Coloring Books for Adults

COLORING BOOKS FOR ADULTS: Really? Yes, Really...

More Than a Fad

 

When I first started noticing the "coloring books for adults" fad, I couldn't help but think: "Really? What other gimmicks will they come up with next?" Well, little did I know then that I was about to become a big fan of the whole idea...not to mention a coloring book addict.

As soon as I decided to set aside my "I'm too old for this and I don't want to look ridiculous" attitude, I remembered a transformational psychology class I had in school which required that I chose my favorite activity from when I was a child, practiced it for a week and then reported on it. Which activity did I choose? Coloring. I still remember the wonderful feelings I had from reconnecting with my childhood that way: the sense of freedom, of childlike innocence, of pure and simple joy...

But that's just one of the many benefits you might notice when you start coloring books on a regular basis. This activity is not only fun; it helps you get in touch with your artistic, creative side, and you might find yourself using that creativity at home and at work. One of the clients to whom I recommended it mentioned that, after trying the coloring books for only one week, she was able to accomplish during that week the work that normally would have taken her about a month (creating new brochures, flyers and business forms for her company).

Among other advantages, coloring books can also help you de-stress, relieve anxiety and even achieve a meditative state. It calms the mind, allowing you to feel more centered and grounded. I have personally noticed its mood balancing effects, as well as an increased sense of joy and contentment. From an integrative care perspective, this activity has the potential to help improve your health in general, as the shapes and colors you choose are likely to be exactly the ones you need for the healing and balancing of your body, mind and spirit.

I didn't think I had time for this; now I make time for this because of its countless benefits. I have also recommended it to friends, family and several of my hypnotherapy/life coaching clients, and with great success.

Coloring therapy is often used with children and young adults by many therapists and health centers, and it's gradually becoming more common as part of the treatment of certain healthcare issues in adults, such as addiction recovery symptoms.

In short, coloring books are no joke!

 

© Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 02/23/2016
theragicenter.com

Image: Gisele's colorful interpretation with PrismaColor pencils of a design from the Posh Coloring Book - Pretty Designs for Fun and Relaxation

 
NOTE: This blog article was published on the April 2016 issues of Natural Awakenings - Central Florida/Orlando Edition, and this image was used on the cover (link below)
Natural Awakenings CF - April 2016
(Cover Article: Coloring Books for Adults: Really? Yes, Really…, pg. 17; Cover Artist: pg. 10)

References:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/coloring-for-stress_n_5975832.html
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/health/adult-coloring-books-popularity-mental-health/index.html
http://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/holistic/coloring_therapy

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Improve Your Relationships

Improve Your Relationships... Reconnect With
Your Best Self!

"There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self." 

--- Aldous Huxley 

Making a Check List?

I'm all for making lists and writing affirmations about the kind of relationship we desire and the kind of person we want to have it with. However, the truth is that the best way to improve our relationships is to start by improving ourselves. It's the good old Law of Attraction at play: That which is like unto itself is drawn; or, simply put, like attracts like. As we get into alignment with our true selves, we attract others who are in a similar process; current relationships improve, or end to create space for more satisfying and fulfilling connections.

So, if you were to ask me to help you understand why you seem to be stuck in negative relationship patterns, and what you can do about it:

• I would suggest that we start by identifying limiting core beliefs that might be preventing you from having satisfying relationships (such as the belief that you're not deserving of being loved).
• Together we would seek awareness of common fears that might be holding you back (being hurt again, not being good enough, etc), and then work towards overcoming them.
• We would also work on resolving, removing, releasing known and unknown blocks and barriers from your path.
• As part of the process, we would also work towards empowerment and self-management.
• As you reclaim your true self, you'd start having more clarity by reconnecting with your own inner guidance.

This powerful process of reconnecting with your best self can also help improve your relationships with friends, family members, co-workers. Whether you go through it by yourself or with a partner, the benefits are priceless.

© Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 2/15/2016
theragicenter.com

Photo by the hk photo company from unsplash

Stressed Much?

Stressed Much?
Here's What You
Need to Know...

About Stress

Out-of-control stress is the number one underlying factor to the onset of disease in the body. Aside from the emotional toll stress takes, it also affects our health, says Diane Robinson, PhD, of UF Health Center. However, according to author of The Upside of Stress Dr. Kelly McGonigal, more recent studies show that it's our belief that stress is harmful that can be most damaging; not stress itself. Unfortunately, the reality is that most of us have been conditioned and are convinced of the potentially damaging effects of chronic stress, including the fact that long term stress can, among other things, affect our immune system, compromise the digestive system, lead to depression and result in the general deterioration of health.

So we are aware that stress is not always bad; it's necessary to help us achieve our goals, or as a defense mechanism in case of danger. In addition, we are aware that there are many things we can do to prevent, reduce and cope with stress, such as proper diet, exercise, rest and play time; practicing meditation and relaxation techniques such as yoga and breath work; etc. Now we also know that we can learn to re-direct stress and put it to work for us, instead of against us. So why is it that most people don't take advantage of these solutions?

In addition, the way we perceive and handle time can have a lot to do with how much stress we feel in our lives. According to Gay Hendricks, author of The Big Leap, we need to make the switch from our Newtonian perception of time (which says that there's only a finite amount of time) to Einstein Time (in which time is relative, so we need to take charge of the amount of time we have and realize we are where time comes from). From that perspective, we can then figure out areas in our lives that we are trying to disown and take full ownership of it (in other words, become aware of the fact that our life circumstances stem from ourselves, and we can change them). According to Hendricks, "stress and conflict are caused by resisting acceptance and ownership," and the stress will disappear once we are able to accept and claim ownership of it.

Whichever the causes behind stress, hypnotherapy can be a valuable tool for stress management. Through hypnotherapy we can tap into the subconscious and reprogram unwanted behavior via suggestions. In addition to performing hypnosis sessions for stress reduction, a hypnotherapist can also help the client determine the core issues behind the stress, as well as help break unhealthy habits and patterns. For these reasons, more and more people are seeking hypnotherapy as a safe, noninvasive therapeutic option.

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 12/16/2015
theragicenter.com

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels 

Weight Management Part 1 - What's Eating You?

What's Eating You?

Weight loss/management is big business in the U.S.

There are literally thousands of products and services out there that promise to help you take your pounds off and keep them off. Many are classified as unhealthy and even potentially harmful; others are recommended by doctors and specialists. The problem with most existing methods is that they do not address the issues behind the overeating and other bad eating habits that caused the extra weight. They usually work only on the conscious mind level, often ignoring subconscious causes. Therefore, even when people are able to lose weight, they often fall back into old habits and gain it all over again. It would be worth to keep Dr. Janet Greeson's wise words (and book title) in mind: "It's not what you're eating, it's what's eating you."

The advantage of Hypnotherapy is that it can tap into the subconscious and reprogram unwanted behavior via suggestions. In addition to performing hypnosis sessions to help make your process of losing and managing weight a lot easier, a hypnotherapist can also help the client determine the causes behind the issue and create a customized program to facilitate breaking old patterns and unhealthy habits. Hypnotherapy also works very well as a complement to other weight loss and management programs.

In short, hypnotherapy is a healthy, natural and non-invasive way to guide you through a healthy lifestyle shift that will help you master your body while still being able to enjoy what you eat. No diets that leave you hungry, no pills that might make you sick, no constant feeling of deprivation... For these reasons, more and more people are seeking hypnotherapy as a safe therapeutic option.

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 01/19/16
theragicenter.com

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Reference:
It’s Not What You’re Eating... It’s What’s Eating You!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3327350-it-s-not-what-you-re-eating-it-s-what-s-eating-you

The Power of Our Memories

The Power of
Our Memories

Are you curious about Past Energy Release?
Many people want to try it just out of curiosity; however, it can also be very effective as a therapeutic tool. PER Therapy, also referred to as Past Life Regression, is a technique that uses hypnosis to recover what many practitioners believe to be memories of past lives or incarnations. During a PER session, the client experiences such “memories” as mental movies, slides, images, thoughts, feelings and sensations. Although there is no conclusive evidence to prove the reincarnation hypothesis, and many people consider past life memories to be just creations of the mind, there are enough studies and researches to demonstrate that it is a plausible hypothesis. However, true or imaginary, these “memories” can be used to work through and help release, resolve and remove current issues and root trauma, as well as promote self-development. In other words, you don’t have to believe in reincarnation to benefit from past life regression therapy.

PAST ENERGY RELEASE/PAST LIFE REGRESSION FAQS:
• How Will I “See” My Past Life?
It’s different for each person. Some people might “play” it in their minds as if they were watching a movie; others might “hear” in their minds a description of what’s happening; yet others might just have a “knowing” of what is transpiring. Also, some people might perceive scenes of one past life in a linear progression; others might go back and forth, or even jump to scenes from other lives. The best way is to go in with no expectations of how you might experience it; just go with the flow. And if your subconscious does its own thing and doesn’t follow the script, that’s ok, the script is meant only as a guideline.
In case nothing at all happens, it’s also ok. There’s nothing wrong with you; maybe it’s not time for you to go through this experience at this point in your life, or in this group environment. Whatever happens (or doesn’t happen), it is your decision and only yours, even if it comes from a subconscious or unconscious level.
You can choose a theme for your PLR experience or leave it open ended; if you choose a theme, however, keep in mind that your subconscious might have its own agenda.

• What If I'm Making It All Up?
It's OK. Scientific studies show that past life regression therapy works if the client believes the experience is real or not. The bottom line is that whatever you feel you wish to experience is the right thing for you. The important thing to look at is what comes to your mind. Once you are in a relaxed state, your mind will offer you the information you are meant to work with at that time. It can happen that your conscious mind will try to be critical of or interfere with your experience as you go through the session; allow it to do what it must. However, try not to censor yourself in any way; again, just go with the flow.

• What If I See Something Or Someone I Don't Like?
What a great opportunity that will be! That way, you can discuss what bothers you and why it came to you at this time in your life, so that it can be taken care of and resolved; sometimes, the healing can be instant. Occasionally, an abreaction can happen (explain). Since you are the one in control throughout the process, you can choose to experience the regression as an outside observer, or to not feel any emotions or pain. You can also choose to come out of it at any time. However, unless you really feel you can’t handle it, it’s recommended that you allow yourself to go through it, as it’s a great release/healing opportunity (as mentioned above).

• Will I Speak In A Different Language?
In most cases, the experiences are reported in the person’s current language, although there have been cases of people who were able to speak in a language previously unknown to them during a session. In such circumstances, they can be asked to “translate” the experience by speaking in their current language.

• Can I Also See My Future Lives?
You may also look into your future through progression sessions. Rather than premonitions, I tend to believe that such sessions show you more of a symbolic representation of future possibilities. Again, true or imaginary, your visions of the future can be used as an opportunity for higher awareness when making life choices.

Suggested Reading:
Many Lives, Many Masters, by Brian Weiss 

Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence for Past Lives, by Tom Shroder (based on the research work by Dr. Ian Stevenson) 

Children’s Past Lives, by Carol Bowman

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 6/27/2013
theragicenter.com

Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay

How To Deal With Sleep Trouble

 How to Deal
With Sleep Trouble

 

Having trouble sleeping lately?

You're not alone; thousands of people in this country and millions around the world suffer from some type of sleeping disorder. Common causes stem from eating, smoking and drinking habits, as well as other lifestyle choices; drugs and medications; and health issues such as sleep apnea, depression and stress. Some of the aggravating causes of your inability to calm your mind when you want to sleep may be related to your bedtime habits, such as:

• Watching unsettling programs/news before bedtime
• Working until close to bedtime
• Eating heavy meals too close to bedtime
• Doing any other stressful or stimulating activity right before bed, such as exercising, paying bills, etc

Therefore, to increase your chances of a good night of sleep, observe your night time habits and determine if any of them should be dropped or modified. Here are some suggestions:

• Have your evening meals at least 2-3 hours of digestion time before going to bed; 4-5 hours is best
• Eat light meals in the evening
• Write down a list of the things that are troubling you and/or the things you have do the next day before going to bed, and tell yourself that you will deal with them the next day; that way you won't be thinking about them and making mental lists while you are trying to go to sleep
• Try natural sleep aids such as a taking warm bath; drinking chamomile or Sleepy Time tea (but not too close to bed time, as teas usually function as diuretics); quiet, inspirational reading; meditation; breathing techniques; lavender drops on your wrists (this aroma is supposed to be calming and help induce sleep), etc

Another effective option to deal with sleep trouble is Hypnotherapy, a therapeutic method of healing by using hypnosis. Hypnosis is a trance or altered state of consciousness that's between waking and sleep, and is characterized by increased suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. Whether helping you manage stress, cope with depression or simply direct the subconscious to relax and sleep well, hypnosis is a powerful tool in to consider if you are looking to have a great night of sleep.

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 6/2/2014
theragicenter.com

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash