Anxiety and stress protocol by Silvia Hartmann

This is a really great article on anxiety and stress by Silvia Hartmann which has some really useful and simple exercises http://silviahartmann.com/specials-anxiety-stress-selfhelp.php 

I've been doing them for the last few days with some great results!

Last night as I was sleeping,


I dreamt—marvelous error!—


that I had a beehive


here inside my heart.


And the golden bees


were making white combs


and sweet honey


from my old failures.

~ Antonio Machado

We attract what we are

We don't, we attract what we think or believe we are. If we believe we're not good, or good enough, not worthy, or worthy enough, not deserving, not lovable, not acceptable, that's what shows up in our lives. Not because it's true but because we believe it is, which is an entirely different matter. Look at Bruce Lipton's book The Biology of Belief for example.

When a child grows up believing that they're not lovable, sadly they'll live that so-called truth out by not respecting themselves and allowing others to disrespect them in many different ways. But it doesn't have to be that way, we can examine and question our beliefs and dissolve the beliefs that don't serve us with tools such as EFT.

The gift of anger

There are too many emotions that are considered negative, but probably one of the most vilified is anger. I really like the work of Karla McLaren on emotions, she calls separating emotions into positive and negative lists: 'valencing'. You can read some excellent articles on her site on anger and all of the other emotions. For example she has a list of the gifts that anger has for us which are:


Identifying the gifts of anger

I have a series of questions for you, and I want you to think about them in the present moment — in relation to your current relationships and your present-day skills. These answers can change over time, so let’s focus on your situation right now.

As you answer these ten questions, please grade your responses from 1 to 5: 1 (No – Never); 2 (Rarely); 3 (Sometimes); 4 (Often); and 5 (Yes – Always).

I feel heard and respected in my interpersonal relationships
I am comfortable speaking up for myself, even during conflicts
I take good care of myself
I know who I am
I can make clear distinctions between my own needs and the needs of others
I can say no to demands on my personal time
I can make clear distinctions between my own emotions and the emotions of others
I can remain present and focused when others are angry
I am sensitive to issues of social justice
I work to make the world a more just and loving place for everyone

It's easy to see how anger can serve us after reading this list. The problem is most of us either repress anger or express it when it's gotten to the point of rage because we've let it build up. The trick is to acknowledge your emotions AND any judgements you may have for having them in the first place. The most important thing is to feel your emotions so they don't get stuck, you don't necessarily have to express them if you don't want to or don't feel safe in doing so.

Personally, I would never work with a practitioner who spoke about emotions being either positive or negative as I'd find it very hard, if not impossible, to be emotionally honest with that person, especially if I were feeling any of the 'negative' emotions on their list, which would make any work we'd do together futile. Why is being honest about how we truly feel such an issue with ourselves and others? Something definitely worth tapping on ...

Sitting quietly with yourself

Sometimes this is the hardest thing to do because we can feel like we want to climb out of our own skin. But if we can have the courage to stay with those difficult emotions and sensations, we increase our capacity to feel them. By feeling them, they dissipate of their own accord naturally. Anxiety is usually years and years and years worth of not feeling our pain.

There is a very good exercise which you can download for free called the 12 second chill from Dr Suzanne Le Combe http://www.myshrink.com/members/12-second-chill-ebook/ It is not a relaxation exercise, but an exercise in increasing your capacity to feel difficult emotions and physical sensations, initially starting with 12 seconds and gradually increasing as and when you feel comfortable.

I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me ~ Herman Hesse