A comment from a wise student
Hi everyone! Just wanted to mention a small, but very important point
that our favorite "Shifters" mentioned to me yesterday:
Many of us, myself included, take these classes to find an "easy way"
to fix our lives. During the learning/training sessions, we become
excited to see actual results. Then we go home with this knowledge
like it is a concrete answer that we can hold in our hands and say
"here it is, this is what I need" and then stop at that point. While
none of the techniques are difficult to actually perform, we often
don't do the daily work to keep the positive in our lives. While we
have been given a key, we expect the door to stay unlocked, and that
is not the case. We have to actually use the key. Simple, but true!
Jo-Anne
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
My Next Life Plan
Who Am I ?
Does this sound familiar? Charlie (or Charlene) has achieved the American Dream. Great success in their career, all the toys (including the yacht, sports car, great house), model wife or husband, great kids, not to mention receiving loads of accolades from the family, peers and community… and yet all Charlie (Charlene) can wonder about is: “Is this all there is? Because I am feeling depressed, empty, unfulfilled. There must be more to life than this!”
When our sense of power and all that we have achieved or accumulated feels meaningless, it’s time to reassess our self. What has seemed like success to you up until now may just be society’s interpretation of success. In the Western world today, we have gone from being heart-centered to being fear-centered. Just pick up any newspaper or turn on any TV to confirm this. Our egos are shaped and trained by the media, society, parents and the Roles that we play in our lives. There is a perception of reality that has been created for us, and often it takes a particular event or crisis in our life to make us begin to question whether this perception resonates with our own true essence.
Are we only the hats we wear? “Hats” refers to the various roles that we play in our lives or masks that we wear; “hats” are ego based. If we do indeed define our self by our hat, we are cooked. Because what will you be when you are no longer a banker, baker, president of the PTA or Exxon, successful speaker, loving parent or dutiful child, rich, powerful, team leader, best golfer, etc? In order to not define our self by a hat that we wear, we need to get in touch with our own true beliefs and awareness of who we really are. It is essential to be aware of how we define ourselves. Pointing out to you that the only true power is love, our sense of connectedness with each other, nature (of which people are indeed a grand part), may leave you thinking that just sounds pretty “out there”, “woo-woo”, New Age, or religious.
Step out of your box for a moment and evaluate where you are. When was the last time you recalled your own gifts, talents and abilities? Can you remember when you used to dream about how you wanted to change the world, perhaps ideally wishing to right some of the social wrongs? Can you just recall a passion you always wanted to pursue? Ask yourself what you missed out on that would have really felt good, been incredibly rewarding or fulfilling to follow while wearing your one of your various hats. What happened to all your heart-felt ideas? They probably don’t have an expiration date. Often they are just forgotten or seemed too lofty or silly or whatever.
Introspection, contemplation, and/or meditation can be useful to explore the question “who am I” at this juncture. Step out of your ego for a moment and prepare to shift your consciousness. Determine what beliefs are yours versus those of your family, media, society, friends, etc. and find out whom you really are. It’s time to get in touch with your inner space and let go of your outer world for a few minutes a day.
Ask yourself: “Am I present in my daily life? Peaceful, calm, centered? Do I have a sense of clarity and direction? Do I feel a sense of power without a need to be in control? How much time do I spend in my heart, in my thoughts, feelings? Do I experience joy and empowerment in my day?” Look at your definition of “Who am I?” Dig deeply within and, if pursuing the American dream isn’t working for you, decide what you need to create in your life going forward. Remember -Life is a banquet of choices once we become aware of what we wish to create in our lives.
Marion Ross & Tracy Latz
Does this sound familiar? Charlie (or Charlene) has achieved the American Dream. Great success in their career, all the toys (including the yacht, sports car, great house), model wife or husband, great kids, not to mention receiving loads of accolades from the family, peers and community… and yet all Charlie (Charlene) can wonder about is: “Is this all there is? Because I am feeling depressed, empty, unfulfilled. There must be more to life than this!”
When our sense of power and all that we have achieved or accumulated feels meaningless, it’s time to reassess our self. What has seemed like success to you up until now may just be society’s interpretation of success. In the Western world today, we have gone from being heart-centered to being fear-centered. Just pick up any newspaper or turn on any TV to confirm this. Our egos are shaped and trained by the media, society, parents and the Roles that we play in our lives. There is a perception of reality that has been created for us, and often it takes a particular event or crisis in our life to make us begin to question whether this perception resonates with our own true essence.
Are we only the hats we wear? “Hats” refers to the various roles that we play in our lives or masks that we wear; “hats” are ego based. If we do indeed define our self by our hat, we are cooked. Because what will you be when you are no longer a banker, baker, president of the PTA or Exxon, successful speaker, loving parent or dutiful child, rich, powerful, team leader, best golfer, etc? In order to not define our self by a hat that we wear, we need to get in touch with our own true beliefs and awareness of who we really are. It is essential to be aware of how we define ourselves. Pointing out to you that the only true power is love, our sense of connectedness with each other, nature (of which people are indeed a grand part), may leave you thinking that just sounds pretty “out there”, “woo-woo”, New Age, or religious.
Step out of your box for a moment and evaluate where you are. When was the last time you recalled your own gifts, talents and abilities? Can you remember when you used to dream about how you wanted to change the world, perhaps ideally wishing to right some of the social wrongs? Can you just recall a passion you always wanted to pursue? Ask yourself what you missed out on that would have really felt good, been incredibly rewarding or fulfilling to follow while wearing your one of your various hats. What happened to all your heart-felt ideas? They probably don’t have an expiration date. Often they are just forgotten or seemed too lofty or silly or whatever.
Introspection, contemplation, and/or meditation can be useful to explore the question “who am I” at this juncture. Step out of your ego for a moment and prepare to shift your consciousness. Determine what beliefs are yours versus those of your family, media, society, friends, etc. and find out whom you really are. It’s time to get in touch with your inner space and let go of your outer world for a few minutes a day.
Ask yourself: “Am I present in my daily life? Peaceful, calm, centered? Do I have a sense of clarity and direction? Do I feel a sense of power without a need to be in control? How much time do I spend in my heart, in my thoughts, feelings? Do I experience joy and empowerment in my day?” Look at your definition of “Who am I?” Dig deeply within and, if pursuing the American dream isn’t working for you, decide what you need to create in your life going forward. Remember -Life is a banquet of choices once we become aware of what we wish to create in our lives.
Marion Ross & Tracy Latz
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Tune in to SHIFT: Tracy on the Bob & Sheri Radio Show 4/10/08
If you would like to hear the show, cut and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.12keystoshift.com/Podcast/Podcast.html
http://www.12keystoshift.com/Podcast/Podcast.html
Friday, April 11, 2008
Creating Discipline for Sport Performance
Whether you are a serious athlete or a weekend warrior these tips are helpful to increase focus and help you perform to the best of your capabilities.
Create discipline through centering:
1. Four rounds of Rhythmic breathing can help both lower your blood pressure and bring you to a state of calm before you begin play or whenever you feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed during the game. This technique is explained in an earlier post.
2. A daily practice of meditation, yoga or a martial art has long been recognized for increasing focus including Tai Chi and Chi Gong.
3. Light a candle, focus on the the tip of the flame and be mindfully aware of what you see, sense or feel as you look into it and with a continuous stream of expression say out loud whatever it is that you see. As soon as you pause or repeat yourself you must to start over. Try to work up to a continuous expression of what you see for 2 minutes . Use a timer or do this exercise with a partner. This may seem like a silly exercise but it helps create intense focus and concentration .
4. Use a Sport Link or a similar focus trainer. Use the program for sports performance for 20 minutes a day or before you run. This is a great tool which has improved the game of many a pro and Olympic athlete in all fields.
5. Visualization of your goal. See yourself reaching your goal and feeling wonderful about it and with 2 fingers gently tap this vision into your 3rd eye ( between the eyebrows) a few times a day and before you compete. This only works if you are free from the killer issues that are blocking you - see next technique.
6. EFT tapping on your acupoints for lack of discipline, nervousness, anxiety, muscle tension, fear or failure or whatever your issue.
This tool is used to prepare yourself ahead of time and to use whether you are competing or just interested in adding more pleasure and satisfaction to your game. This will relieve the stressors and problems you have identified which are inhibiting you from maximum performance. See our book Shift:12 Keys to Shift Your Life for a more in depth explanation of the technique.
We have both had enormous success using EFT with patients. I often use it both for my own golf game and when I am coaching on the golf course.
Marion Ross & Tracy Latz
Create discipline through centering:
1. Four rounds of Rhythmic breathing can help both lower your blood pressure and bring you to a state of calm before you begin play or whenever you feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed during the game. This technique is explained in an earlier post.
2. A daily practice of meditation, yoga or a martial art has long been recognized for increasing focus including Tai Chi and Chi Gong.
3. Light a candle, focus on the the tip of the flame and be mindfully aware of what you see, sense or feel as you look into it and with a continuous stream of expression say out loud whatever it is that you see. As soon as you pause or repeat yourself you must to start over. Try to work up to a continuous expression of what you see for 2 minutes . Use a timer or do this exercise with a partner. This may seem like a silly exercise but it helps create intense focus and concentration .
4. Use a Sport Link or a similar focus trainer. Use the program for sports performance for 20 minutes a day or before you run. This is a great tool which has improved the game of many a pro and Olympic athlete in all fields.
5. Visualization of your goal. See yourself reaching your goal and feeling wonderful about it and with 2 fingers gently tap this vision into your 3rd eye ( between the eyebrows) a few times a day and before you compete. This only works if you are free from the killer issues that are blocking you - see next technique.
6. EFT tapping on your acupoints for lack of discipline, nervousness, anxiety, muscle tension, fear or failure or whatever your issue.
This tool is used to prepare yourself ahead of time and to use whether you are competing or just interested in adding more pleasure and satisfaction to your game. This will relieve the stressors and problems you have identified which are inhibiting you from maximum performance. See our book Shift:12 Keys to Shift Your Life for a more in depth explanation of the technique.
We have both had enormous success using EFT with patients. I often use it both for my own golf game and when I am coaching on the golf course.
Marion Ross & Tracy Latz
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Restore Your Emotional Energy
Tie Up Loose Ends
When you procrastinate about attending to unresolved issues they drain your energy emotionally, mentally and often physically. Tackle the troubling things that need to be dealt with and put them to rest. In the meanwhile, be mindful not to allow future problems to be ignored. Our wounds fester when they are not attended to in a timely manner. Realize that buried problems always come to the surface eventually.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Expressing Your True Essence- Tip of the day
How do I know who I am?
Meditate daily and journal regularly. First find a quiet space to go within.
Meditation comes in many forms. Some may achieve this through a walking or guided meditation, drumming , a breathing practice, tai chi or qiqong, or chanting, whatever resonates for you and gets you centered. This helps you stay connected or reconnect with your true essence so you can express it more fully in your daily life.
We have wonderful guided meditations from our companion CD's to our book to assist you. These can be downloaded from: http://www.digstation.com/genre.aspx?genre=newage
Marion Ross & Tracy Latz
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Back Pain Alternative Treatments
What alternative treatments (acupuncture, pillows, massage, etc.) can safely treat back pain ?
I have taught many of my patients alternative pain relief methods for various conditions. The following alternative methods could safely treat back pain during pregnancy as well.(I have 3 children of my own and can certainly relate to such a condition):
1) Tennis Ball Massage- A friend or partner can gently but firmly massage the affected area by rolling a tennis ball over the area with the palm of their hand. If the woman has noone to assist her, she can put one or two tennis balls in a long sock and can hold onto the top of the sock while flinging the end with the tennis ball(s) over her shoulder and can either lean against the back of a chair or a wall and gently move/massage the affected area herself with the balls applying pressure.
2) Meditation/Guided Imagery- Meditation or guided imagery can be used to diminish pain. Picturing a golden ball of light that starts at the feet and then slowly moving over the whole body relaxing and calming every area of the body as it passes. I have compiled a series of 24 guided meditations for various purposed titled SHIFT (available through www.CDBaby.com ).
3) Reiki/Healing Touch- We all instinctively place our hands on or over areas of our or another person's body that is in pain or distress. We have the ability to channel energy or life force or chi (qi) through the center of the palms of our hands to ourself or to another person if there is a need. While the intensity of the energy flow may be greater in someone who is attuned to or trained in Reiki or some other hands on healing/energy medicine technique, anyone can be a channel of this type of energy if they set their intention/desire to do so.
4) Polarity Therapy- We all have positive and negative poles in our body. If there is an area of the body that is experiencing pain or distress, we or another person can place the middle finger ("the fire finger") of one hand on the center of the spot that is in distress. Then we place the first ("pointer") finger of the other hand on the body directly on the opposite side of the body from where the fire finger is now placed. Then you simply hold the position until you feel or sense that the current or energy field moves the pain or distress out of the area (you can literally feel it being pulled out).
5) Music, Tones or Toning- There are various types of music that we are naturally drawn to that feel healing at different times. Become attuned to which music is most helpful to you when you are in pain, feeling sad, stressed or angry. Certain musical notes, tones, and specific colors can have healing or calming effects on different areas of the body. For instance, wearing red over an area of pain may intensify pain, while wearing pale blue or pink over an area of pain may soothe the pain and calm the area.
6) Acupuncture- While acupuncture can be extremely helpful for various pain situations, it is important to look for a trained acupuncturist with lots of experience in working on pregnant women as there are some points that should be avoided during pregnancy as they can induce labor.
7) EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)- This is based on tapping on some of the accupuncture points gently with one's fingertips while stating specific statements or affirmations. It can be easily learned and is safe during pregnancy. We teach a quick protocol inour book and you can learn the longer version at the website www.emofree.com by the founder of EFT, Gary Craig.
Tracy Latz, M.D.,M.S
From our book SHIFT: 12 Keys To Shift Your Life we offer the tip of the week for dealing with stress:
1) Rhythmic or Box Breathing - Rhythmic (or Box) Breathing is a helpful technique for rapidly decreasing stress, anxiety, heart rate or blood pressure. It also is centering and prepares you for a meditation or a peaceful night?s sleep.
Think of your breathing pattern as if it were a box or square drawn on a piece of paper with the breathing in being the left upward drawn line, holding your in-breath as the line on the top of the square from left to right, breathing out as the line going downward on the right side, and then the holding of the out-breath being the line from right to left on the bottom side of the square.
You slowly count the length of your breath going in, being held, or going out that is right for you. The length of your in-breath and out-breath should be the same count; just as the length of the held breath at top and bottom should be the same number of counts. As you practice your breathing, you might find that your square is actually a rectangle. Each person may find they have a different count from another person; and that is fine as we are all unique individuals. Just make certain that you are not strained in your breathing in or out or with the breath holds at top or bottom; if you find you are strained, then change the length of your counts for different sides of your ?box? of breathing.
Once you find the pattern of your square or rectangular box that works best for you, go through 4 to 5 complete rounds of the rhythmic breathing and notice how your body and mind respond.
1) Rhythmic or Box Breathing - Rhythmic (or Box) Breathing is a helpful technique for rapidly decreasing stress, anxiety, heart rate or blood pressure. It also is centering and prepares you for a meditation or a peaceful night?s sleep.
Think of your breathing pattern as if it were a box or square drawn on a piece of paper with the breathing in being the left upward drawn line, holding your in-breath as the line on the top of the square from left to right, breathing out as the line going downward on the right side, and then the holding of the out-breath being the line from right to left on the bottom side of the square.
You slowly count the length of your breath going in, being held, or going out that is right for you. The length of your in-breath and out-breath should be the same count; just as the length of the held breath at top and bottom should be the same number of counts. As you practice your breathing, you might find that your square is actually a rectangle. Each person may find they have a different count from another person; and that is fine as we are all unique individuals. Just make certain that you are not strained in your breathing in or out or with the breath holds at top or bottom; if you find you are strained, then change the length of your counts for different sides of your ?box? of breathing.
Once you find the pattern of your square or rectangular box that works best for you, go through 4 to 5 complete rounds of the rhythmic breathing and notice how your body and mind respond.
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