Increase Your Value By Taming Your Internal Alarm System

In last week's blog, I talked about our outdated internal false alarm systems that cause us to feel stressed at work and in relationships. This week, let’s discuss how the mind forms these triggers. Awareness of the process can help tame the alarms.

The brain has a powerful, infinite storage drive in the subconscious, creative part of the mind. It contains habits, beliefs, knowledge, memories, and health regulations (let’s call them “programs”) aimed at our protection and creation of success, personally and professionally. It does not “think” logically, rationalize or discern. It creates through association and metaphors (abstract processing).

Sometimes, when we have an unpleasant experience, the subconscious mind will make associations and form protective mechanisms to help us avoid such unpleasant experiences. For example, if one receives bad news while eating an apple, the mind may wrongly associate the negative emotion and bodily reaction to the news with the apple.  Next time you eat an apple, it sends out warning signals through an allergic reaction, even though the apple is harmless.

Until age 10-12, we only have a subconscious, “right” brain (no discernment). Our main focus is on learning how to be human and to get along with those who take care of us (survival). The mind absorbs beliefs and rules that serve this purpose. The beauty of this part of the mind is that it adopts rules and creates programs that can run without requiring us to be consciously aware so that we can focus on learning or doing other things. For example, when we learn a language, it will absorb lessons and allow us to speak automatically without thinking about it so that we can turn our attention towards building on that knowledge.

It operates like cruise-control: Until you turn it off or switch the speed, it continues at whatever speed is set. The only difference is that it sometimes sets a speed. Problems arise because many of the rules that are adopted at an early age (before developing discernment) get translated into false beliefs about one’s self.  And they sit in storage and run on auto-pilot until the mind is instructed to do otherwise. 

Pragmatic Example:

A common auto-pilot rule among ambitious, successful individuals is: My value is based on what I produce and/or can do for others. It’s based on external factors that measure my outward performance.

This may have been good motivation as a kid to get good grades, to get into college, etc. (and it may sound good on the surface to an employer); however, as an adult, it can wreak havoc on your life and negatively affect your work performance. If one’s value is based only on performance/external values, then one has to perform all of the time to feel valuable. And, when focusing on external factors, the mind often ignores internal guidance, which is what truly increases one’s value. Obviously, having fun, sleeping, exercising, and relaxing can be stressful or non-existent if one operates under this program.

This simple false belief can cause a conflict between the part of you that wants to perform outwardly and the part of you that wants to care for yourself. Ultimately, this belief will lead to burn out and chronic health problems that serve to bring one’s attention back to the self for a resolution. The stress associated with this false belief also affects one’s ability to think clearly. This affects performance, ironically sabotaging the motivation to succeed.

Our value helps us to survive because it allows us to make money and connect with others. If one believes one’s value is based only on outward performance, then any conflict or challenge that surfaces at work or in relationships can trigger the archaic survival system. This causes physical and emotional stress.

You can retrain your system by making it a point to consciously become aware of your thoughts when you are feeling stressed in your career or relationships to see what illusions about yourself may be the cause. Also, when you discipline yourself to relax in this circumstance, you retrain your system to associate a calm state and clear mind with it instead of stress. This can lead to happier and inspiring, solution-based thoughts about how to proceed.

Quick Relaxation Tip: Calming the Adrenals

·      Place one hand on your forehead. (Ever see someone put there hand on their forehead when they say, “Oh my God!” over something shocking? Intuitively, they knew these points were relaxing.)

·      Place the other on your stomach, just above your belly button.

·      Take some deep breaths and let yourself relax for a few minutes.

Further Assistance:

By communicating with the subconscious to clarify the truth around one’s value, one can retrain the alarm system so that it no longer goes off in these unnecessary times. In a state of hypnosis, one can engage in this form of communication, and the subconscious mind is eager to follow the suggestion because success and security are its main concerns. We are in a state of hypnosis most of the day: It’s just the state of being tuned into the right, creative brain. If you feel like you’re “in the zone,” you’re in a hypnotic state. In a Bridgenosis® session, we first uncover the outdated rule(s) that is conflicting with the client’s current goals. Using hypnotherapy, I help clients get “into the zone” around a topic so they can guide the subconscious to update its programs.

Bridgenosis® LLC www.bridgneosis.com (202) 709-6013 laura@bridgenosis.com

Dismantle Your Internal False Alarms

The other night my fire alarm went off while I was away from home. It didn’t stop sounding, so my kind neighbor had the fire department come to potentially rescue my dog and our building. They broke my locks and inspected the premises only to find a faulty fire alarm, which they dismantled for me. It brought great comfort to know that my home was safe. My neighbor and I exchanged phone numbers and keys so we could quickly help each other if there was ever a need, and my fire alarm and door locks were replaced.

This got me thinking about the built-in false alarms that nearly all of us have within ourselves, which cause us to feel stressed (anxious, angry, frustrated, guilty, worried). There are times when our bodies and minds respond to conflicts or situations that appear to be difficult by going into survival mode through a stress response, even though the situations are not matters of life or death.

This is because our systems are still evolving. When humans were first on earth, we were living in caves and relied on our instincts to keep us alive. Our systems were designed to activate a stress response when danger was approaching so action could be taken for protection. In this process, one part of the system recruits energy from the rest so that instead of focusing on work, relaxed living, nurturing, or joyful activities, we focus on surviving and the adrenalin pumps through us, urging us to act quickly or paralyzing us so we can’t act (hence, the times when you just can’t think of a good response or make a response).

We now live in a time in when most of us are in cushy offices and fairly safe places (I’m excluding obvious professions that involve danger.), yet our survival mechanisms are kicking in on a daily or weekly basis even when physical survival is not at risk. Indeed, an email or a phone call or even a slow car in front of us preventing us from being on time may trigger this response. Our systems equate conflicts or challenges related to our jobs with survival since we make money with our jobs, which is needed for survival. Our systems and minds don’t naturally stop to think about whether survival mode is needed to help you succeed in a particular instance. That time could be wasted if you truly needed to survive.

The problem with this is that when we are in this mode, we cannot focus and think clearly. Our creative intuitive minds are blocked. And, yet, in order to solve most of the challenges that come before us (communication, conflicts, work challenges, etc.) in our jobs, we must be relaxed so that we can think clearly and devise wise solutions or see the solutions that may be unfolding.

Even the times when we get slowed down can contain wisdom that we may not see. Those who were late to work on the day the Twin Towers were hit and survived certainly know this wisdom. There are other times when our schedules get rearranged, and we meet someone or learn of an opportunity that we would have missed if we were not slowed down. Solutions and insights coming through inspiration arrive the same way: It’s important to slow down.

I was reminded of this importance of slowing down when I received one of those clever tickets in the mail recently.  Feeling angry was my first response. Then, I stepped back and thought about how fast I had been moving lately in certain areas of my life: Perhaps too fast to see the larger picture. (For the record, I’m not promoting those cameras, but I got the message.)

I’ll talk more about how the mind forms triggers to set off false alarms in my next blog, but for today, I leave you with a tip on how to help reverse this habitual survival stress response to non-life threatening events. To go back to my original story, this will help you to change your fire alarm and locks and increase your communication with your internal compass so you can receive clear guidance and inspiration to create solutions to the challenges before you. In essence, you’ll be exchanging phone numbers and keys with your internal guide as you learn to relax into your day.

TIP: Next time a non-life threatening event triggers a stress response (any negative emotion, anxiety, frustration, blood pressure rising, feeling of urgency), discipline yourself to stop from taking action or freezing tightly. Take a deep breath and try this:

Relaxing Harmonizer: 

• Place your right fingers in a notch putting your fingers tips together and put your finger tips gently on your left side of your body, under your armpit (find a tender spot and put it there).
• Place your left fingers in a notch and put them on your sternum (center of your chest).
• Leave them in place for at least one minute (can go longer if you have more time; longer is better).
• Then switch sides for 1 minute or more.
• Do this one as many times as you can per day to help reverse the habit (go for at least three times per day or at least any time you feel that stress response); it’s also great to do when falling asleep or when you wake up in the morning. Not only will it calm you, but it increases your ability to metabolize more than just food: emotions, life events, information, etc. So, you might also try doing it after you eat. 

Bridgenosis® Happenings:

·        Read about Bridgenosis® sessions involving creative conflict resolution, stress-reducing techniques, and hypnotherapy for individuals and organizational leaders at www.bridgneosis.com or contact Laura Palmer with questions at laura@bridgenosis.com or by phone at (202) 709-6013. In-person, phone, and SKYPE appointments are available

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Revitalize your mental drainage system with these tips to think clearly and have a productive day.

A friend was at my home recently helping me with a house project and he noticed one of my plants. He said, “this type of plant loves to be soaked with water, but you have to drain it,” as he picked it up and showed me the solid bottom trapping the water.  “If you don’t let it drain, the roots will rot from too much water.” The plant was in a container with holes sitting inside another container without holes and insufficient room to drain, so, I pulled it out, soaked it, and placed it on a plate to let it drain.

My friend was right. Two of the shoots rotted a few weeks ago so I had to pull them out and throw them away.

This same natural principle can be applied to understanding the mind and our energy systems. Many of us thrive on new ideas, being with others, life experiences, e-mail, Internet, social networks, etc.  We are constantly watering ourselves. Although many minerals and gems can be found in this watering process, it can be hard to see them at times when there is so much at once.

I physically experienced this a few weeks ago as I repelled down the middle of a waterfall in Costa Rica. The water splashed in my face so much that I could barely see. I had to close my eyes for a second to get my focus, feel my feet on the rock and pull the rope so I could inch down away from the heavy flow portion of the waterfall. A sigh of relief and rush of joy ran through me as I moved away from it but could still see it and appreciate its beauty from a short distance.

Sometimes we get so inundated with information, activities, and opportunities, it makes us feel pressure in the upper part of our body since we receive much of the information with our heads (eyes/ears/nose) and begin to synthesize it in our minds. The resulting pressure of anxiety or a feeling of being overwhelmed results when the “water” gets trapped without a built in drain mechanism to allow for free flow.  All of the sudden, we have a whole list of “to-do’s, I must’s and I have to’s” and feel stuck in the now wondering how we will get them all done.  

Underlying this pressure is often the thought, “I don’t have enough time.” How many times a day or week are you saying this to yourself deep down or to others? It doesn’t feel good when you think that there’s not enough time, does it?

Our society thrives on the underlying illusion that there is not enough time, perhaps because we feel pressure to do it then or to do it all, but when you close your eyes and inch the rope down a little, away from the raging part of the waterfall, can you look out at the beautiful view and see the bigger picture that there truly is enough time? Breathe in this truth, and exhale the scarcity view because time is not really the problem.

When you take a moment to soak in the bigger picture, remember there are many of these moments…one right after the other. Just because you are aware of a number of great ideas and opportunities doesn’t mean that you have to do all of them in the moment that you learn of them or ever.  Write them down and take five minutes to relax so you can determine a priority list that feels good and not pressured. Pay close attention to how you feel as you consider each one and commit to the ones that feel good in the time that feels right.

Then, intently focus and be in the moment as you do them--one at a time. Move those feet down the rock and inch down the rope, one step at a time. Be open to the possibilities and opportunities along the way, creating a balance between focusing on what you have and know and allowing new information and thoughts to enter.

Our cells hold thoughts, so we feel bad when we think negative thoughts that conflict with our true selves (that know that all is well), and we feel good when we are in alignment with our truth. This is also why we can exercise or stretch (and a number of other physical activities) to clear our minds…to drain the excess “water” in order to cultivate a strong root system.

Since it’s not always convenient to exercise when we need it most (perhaps sitting in front of our computers), here are three tips to get your drainage system working efficiently:

1)    Since we can change our systems and how we feel by changing our thoughts, take time to deeply inhale in the truth that says “there is enough time” and exhale out any thought that time is scarce. Continue for one minute or more.

2)    Since we can change our thoughts by clearing our systems, try clearing your belt flow (we often hold emotions and old negative beliefs in our solar plexus, or the area above your belly button), which causes a blockage in the drainage system, resulting in anxiety or pressure up top; hence, the thoughts/energy can’t move down:

a.     Put one hand on your solar plexus (above the belly button), one hand over that hand, so your arms wrap around your mid-section rib area.  Bring your elbows into your sides, hold tightly and then hold your breath for as long as you can before getting dizzy. Release your breath and the hold.  Repeat three more times.

                                               i.     You should feel a little energy in your feet, which signals that the “water” is draining.

                                              ii.     You should also feel lighter in the chest area.

                                             iii.     Notice that you can think much clearer.

b.    Do this as many times as you feel the need--every day--to create a habit of processing life as it relates to your ideas, opportunities, commitments, situations, conflicts, etc. It helps you to LET GO.

c.     This can also help relieve headaches and muscle spasms and improve memory, as it sends oxygen to the cells of the body.

3)    Clean out your e-mail inbox: sort the e-mails you need to keep in folders and delete anything you no longer need.  Only save pending items that you plan to address in your inbox or special folder. This will give you focus and is one step that will help you see that there is indeed enough time. This process is very clearing on many levels. If you can’t do it in one sitting, set aside a little time each day and notice the relief that comes.

Want to learn more?

Hypnosis works effectively to help you replace old clogging illusions that no longer serve you with positive thoughts. Hypnosis is not as mystical as some people might think. In fact, you are already doing it on your own for most of your day. Any time you tap into your creative mind, you are in a state of hypnosis—likened to being in the zone or day-dreaming.

Hypnotherapy merely helps you to tap into your creative brain around a topic or goal, replacing illusions with more positive, productive thoughts, which become a creative reality. It is important to engage in this type of process in order to move forward and create a better and lasting root system that is healthy and supportive.

To book a session, call (202) 709-6013 or email laura@bridgenosis.com.

How Valentine’s Day can make your life and your profession more efficient, fun and fulfilling…when you look at it in this light.

Take a moment to think about Valentine’s Day and notice what emotions and thoughts come up for you. If you feel complete joy and peace or even neutrality in your heart, then bask in it and read on (after the first bullet points) to remember why you feel so good and how you might apply it to other areas of your life. If you feel tense, annoyed, irritated, angry, sad, anxious, guilty, neglected, embarrassed, worried or fearful, keep reading.

Valentine’s Day is a day centered on romance (although many of us grew up giving Valentines to our friends and family as well). Most of us associate opening our hearts and Valentine’s Day with connecting to others and outward expressions of love. If you are feeling any negative emotions about this, it’s difficult to feel love/peace or express love, so let’s dissect it and shift to a better-feeling place, from calling for love (which is what we do when we aren’t feeling it) to being love (which is ultimately the only way to feel love).

Here’s a list of thoughts that may be interfering with your ability to feel good:

·      Sad or Fearful: I don’t have a romantic relationship now, so this may mean I’m unlovable or worst yet, I may never find my “one." My valentine is far away.

·      Worry or Tense or Anxious: I’m in a new relationship, and I don’t know what to get them…worry thoughts about not giving enough or giving too much emerge.  What if I like them more than they like me or vice-versa?

·      Embarrassed or Neglected: That you gave and they didn’t give you anything. Either because they forgot or didn’t feel ready to acknowledge the holiday with you or they ran out of time. Or, maybe you forgot, so are embarrassed. Or, maybe they planned to break things off…

·      Guilty or Irritated or Annoyed: I’m in a dying relationship, and I feel bad about ending it so close to Valentine’s Day  (before or after), and I’m not feeling a strong connection but feel an obligation to buy that token gift because they are a good person. You love them still but not like the way you once thought. You wish it wasn’t V-Day so you could ignore this fact.

·      Angry: You forgot and you are mad at yourself. You only got a card. You wanted roses but got flowers or chocolate. You have to work late or your Valentine has to work late so you can’t do anything special that day. You wish they would treat you like you are special year around…Valentine’s Day is stupid since we should be doing this every day or because it is a waste of time.

·      Bored: Maybe deep down, if you’re really honest, the holiday bores you because you’ve been there and done that and you and your partner are pretty comfortable with each other. You kind of wish you felt a little more passion about the day.

If any of these thoughts (or similar ones) resonate with you, stop thinking them for a moment. The truth is that what happens or doesn’t happen on Valentine’s Day only has the meaning you give it. We all have the capacity to feel love or inner-peace at any given moment, even every moment, if we choose. If you wait for something particular to happen (someone else to do or say something, to achieve a goal, to receive something, to give something, to say or do something, to meet someone, to leave someone, to start something, to end something, to be something, etc.) before you can feel that inner-peace, that “I’m awesome just because I feel like feeling awesome,” that joy for just being, then you may be waiting a long time. Or, perhaps you are only allowing it in spurts as the conditions are met.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t have goals, visions, desires, outward connections, actions, etc. These external factors play a role in living a fulfilling life, but they are not a source of joy/peace. We have to go inward for that, which is explains why a day at the beach, a vacation, or a run along the river can result in peace and joy.  It’s not the location or action that causes us to be love. Rather, we reconnect with who we really are when we strip away our outward interactions during these moments, and then we find peace. Take the time to do this where you are…don’t wait for a vacation or time of day.

Since peace comes from within, whatever your situation is today, allow yourself to feel peace. Stop with the excuses. Take a second to consciously breath deeply and remember that truth-that you have the capacity to feel love anywhere, anytime, around anyone. Connect to the infinite part of you that is not limited to time or space or any of the thousands of conditions/excuses we have created. The truth that trumps the scenarios above:

·      Of course you are loveable. What does having a Valentine have to do with that? Love yourself however you are today.  Be confident as you look around at all the happy couples that it’s possible for you to create that too, but don’t wait for it to feel good. Feel good now. Feel good even if you can't be with your Valentine today.

·      So what if you like someone more or they like you more? It doesn’t have to mean anything when you know that we all have this capacity to be and feel love for ourselves regardless of what gift is bought. Take a breath and let your intuition guide you to the best course of action. 

·      Be proud of who you are and give yourself some attention. When you give yourself attention, it will be impossible for you to feel neglected by someone else’s lack or embarrassed.

·      Trust that the other person can find love the same way you can. Don’t play into anything different. It’s a trick. It’s an illusion. Guilt can be such a thief…reach into your heart for a solution. V-Day doesn’t have to be for romantic love. You can show appreciation if you still feel some however feels right. Trust what feels right. Do that.

·      Gain control by remembering the true source of love and then allow yourself to feel it. Nothing else matters. Commit to doing this regularly, and you won’t feel angry even if you forget to cross your T’s.  Let go and forgive yourself for not doing this a moment ago so you don’t waste another moment. For those holding your breath because you think that if you start to feel good, something bad will happen, just let go. Feeling good is never the cause. 

·      If you turn inward regularly to feel good, you will never feel bored. 

Take this relaxed feeling and apply it to any topics or tasks that are before you. Notice the thoughts that come to you in this state. Notice the inspiration as you allow a new perspective to take hold. Remember that we all have this capacity to feel good by being the love that we want and that if we make it our overarching goal to be love, then there won’t be a need to call for love. Notice how efficient we become when we aren’t wasting our time calling for love because we are committed to feeling love no matter what.

To learn more ways to feel good wherever you are:

·      Schedule a Bridgenosis appointment or complimentary pre-consultation by calling (202) 709-6013 or email laura@bridgenosis.com www.bridgenosis.com (In person, SKYPE, and phone hypnotherapy appointments) 

Is Guilt (often coupled with fear) the Guilty Culprit Causing your Life or your Business (or professional life) to be less efficient?

Many people are quick to deny that guilt (or fear) plays any role in their decisions because it is a stealthy emotion, flying deep below the radar for most of us. Thoughts tied to this negative emotion commonly interfere with our ability to hear our own intuition, which is one's true internal strategist. By raising our awareness of these thoughts, we can clear a path to our own wisdom and make more efficient decisions. This article will introduce the notion, give an example, with more to come, and provide a tip.

We place a lot of value in what we can do and say, and most of us get anxious, frustrated, annoyed, guilt-ridden, fearful, or some combination, when we can’t do anything or say anything to control a situation. We then begin acting from this negative emotion trying to make it better, only to see it worsen or stay exactly the same. Sometimes we do this without even realizing it because it is a habit for us to tune out whatever we are feeling. But when we tune out our feelings, we tune out our best resource: our intuition.

We forget that there is more at play in the world, in our lives, in our situations than what we are doing or saying, and we ignore the power in our knowing. As I introduced in my Dec. 20 article, we may not be able to explain how or why we know what we know (and either ignore it only to regret or follow it only to be surprised, at each decision point of our day), but we each undeniably have a “knowing” source that, when followed, allows for an efficient, joyful, successful life.

Sometimes, our intuition about a situation is to do nothing or pause but our subconscious habit of doing or someone else’s coax to act (often saddled with guilt) leads us to question our own guidance and often turn against it, only to learn later that we should have followed it. It’s good to remember that there are many resources, options, and ways to deal with many different situations aside from we can do ourselves.

Sometimes these other alternatives are better than what we could do or say, and sometimes something is in the pipeline that we can’t yet see: an introduction to someone new, a new opportunity, a new technology, another situation that we don’t physically see or consciously know the details about yet. In this case, pausing allows for more information.

Thus, there is value in just “being” at times and letting your own silent guide advise you on how to act, waiting for the picture that is bigger than you and your actions to play out before you.




Example: As a labor and employment attorney (and even now as I advise business leaders), I learned of many situations where employees were hired even though the hiring person “knew” or had a feeling that it wasn’t a good option. Two common reasons:

1) Guilt: Maybe they liked the person or knew something about their financial situation and wanted to help them.

• The applicant’s intuition advises not to take the job but the fear that he/she won’t find the right job drowns out the guidance. Giving into fear of not finding the right job, he/she is not tuned into his/her intuition because intuitive guidance feels good (not scared) and can lead him/her to the perfect opportunity, if followed. We often have trouble letting go of the fear and negative illusion of failure and trusting that things can turn out well, allowing time and attention to allow the positive outcomes. We often look to prevent what we don’t want instead of focusing on and creating what we do want.

• The employer is buying into this fear and belief that there isn’t anything else for the employee, so the employer feels bad by rejecting them (not alluding to cases where the decision is obvious, of course.) In these cases, the employer doesn’t have anything concrete telling them that it’s a bad decision. Rather, it may look decent on paper and the person may seem nice enough, but the employer “knows” better and ignores it because the guilty/fear thoughts are drowning out the intuitive ones.

2) Fear: The employer is concerned that it won’t find a better employee. Again, the fear is an indication that this belief is an illusion. The intuition to not hire the person so that a better one can be hired is truth, but often this subtle guidance doesn’t come through loud enough because of the negative habitual thinking, the habit of not trusting one’s own instincts.

Create success by: a) becoming aware of your emotions, b) tuning into your intuition to reach for the knowledge that is associated with peace or neutrality and c) trusting that guidance and following it. This leads to far more efficient decisions saving time, money, and often heartache, especially when conflicts (sometimes even lawsuits) emerge.

Quick tip on how to do this: There are many ways, but one quick way is to first, start paying attention to how you feel.

1)   When you feel negative, perhaps anxiety or another emotion is lurking in the chest area, place your hands on your heart center (chest or thymus area) and take very deep breaths, filling your self with air slowly from the stomach to the collarbone.

2)   With each exhale, allow yourself to breath from the heart. With each one, notice the heart center opening.

3)   Notice what it feels like. It may be warmth, contentment, peace, calming, confidence, etc. Write down what you feel so you can remember it.

4)   Then, start by asking neutral questions to obtain a sense of what it is like to receive information from your intuition. It may be a whisper. It may be very subtle, yet clear. Questions, such as asking if the guidance is there and then asking if you can trust it are good ones to begin. Write down your answers.

5)   When you feel comfortable that you are tuned in, ask about the topic at hand. If you start to feel a negative emotion, go back to breathing from the heart until you feel open and neutral again. Remember the guidance you can trust will feel neutral or positive. It will relate to helping you achieve your big picture.

6)   Be sure to focus on breathing and relaxing around the topics that are creating emotion, rather than merely turning away from the topics or ignoring them. By deliberately relaxing around the topics and opening up your heart with this breath, you open yourself up to the wisdom and guidance that your intuition holds, which ultimately will lead you to feel more confident around the topic.

7)   Feel free to write down the thoughts that inspire you during this process.

8)   Send gratitude to this internal strategist, aka your intuition.

I welcome discussions about this topic, so feel free to comment anonymously or share stories. I also welcome the opportunity to help you become your own expert in this process by helping you to spot and delete the illusions that keep you from believing in and following the advice of your internal strategist. In doing so, you create more efficient and joyful success in your business and in your home.

December 29, 2012 Blog: List-Making Trick for Creating Positive New Year's Resolutions

December 29, 2012 Blog

List-Making Trick for Creating Positive New Year's Resolutions:

You probably know that your right brain is the creative part of the mind, but do you know how to effectively communicate with it so that you are creating what you want? Your creative mind, which connects with the intuitive mind, only understands positive terms and will edit out “no, not, never” only to create what you are focusing upon. For example, if you say you do not want to be poor, your creative mind translates this to a desire to be poor. Instead, state your goal in positive terms of what you want: “I want to be prosperous.” You can create a habit of turning negatives into positives (turning contrast, or conflict or what you don't want, into expansion of what you want instead) with this easy list-making technique:

1.              Pick a topic you want to improve (job, friends, home, boy/girlfriend, etc.). 

2.              Make a list of everything you dislike about your current topic.

3.              Make a separate list on a different piece of paper of everything you like about your current topic and then add to it all of things you want in your ideal topic in positive terms (make sure you are only listing what you want).

4.              Then, take the negative list and translate all of the dislikes into what you want instead and write down the "what you want instead" on the positive list (created in Step 3). When you have gone through the entire negative list, burn, flush, shred, or, in some safe manner, destroy it.

5.              Keep adding positive factors to your positive list as you think of them. (Keep that positive list on you).

6.              As you continue to encounter or think of what you don't want, write it down on a negative list, transfer it to the positive list by turning it into what you want instead, then destroy the negative list. Letting go of the negative list quickly is key to letting go of what you don't want so you can allow what you do want.

 7.              Continue working between the positive and negative experiences to create what you ultimately want. And, be confident and trust that you can find what you want. You will find that your current situation transforms as you attract different behavior and/or different people and/or different opportunities.

December 20, 2012 Blog: Unlock Your Sacred Gift

December 20, 2012 Blog

In the words of Albert Einstein, "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." As 2011 comes to a close and 2012 fast approaches, it's natural for us to reflect on where we have been and where we want to go. Remembering the sacred gift that we can't deny exists within each of us is key to creating success in 2012.

Recall the times that you have felt a positive, inspirational urging to move in a certain direction (can be big or small) without being able to see a clear path while simultaneously considering a more logical option that seemed to have a clear path but did not feel good.

And, then recall the times that you went with the "logical" path that perhaps was perceived by others to be "less risky" because of the seeming certainty in which it would unfold and remember the regret you felt in not listening to yourself.

Now, recall the times that you went with your intuition and took an opportunity or step of any magnitude because it just felt right, felt good. And, remember how it unfolded in a way that seemed like magic. I have yet to meet someone who regretted following his/her intuition, and I have yet to meet someone who didn't regret ignoring it.

Trusting in that intuitive part of you that holds more information than your conscious mind is aware is key to creating success and happiness. Innately we are born with this trust, but we lose it as we absorb the illusions that society promotes, gradually chipping away at our capacity to believe in ourselves, to believe in our capacity to positively create by honoring and trusting our sacred gift, the intuitive mind.

In 2012, consider raising your awareness of the illusions you have stored in your mind that keep you from trusting your intuition. They can be spotted by the emotions that are attached. Next time you feel inspired to move in a certain direction (it may be as small as a response to a phone call or as big as a career move) but feel a negative emotion such as fear or guilt creating doubt in whether you should do it, check in with yourself to see exactly what thought is behind the emotion. It may be an old emotion from an old context that does not apply in this new situation that is holding you back. It may be a belief that served you as a child that is blocking you as an adult.

Humans are generally wired to automatically and unknowingly store beliefs, associations, habits, emotions, and memories in the right, subconscious part of the mind, but, just as we have to clean out our closets and drawers now and then, it is necessary to de-clutter the mind. Make this a regular part of your 2012 and consider using Bridgenosis to turbo-charge the process and make it fun by helping you to quickly spot, remove, and replace illusions with your own internal truth and guidance. Create a solid habit of trusting your sacred gift so you can create success and joy in your life in 2012. More tips and ideas to assist in this process will be included in future articles.