Article Contributed by Christine Priorie

So often when we are faced with a challenge or problem, we unknowingly begin figuring out what to do.  We look at the situation in every way possible and ultimately wind up feeling frustrated.  Each time we attempt to fix what is bothering us keeps bringing us back to the original place where we started.  The starting point is always the same.  We are facing our resistance and we don’t know what to do, to fix it or change, how we are feeling.  We didn’t figure out what to do to feel better.  And, we still don’t have an answer or resolution to our frustration.  Because we didn’t resolve the matter (regardless of how many times we attempted to figure out what to do), we start unconsciously disapproving of ourselves.  When disapproving of ourselves also didn’t resolve the matter, we then move on and begin disapproving of others.  Surely disapproving of others doesn’t help us to feel better; so we move on again, and begin disapproving of something else.  And we do this anytime we have an apparent problem that we don’t know what to do.  This strategy clearly doesn’t work.  Anytime we are acting in this way, we aren’t releasing.  And yet we keep trying to fix situations by repeating these same steps.  The only reason we keep trying to resolve matters in this same manner, is simply because we’ve conditioned ourselves to believe, “That if we keep trying… eventually we’ll figure it out.”  Please see this pattern as a program that is running and release what you are holding in mind.

Anytime we are trying to figure out what to do, we are actually spinning in a web of being out of control.  We are looking for approval where it isn’t.  We desperately want to be safe which is protecting ourselves with fear.  We also have a tremendous sense of wanting to be separate from facing what we are holding in mind.  All of this suggests that steps 1-6 are not in place.  We are trying to control the stuckness by means of avoidance and struggle.  We are miserable because we are struggling.  We are holding onto AGFLAP (or other lacking feelings or stories), coming from the past, that are coming up and trying to leave.  Can you see how much effort goes into this process of figuring things out?  None of this is good or bad; it is just a habit that we haven’t yet realized that we can do without.  By wanting to change something or wanting to figure things out, actually moves us away from being at peace or having a resolution.  The feelings, which belong to us, are coming up into our awareness so we can take notice of these patterns and finally release the underlying cause.  If we move towards the resistance, we will immediately begin to feel lighter and happier.  We have two choices.  We can move towards the resistance (aversion), or we can choose to move in the opposite direction.  By taking the path of avoidance, we are making a decision to look away from the challenge that we have created for ourselves.  What this means is, when we choose to avoid how we feel as issues come up, only results in our having to face the issue at a future time.  Unless we decide to face and release the thoughts that we are holding in mind, our feelings and programs will remain in place.   Lester Levenson and Larry Crane has said, “Whatever we resist‒will persist!”  This points out that we are the creators of everything that we experience.

The goal is happiness with no sorrow.  So in order for us to achieve this goal, we need to consciously and regularly strengthen our intention to be free of whatever feelings or issues that arise.  We need to remind ourselves, “I am the Boss!  I am in charge!”  We need to further remind ourselves that when we are in courageousness, acceptance, and peace that we can easily move past feeling limited or stuck.  Through releasing, we have learned that we are not our feelings.  Our thoughts correspond to whatever level of AGFLAP/CAP that we were feeling at the time any decision was made.  We know that by not wanting to face an issue, or by deciding to avoid taking responsibility for our feelings, we will continue to experience unhappiness in relation to whatever we are sidestepping. So if finances are a challenge to us, this issue will keep surfacing until faced.  If we are experiencing relationship difficulties, those challenges will follow us from one relationship to another trying to get our attention.  Again this only points out that these matters exist because we are holding onto them.  If we are facing health issues, we can be certain these limitations will continue to challenge us until we examine our thinking, and correct what we are holding in mind.

All feelings, are pointing out to us, that we have things to be released.  When we let go of the not-so-good feelings, we are making room for peace and positivity to come into our life.  By letting go of the good feelings, we are allowing more goodness and abundance to come into our awareness.  This cycle is a continual moving forward as there are deeper issues related to areas of health, wealth and relationships that we haven’t yet discovered.  Each time we release, we get to feel happier and lighter.  In order to release, we need to be in CAP as there is no releasing in AGFLAP.  Make an intention to be free of holding onto fear (and other AGFLAP).  Also leave resistance, lack, and wanting to figure things out in the past.  Move forward each day by holding in mind only what you would like to experience.  Love yourself more each day.  Be willing to see everything as an opportunity to release.  The more we practice releasing, the easier life gets.  Challenge yourself to have more, do more, and be more.  Dare to think bigger in a positive way!  Abundance is available to everyone.  It exists right where you are.  Love and happiness are your basic nature.  See this for yourself and claim victory over limitations and excuses.  There are no limitations, unless we are holding them in mind…

In deciding to honor our New Year’s resolution, intentions or goals, means we are continuously willing to keep moving forward and challenge ourselves to be positive.  We are determined to overcome whatever issue that we would like to resolve.  If overeating, smoking, drinking, excess internet gaming are issues that you would like to really overcome, you need to decide for yourself that you would like to be done with holding onto these habits.  Perhaps by doing an Attachment and Aversion exercise regarding your resolution (habit, goal, etc.) will help you begin to see what you are holding in mind about why you continue to hold onto the habit(s).  There is no judgment.  In order to achieve our goals, we have to be willing to examine our thinking, and correct what we are holding in mind.

Most people that hold onto negative habits actually have one or more programs (of wanting approval, wanting control or wanting to be safe/secure), running in relation to their habit.  A habit is just another means of protecting ourselves with fear.  Larry Crane has suggested whenever we have the urge to smoke/eat (some other negative habit), to release first (perhaps doing a few rounds of the, “What’s good? What’s bad?” exercise) in relation to having/not having the cigarette/food (or other substance or activity).  In the example of deciding to have a cigarette (other substance or activity) after releasing, well go ahead and enjoy it.  By suggesting enjoying the cigarette (other substance or activity) if that’s what you decided to have, is taking responsibility.  It is also allowing you to see for yourself that you made the decision to have or not have the cigarette (other substance or activity).  Notice there is no disapproval regarding smoking (or other habits).  Remember that whatever you decide to do, or not do, is Ok.  Guilt and shame are negative ways of motivating ourselves.  So if you notice this is something that you are doing, please catch this and change your focus.  The suggestion is to release first simply for the purpose of showing you what you are holding in mind.  This exercise is so extremely powerful and can be applied in regards to any resolution or negative habit.

Perhaps having a goal statement such as, “I allow myself to have and enjoy a healthy lifestyle” is a great place to see what you are holding in mind.  Negative habits impair our ability to discriminate.  Although it appears that we may gain a perceived level of temporary satisfaction from the habit, in reality the habit is causing our underlying feelings and their root concerns still remain.  The issue of hanging onto negative habits appears to be for the purpose of social enjoyment, when in actuality we use these vices to avoid facing our feelings.  If we look at our habits closely, we may actually see that there are things we don’t like about these activities.  If we are complaining about cost, time, etc., we are also disapproving which is further perpetuating a negative reality.  As with any unwanted habit, they only remain because we are holding onto stories and limited beliefs from the past.  Every issue is showing us some level of attachment and aversion.  Any unwanted habit can easily and positively be reduced and eliminated simply by applying your releasing skills.  Alcohol, tobacco, gaming, and other activities, are a means of avoidance or a mechanism of separation.  None of this is good or bad, it is just something that we’ve decided at a previous time.

The truth of the matter is our unwanted habits result in our feeling unhappy.  If you’ll take a moment and notice there is something that you want to change and are unwilling to take responsibility for you we are feeling.  By avoiding to look at what we are holding in mind, prevents us from accomplishing what we would like to achieve.  In order for us to overcome any unwanted habit, we need to be in the energy of Courageousness, Acceptance, or Peace.  Releasing is a scientifically proven formula of success.  It works on any situation.  Sometimes, because we have been on automatic for a long time when we begin dealing with resolutions, intentions or goals related to unwanted habits (weight, smoking, or something else), our initial tendency is to resist.  If you notice you are resisting, simply become aware that the resistance is there.  By moving towards the resistance you are moving towards being positive and will begin to feel lighter and calmer.  Just by observing your feelings creates a shift in awareness, as we realize that our feelings, are just recordings from the past.  These feelings are also attached to past decisions that we have made, in various levels of AGFLP and wanting, and are still running in our subconscious minds.  By moving towards the resistance, gives you an opportunity to decide to move into CAP.  You’ll notice that by moving into CAP you are now capable of releasing the unwanted feelings that are coming up to leave.  By witnessing the activity in the mind, you’ll also notice there isn’t any judging, struggling, or trying to escape.  What is coming into your awareness is coming up for the mere purpose of being released.  If you ask the energy, “If it would like to leave,” it will respond, “YES!”  So please, welcome up the energy and just let it go.  Notice this is simply a decision.  You can struggle or you can move into higher energy, discriminate, and be free from holding onto that which is ready to leave.

Being free of unwanted habits, is deciding that you CAN achieve your goals.  It is stating you are willing to keep going.  If the habit remains, it is only showing you there are more layers to confront.  By making the decision to continue to release, and keep moving forward, you are accepting whatever situation that you have created for yourself and are choosing mastery over misery.  Each release makes it easier for you to bring up deeper layers of the stories that you are holding onto.  You are declaring ENOUGH of being run by a stories, habits or limitations.  If we choose to continue holding onto the stories and pictures from the past, it is deciding that we would rather protect ourselves with fear and other negative emotions.  If we look at the example of the releasing water from the bath tub, we see that when we are ready to remove the plug or release the latch on the drain, that the water simply starts to empty itself out.  The same is true with our feelings.  If we don’t give the feelings permission to leave, they will remain, just as the water will remain in the bathtub.  Life is a decision.  You can keep decide to keep your unwanted habits and feelings or you can let them go.  What do you decide?  Why not just strengthen your decision for freedom and have all of the goodness that is available to you!

Article Contributed by Christine Priorie

Here we are in mid-January and it’s a good time to review where we are with our new year’s resolutions.  For most folks the New Year has come and gone; and along with that is the relief that the holiday season is officially over.  After January reaches the mid-way point, our enthusiasm about keeping our resolution(s) seems somewhat diminished.  So it appears that resolutions are something that many folks really don’t expect to have come true, which is probably why so many people give up on their resolutions.  Many people initiate a resolution usually because of wanting approval from others.  Resolutions at the New Year are based on a belief that suggests this activity is something we are supposed to do.  Whenever we are supposed to do something, it kind of feels like a burden, and we therefore seem to dismiss or toss aside whatever we hoped to resolved.

The good news about resolutions is the mind is creative.  So our resolution is showing us something that we would like to achieve.  By making resolutions, suggests there are some things that we would like to resolve. By deciding to release and go all the way to completion means we keep chipping away at our tendencies and limitations.  A resolution is actually, if used correctly, is an intention to let go of holding onto situations that make us unhappy.  A common resolution includes reducing weight.  By approaching this topic as an area of dissatisfaction, we can begin looking at our resistance.  If we would approach all subjects as simply an opportunity to release our non-loving feelings, we can make huge strides in overcoming those areas that we deem as frustrating or unresolved.  Lester Levenson and Larry Crane have said, “If we had no fear, no wanting, or no resistance, we could have anything easily and without struggle.”  We struggle because we are trying to eliminate that which we don’t want; instead of holding in mind that which we would like to have.  Once again, the mind is only creative so by disapproving of something, we are sustaining the exact issue we would like to change.  For example, issues with weight present many opportunities for us to release.  The weight issue may be related to negative perceptions regarding family members, TV personalities, or other associations.  We may use food to avoid doing certain things.  We may also use food as a means of protection, which is protecting ourselves with fear.  Trust when we aren’t happy with our weight, there are many issues that we are holding onto.  The actual number on the scale or the amount of weight we would like to lose, are also indications that we have attachments and aversions to the issue of our weight.  We avoid working on the issue of weight because we really don’t want to know why we created this limitation for our self.  Limited beliefs keep the unwanted weight in place.  Our beliefs also affect our feeling unworthy and somewhat disempowered.  The typical approach to the issue of weight loss is figuring out what is wrong followed by disapproval (of our self and the weight issue).  Until we face the underlying issue(s) related to the weight issue(s), we will continue to struggle with weight challenges.

Issues related to our weight are showing us things we do not like about ourselves and yet continue to ignore. We have all worked very hard to suppress our feelings regarding our weight.  This is also why the weight issue remains.  Remember, what we resist, will persist!  Everyone has many negative associations related to their weight and body image.  If this really is an area you would like to address, please make a decision to apply your releasing skills in relation to your weight.  By releasing the suppressed feelings, frees us from holding onto limited beliefs, being stuck, and feeling unmotivated, undeserving and frustrated.  Begin by having a positive goal such as, “I allow myself to weigh my ideal weight (?), by (?)” and begin knocking out the limitations.  Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to complete your goal.  Also be willing to break goal into smaller amounts if the weight issue is one that you have been dealing with for some time.  Even if the desired weight loss is a relatively small amount (10-15 pounds), this is showing us we are holding onto resistance.  Perhaps another goal may include reducing our weight by 5 pounds within the next month.  By dealing with issues related to weight in this way, we are being realistic with our expectations.  We are willing to achieve smaller weight loss gains in order to achieve our total goal.  Many people have lost weight simply by releasing their disapproval towards: food, calories, and the number on the scale.  By releasing associations on negative labels such as fat or unattractive, etc. has also helped folks to reduce their weight and feel better.  The folks that have given themselves permission to move beyond weight challenges are holding Step No. 1 in mind.  They decided to have imperturbability more than they wanted approval, control or safety.  In other words, achieving their goal was more important to them, than being run by excuses and limitations.   When we choose to take total responsibility and look at the negative stories and excuses that we created which are running in the background of our mind, allows us to see things in a different way.  We are moving towards positive.  We are deciding to be the boss and master the limitations related to our weight, health and self-image.  By releasing on these issues allows us to discriminate.  Each release helps us move the direction of being loving.  Releasing helps us to overcome any challenge that we are facing.  By facing our attachments and aversion(s), we are also letting go of deep levels of AGFLAP, resistance, and wanting.  Lester Levenson reminds us that, “There are no impossibles, if we aren’t holding them in mind!   Releasing helps undo the dissatisfaction.”

Things you can do to achieve your weight loss goals include:  Increase your momentum.  Strengthen your intention to be resolved in relation to your weight. Take responsibility for the limitations.  Remember that you are not your feelings… you are not the frustration… and you are not the number on the scale… These limitations are in your awareness only to show you what you are holding in mind.  Hold in mind ONLY what you want.  See exactly what you would like to achieve.  Regardless of what the image in the mirror looks like, or the value appearing on the scale, be determined to “square all with love.”  Love yourself!  Love the image in the mirror!  Love the scale!  Love the excess weight!  Love is the answer!

Article Contributed by Christine Priorie

A) Review the Six Steps

B) Remember that you are in charge!

C) What you resist, PERSISTS.  Make a decision to move forward.  Life is a decision!

D) Give yourself LOTS of love and approval

E) Take responsibility for whatever the situation or circumstance is, as this situation is only an out projection of something that occurred in the past that needs your attention.

F) Get BIGGER and face the fear.  Each time we face our fears, it helps us to become more confident in our releasing skills and helps us to dig deeper.

G) Let go of protecting yourself with fear.  Let go of wanting to be safe.

H) Take a look at any of your releasing workbooks; pick an exercise, and begin working on your resistance.

I) Help is available (call a partner, call the Support Line, or ask a question during the weekly conference call)

J) Listen to the Fear and Worry CD… Anger CD… or replay past conference calls  (Replay calls are available via phone or through computer links)

K) Review your releasing books or DVDs and you’ll instantly have an insight

L) Let go trying to control the stuckness.  Let go of wanting control and wanting to change.  Wanting control is just resistance.

M) Create a goal statement and eliminate the “I can’t” thoughts.  Look for the “I won’t” thoughts and gain mastery of the so-called limitation.

N) Give yourself permission to face your aversion and keep moving forward

O) Choose to be positive in spite of what is going on

P) Increase your momentum

Q) Register for an upcoming workshop, teleconference series, retreat, or order new releasing materials (books, CDs, DVDs)

R) Work on the “Pride” and “Past” exercises regularly

S) Challenge your limitations

T) Welcome more joy and abundance into your life by seeing that “It’s possible!” to have be or do anything.  Being stuck works for the ego.  Keep Step #1 in focus at all times.

U) Remember LOVE is the answer.  “Square all with love!”

V) Keep examining your thinking and correcting it

W) Remember you are already FREE.  You are whole, perfect, and complete!

X) You are not your mind… you are not your body… you are not your ego… and you are not your feelings.

Y) Keep going!  Keep it simple!

Z) Review this list often.  You are the boss!  You are in charge!

Each time you release, you become happier and lighter.  Releasing is the highest level of activity that you can use to improve the quality of your life.  Making a decision to release is choosing to move towards positive.  Let go of remaining stuck.  Let go of the AGFLAP.  Let go of wanting approval / wanting control / wanting safety/security and claim victory over your ego.  Releasing works on every situation!  Simply apply your releasing skills and watch the resistance leave.  All feelings want to leave.  So welcome them up, and let them go.  When we have eliminated resistance, fear, and wanting… all that is left is goodness – joy – bliss – happiness – quiet – positive only – abundance and success.  Find out for yourself, that the best feeling in the world is happiness with no sorrow or regrets.

Article Contributed by Christine Priorie

Here are several things that you can easily do to begin feeling happier each day.  You will be as happy as you decide to be. In deciding to do nothing, that is exactly what you will accomplish — NOTHING.  Your life is, and always will be, a reflection of what you are holding in mind.

Releasing is the most positive activity that you can incorporate into your life that will allow you to continuously feel happier.

1)  Make a decision to experience happiness at all times by having a positive intention for everything you do. Enjoyment is only possible if we are in CAP as there is no releasing in AGFLAP.  Life is a decision!  Enjoy everything!  You are the boss!

2)  Decide to have a good attitude. This is also a decision.

3)  Develop an attitude of gratitude.  Be grateful for all of the good things that you experience.  Rewards yourself and others in generous ways.  Make it a point to jot down your gains on a daily basis. Say “Thank you!” as this feels wonderful.

4) Look for goodness in every situation.  See everything as perfect.  By releasing, you can shift your perception and see that you are the creator of everything that you experience.

5) Love yourself by giving yourself love and approval on a regular basis.

6) Try new things.  By trying new things will help you to move out of your comfort zone.  If we always do, that which we have always done, we will continue to experience the same results.  Challenge yourself positively!

7) How we do anything, is how we do everything!  Do things that make you feel good!    Whatever you are doing, do it well!

8) Practice laughing often.  Laughter is a fun and healthy way to instantly feel joy.

9) Hold in mind that you are always safe.  Throughout the day remind yourself that you are safe.  If you are feeling insecure or uncertain about something, it is a good idea to see this feeling as something that is trying to get your attention.  Your feelings are coming up so they can be released.  Remember ALL feelings want to leave.

10) Let go of wanting to be right.  In letting of wanting to be right, you are also letting go of holding onto being stuck or wanting to change something.

11) Keep up your momentum by continuing to practice releasing on a regular basis.  The more we practice releasing, the better we can discriminate.  Each time we release, we get lighter and happier. When you get to a good place, ask yourself, “Could it get any better?” which is Step No. 6 of the method.  Keep going!

12) Share with others is being selfless.  There is so much we can share with one another.  We can share love, time, energy, compliments, generosities, assistance and so much more.

13) Sharing the method with others is a magnificent way for you and others to experience happiness; simply because the more people that release in our environment allows more joy and happiness to be experienced by all.

Each and every time you are positive, you are creating better outcomes for yourself.  You are helping yourself to develop better self-esteem.  Your health, confidence, relationships, and other areas of your life will continue to improve.  The investment you are making in yourself comes with amazing benefits – it is called being happy with no sorrow.