Have the courage to release the past and the wisdom and strength to embrace the present.
I taught a Self-Hypnosis training for weight loss many years ago. Each student was assigned to create a recording with positive affirmations. Several weeks after the class ended, one of my students, Steve, called to report that his recordings were ineffective, as he hadn’t experienced any weight loss. He wanted a private session to work on his issue. Listening to him describe his disappointment, he used the phrase addicted to sweets several times. I explained to him that he most likely has some unconscious blocks to weight loss. I coached him into doing some inner child work and had him speak to that part that was addicted to sweets. Steve saw himself as a five-year-old sitting on the floor in his bedroom eating M&Ms while his mom and dad argued in another room, which they often did. The candy became a ‘comfort food’ for him.
I helped him to reparent his inner child, giving himself the love, comfort, and security he felt he didn’t receive from his original parents. I had him ask his five-year-old self what he could do instead of eating for comfort, and the wisdom of his inner child told him to play more, have fun, and laugh, even when his parents were arguing.
Steve soon reported to me that his little child was no longer in control, and he was quickly able to change his eating habits. Steve stopped indulging in sweets to comfort him during stressful times or after a long, hard day at work; he also lightened up and enjoyed life more. People who knew of his addiction to sweets were surprised at his new ability to make healthier choices. Getting rid of the excess weight became easier as he let go of the blocks and healed the wounded child within himself.
Healing is so hard because it’s a constant battle between your inner child, who’s scared and wants love and safety, your inner teenager, who’s angry and wants fairness, and your adult self, who is tired and just wants peace…Be gentle with yourself.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” ~Albert Einstein
Make kindness a habit.
To Your Success,
Peak Performance Coach