Dr. Arlene Taveroff Reviews ‘Shift: A Woman’s Guide to Transformation’ for Wisdom a la Carte

The following is a direct excerpt of the book review done by Dr. Arlene Taveroff from Wisdom a la Carte on September 23, 2009:

The Shift: A Woman’s Guide to Transformation

Sep 23rd, 2009 | By Arlene | Category: Featured Articles

a new book by Dr. Tracy Latz & Dr. Marion Ross reviewed by Dr. Arlene Taveroff…

Have you ever felt stuck, like your feet were in cement and you wanted to move forward, but couldn’t?

Drs. Tracy Latz and Marion Ross are here to help. Between them, they have expertise in psychiatry, EFT, Reiki, Transpersonal psychology and more. In their new book entitled Shift: A Woman’s Guide to Transformation, they examine the 10 most common obstacles in women’s lives: feeling unloved, guilt and shame, abandonment, anger and resentment, self-definition, lack of self-love, powerlessness, heartache, fear of the unknown and stress. For each, they start by creating an awareness of what the issue is about, and then give you the tools to get past them and get unstuck. Stories of real people overcoming each obstacle inspire and show how it really can be done.

The tools and techniques are easy to use and well explained. They include meditation, guided imagery, mindfulness exercises, EFT tapping techniques, chi gong, and more: a library of tools that appeal to the kinesthetic, the visual and the auditory. Something for all learning styles! I loved a lot of the mindfulness exercises: they were so positive! One had me becoming aware of my true qualities. Wow! I have the results of that one up on my bulletin board! The guided imagery meditations were my favorite, though. They transported me to the most beautiful places and helped me feel so absolutely wonderful!

And so that the book is not just about problems and obstacles, the authors end the book with two additional keys to remain centered and create your life positively and powerfully. I loved the chapter on consciously creating: it was so much what the whole book led up to for me! The explanation of creating was eye opening, and as for the exercises – I can’t wait to Release my Shadow Characters and get into the Garden of Creation, then create an Intention Poster!

There is something for everyone here, folks! The Shift can happen to you. Get those feet out of the cement. Get unstuck!

Click on the picture of the book above to take you directly to Amazon!

About the Authors:
Tracy Latz, M.D., M.S. is an Integrative Psychiatrist, and Medical Intuitive with over 18 years of clinical experience in shifting lives. Marion Ross, Ph.D. holds doctorates in Holistic Healing, Metaphysics, and Transpersonal Psychology with successful practices in Paris, France and New York City. Over the past 6 years, they have taught classes and seminars in personal transformation. More at http://www.12keystoshift.com

Is Happiness Knocking at Your Door?

What's knocking at your door?

What is the key to happiness? Is it already at our door and we just don’t recognize it? Is it a frame of mind, a stage in life, an unreachable goal?

The keys to experiencing happiness are not really such a mystery- but it takes some honesty with one’s self and a willingness to shift one’s perceptions or patterns. Here are a few tips that assist with experiencing an increase in your joy & happiness:

1. Live in the moment– When we are constantly focusing on what happened in the past or worrying about what might occur in the future, we do not even leave a space for happiness to enter. When we worry about “being hurt again” or “the worst case scenario” that might occur in the future, we are living our lives from a place of fear. Fear and happiness are incompatible states of being. Fear/stress also takes a lot of energy and drains our body’s endocrine system and immune system- it accounts for the increasingly diagnosed Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.

2. Practice less judgment and more acceptance– Recall that we are reflections of one another.  When we judge another, we also judge our self. When we are in a place of judgment, we have difficulty accepting what is occurring in our own lives and thus we resist the only opportunity for transformation (acceptance, forgiveness of self/others & creating anew from a place of empowerment).

3. Practice gratitude– When we focus on the positive in our life, our world, our body, our relationships, we create an opening for more positivity, joy, love and happiness in our lives. When we live from a perception of lack and futility, we can only see more lack and futility on a daily basis. We limit our own experiences.

4. Beware of distractions from painful experiences–  Excessive food, alcohol, substances, shopping, sex, gambling, internet, gaming, etc can be usedwittingly or unwittingly to numb one’s self to overwhelming internal emotions. However, it prevents us from moving forward and creating joy. When we numb an emotion (fear, anger, guilt, shame, anxiety), we numb ALL emotions, including joy, wonder, and love. We can become numb to everything and everyone. We lose our passion and can become disconnected from our Purpose.

5. Be aware of and choose the emotions you dance in– We are a victim of no one and no thing. Nobody truly makes us angry, afraid, guilty, or sad. We choose to become angry (or whatever) because of what we believe it means about us that someone did or said whatever they did. Our emotions are the most powerful substance that exists in humanity for creation in our lives- what will you choose to propel the creations in your life with? Anger? Fear? Or Love & Compassion? Choose wisely!

6. Examine your internal belief systems and become aware of which ones are limiting beliefs and no longer creating what you desire in your life– We all tend to live our lives from the perception of our own ‘reality boxes’. It is important to intermittently step back, examine the box (dogma) you have been living from, and choose to step out of the box to expand your perceptions and horizons.  This is what emotional and spiritual growth is all about.

7. Create your self and your life anew– Create differently! Take action! Insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different outcome. If you haven’t been experiencing as much joy and happiness as you would like, isn’t it time to make a change?

If you need assistance in transforming the obstacles that are keeping you stuck form experiencing all the joy & happiness you desire in your life, you might find out books helpful: “SHIFT: 12 Keys to Shift Your Life” or “Shift: A Woman’s Guide to Transformation”. We are available via our Facebook fan page for questions and discussions.

Much Light and Happiness to you all!

Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.

New Facebook Fan Page for Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.

Come see our new Facebook Fan Page for Tracy & Marion!

Facebook Fan Page for Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.

Study: “Self-Help Books Make You Feel Worse”

This is an excerpt from the BBC News Health article on Friday, July 3, 2009 titled “Self-help ‘makes you feel worse'” based on findings in a study appearing in the journal Psychological Science:

“ Repeating positive self-statements may benefit certain people, such as individuals with high self-esteem, but backfire for the very people who need them the most ”
Joanne Wood University of Waterloo

The Association for Psychological Science issued a press release on July 2, 2009 titled “The Problem with Self-Help Books: Study shows the negative side to positive self-statements” in which they described a follow-up study where psychologists allowed participants to list negative self-thoughts along with positive self-thoughts. They found that low self-esteem participants’ moods improved when they were allowed to have negative thoughts than when they were asked to focus exclusively on affirmative thoughts.

The psychologists suggested that unreasonably positive self-statements, such as “I accept myself completely” or other self-praising thoughts,  can provoke contradictory thoughts in individuals with low self-esteem. These internal powerful negative thoughts can readily overwhelm the positive thoughts. And, if people are instructed to focus exclusively on positive thoughts, they may find negative thoughts to be especially discouraging.

This is not surprising to me since most self-help books do NOT address the self-sabotaging subconscious (or conscious) negative thoughts that keep people stuck in repetitive negative thought patterns and relationship scenarios.  The study essentially reaffirms what I was quoted as saying in the January 2009 issue of Good Housekeeping. For an affirmation to work, you must at least believe that the affirmation is possible for you.

The most frequent and pervasive obstacles that cause subconscious limiting beliefs that create self-sabotage, low self-esteem, and repetitive negative relationship patterns include: feeling unloved, anger/resentment, guilt/shame, abandonment, how we define our self, lack of self-love, inadequacy/powerlessness, heartache, fear of the unknown, stress, and habit.  It is imperative that these issues be addressed to be able to achieve freedom from self-sabotage. Most self-help books do not address the faulty, limiting thoughts/beliefs that keep us stuck.

Loads of Light to you all- and Godspeed in your journey to Shift Your Life!

Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.

www.12keystoshift.com

Twitter @TracyLatz  and @docmarion

Summer Solstice

Hi Fellow Shifters!

On June 21st we welcome in the Summer Solstice – the official transition from Spring to Summer and the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours.

The Summer Solstice is also known as: Alban Heflin, Alben Heruin, All-couples day, Feast of Epona, Feast of St. John the Baptist, Feill-Sheathain, Gathering Day, Johannistag, Litha, Midsummer, Sonnwend, Thing-Tide, Vestalia, etc.

In pre-historic times, summer was a joyous time of the year for people who lived in the northern latitudes. Snow had disappeared; the ground had thawed; warm temperatures had returned; radiant flowers were blooming; and leaves had returned to the deciduous trees. Some herbs could be harvested, for medicinal and spiritual uses. Food was abundant and easier to find. The crops had already been planted and would be harvested in the months ahead. Although many months of warm/hot weather remained before the fall, the days were beginning to shorten, so that the return of the cold season was inevitable.

The first (or only) full moon in June is called the Honey or Meade Moon. Tradition states that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives. This is also a time to harvest the dreams or intentions that you have been creating. It is a perfect time to CREATE YOUR SELF or your situation ANEW!

The body itself can be seen to be physically affected by this time of seasonal change.

Within the brain is a gland called the ‘Pineal Gland’ controlling some of the internal clocks which are affected by the movement or journey of the Sun or Light. Some people find that their meditation practice takes on a more intense quality as the Pineal Gland becomes increasingly activated. This may be a perfect time to take your meditative practice to the next level!

Many people also experience an increase in energy as the sun moves through the Spring and Summer pathways, but find that the energy drops with the decrease in sunlight/daylight hours during the autumn and winter. Any energy practice will be naturally greatly enhanced during this season. Use this to your benefit in your own energetic practice or daily dharma!

Loads of Shifting Light to you all!

Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.

Law of Attraction

Law of Attraction works quite well… but there is a caveat.  You must go within and be aware of when you are self-sabotaging.  For instance, if you think positively about how much you DO want the car in the garage, but you find internal chatter stating “I don’t deserve it” or “I have never had something that nice so it can never happen for me” or you have more anger or resentment over how that has been unavailable to you in the past or present…. you now have a big problem.

The “Bow and Arrow Theory of Manifestation” (described in the book ‘Shift: 12 Keys to Shift Your Life’) describes how powerfully we create with the strongest (emotional) intention to create the thought we are focusing on.  An example would be a person who states a desire to lose weight (“I want to lose 10#!”).  Unfortunately, when the same person walks into their work break room and finds the triple layer chocolate brownie cake and thinks with intent desire “I WANT the chocolate cake!!”, they are now much more powerfully sending out the intention of desiring the cake rather than the less intense desire to lose weight.

When there are conflicting intentions, the most powerful one will win out.

Regards!
Tracy Latz, M.D.
http://www.12keystoshift.com
@TracyLatz on Twitter

Golden Hammer vs Iron Door – Which are you?

During medical school and residency training in psychiatry we were taught to assess our patient’s ability to think abstractly by asking them to interpret the meaning of various proverbs.  Most of the students and residents would use simple proverbs like ‘Don’t cry over spilled milk’.  However, I came across one attending psychiatrist who emphasized the importance of not giving a well-known, ‘easy’ proverb to  interpret.  He wanted to stretch the imagination and abstraction capabilities by giving much more obscure proverbs such as ‘The Golden Hammer breaks the Iron Door’.

I found that this wonderful old proverb stirred the most introspection in both the patients and the treating physicians.  Over the years I have returned to this proverb for meditation.  I have looked at this from all angles and taken it to different levels over the years.  It is so rich.

Most recently I have viewed the ‘Golden Hammer’ as a representation of when I choose to dance in the Light of my True Essence … my Loving Self and higher consciousness.  I see the ‘Iron Door’ as a representation of when I (or others) choose to dance in Shadow Characters – lower consciousness, harsh negativity, or the obstacles placed in our path by our egos.

I have found this old saying to be such a wonderful representation of the power of compassion and love in shifting consciousness – whether it be my own consciousness I am trying to achieve or whether it be shifting consciousness of others by acting as a role model.  When I feel frustrated with a situation I will ask myself: “Is there a Golden Hammer to be used in this given situation to break through this Iron Door?”

Then I remind myself to BE the Golden Hammer!  Care to join me?  I think we need more Golden Hammers out in the world.  🙂

Loads of Radiant (Golden) Light to you all!

Tracy Latz, M.D.

www.12keystoshift.com

Issue of Self-Love as a Law of Attraction

Isn’t it funny how many of us feel guilty whenever we do something nurturing for our self or feel like we are doing something wrong when we put our self first?  Many of us feel selfish when we even think of our self before anyone else.  Why do we do this?  And how do we get out of this pattern?

It seems sometimes like we “give” so much to others – even to our own detriment – that eventually we get resentful that no one does the same for us.  Many people who are terribly compassionate to others (to the point of martyrdom) or who have a desire to please others to be liked tend to fall prey to this a great deal of the time if they are not careful.  How can we say no to others?  Aren’t we taught that we should “Do unto others as we would have others do unto us?” How about “You are your brother’s keeper”?  Yikes!

It is important to have AS MUCH love and compassion for your self as you have for anyone else.  Otherwise you will be out of balance.  When you realize that you are but a reflection of the other person AND that they are a reflection of you, then you begin to see that – if you do not have compassion for your self in a given situation – you really do not have compassion for anyone else anyway (since you are a reflection of them!).

What about when we feel that others do not show us the love or respect we think they should be showing us? We can’t change anyone else or live anyone’s life for them… we can only change our own self (our perceptions) and be a role model.  How about modeling a little self-love so that others can begin to show us the reality (as a mirror) that is our intention? Remember that we are powerful creators in our own life.  Once we sent our love out for our own self BALANCED with the love that we send out for others, then we will begin to attract to us people, relationships and situations that reflect mutual love, respect and compassion.

How cool would that be?!!!

Loads of Love and Light to you all! And to us too! 🙂

Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.