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If you've explored Heal With Hope you are likely aware that my research, along with my personal experiences, have led me to believe that most illness has some type of emotional root. The traumas, hurts, and stresses that we experience in life, and even before birth, can become trapped in the body...causing energy blocks that in turn wind up manifesting as physical & emotional symptoms. The challenge is figuring out what the emotions are, and where they are trapped in the body.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a great technique for releasing physical and emotional symptoms. While it is easy to learn this tapping technique and do it on your own, working with an experienced practitioner can be immensely helpful in identifying the root of the buried emotion. I remember my first EFT session, the practitioner I was working with (Ruth Stern) asked me about my parents, and I told her what I felt at the time: "my parents were great and I know for a fact there are no emotional issues surrounding them..."

Meditation is an act of inner awareness directing our attention in a specific way. It is also similar to a deep rest and relaxation. It is an opportunity to draw our energy into ourselves by sitting quietly with our eyes closed. We benefit greatly by taking a few minutes each day to shut off the outside world and make ourselves a priority, our inner world and get to know who we are.

Meditation helps in other numerous ways. It is a way to quiet down all of the noise in your life. It allows us to practice staying fully in the present moment. By becoming the observer of your thoughts and feelings, you get clear on how you feel, and trust your gut feelings and intuition. Meditation expands self-discovery, helps create inner peace, improves clarity, stimulates creativity, elicits relaxation, and improves mental and physical health by releasing stress.

Other beginner exercises during meditation are counting the length of the inhale breath and the exhale breath, or watching the flame of a lighted candle. Your thoughts will pop in during this time. This is perfectly normal. Know that you are benefitting just by sitting quietly, being loving and relaxed.

With practice, you are learning not to “attach” to your thoughts. You are the witness of them. Then you learn to choose your thoughts wisely, choosing life affirming and positive thoughts that honor your beautiful infinite and fully empowered self, thoughts of unlimited possibilities.

Laurie Martin is a leading teacher of self-love and personal empowerment. Laurie is a Certified Life Coach, Yoga Teacher, writer and Author of Smile Across Your Heart: The Process of Building Self-Love and her new E-Book, The Conscious Breakup Guide. Sign up for her free newsletter to receive her workshop invites or purchase her Yoga DVD, books or services: www.smileacrossyourheart.com. Email:LaurieM@SmileAcrossYourHeart.com

The season of Thanksgiving...the time for giving thanks for the blessings in our lives. But this is not always easy to do when you're coping with illness, or facing any of the trials & tribulations that are a natural part of life.  I know there was a time when I was so overwhelmed with all that was happening in my life, particularly being so ill, that it was difficult to tap into feelings of gratitude.  But I can tell you that finding ways to do so has had such a positive impact on my life. Even when it felt a bit forced or insincere in the moment, the act of shifting to the positive, to all I had to be thankful for...even during those times I really had to dig deep to think of anything...always seemed to lift me from that funk. Because when you focus on giving thanks for what  you do have (however small it may seem at the time), the more blessings you will attract...and the more you will find to give thanks for.

So if life seems overwhelming, and you find it hard to count your blessings, dig really deep...you just might be surprised at how much you truly do have to give thanks for.  And in the process discover the power of positive, and begin attracting more goodness into your life.

I mean really...something that happened when you were two years old could be behind an illness or physical symptoms 20, 30, 40, even 50 years later??  I can personally attest that YES, this is not only possible, but probable.  My 15 year journey to find healing from a debilitating chronic illness has led me down many paths, and I've tried just about every treatment, technique, and supplement I've come across.  But what has had the greatest impact is the discovery of the trauma and emotion behind my symptoms...and the patterns and behaviors that resulted from them. 

I won't bore you with the details, but I can tell you that events and circumstances that occurred when I was two and three years old established patterns of thought and behavior that I can now see were contributing factors in the development of the chronic illness I suffered with later in life. 

Thankfully we live in a time when there are so many knowledgeable and talented people who have the skill and ability to help us to identify, release, and move past these traumas and emotions.  If you have "tried everything" and have been unable to identify the cause of your illness/physical symptoms, or your instincts tell you that emotional blocks could be behind your physical challenges, I would recommend you consider the following:

1.  EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique

This technique involves tapping on acupressure points on the body, and can offer profound results. This does not require practitioner assistance, although working with someone experienced in EFT can greatly enhance results. While I use EFT on a regular basis on my own, it was the work I did with Ruth Stern that really helped me make the most of this powerful technique.  Read more about EFT

2.  Consider working with an energy healer/intuitive.  The work I have done with Cranio Sacral Therapist Charlene McLachlan, as well as others who do energy work, have provided amazing insights & results.  Releasing and letting go of blocked energy allows healthy chi to flow through the body, mind & spirit...and create an environment of healing so the body can do what it was intended to: heal itself.  Read more about Cranio Sacral. 

If you need help locating a practitioner feel free to email me and I would be glad to share the names/contact info of the energy healers I have worked with, or try to help you find someone in your area: andrea@healwithhope.com