Brian Mathews - Gaining Freedom From the Past Pain

Brian Mathews is a #1 bestselling author of The Gift of Hope and an expert at de-energizing   stress, removing barriers that block optimal mental performance and providing holistic options   for success. As the President of Natural Bioenergetics Global, he undertakes leadership   initiatives for global well-being and is an advocate for mental health. 

In your experience, what is the critical ingredient for higher levels of well-being?  

Fight or flight is a cycle that helps you respond quickly to move away from an imminent   psychological or external threat. When you face fear, the body's nervous system reacts by   releasing stress hormones into the bloodstream. Well-being begins when a person becomes   free from the fight-or-flight cycle.  

When you identify and remove the triggers of stress and trauma, harmful beliefs, and negative   thought patterns, it ends dysfunctional cycles. It allows health and wellness to be restored   through mind, body, and spirit. A person experiences freedom from past pain and fear for the   future, peace, and joy in the present moment, and the whole being is in a state of balance.  

What are some of the mistakes you wish you could have avoided?   

I wish I had paid more attention to the benefits of complementary and alternative energy   medicine much earlier in life! I could have avoided many poor health decisions that I've had to   deal with later in life. To a large degree, being stressed is a choice. Unfortunately, I didn't pay   attention to the effects of my choices. Thankfully, our bodies have a great capacity to heal. We   just need to know how to address the cause of stress in its many forms.  

What actions could someone take to get started on the journey of healing?   

You are worth it: A healing journey is just that, a journey. There is no "perfect" way to begin. As   with all journeys, you learn as you go. Allow yourself to make mistakes. If something doesn't   work, try another avenue. The key is to begin today!  

Recognize that you are a being of high value: body, mind, and spirit. You are worth looking after.   Your health is truly the only real wealth you have. Place value in choices that strengthen the   body, clear the mind, and lift the spirit. Every step to improve your health and wellness is motion   in the right direction.  

Negating Self-Talk: Stress in any form burns resources. Your mind creates the reality you   experience. Just a thought can trigger stress or old trauma and exhaust your energy. Your   thoughts are energy in motion. Notice what drains you. Keep a daily journal of your negative   self-talk. The things you say to yourself that pull you down. Notice how many times you use   phrases like: "I should have…", "What if…", "If only…", or "I can't…". Record how often negative   statements cross your mind. Within a week, you will probably start to notice your thinking  

patterns.  

You have created a "cheat sheet" for your subconscious belief system. Knowledge is power, and once you see how you are using your mental power, you can begin addressing the negative   beliefs that are causing you harm.

Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with compassion, kindness, and understanding. Self-compassion is not selfish, but it's the opposite of self-centeredness. Self-compassion means   thinking, "I'm doing fine" rather than "I'm a loser." It means loving yourself even when you don't   feel like it.  

More importantly, be graceful with yourself. There is only one of you. You matter.