Throughout our life, we’re presented with multiple opportunities to doubt ourselves. Our past failures, comparison with others, external obstacles or challenges can all lead to a feeling of overwhelm. This can derail our best intentions to achieve our goals. Life also presents us with numerous opportunities to succeed and our success depends on which internal voices we’re listening to.
Attempting to navigate our way to success from a place of self-doubt, is doomed for defeat. Self-doubt is like a rug that we place all of our intentions on top of. Often, just when we’re on the verge of succeeding, our self-doubt will rip that rug out from underneath us. Everything that we dearly desire then tumbles down and we find ourselves powerless and pity-full.
So how do we stop sabotaging our success and dooming ourselves for defeat?
Let me share with you 5 steps that I’ve used to dissolve my own self doubt.
5 STEPS TO DISSOLVING SELF
DOUBT
1: DEFINE SUCCESS
What is your definition of success? When you think of someone who has succeeded in your eyes, who do you think of?
In order to succeed, it’s vital to have a positive view of success. Sometimes we can have negative associations to those that we view as successful. For example, we may view them as arrogant, selfish, egocentric or lacking in integrity. If we have associated negative states with achieving success, our best efforts to succeed will be thwarted. This is because they don’t align with our own value system. If this is the case, we need to redefine the meaning of success to ourselves. We can then align with those values, traits, behaviours and states that we like, admire, prefer and desire.
When our definition of success aligns with our value system, our efforts to succeed work for us not against us. We then stack the odds in our own favour. What’s needed is an undivided intention to succeed if we are to experience success.
Saying “So What” to self doubt
2: LABEL THE SELF DOUBT:
GIVE IT A NAME
This part of the process is fun and may seem a bit silly. However that in itself is an important aspect. We need to have a sense of humour regarding our self-doubt in order to dis-empower it.
Make up a cartoon character name that illustrates the personality of your self-doubt, for example: Miserable Maude; Sinister Stephen.
VERA THE VAMPIRE
SINISTER STEVEN
Imagine what the characters look like in cartoon form and when they speak to you internally, what do they say? For example, if only I was thinner, better looking, funnier, talented, richer, etc. Perhaps they speak directly to you, e.g. You’re a loser, You’re a failure, You’re a disappointment.
I’ve given some fairly obvious examples. However the messages that they give us in the form of our own self-talk can be quite subtle. So we need to be be discerning. If you’re someone who suffers from self doubt, then you’ll likely be familiar with the self talk that derails you.
The most important thing here is to identify these characters as separate from yourself. You may have more than one character that self-doubt features as, it doesn’t matter, just label them all.
3: CATCH THE CHARACTERS IN ACTION
Identify which character is speaking to you when that internal voice of self-doubt shows up. You’ve got to be able to catch them when they’re at work doing their best to sabotage you.
These internal characters are actually just less evolved, un-integrated aspects of ourselves. We adopted these ways of being through beliefs, assumptions or decisions that we made to protect ourselves. However when they no longer serve us, WE end up serving THEM. These outdated mechanisms of protection then hypnotize us with their self defeating words. We come under the spell of what they’re saying because we have identified with them as who we really are.
YOUR SELF DOUBT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE!!
If you really want to overcome your self-doubt, its important to view these aspects (characters) as separate from yourself. They do NOT represent your innate awesomeness. You’re bigger than them!
4: CALL THEM OUT ON IT
When we identify these characters through the ways that they are speaking to us internally, we need to call them by their name. For example, “Oh it’s you “Sinister Steven” thanks for trying to protect me, but you can have a rest now.
I’m inviting you to acknowledge these negative internal voices, and give them permission to stand down. You can then re-assert your position as being in charge of your own life.
In other words, when self-doubt arises within us, we need to recognize it for what it is and simply say “SO WHAT”. Rather than being obedient to the instruction of self-doubt within us, we can take charge. So what if I have a little self doubt. I’m not going to let it stop me from doing and becoming what I want to be in my life.
5: FOCUS ON YOUR GOAL
Saying “So What” to self doubt
The way that we move forward in our lives is much like driving a car. We have to see where we’re going and keep our focus and attention on what is happening in front of us. Sure, sometimes we have to use our rear-vision mirror/camera to reverse. To we can then change direction, but we then re-direct our focus to whats ahead.
Self-doubt is a bit like trying to drive forward while looking in the rear-vision mirror/camera. Instead we are best to focus on where we’re wanting to go and whats in front of us.
Our internal doubts are often anchored in the past and use historic reference points as evidence to prove that we are destined to fail so why even bother trying? Self-doubt is merely a distraction from what what we really want to achieve, attain, experience or become.
So stop allowing yourself to be distracted by those negative voices and re-focus on your goal! What is it that you really want?
If this is where you get stumped because you don’t know or you feel unsure about what you truly desire, let me give you a hint: whatever it is, it will involve joy, excitement, energy, health, love, peace, purpose, meaning, fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment and the resources need to achieve and maintain these states….so focus on attaining these states as your overall goal!!!
NO MORE EXCUSES
Saying “SO WHAT” to self-doubt is about not giving yourself an excuse to live a life of limitations, because most of the limitations that life actually presents to you are determined by you.
Yes, you may have experienced challenges, obstacles, traumas and hurts that have left scars both seen and unseen, and maybe you’re still healing from these. So take the time that you need to heal, gather around you the people and practices that support you and then redefine yourself and how you’d like the rest of your life to be.
Its up to you if you allow yourself to be defined by the doubt that erodes the self, or create a new definition for yourself, one that involves succeeding in whatever you set your intention to be, the power is yours!
All the best
Written By: Chrissy Diamond
Saying “So What” to self doubt
Holistic Alignment offers a variety of treatments to suit your unique needs. Our Practitioners Chrissy Diamond and Lorelei Messersmith will be happy to discuss any questions you may have regarding your treatment to assist in putting you at ease. Contact Chrissy to book your first Holistic Alignment.
YOUR BODY IS TALKING TO YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S SAYING?
From time to time, we all experience certain physical ailments and body symptoms that can cause us discomfort, pain and distress. When we experience something out of the ordinary in our bodies, we sometimes ignore it, hoping it will go away on its own. Or we can self-diagnose via the internet (which can provoke fear or worry). We can also seek expert diagnosis and treatment through various health care providers. There is however another tool that we have available that is often overlooked, the wisdom of our own body!
Hippocrates the Father of modern medicine said “Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease”. Edward Bach, the founder of homeopathic Bach Flower remedies stated “Disease is in essence, the result of conflict between Soul and Mind and will never be eradicated except by spiritual and mental effort”. If we can communicate with our bodies before we need to seek external feedback and if we learn to interpret the messages that they give us, WE then become the experts of our own bodies. In Michael Browns’ book “Alchemy of the Heart” He poetically admonishes us that “We are still trying to feel better, when we are now being asked to get better at feeling”.
I have long been a follower of the teachings of Louise Hay, who healed herself from cancer and then went on to write the New York Times best seller “You Can Heal Your life”.
In her book, Louise explains the link between the thoughts and beliefs that we have about ourselves and the effect that they have on our emotional health which can then manifest in the physical body causing a wide range of symptoms. Hay also provides within her book, a comprehensive list of physical ailments, their negative emotional counterpart and the positive mantra or affirmation that can be used as an antidote. It was through Louise, that I first became aware of the mind body maps and how to read them.
The following guide is in no way suggesting that the physical component of what we experience is invalid or to be dismissed and ignored; neither is this guide intended to replace traditional and complementary medical consultation. It is intended to offer an initial self-directed holistic approach which expands beyond the physical to include the metaphysical components of various symptoms, (psychological, emotional, and vibrational). If your symptoms persist, do seek the advice of your medical or complementary practitioner.
MIND BODY MAPS
Messages from your Body
When we experience an ailment or
symptom in our body, the first thing that we can do to assist us in
discerning the message from our body, is identify the location of the
symptom.
The following physical locations of the
body and their metaphysical symbolism can provide a guide, allowing
us to understand the emotional/psychological and energetic components
that have potentially contributed to the physical condition we’re
experiencing, thus enabling us to make adjustments to restore balance
within our body.
This guide is NOT intended to be prescriptive, instead – I encourage you to keep an open mind and assess what resonates or “lands” for you personally, in regards to your symptom. Equally, I encourage you to disregard that which doesn’t fit for you. These mind body maps have guided me to heal myself of various symptoms including: dissolving benign nodules, improving my visual prescription, dissolving pre-cancerous and cancerous cells, dissolving joint pain, dissolving eczema as well as eradicating digestive issues.
I share these insights as signposts guiding you towards your innate healing intelligence.
THE RIGHT SIDE
The Right side of the body represents your yang energy, or your doing energy. It is your animus, your animating force, or masculine side, your giving side and it also reflects your relationships with males. Your right side reflects your interaction with the world around you and is influenced by your environment. It symbolizes your conscious mind and it also represents the future.
When you have a symptom on the right
side of your body, you may feel hindered in moving forward in an
aspect of your life, and you may be holding yourself back by internal
fear triggered from an aspect of your perceived future or your
present environment. It may also represent challenges in
relationships involving males. If your symptom is affecting your
right, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with
me?
THE LEFT SIDE
The Left side of the body represents
your yin energy, your non-doing energy. It is your anima, your
feminine side, your intuition, it is about receiving and
surrendering, and it also reflects your relationships with females.
Your left side is about your subconscious mind and the hidden parts
of yourself that you’d rather not show to the world and it also
represents the past.
When you have a symptom on the left
side of your body it may be a reflection of your past experiences and
deep unacknowledged emotions, and may be indicative of your ability
and willingness to receive and surrender. It may also represent
challenges in relationships involving females. If your symptom is
affecting your left, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically
resonate with me?
THE FRONT
The Front of the body represents the
part of yourself that you show to the world, your public persona and
all aspects of this version of yourself. It also reflects the future
and what you’re moving towards. The front of the body is about your
conscious mind and what you’re aware of or what you can see in front
of you.
When you have a symptom on the front of your body, it may reflect a disparity or imbalance between your public external self and your private internal self. It may also represent an unwillingness or trepidation in moving forward towards your future. If your symptom is affecting your front, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE BACK
The Back of your body represents the
part of yourself that is private and not seen by the world. It also
reflects the past and what you’re moving away from. The back of the
body is about your subconscious mind and aspects of yourself that are
either ignored or yet undiscovered.
When you have a symptom on the back
of your body, it may reflect aspects of your hidden self that you’d
rather not acknowledge or deal with. It may also represent a feeling
of being held back by unresolved emotions, experiences and memories
from the past that you’ve accumulated in your physical body. If your
symptom is affecting your back, ask yourself: Does anything here
specifically resonate with me?
THE LEGS
The Legs take you forward in your life,
They also represent standing in your own strength. They reflect both
your past as well as your future.
When you
experience symptoms in your legs, this can be indicative of feeling
stuck and restricted by the past, or fearful of stepping forward into
your future. It can also be a reflection of feeling that you struggle
to stand in your own strength. If your symptom is affecting your
legs, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE ARMS AND HANDS
The Arms represent what you’ve got hold
of, or what you have got a grip on and also represent what you can
control. The arms and hands also represent giving and receiving
When you experience a symptom in
your arms and/or hands it may reflect the inability or unwillingness
to leg go of something or conversely take hold of something in your
life. It may also represent a lack in being able or willing to give,
or to receive. Symptoms in your arms and hands can also indicate
things in your life that you need to take control of, or conversely,
things that you have no control over and are therefore invited to
surrender to. If your symptom is affecting your arms, ask yourself:
Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE EYES
The Eyes represent what you can
understand and foresee. They reflect what you are aware of and
perceive both within yourself as well as the world around you. The
eyes govern your perspective and focus of the present and the future.
When you experience symptoms that affect your eyes, there may be something that you do not want to see or acknowledge, or you may be pained by what you do see or have seen. It can also represent being too focused on the future or stuck in a narrow perspective. If your symptom is affecting your eyes, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE EARS
The Ears represent what you know, or
hear inside yourself, or in your environment.
When you experience symptoms that
affect the ears this may represent something that you don’t want to
know or hear, or it may reflect your inability or unwillingness to
really listen. If your symptom is affecting your ears, ask yourself:
Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE THROAT
The Throat represents what you need to
express, literally or creatively. It is symbolic of your soul
expression. It reflects your power to speak your truth, and
communicate with the world around you. The throat also allows you to
literally take in food and air, so symbolically it also represents
what we “take in” or swallow…figuratively or emotionally.
When you experience symptoms that affect the throat, it may symbolize that which you are not expressing or not saying and a lack of confidence in speaking your truth. It may also reflect misuse of your words, gossiping or lying. If your symptom is affecting your throat, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE LUNGS
The Lungs represent your ability to
take in life, to be inspired. They also represent your ability to
receive energy in all its forms, your openness to new ideas, and
having clarity of thought.
When you experience symptoms
affecting the lungs, it can represent grief, sadness and depression
and may reflect a tendency to hold onto pain, like holding your
breath, instead of letting it go, in order to breathe in again. It
may also reflect fear or trepidation. If your symptom is affecting
your lungs, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate
with me?
THE HEART
The Heart is like a knot that binds
together all of your energy systems and represents the centre of your
sense of love and security. The heart represents your passion for
life and your feeling of connection to the world around you. Its also
linked to your vocational contribution, your sense of purpose and
meaning in life and what you give.
When you experience symptoms
affecting the heart this may also be reflected in a lack of joy, fear
of being alone, feelings of disconnection and a lack of purpose or
meaning in life. It may also reflect an imbalance or unwillingness to
love yourself, which may get projected as self pity, resentment or
hatred in its various forms. If your symptom is affecting your heart,
ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (STOMACH,
SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINES)
The Digestive system allows you to
“digest” and assimilate your experiences. It allows you to draw
the positive from your life in order to absorb and nourish your
entire system.
When you experience symptoms that
affect your digestive system, this may reflect in an inability to
process what you may have experienced. It may also represent fear, or
an inner knowing, a deep guttural sense of something being out of
balance in your life. If your symptom is affecting your digestive
system, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with
me?
THE URINARY SYSTEM
The Urinary system represents your
ability to eliminate toxicity from yourself and your environment and
to release that which you have processed and no longer need.
When you experience symptoms
affecting your urinary system, it may represent an inability or
inefficiency in how you process negative emotions and trauma. If your
symptom is affecting your urinary system, ask yourself: Does anything
here specifically resonate with me?
THE LIVER
The Liver represents the storehouse of
your life force energy and also your ability to restore and
replenish.
When you experience symptoms affecting your liver, it may reflect the storing up of negative emotions that then deplete your energy. This energetic “fermentation” may create anger, resentment and irritability. If your symptom is affecting your liver, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE SPLEEN
The Spleen represents joy of living and
passion for life. It also processes and absorbs nourishment from our
emotional experiences in life and digests information from our
thought processes.
When you experience symptoms
affecting your spleen, it can be indicative of obsessiveness that may
be reflected in mental instability and depression. It may also
reflect a difficulty in processing thoughts and emotions and a
reduced capacity for receiving emotional nourishment. If your symptom
is affecting your spleen, ask yourself: Does anything here
specifically resonate with me?
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
The Reproductive
system represents your self identity, creativity, and ability to
experience pleasure. Its also a reflection of how you relate to
yourself in relation to others. It represents your sense of security
and your ability to survive.
When you
experience symptoms that affect the reproductive system it may
reflect a sense of insecurity, vulnerability or fear. It can also
indicate a perceived threat to your sense of survival. Issues
experienced in your reproductive system can also represent
distortions in your self identity, resulting in thwarted creativity.
They can highlight an inability to receive pleasure that can result
in a sense of self punishment and guilt. If your symptom is affecting
your reproductive system, ask yourself: Does anything here
specifically resonate with me?
WHAT’S THE
ANTIDOTE?
Messages from your Body
So after identifying the location and corresponding metaphysical aspects of your symptom, sometimes the awareness itself can bring about a natural healing, at other times, unpacking your newfound insights with a qualified therapist can assist with addressing the emotional component of your symptom. Further intervention may still be required such as seeking the advice of a health practitioner, talking a course of supplementation or medication if required, making adjustments to your diet or implementing a new physical regimen.
Sometimes the antidote is reducing stress, quitting a negative relationship, learning different ways to express yourself, building in relaxation or meditative processes to your life, reducing screen time or getting out into nature more. Learning emotional tools to assist in dealing with negative emotions or traumas can also be the required antidote. Gaining some teaching on how to release fear, anger, grief or shame can be vital to restoring emotional balance, that then allows for your natural states of healing, love, peace and joy to emerge.
All the best with your health and wellness
Chrissy Diamond
Holistic Alignment offers a variety of treatments to suit your unique needs. Our Practitioners Chrissy Diamond and Lorelei Messersmith will be happy to discuss any questions you may have regarding your treatment to assist in putting you at ease. Contact Chrissy to book your first Holistic Alignment.
The Flaw with the Law of Attraction. At the beginning of each new year we often resolve to change aspects about ourselves that we’d like to improve. All too often, as soon as we slip back into our routines, those annoying old habits resurface again. I recently read a gem of a book called “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself” written by Dr Joe Dispenza. The book discusses the neurophysiology associated with those outdated habits/patterns that we want to change. It also gives a very specific guide to actually creating the changes that we dearly want. Part of this guide highlights an important aspect of the LAW OF ATTRACTION that is often overlooked.
Firstly, let me explain the basic premise of the law of attraction. This law essentially states that whatever we think, feel and do, subconsciously, creates what we experience in life.
DR JOE DISPENZA
According to findings in neuroscience, our subconscious mind controls 95% of our thoughts, feelings and actions. Dr Dispenza explains that only 5% of these behaviours are controlled by our conscious mind. This means that most of us are thinking, feeling and acting out of subconscious patterns that we aren’t aware of.
These subconscious patterns are formed from historical experiences that have become embedded within us. They become embedded through memories that we’ve played over and over in our minds. This repetition creates automatic responses in our minds and bodies, that we are no longer aware of.
SUBCONSCIOUS PATTERNS
These automatic responses have several components:
Thought processes: judgements, assumptions and decisions we made about ourselves and our environment.
Feelings/Emotions: a felt emotion triggered by the thoughts e.g. fear, grief, anger, shame.
Physical response: biochemical changes resulting in a variety of physical reactions. E.g. contracted muscles causing tension/pain, sleeplessness, anxiety, nausea, digestive issues, lowered immune system leading to physical illnesses etc.
Behavioural response: E.g. over-drinking, over-eating, drug-dependencies, violence, reclusiveness, overspending, irresponsibility, self-pity, OCD. Or snapping at partner/kids, being overly critical, competitive, controlling – etc.
AUTOMATIC RESPONSES
These thoughts, feelings and physical responses have been so well memorised by us, that they then become subconscious. An example of this given by Dr Dispenza is getting into your car and driving from “A to B”. Upon arriving at “B”, you have no recollection of the journey. You’ve taken the journey so many times before you no longer have to think about it. It is now simply an automatic/subconscious memorised behaviour.
So, as Dr Dispenza instructs: we can create our experiences by default, assuming a powerless state of ignorance about our own negative patterns. In doing so, let our subconscious automatic thoughts, feelings and actions run the show, resulting in a haphazard, luck of the draw kind of life. Or we can create our thoughts, feelings and experiences consciously and deliberately. This is achieved by accessing our mysterious subconscious mind and changing our negative internalised programs to ones that serve us. This uses the law of attraction to our benefit.
CREATE DELIBERATELY OR BY DEFAULT
Coming back to Holistic Alignment’s musings about THE FLAW WITH THE LAW OF ATTRACTION
(Well it’s actually a flaw with a misperception regarding the Law of Attraction).
Many readings and teachings on the Law of attraction emphasise focusing our thoughts, words, feelings and behaviours on the positive e.g. what we DO want. However is fails to acknowledge the negative, what we DON’T want to create.
THE FLAW with this perception is that it can disguise the problem with false positivity. Colouring everything positive is not only inauthentic, it also ignores and distracts us from the very thing that we want to change. This makes the problem less conscious to us which is exactly what allows it to continue.
I was surprised to read Dr Dispenza’s instruction for changing our habitual patterns begins by identifying and memorising what the individual DOES NOT WANT! This vital step is often omitted from teachings on the LAW OF ATTRACTION.
ALERTING THE CONSCIOUS MIND
It dawned on me that the reason for identifying and memorizing the negative state is for the purpose of alerting the CONSCIOUS MIND. The subconscious mind needs the CONSCIOUS MIND to wake it up from its trance-like slumber of automatic thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They’re automatic because we don’t realize what we’re doing until we’re already acting out the same old pattern. Just like the example of the journey of driving from “A to B”, this is why the negative pattern cannot be bypassed by the conscious mind.
GIVING YOURSELF AN UPDATE
This bypassing of the conscious mind is why, despite focusing on positively framed thoughts, beliefs, intentions etc…it’s still easy to get tripped up by that old bad habit. Before you know it, self doubt creeps back in and it feels so impossible to change. It feels easier to just identify with that limited older version of ourselves as who we really are. What we fail to recognise, is that limited version of ourselves is just an older generation model of us. That model is based upon old neural networks that we keep acting out time and time again despite our best of intentions to be different. If any of this is sounding familiar to you, then perhaps it’s time to give yourself an update.
Holistic Alignment Musings
So, speaking from personal application of Dr Dispenza’s teachings, by identifying and memorizing the negative thing that I want to change, I can bring it into my conscious mind. Then, it takes a good level of self-honestly to acknowledge all of the ways those negative patterns play out.
An example could be:
Thought: No one understands me
Feeling: fear, anger or sadness
Physical response: breathlessness, abdominal tension, feeling tired and lackluster
Behaviour: Sighing, speaking sharply or rudely, isolating self by either pushing people away with abrasiveness or retreating and sulking, being overly controlling, critical or judging of others, crying, numbing the feelings through drinking alcohol or overeating
CHANGING THE PATTERN
By memorising those various negative patterns, whatever they may be for you, You can catch yourself the very moment you start thinking, feeling, or behaving in any of those familiar old ways. In doing so, you interrupt your own automatic behaviour. Once the pattern is interrupted, you can then employ the change techniques taught by Dr Dispenza.
Repeating this process through moment to moment awareness, has allowed me to begin to disrupt those old automatic habits. I can then activate the memorised thoughts, feelings, physical responses and behaviours that I WANT to experience. I am now observing this process play out in real time, having deliberate experiences that are allowing me to emerge into a better version of myself.
HOPE
When all else fails, including us, and we fail despite the best of our intentions, hope can be a sustaining force. Hope gives us the ability to try again and again…and again, to be the best version of ourselves in any given moment, and why settle for anything less?
Tomorrow is a new day and we’ve just started a new year so wishing you all the very best for becoming all that you can be in 2019!
CHRISSY DIAMOND
Holistic Alignment Musings
Holistic Alignment offers a variety of treatments to suit your unique needs. Our Practitioners Chrissy Diamond and Lorelei Messersmith will be happy to discuss any questions you may have regarding your treatment to assist in putting you at ease. Contact Chrissy to book your first Holistic Alignment.
