instantly feel the stress leave my body as the water recedes and I feel at one with the earth, with myself and it feels good. I go to my happy place a lot and videos like this help me escape.  Enjoy!

Draw your future and take control of your life

Go get your journal and start mapping out your future...it's a small step that can change the course of your life!

Healing Music to Let Go Of...

Let Go Of Mental Blockages, Remove Negative Energy, Unwanted Emotions & Stress
417 Hz - The revelation of truth allows the listener to release and convert the appearances of difficulty and setbacks, bringing order and inner listening to new heights of personal self-transformation. 

Enjoy!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy1NOTIzSJQ

How Gratitude Helps Us Get Better at Dealing with Change

This article written late last year by Theo Koffler, has a wonderful message and one that  resonated with me. It was written post election last December and he put a spin on the negative feelings that most of us were feeling.


He wrote:

These past few months have been more tumultuous than usual—I think we’re all ready for 2016 to wrap up. The election has left reverberations of fear, distrust, and uncertainty in its wake. No matter what political views you hold, you can likely feel the sense of disorder hanging over the nation, and even the world.
Unease and negativity are not always entirely bad. Good can emerge from acknowledging your feelings and the airing of your opinions. There’s inherent value in in working through discomfort. Fear and uncertainty are often the first steps along the path toward personal growth. Disagreement and challenges may be uncomfortable, but unpleasant emotions that accompany growth often prompt introspection and have the ability to widen one’s worldview.

 The work begins with you. This holds true in situations both big and small. You do your best and still fail to get the promotion; you try to persuade your family to have a holiday meal at your home but lose out to someone else; you feel sabotaged or burdened by a health issue. Disappointment and frustration are big feelings. It’s natural to feel negative in the face of a situation that is less than ideal, but eventually within every obstacle, there is an invitation to heal and cope. The problem emerges when you get stuck in the negative feelings and find yourself unable to accept things as they are. Spending the majority of time in the negative feeds your darker thoughts. It gives them strength and allows them to take root and develop into grudges and deep-seated pockets of anger. The thoughts you feed are the ones that grow. If you focus on the problem, the problem gets bigger, and before you know it, you’re a giant ball of anger, frustration, and sadness.

Train Your Brain to Notice the Good, Too

So, how do you find resolve? How can you train your brain to choose a path of neutrality or balance— especially after a prolonged negative outlook? The answer is simple but not easy: you turn toward your authentic feelings as there is always a measure of pain. You are called upon to meet your roadblocks and challenges with acceptance, not to turn away.
Start by acknowledging every emotion without judgment. Spending all your time on what doesn’t go your way overshadows the experiences in your day-to-day life that bring you an appreciation for life. Name these moments, and call them up in your mind. According to UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, contrasting the present with negative times in the past can make you feel less unhappy and enhance your overall sense of well-being. Emmons postulates that an attitude of gratitude is essential especially under crisis conditions as it builds up a psychological immune system that cushions you when you fall. It can help you gain perspective on life and can help you cope with crisis.

Four Practices to Foster Gratitude

Changing your thought pattern isn’t easy. If you find yourself triggered by a negative event, stuck in a negative thought loop, or unsure how to begin, try some of the following tips:

1) Keep a gratitude journal. Each night before you go to bed, take a moment to write down three things that made you feel grateful throughout the day. Robert Emmons’ research demonstrates that keeping a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks results in better sleep and more energy.

2) Set an intention to pay attention. Take time to acknowledge all the encounters that make you feel grateful.

3) Engage a family discussion. If you are a parent with teens, start a family
conversation by asking: What obstacles are you facing? Or, share a time when you were open to a new experience and you benefited from it. Having your family members express their present moment experiences can help set the stage for more connection, appreciation, and compassion.

4) Start a class discussion. If you’re an educator, gather your students in a circle and ask them to think about 10 things they’re grateful for. After a few moments of reflection, engage them in a structured discussion by asking: “Share one person that you are grateful for in your life and why.” Student-driven conversations can help build an appreciation for their diverse experiences as well as their common humanity. **

It may not come easy at first, but the more you express your thanks and gratitude on a daily basis the more natural it becomes. So even if it feels forced, stick with it and commit! Trust me, nothing can stop the flow of life and apparently it has joy, suffering, delight and happiness.

The link to this article can be found at:
http://www.mindful.org/gratitude-helps-us-get-better-dealing-change/?utm_content=buffer95b69&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The Acupressure Points Tapped in FEFT Explained

A Brief History on Meridian Points

Robert G. Smith developed FasterEFT but the acupressure points used in this healing technique has been used for thousands of years. However, their purpose in FasterEFT healing serves a slightly different purpose compared to purely acupressure therapy, that we will explain later on.

Acupuncture is very popular in Chinese Medicine, ancient and modern. It is only in the recent years that this type of healing has begun to become more popular in non-oriental cultures. In the west, scientific researches has been conducted over time to map its efficiency.

While acupuncture requires needles, acupressure does not, it is simply applying light to moderate pressure on the meridian points of the body to alleviate physiological issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds the complete understanding about these Meridian Systems and how they affect the body, not just in addressing pain and body issues but most importantly, how they affect vital organs. Manipulation of these points if done properly can contribute to overall physical and mental wellbeing of an individual.

In FasterEFT we only manipulate 5 main points, which are:

The area between the eyebrows

This area is also known as the acupressure point GV 24.5, some call it as the “third eye point.” The benefits of applying slight pressure in these point is to alleviate mental stress, calm an upset stomach, deals with frustration, headaches and mental congestion.

The area beside the eye

This acupressure point is just beside the eye outside the eye socket, close to the bone but not exactly the temple. The point is also known as the G1, it helps with temporal headaches, migraines, conjunctivitis.

Under the eye

This point is the bony surface under the eye. This acupressure point is said to relieve headaches and other stress related issues originating from strains of the eyes.

The point under the collarbones

This point is known as the Lu1, but more popularly known as the Letting Go acupressure point. This point is used to release anxiety, depression and overwhelm. This is a very important point in acupressure therapy and known to be very effective in letting go of grief and loss.

The wrist acupressure points

The wrist contains several acupressure points. In FasterEFT, it is just grabbing the wrist and not suggested to apply pressure on each of the points. It is accompanied by the phrase “Peace” while slowly breathing out. Points TW5, P6 and TW4 are local pressure points touched when you grab your wrist, they are known to treat a syndromes and disorders relating to the hand and the arms, but their purpose in FasterEFT is to end a tapping cycle as you completely let go.

The following is the tapping visual guide:

You can find the visual guide and the rest of the article here: 
https://fastereft.com/blog/acupressure-points-tapped-fastereft/

Today Is the Best Day: A Year of Living Mindfully

 Alex Matthews wrote this article a couple years ago, but it is as relevant today as it was then and the content is timeless. We can learn a lot from being present, in the moment, not by sailing through life in a mindless stupor as we conquer our "to do" lists.

Alex writes...
I never met my maternal grandfather — he passed away before I was born. He was a wise, kind man. A devout Christian who also encapsulated, beautifully, the concept of mindfulness — of living in the present — with the saying “Today is the best day.”
My mother has often said this to her children. For her, as well as my sister and me, it has become a sort of mantra, something to aspire to, to live by.

“Today is the best day,” means appreciating the here and the now and all the goodness that this contains. It involves acknowledging that we do not live in the past or the future; we occupy the present, and so we better darn well make the most of it. Happiness is not a destination you will reach, but something to be accessed now. We can so easily dwell on what we don’t have, or what we want but haven’t got yet (or had, but lost). “Today is the best day,” means letting go of those preoccupations, turning the focus on what you do have, on your life and its bounty today.

I’m not making a list of resolutions this year. What I do hope, though, is that I appreciate, every day — or even most days — that Today is the best day — and that I manage — again, on most days — to do the following:

Make the effort. While some of life is just about showing up, beautiful things happen — connection, fulfillment, growth and learning — when you you take responsibility and show initiative. This applies in all facets of your life — socially, on a sports field, at the office, at home.

Let go. (Or, as Taylor Swift would say, Shake It Off.) Experiencing critical thoughts and negative emotions — anger, frustration — is natural; so is caring about what people think of you. But holding on to these emotions and perceptions holds you back; they distract you from your own purpose. Take note, and then let them go. Live your life; because it belongs to you and nobody else.

Go with the flow. Don’t passively accept the things in your life, but don’t fight the unchangeable and inevitable either. Surfing lessons have taught me that getting into a flat panic when taking a tumble doesn’t do the least bit of good — all the thrashing in the world won’t get you back above water. Rather, acknowledge your environment, understand the challenges, and then respond to them. In other words: float, don’t flail.

Breathe. Something as simple as breathing has the power to shift your internal emotional landscape and boost your mental and physical wellbeing. On an Art of Living course, I recently learnt the Sudarshan Kriya, a daily breathing meditation (with many scientifically proven benefits). In the few weeks that I’ve been practicing, I’ve found it to be an incredible tool — reducing anxiety, improving focus and helping to create a sense of balance. Breathing doesn’t make a shit storm disappear, but it does help you to step back, and weather it better. Yoga, with its emphasis on the connection between the breath and different postures, is another powerful tool to get you to breathe, bringing bring balance and focus.

Make imperfectly, rather than nothing perfectly. I sometimes have the near-crippling worry that the words I write just aren’t good enough. The worry is almost strong enough to make me avoid writing altogether (a bit problematic, as this is how I earn my living). I have to constantly remind myself that it’s OK to create things that aren’t perfect; that it’s better to create something with flaws, than never attempt something at all. When we create, the sentences that fall flat teach us as much, if not more, as the ones which sing. We grow by doing. The more we do, the more we grow. Craft isn’t the end — it’s the in-between: it’s not a product, but rather a process, and one in which there should be joy (as Srikumar S. Rao will tell you in this incredibly inspiring presentation on work, happiness and the present).

Find the original article here:
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-matthews/today-is-the-best-day-a-y_b_6406084.html

Gratitude through natures beauty

Feeling down? Having an off day?
Maybe Louis Schwartzberg is just what the doctor ordered.
Sometimes the very thing we need to lift our spirits are the things that we don't see, the things we take for granted.

Slow down, take a few deep breaths and tune into nature's beauty as seen through the eyes of someone a little wiser than ourselves...

The best chronic pain management technique

Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of stress which eventually hinders an individual’s ability to achieve and sustain a happy life. Pain, in all its forms, is the mind’s signal that there is something misaligned. The uncomfortable feeling that makes moving, coping and living difficult is often manifested as pain.

Acute pain is usually much easier to address, with the physical symptoms present, acute pain can be addressed with medical intervention and a person can recover more quickly. In terms of chronic pain, the feeling of discomfort lasts longer and can be mild to severe, often medical science has no definite answer to its cause, hence, there is no cure.
Such as in the cases of fibromyalgia and the vast spectrum of invisible illnesses that fall under the chronic pain category.

 The primary reason FasterEFT is one of the best chronic pain management techniques is because it complements other forms of therapy. It is non-invasive and will not cause any adverse side effects even if applied when you are under medication. Of course, it is always best to ask your medical practitioner.

FasterEFT’s premise of operation in chronic pain management involves the mind and how pain is produced by the mind. It is a mind and body healing modality that is proven to allow an individual manage and eliminate chronic pain by accessing the power of the mind to heal and transform itself and the body.

The following are 3 simple facts about chronic pain:

Read the rest of the article here:
https://fastereft.com/blog/fastereft-best-chronic-pain-management-technique

How memories form and how we lose them

I have been studying the brain, memories, and how our current lives are a representation of what we hold from the past. This is a cute video by TED-Ed that you may find interesting.

How do emotions have an effect on our bodies?

I love this article on the importance of emotional clearing for better health.
Ty Bollinger lists EFT (tapping) as one way of clearing negative emotions. He also quotes Lissa Rankin MD, one of my favorite authors and speakers, about not going through life alone; make sure you have support all around you.

This article supports the fact that the mind and body are one...


"The connection between the emotions and disease has been known for thousands of years in cultures all around the world. In the Bible, Proverbs 17:22-23 says: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acknowledges the “7 Emotions” that are thought to have a direct correspondence to disease states. And in Yogic traditions, the term samskara means the “subtle impressions of our past actions” and it is thought that these impressions can form into patterns that can affect health.
And now modern science is discovering in astonishing detail how certain emotions can have a direct effect on disease − and healing − in the body.

What Science Says about the Emotions

The profound effect that emotions have on health and lifespan can be evidenced by a groundbreaking series of 10-year-long studies published in the British journal Psychology and Psychotherapy in 1988. The study, which is just as relevant today, concluded that “emotional stress was more predictive of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease than from smoking.” It also found that individuals who were the most affected by stress had an overall death rate that was 40% higher than non-stressed participants.
So just how do emotions have such an effect on our bodies?
The term psychosomatic is normally associated with “imaginary illnesses.” In fact, the term simply relates to the physiological connections between mind and body. In modern scientific terms, this connection happens through tiny molecular structures called neuropeptides.
Peptides, a form of ligand, are tiny bits of protein that are produced throughout the body. They are found in hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and insulin, for example, and are key elements for life. Neuropeptides pave the way between the brain (i.e. our emotions) and the body.
When a thought triggers an emotion, neuropeptides transmit those feelings through neuropathways and extracellular fluid. Eventually these peptides will connect with cellular receptors throughout the body where they will have an impact on the functioning of body systems at all levels.
The late Candace Pert, author of Molecules of Emotion and one of the pioneers of psychoneuroimmunology, states:
“…the chemicals that are running our body and our brain are the same chemicals that are involved in emotion.”

How Your Emotions Affect Your Body

Here are just a few ways in which specific emotions affect specific bodily functions:

• A University of Arizona study found that expressing affectionate feelings towards your loved ones can lower cholesterol;

• A study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology discovered that when subjects simply recalled the situation that had been the initial cause of stress, their blood pressure rates raised significantly. Another study at the University of Maryland Medical Center found that just the anticipation of laughter began to reduce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

• A study at Loma Linda University in California found that when individuals laughed at a funny movie, the levels of beta-endorphins, responsible for mood elevation, rose as well. In addition, Human Growth Hormone, which aids in sleep and contributes to cellular repair, rose by 87%.

Emotional Clearing for Better Health

Clearing emotions and managing stress go hand in hand. Before you can truly clear emotions, you must learn how to manage stress in order get cortisol levels down. Remember, there is a direct and proven correlation between chronically high cortisol levels (i.e. chronic stress) and cancer.
When you are in a relatively calm internal space memories and feelings associated with stressful situations can rise to the surface in order to be dealt with and cleared. Here are four basic things you can do NOW to manage stress, lower cortisol levels, and clear stressful emotions so that true healing can occur:

1. Reflect on what keeps you stressed in your life and DECIDE to make a change. Divorce, the death of a loved one, finances, even happy occasions like getting married can add to the stress factor. A major source of on-going stress for many Americans is work-related. An Oxford Health Plans study found that 1 in 5 Americans will go to work even if they are ill, injured, or seeing a doctor that day. Reflect on what is causing you stress right now. On a scale from one to ten, how would you rate this stress? Decide if you want this number to go down. Then make a commitment to yourself and your health by determining to make a positive change towards lower stress overall.
2. Consider tried and true modalities to manage stress. Once you have decided to lower stress and clear emotions for health, decide on some modalities that will help you get there! Consider EFT Tapping, reflexology, tai chi, massage, chiropractic care, meditation, prayer, journaling, exercise, and eating healthier. These are all things you can do STARTING NOW to lower stress responses and add a little more self-care to your life. Remember that self-care equals emotional care! And you don’t have to do them all. Simply choose one or two modalities, then give it a try. Even taking 10 minutes on your lunch break for a leisurely stroll can sometimes do the trick.
3. Don’t go it alone. Study after study has shown that those who have the support of a caring group of loved ones have a better chance of coming out of a cancer diagnosis than those who “go it alone.” And according to Lissa Rankin, MD, “Individuals who attend religious services regularly live 7.5 years longer than those who never or rarely attend religious gathering.” So whether it is a church group, a cancer support group, or a group of loving friends, make a list of who you want on your “Healing A-Team” and the get the help and support that you need!
4. Don’t be afraid to “sit” with your emotions. As we begin to take a break from the “24/7 stress fest” and begin to make room for reflection and healing, it is natural for deeper issues, memories or events to rise to the surface. Emotions may come out of nowhere, and this is very normal. Practice sitting with emotions as they rise to the surface and always remember that no matter how bad you may feel, these emotions are coming up to be released. They won’t last forever. In fact, there is a good chance that you will feel better after the tears come and go! Studies have found that emotional tears contain high numbers of stress hormones and neurotransmitters, leading researchers to conclude that crying is one way that the body removes stress chemicals.

In a way, modern science is discovering what the ancients knew long ago: emotional clearing is part of living a healthy, vibrant life and a part of the healing process. The reward for doing the work of emotional clearing is good health all around. "

Yo can find this article here: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/emotional-clearing/?utm_campaign=emotional-clearing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=maropost&utm_content=2017-02-20&utm_term

Using guided imagery to help patients cope

 The mind body connection is so strong and the human body is nothing short of magical!

What about using guided imagery to reduce medical costs in patients. Sounds a little hokey, but research shows that the use of guided imagery as a self calming technique can in fact do what I just mentioned. 

"The mind-body connection is increasingly being explored by doctors, scientists and others. Research shows that guided imagery can help turn around the way your mind works, thus the way your body behaves. 

This week on “Take Care,” Jane Pernotto Ehrman speaks about how guided imagery works. Ehrman is lead behavioral health specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Lifestyle Medicine in the Wellness Institute, and has had personal experience with guided imagery working for her.

Ehrman was diagnosed with breast cancer 26 years ago and was told she only had a 35 percent chance of living five years. The chemotherapy made her extremely sick, and she thought to herself that she would probably feel better if she were dead.

A therapist asked Ehrman if she would like to try guided imagery to help with the side effects of the treatments and when she did, the changes she began to notice were big."

Read the rest of this article and listen to an audio explaining more here:

http://wrvo.org/post/using-guided-imagery-help-patients-cope

Why Some People Don't Heal

I have become a fan of Caroline Myss over the past several years. When I stumbled across this video, it just made sense.
Do you know anyone who doesn't seem to heal? Are they always sick, talking about their wounded past, both emotionally and physically?  They use their wounds to control situations or people around them and it becomes their only identity. In fact, they may not know who they'd be without their wounds.

These short videos will help you understand that mindset and why it doesn't change.  Very interesting!

How Meditation Makes People More Socially Responsible

Emily Fletcher is one of the world’s leading experts in Vedic Meditation and the founder of Ziva Meditation. "I am you and you are me"

The Simple Daily Routine that Will Transform Your Life

 If there was one, simple thing you could do every morning that cost nothing, that could completely transform your life, would you do it? If you could wave a magic wand right now and change something in your life, what would it be? 

In the absence of a magic wand, do you want that change enough to take a few minutes each morning to get those changes? You brush your teeth every morning so that they will remain healthy and strong; and you take a shower or bath to remain clean and hygienic; you wash your dishes (or pack and unpack the dishwasher) so that they remain clean and hygienic; you get dressed so that you don’t turn up in public in your pajamas (or worse).

This little routine is the equivalent of all these other habits you already practice every day – it takes a little discipline to do it at first, and then it becomes automatic – and the effects will astound you.

How to Transform Your Life through One Simple Routine

Take just a few minutes in the morning, before you start your day, to practice this routine. Make it a priority. Skip listening to or reading the news; postpone checking social media until later; get up just a few minutes earlier – do whatever it takes to fit this in because it affects absolutely everything else in your life.

Grab a piece of paper and a pen, sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Now, think about the day ahead, and write down the things that are bothering you. Write down what you’re worried or anxious about, write down the challenges you’re expecting – anything that makes you feel less than good.

Next, take the thing that bothers you most, close your eyes, take another deep breath, and notice how you feel about it. Notice what you’re feeling, where in your body you’re feeling it, and how strong it is. Then use the FasterEFT technique to clear and flip it. If memories come up while you’re going through this process, make a note of them, and address those as well. Don’t stop until you have completely cleared and flipped the feelings, thoughts and memories that were bothering you.

How Does it Work?

This is not about just feeling better in the moment. It’s not even about putting your mind at rest for the day ahead. What you are doing during that process is changing the original records in your subconscious that are the cause of the experiences that are bothering you.

This is more than coping better with your challenges – it is the mind-hack tool to transform those challenges, no matter what they may be.

From physical ailments and anxiety to problems with other people and difficult circumstances, what you experience is determined by what you are carrying in your subconscious. For more details on this, read: How FasterEFT Solves the REAL Cause of All Your Problems. Change those records, and you change your life.

Tips for Success

• You may find you feel resistance to doing this each day. If this is the case, it’s even more important to do it since it means you are very close to change! For more information on this, read: What You Need to Know About Resistance.
  
  
• Time is a big challenge for most people in the mornings. Prioritize this routine over everything else – even if it’s just for one week. Since it will affect everything else, it is the priority.
  
  
• You may not believe it will work. It can seem too simple to really have an impact. Why not just try it for two days. As long as you’re doing it correctly, and following the process until you flip the feelings, thoughts and memories, you should see enough of a difference in those two days to continue.
  
  
• Read: How to Change Your Reality; and The FasterEFT Technique – Step-by-Step before you start, to make sure you’re using the technique correctly in order to see the best results.

For more information on FasterEFT and how it works, read: The Basics of FasterEFT.

For more guidance on using the process, visit: Tips on Using FasterEFT and FAQ.

To see FasterEFT in action, watch the videos in the FasterEFT in Action Playlist.

Tapping and Cancer

I've known for years that chronic stress can lead to disease including cancer.  

My personal journey to stay healthy started about 15 years ago after my divorce. I knew if I didn't deal with my negative emotions, they would eat away at my body over time.

That journey lead to yoga, meditation and EFT or tapping. I've been practicing tapping since 2008 with many positive results. 

The following article on how tapping can help fight cancer is very informative and I am glad to see tapping getting the recognition it deserves!

"You may know that stress reduction is vital to maintaining health and fighting cancer, but just where do you begin to create true emotional health? Luckily, you might not have to spend hours in a therapist’s chair in order to heal the emotional wounds that could be standing between you and cancer healing and prevention.

Emotional Freedom Technique (also known as EFT or Tapping) is a fast, easy, and effective way to reduce anxiety, clear emotional blocks, and become more peaceful and focused in all areas of your life."

Read the rest if the article here:
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/emotional-freedom-technique-cancer/

Take your power back by accepting you are in control of your life!

Many times, when I sit down to write, I second guess what I want to write about.

I have never felt comfortable expressing my thoughts on paper, though it was very therapeutic once I did it.  Publishing those thoughts for people to read is a different story and it has stifled my self expression in the past. Reflecting, it has been about feeling vulnerable, being judged or feeling like I was good enough.

That is why I sometimes struggle to blog; that fear of being judged, feeling vulnerable.

On the other hand, I have so much that I want to share and express. I am passionate about the mind/body connection, helping others realize how they are in control of their lives more than what they consciously realize.

I was not the most popular in school and in a class of 500+, it was easy to get lost. 

It felt safe to stay in the background, unnoticed so no one would find something to criticize.

I struggled to be accepted yet didn't want to follow the crowd. 

I had a mind of my own but was afraid to speak it for fear of sounding stupid.

I was not stupid and I was not a victim of my peers making me feel less than perfect. I was a victim of my own thoughts, my own beliefs about what I thought they believed about me, which may have been absolutely nothing. I gave my power away because I didn't know any better at that time. 

They had their own problems, their own issues, but that didn't occur to me at that tender age. It's only now that I realize no one is perfect and we all have a story, we all have something to say and share with each other. We can learn a lot from each other if we listen more and judge less.

I am not a victim of anything other than my own thoughts. I am where I am because of the choices I have made and more so....how accountable I was regarding those choices and my attitude surrounding the outcome of those choices. My personal power lied in taking responsibility for my own thoughts, ideas and perception and not in blaming others. 

Let's commit to judging and criticizing others less and more importantly, stop judging, stop criticizing your self and stop feeling like a victim. Take your power back by accepting you are in control of your life! 

Showering you with blessings personal power! 

Cindy 

Will the New Year be a good one or a bad one?

What is the secret to experiencing a new year, a new month, a new week or even a new day?
Robert G. Smith explains....

Renewed hope can be intoxicating

pixabay.com

The new year always seems to bring with it, a feeling of renewed hope. The symbolism of saying goodbye to the past and looking forward to the new year is intoxicating, especially when the last year brought experiences that were mentally and emotionally draining.

On New Year's Eve day, I met with a group of friends. This circle of friends hold a special place in my heart. They are uplifting, non judgmental, supportive and give unconditional love and encouragement. I feel so blessed to have crossed paths with them years ago.

Meeting on the last day of the year has become a tradition for us, reflecting on the last twelve months and looking forward to the new year with anticipation. We share our successes, no matter how insignificant they may seem. As each person shares, it ignites memories in each of us sparking eager anticipation of telling our stories. We feed off each others positive energy and by the time we're finished, we realize just how special all of our experiences were. 

One underlying feeling that seems to emerge from each story is the fact that we all had obstacles, failures or losses that became the catalyst for change. Had we not had the self awareness to realize that those negative experiences lead to the changes we needed,  our stories would have taken on a completely different tone. 

As a friend reflected on her an emotional hardship, she said she surprised herself during the process. She remembered telling herself she wasn't going to "unpack her bags there" which enabled her to move forward with ease and grace. Her reflection, her attitude and her general outlook on the future were inspirational and it set the tone for the rest of us.

As I awoke today, the first day of the new year, I knew that in order to move forward I would have to greet each day with a sense of renewed hope and embrace every obstacle that lay in my path this year as an emotional barometer, keeping me on course, keeping me in alignment with where I need to be.

So today, I challenge you to let go of what weighed you down last year and emotionally release everything that didn't serve your highest good. Let it go without guilt or regret. Cut all ties with anything or anyone that is toxic to your emotional or spiritual growth
I further challenge you to surround yourself with people that inspire, uplift and love you unconditionally.

Your world will change when you change how you look at the world. 

Showering you with renewed hope and inspiration in 2017!