EXPERIMENT: Day 8 of Tapping - Profound Results!

Well, I've been tapping for eight days on food and body issues. My greatest area of challenge was going to be night time eating and I'm just blown away with my experience thus far. I hadn't even received Carol Look's program yet, "The Key to Successful Weight Loss: How to Conquer Emotional Overeating." Just been tapping on my own, making tapping my FIRST and ONLY line of defense with food and body issues - throwing out all other weightloss strategies. No plans, no calories, no diets, minimal scale usage. My plan: Tap on anything and everything that brings up stress, doubt, worry, concern, anxiety, or discouragement regarding food and body and TAP.
I've been tapping first thing in the morning for the day ahead, right before dinner as "preventive medicine" for potential eating triggers, and as needed for cravings (maybe only 3 times in 8 days).

The following statements capture the emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that have been my areas of struggle:

Even though I'm afraid I'll lose control with night time eating, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I think I can't go out to eat and still lose weight, I deeply...
Even though the thought of giving up sugary treats feels like a loss to me...
Even though I think I can't ENJOY my meals and lose weight, I deeply...
Even though I think that successful and permanent weight loss means that I will lose the pleasure and fun of food, I deeply...
Even though I don't trust myself to do what it takes to lose weight and maintain it, I deeply...
Even though I'm afraid I'll sabotage my progress, I deeply...
Even though I don't trust myself to LET myself have the body I want, I deeply...

Well, amazing things have happened. Night time has been a completely different experience. I have had a reasonable after dinner treat each night (at home and at a restaurant) and then felt COMPLETE. No urge to keep eating, no willpower, no struggle. Oh yes! My mind has been watching and asking, "Can this be real? Am I willing myself not to eat?" But the reality is that I've felt calm. I've understood that I could eat if I wanted to, but have felt no need."

Additionally, I've been going to sleep earlier. In the past my night time ritual was eat dinner, then munch in front of the t.v. and there was always the feeling of "this is my time to escape, this my "me" time." It was as if I'd go into hiding at night.

At about day 4 I realized that first my behavior was changing, but on day 4 when I felt no need to eat at night and went to bed tired and looking forward to a real night's sleep, I lay awake in bed and several waves of emotions and thoughts came upon me. I tapped on each layer as it revealed itself.

1st layer: I'm working too much. I'm not spending quality time with my kids. I'm not appreciating the time I have with them. I don't know how to cherish the moments. Tapped. Released. Then..

2nd layer: I'm sad. I feel lonely. Why? Tapped on sad and lonely. Realized that these feelings had always fueled my binge/purge episodes in the days of my active bulimic behavior. I further realized that in later years, I had dismissed that this could still be present because, "how could I be sad and lonely? I have a beautiful, loving family, friends, and community. There's no way I could be sad and lonely." But the truth was that I have been, even if it felt completely irrational.

Drawing on other healing modalities to identify the origin, I connected with the knowledge that one can be sad and lonely regardless of the conditions in their lives AND that I've been carrying the experience of "sad and lonely little girl" since I was eight. Tapped. Released. Finally fell asleep.

The next day I woke up feeling light and peaceful. Really looking forward to spending quality time with my kids. Had a great day wtih them. And the slightly obsessive energy that I normally felt around my work had calmed down. I still LOVE what I do, but the energy feels like a clean passion without the "obsessive" quality.

I had many more aha's but I'll stop here for now. The most amazing thing here is the result I'm experiencing in my relationship with food. Eating healthfully, feeling like I am in CHOICE, rather than reactivity, no addictive feelings, no cravings. And I'm already feeling more comfortable and lighter in my clothes.

Time to check out Carol Look's Program and see where that takes me!

Choose Your Reality!

Sonia

For more FREE articles and resources go to: http://www.successforthesoul.com/

EXPERIMENT: Tapping for Emotional Eating

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is an energy healing modality developed by Gary Craig. As he describes it, you can think of it as emotional acupuncture. The basic method involves tapping (a term you'll hear me use a lot) on specific points on your body so as to restore the natural, healthy flow of energy where blockages have ocurred due to emotional trauma. To tap, all you do is use one or two fingers and gently tap 4-9 times each on the designated points.

I ordered Carol Look's "Key to Successful Weightloss - How to Conquer Emotional Eating" and the package should be arriving any day now. This particular program is supposed to be idiot-proofed because it provides an extensive array of statements on which to tap - all related to the emotional and mental issues associated with compulsive eating, food addictions, cravings, etc.

Being an energy healer, I have a solid knowledge of EFT and so I've been tapping the last few days even without the "official program" to guide me. Energy healing has been a big part of my healing process thus far with food and body issues. And yet, I've never used EFT exclusively. My goal with this experiment is to let go of every notion I have about how I'm "supposed" to lose weight, let go of diets, let go of exercise plans, let go of all of my cause and effect thinking of the past and tap my little heart out on every limiting belief and emotional charge I can uncover.

At the height of my bulimic symptoms and compulsive eating, I was a person obsessed. This was back in the 80's. It was really quite sad, actually. From the moment I would awake, to the moment I went to bed, I would think about what I would eat, how much I'd eat, and when I would eat. It was my own secret hell. I'd make plans and promises, charts and graphs, I might keep it together for a while, but I would ultimately lose all control in a a big, shame-filled binge, all alone, at night, in front of the t.v. in hiding. My preferred method of purging was the abuse of laxatives. The next morning I would awake bloated and filled with self-loathing. Anyone who doesn't think food is a drug, should try being a bulimic for a while. Thank God that is all behind me!!! Really, THANK GOD! Wow, I haven't talked about this stuff in a looong time.

Anyway, the reason I bring it up today is that in beginning the procees of tapping and letting go of all preconceived notions about how and what I should do to lose these residual yo-yo 10+ pounds, I've really become aware of the last remaining vestiges of this addictive type of energy. My greatest challenge these days occurs for me at night with sugar.

What I've noticed is that although I can move through my day very neutral about food and body - eating sensible meals, making healthy choices easily, enjoying healthy food - when it comes to night time, a mysterious monster that lurks in my unconscious during the day takes over.

My usual ritual is to eat dinner, usually in front of the t.v. with my family. (Yes, I'm not proud to admit this. I wish I were one of those women who proudly created sit-down dinners for my family every night, but that's for another conversation...) We eat. We finish. And then "that thing" takes over. I must have my treats. I've gotten to the point that they are as healthy as possible - like no-sugar-added popsicles, sugar free popsicles or fruit. But I can get up anywhere from 4-8 times each night in search of something else to munch on. Having a full stomach has NOTHING to do with the decision making process. Finding a sense of fullness and satisfaction escapes me. And so, I've been tapping, tapping, tapping on this. I've tapped on statements like:

Even though I have to have night time treats, I absolutely love and accept myself.
Even though I can't imagine letting go of night time eating, I abolutely...
Even though just the thought of letting go of my treats makes me feel sad and empty, I asolutely..
Even though I'm addicted to sugar, I absolutely...
Even though I'm starved for something, but don't know what it is, I absolutely...
Even though I don't know how to do this, I absolutely...
Even though something takes over me and I don't know what it is, I absolutely....

Well, 3 out of the last 4 nights, the addiction energy has definitely felt lighter. Last nite I had to tap a lot, but this night, I tapped even before dinner, and I felt a noticeable diminishment in intensity.

I've also tapped regarding my inertia around physical activity and feeling unmotivated. I enjoyed some fun effortless walks and bike-rides in the last few days without making a big deal about it.

I've also tapped quite a bit on places I feel resistant around having the body I envision, letting myself, feeling like I'm not supposed to, recalling and tapping on memories from 8th grade where I compared myself to other girls and felt less than.

So, that's where I'm at for today. I look forward to getting started with Carol Look's Program.

More to follow.

Choose Your Reality!

Sonia

For more FREE resources and articles go to: www.SuccessForTheSoul.com

EXPERIMENT: Losing Weight with Energy Healing

I am embarking on an experiment and anyone who cares to join me is welcome! Feel free to follow my journey here on my blog. I have purchased Carol Looks Weight Loss with EFT program and am going to use it for both personal and professional reasons: 1) As an energy healer, I'm always researching energy healing modalities to better serve my clients and 2) I have some residual food/body issues of my own that I'd love to heal once and for all.

As some of you may know, I was an active bulimic for quite a few years. I was a compulsive eater and was about 50 pounds overweight. Over the years I have experienced great healing. I read books, participated in classes, engaged in therapy and did various forms of energy work.

I lost the excess weight in a natural way and maintained it for years. It was smooth, happy sailing for quite a while. However, when I hit my mid 30's, and before, during and after pregnancy, things got bumpy again. Although I have maintained a healthy weight, I have not been completely happy with my body, I've resorted to diets and gained and lost the same 10 + pounds several times over. I've had this niggling feeling that I could be happier and more satisfied with my body, food, and exercise. It is as if I'm 90% there.

But recently I thought, "Why not REALLY give myself the gift of feeling completely healed of my food/body issues and be really in love with myself! So, after some contemplation, messages from the Universe, and research, I decided to purchase Carol Looks weightloss program http://www.carollook.com/.

My intention is to use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, a well-established healing modality) as my primary strategy in healing my issues and releasing permamanently the excess weight that comes and goes.

If there is anyone else out there who has either used the program or wants to join me on this journey, please share your experiences by posting comments here. I'd love to see this become a supportive resource for anyone who needs it.

Choose Your Reality! (I am!)

Sonia

For more FREE resources and articles, go to: http://www.successforthesoul.com/

ARTICLE: 5 Ways to Thwart the Fear That Stands Between You and Your Dreams!

Anyone who dares to pursue their dreams will face fear sooner or later. There is certainly no shortage of things to be afraid of: fear of failure, fear of success, fear of what others will think, fear of being alone, fear of losing control, fear of the unknown, fear of losing the familiar, fear that you were wrong about your dream, fear of wasting time and money, fear of making mistakes, fear of leaving others behind… and these are just a few.

Fear is part of the human condition. No matter how you slice it, fear is going to be a part of your life. Hence, it is not the absence of fear that distinguishes successful dream-makers from unfulfilled wishers. When it comes to fear, the only difference between those that make their dreams come true and those that do not, is how they relate to their fear.

People who successfully manifest their dreams understand and accept that fear comes with the territory. They’ve learned ways to be bigger than their fear, dismantle it, or diffuse it. However, people who are controlled by their fear tend to lack the perspective and the tools necessary to become master over their so-called demons.

Here are five of my favorite fear-thwarting techniques:

1) Honor your fear. Emotions are the language of the soul. If fear is rearing its head, pay attention. Rather than pushing it away, listen and explore what the fear is about. If your fear is watching out for your safety, heed its call. But if your fear is heralding an opportunity to stretch beyond your comfort zone, then know that this is the time to take a breath and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

2) Befriend your fear. If your fear is presenting a growth opportunity, practice making it your ally. Rather than pushing your fear away, welcome it and embrace the chance to discover how to live with it. Give yourself permission to be afraid while simultaneously moving forward in your life. Imagine how much easier it would be to take a risk once you’ve given yourself permission to look an idiot, feel like a dork, sweat, shake, or stumble over your words.

3) Play the what’s-the-worst-that-can-happen? game. When fear has its grip on you, it is easy to become consumed by it. Sometimes fear is so big that it is all you can see. When this happens, ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Once you have a response, ask again, “And what if that happens? What is the worst that can come of that?” Keep going until there is nothing left to ask. This exercise can help you realize that what is possible (your worst fear) is not what is probable (the more realistic outcome). A silenced fear tends to gain power and escalate to fantasy. But when you give voice to your fear, not only can it dissipate more easily, but you’ll likely gain a more grounded perspective on your situation. A new view will help you to breathe easier and this will allow you to access your more productive side.

4) Enlist the support of a guardian angel, coach, or cheering section. Going for your dreams requires taking risks. But no one said you have to do it alone. Allowing others to support in taking your next big step can help you to become bigger than your fear – even if only for a while. By lining up a pep talk beforehand, a smiling presence during, and a safety-net afterwards, you will discover that you can do things you never thought possible!

5) Change your self-talk. Never underestimate the power of words. Words are energy. Words create. They create the world around you, as well as your inner reality. So, notice what you say to yourself. If it isn’t uplifting, find a way to put a positive spin on it. For example, rather than “I feel afraid,” say to yourself, “I feel alive!” Or replace “I’m so nervous I could puke,” with “I’m ready to channel this adrenaline!” And instead of “I don’t think I can do this,” ask yourself, “What is it that I can do?” Mere miracles can occur simply by embracing the discipline of changing the way you talk to yourself! Before you can begin to overcome your fears, you must first decide that you wish to embark on the journey. You don’t have to know how you will do it, but you do need to be willing. Whether it is your personality or the way you were raised, there is much about fear-management that can be approached as a learnable skill. With a small bag of tricks and a little practice, you too can experience the self-confidence and freedom that comes from conquering your fears!

International Life Coach, Sonia Miller, has helped countless seekers realize their greatest aspirations since 1983. Learn how with her FREE Special Report: “How to Unleash the Magic When the Law of Attraction DOESN’T Work for You!” and her FREE content-rich monthly newsletter, the “Soul Food Ezine.” Go to: http://www.SuccessForTheSoul.com.