This series of articles is based on a study of the effects of subliminal exposure to pictures depicting cocaine use to detoxified cocaine addicts in a residential treatment program. They were hooked up to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) equipment and exposed to a series of these images at the rate of 33-milliseconds each, below the threshold for conscious awareness. What the fMRI’s captured was the arousal of the limbic system, the earliest development of the brain, which is why it has been nicknamed, “the reptilian brain.” It is hardwired to operate 24/7 to achieve and maintain 3 objectives:

• Insure the survival of the embodied self;
• Avoid and/or minimize pain;
• Seek and maximize pleasure.

What the test subjects experienced was the seemingly sudden craving for cocaine that “came out of nowhere.” Had they not been in a closely supervised environment, they would have relapsed! A few days later, they were retested with different images depicting cocaine use, only this time the exposure was just long enough to register consciously that something had flashed before their eyes. What the fMRI recorded was a direct correlation between the intensity of arousal at the subliminal level and the barely conscious level. To get a copy of the original study’s synopsis and/or the NIH press release, contact me at: Lauralyn@embodysuccess.net

It would appear that the limbic system has a mind of its own that is cunning, irrational and contrarian; that it behaves like a stealthy saboteur who delights in infiltrating and destroying our efforts to better ourselves.

Our personalities have underestimated the powers and attributes of the limbic system; believing that when we turn our conscious attention toward something, there is no other part of our consciousness that is operating independently. Studies such as the one cited above are revealing the ability of one part of the brain to register and react to stimuli well below the threshold of our intellectual awareness.

How can we apply our intelligence, intuition, emotions and plans to overcoming an invisible saboteur who not only senses and reacts to stimuli faster than our minds do; but uses this information to undermine our most cherished dreams?

For example, food addicts have become progressively better educated to the science of weight loss, the physiology of metabolism and how to re-program it to burn calories most efficiently, and spent time in psychotherapy understanding their psycho-social development, family history and the “triggers” that are likely to set off behaviors destructive to their efforts to overcome obesity.

They may have even purged their residence of every trace of “forbidden” food.

More and more “diet” foods are available as alternatives to “fattening” foods. The nutritional content of packaged foods are displayed, so no matter what dieters are counting (calories, carbs, fat, protein), they can make good choices.

The result of all these rational, constructive efforts? Americans are becoming obese and morbidly obese at rates so high the CDC says we are in the midst of an “epidemic “ of obesity that has spread into the juvenile population.

Unless one is prepared to live in an isolation tank, the world we Americans occupy is saturated with subliminal stimuli designed to awaken our reptilian brain to the presence of pleasurable food:

• Supermarkets, mall food courts, fast food restaurants, movie theaters all pipe food scents to an unsuspecting public to stimulate purchases;
• People are convinced they can “tune out” TV spots while multi-tasking during the commercial breaks; we now know the limbic system is “seeing” and responding to all of them;
• Likewise, radio spots and audio messages to shoppers who “think” they aren’t hearing them because they aren’t paying attention, are clearly influencing behavior;
• Cosmetics are now touting their food taste and/or fragrance – chocolate-flavored lip gloss, cheesecake-scented body wash.

Reacting to these subliminal influences, the caveman/saboteur goes for a drinking binge, a gallon of ice cream consumed in one sitting, a snort of cocaine, anonymous sex, a budget-busting purchase at the expense of a goal unmet, a dream deferred, a body harmed. How can we possibly overcome destructive behavior if every time we become anxious, our reptilian brain has only to take a quick look around and seize upon a “comfort trigger” to calm us down?

I have come to recognize that the answer appears to lie in understanding not only how the limbic system operates but by what paradigm it is governed. Once understood, we can work with the paradigm to produce outcomes that are consistent with our mindful choices for our highest good.

But is it possible to design and create subliminal triggers that support our highest good; that we have chosen to place in our environment and then forget about?

Yes!

However, this is a learned technique, one that goes against the popular culture; and, it requires the support of a trustworthy person (ideally, a coach or counselor familiar with this work) to teach our mind and limbic system to communicate collaboratively.

The process begins with a willingness to confine the change process to the inward journey of Self-discovery; a willingness to experience and come to know our Self in depth, in the here-and-now, intimately.

There is a difference between familiarity and intimacy. A falsehood or destructive behavior repeated over time becomes familiar and, to the reptilian brain, there is safety in the familiar. It is quickly recognized and a response that either minimizes pain, reduces, anxiety or increases satisfaction is already part of its contingency plans.

The reptilian brain is basically a judgment-free zone: it does not operate in the realm of good-bad, honest-dishonest, improving-regressing. It only cares about removing a threat, removing the Self from a threat, reducing the experience of anxiety/fear to a survivable level, and/or clearing away obstacles to getting more of what feels pleasurable.

If you have experienced self-sabotage behavior, it is because your caveman brain did not regard the dream/ the goal/ the situation as safe, and no amount of rational argumentation by your psychologically savvy personality could convince it otherwise.

What needs to happen is for your personality to visit limbic system headquarters, become familiar with the limbic worldview and see if you can become fluent in Limbic to not only describe your dream, but convince your former adversary that achieving that dream is not only a safe process, but an attractive destination.

This is where most self-help/ transformation programs begin to fail.

They are so involved in the how-to process that they haven’t taken time to imagine how living the rest of one’s life after enjoying an outstanding career, the love of your life, a normal relationship with food while living in a strong, healthy, attractive body will look, feel, cost, satisfy.

Instead of coaching people on how to get that job promotion, diet more successfully, exercise more faithfully, date more diligently, I guide clients into imagining the-rest-of-their-lives after they have attained their dream. I design visualization programs that clients use on a daily basis to get increasingly more detailed and believable information about their future successful selves/lives.

Clients create a “Catalogue of Satisfactions & Rewards” to reduce stress (satisfactions) and reward accomplishments that are satisfying and constructive behaviors.

Next we add the creation of sensory reminders of that future that are consciously introduced into their environment. Cognitive behavioral psychology, New Thought teachings about the Law of Attraction, and spiritual practices that involve talismans, ikons, affirmations or mantras all have components that engage the limbic system.

With repetition, these practices become “second nature,” and then they survive as powerful subliminal supports to success.

This loving reunion of mind and limbic brain is the point at which the conscious quest toward a goal can begin. Our hero possesses wisdom born from an intimate appreciation of the intricate interdependence of one’s Self. This wisdom will provide the “magical” power of resilience to endure the challenges to come and transform them into opportunities for revelation.

To learn more about Lauralyn Bellamy, her coaching program, her art workshops, spiritual development coaching, and more! Visit: www.embodysuccess.spaces.live.com  www.yourchaplain.com/yourspirituality.htm www.yourchaplain.com/workshops.htm
www.lbellamy.dreamcoach.com
and www.youtube.com/lauralynbellamy