What you need to know about Red light Therapy

 

Red Light Therapy Benefits

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy (RLT) is a controversial therapeutic technique that uses red low-level wavelengths of light to treat skin issues, such as wrinkles, scars, and persistent wounds, among other conditions.

In the early 1990s, RLT was used by scientists to help grow plants in space. The scientists found that the intense light from red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) helped promote growth and photosynthesis of plant cells.

Red light was then studied for its potential application in medicine, more specifically to find out if RLT could increase energy inside human cells. The researchers hoped that RLT could be an effective way to treat the muscle atrophy, slow wound healing, and bone density issues caused by weightlessness during space travel.

You may have heard of red light therapy (RLT) by its other names, which include:

• photobiomodulation (PBM)
• low level light therapy (LLLT)
• soft laser therapy
• cold laser therapy
• biostimulation
• photonic stimulation
• low-power laser therapy (LPLT)

When RLT is used with photosensitizing medications, it’s referred to as photodynamic therapy. In this type of therapy, the light only serves as an activating agent for the medication.

There are many different types of red light therapy. Red light beds found at salons are said to help reduce cosmetic skin issues, like stretch marks and wrinkles. Red light therapy used in an medical office setting may be used to treat more serious conditions, like psoriasis, slow-healing wounds, and even the side effects of chemotherapy.

While there’s a fair amount of evidence to show that RLT may be a promising treatment for certain conditions, there’s still a lot to learn about how it works, too.

How does red light therapy work?

Red light is thought to work by producing a biochemical effect in cells that strengthens the mitochondria. The mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell — it’s where the cell’s energy is created. The energy-carrying molecule found in the cells of all living things is called ATP(adenosine triphosphate).

By increasing the function of the mitochondria using RLT, a cell can make more ATP. With more energy, cells can function more efficiently, rejuvenate themselves, and repair damage.

RLT is different from laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) therapies because it doesn’t cause damage to the skin surface. Laser and pulsed light therapies work by causing controlled damage to the outer layer of the skin, which then induces tissue repair. RLT bypasses this harsh step by directly stimulating regeneration of the skin. The light emitted by RLT penetrates roughly 5 millimeters below the skin’s surface.

How is red light therapy used?

Ever since the initial experiments in space, there have been hundreds of clinical studies and thousands of laboratory studies conducted to determine if RLT has medical benefits.

Many studies have had promising results, but the benefits of red light therapy are still a source of controversy. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for example, has determined that there isn’t enough evidence to show that these devices are better than currently existing treatments for treating wounds, ulcers, and pain.

Additional clinical research is needed to prove that RLT is effective. At the moment, however, there’s some evidence to suggest that RLT may have the following benefits:

• promotes wound healing and tissue repair
• improves hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia
• help for the short-term treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
• stimulates healing of slow-healing wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers
• reduces psoriasis lesions
• aids with short-term relief of pain and morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis
• reduces some of the side effects of cancer treatments, including oral mucositisTrusted Source
• improves skin complexion and builds collagenTrusted Source to diminish wrinkles
• helps to mend sun damageTrusted Source
• prevents recurring cold sores from herpes simplex virus infections
• improves the health of jointsTrusted Source in people with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee
• helps diminish scars
• relieves pain and inflammationTrusted Source in people with pain in the Achilles tendons

Currently, RLT isn’t endorsed or covered by insurance companies for these conditions due to lack of sufficient evidence. Although, a few insurance companies now cover the use of RLT to prevent oral mucositis during cancer treatment.

But does red light therapy really work?

While the internet is often abuzz with news about miracle treatments for just about every health condition, red light therapy certainly isn’t a cure-all for everything. RLT is considered experimental for most conditions.

There’s limited-to-no evidence showing that red light therapy does the following:

• treats depression, seasonal affective disorder, and postpartum depression
• activates the lymphatic system to help “detoxify” the body
• boosts the immune system
• reduces cellulite
• aids in weight loss
• treats back or neck pain
• fights periodontitis and dental infections
• cures acne
• treats cancer

It’s important to note that when RLT is used with cancer treatments, the light is only used to activate another medication. Other light therapies have been used to help with some of the conditions above. For instance, studies have found that white light therapy is more effective at treating symptoms of depression than red light. Blue light therapy is more commonly used for acne, with limited effectiveness.

Are there similar treatment options?

Red light wavelengths aren’t the only wavelengths to be studied for medical purposes. Blue light, green light, and a mixture of different wavelengths have also been the subject of similar experiments in humans.

There are other kinds of light-based therapies available. You can ask your doctor about:

• laser treatments
• natural sunlight
• blue or green light therapy
• sauna light therapy
• ultraviolet light B (UVB)
• psoralen and ultraviolet light A (PUVA)

Choosing a provider

Many tanning salons, gyms, and local day spas offer RLT for cosmetic applications. You can also find FDA-approved devices online that you can purchase and use at home. Prices will vary. You can try using these devices to combat the signs of aging, like age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, but make sure to read the instructions carefully. Check out some devices online.

For more targeted RLT, you’ll need to see a dermatologist first. You may need several treatments before you notice any difference.

To treat serious medical conditions, like cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis, you should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options.

Side effects

Red light therapy is considered safe and painless. However, there have been reports of burns and blistering from using RLT units. A few people developed burns after falling asleep with the unit in place, while others experienced burns due to broken wires or device corrosion.

There’s also a potential risk of damage to the eyes. Although safer on the eyes than traditional lasers, proper eye protection may be necessary while undergoing red light therapy.

Takeaway

RLT has shown promising results in treating some skin conditions, but within the scientific community, there’s not much consensus about the treatment’s benefits. Based on the current research, you may find that RLT is a good tool to add to your skin care regimen. Always check with your doctor or dermatologist before trying something new.

You can easily purchase red light devices online, but it’s best to get a doctor’s opinion on any symptoms before you try to self-treat. Keep in mind that RLT isn’t FDA-approved for most conditions or covered by insurance companies. Any serious condition, like psoriasis, arthritis, slow-healing wounds, or pain should be checked out by a doctor.

References:

• Barikbin B, et al. (2017). Comparison of the effects of 665 nm low level diode Laser Hat versus and a combination of 665 nm and 808nm low level diode Laser Scanner of hair growth in androgenic alopecia. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1080/14764172.2017.1326609
• Bjordal JM, et al (2006). A randomised, placebo controlled trial of low level laser therapy for activated Achilles tendinitis with microdialysis measurement of peritendinous prostaglandin E2 concentrations. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.020842
• Brosseau L, et al. (2005). Low level laser therapy (Classes I, II and III) for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
  cochranelibrary-wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002049.pub2/abstract;jsessionid=547ADC83716DD5214F1136F64910C045.f02t02
• Chaves MEA, et al. (2014). Effects of low-power light therapy on wound healing: LASER x LED. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142519
• Chung H, et al. (2012). The nuts and bolts of low-level laser (light) therapy. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0454-7
• Cobb CM. (2006). Lasers in periodontics: A review of the literature. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1902/jop.2006.050417
• Decision memo for infrared therapy devices (CAG-00291N). (2006).
  cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=176&NcaName=Infrared+Therapy+Devices&DocID=CAG-00291N&id=176&bc=gAAAAAgAAgAAAA==&
• Franke TP, et al. (2017). Do patients with carpal tunnel syndrome benefit from low-level laser therapy? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.06.002
• Gaida K, et al. (2004). Low level laser therapy — a conservative approach to the burn scar? DOI:
  doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2003.12.012
• Goldberg DJ, et al. (2006). Combined 633-nm and 830-nm led treatment of photoaging skin.
  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16989189/
• Jadaud E, et al. (2012). Low-level laser therapy: A standard of supportive care for cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients? DOI:
  doi.org/10.5978/islsm.12-RE-01
• Kadhim-Saleh A, et al. (2013). Is low-level laser therapy in relieving neck pain effective? Systematic review and meta-analysis.
  link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00296-013-2742-z
• Kim H, et al. (2013). Low‐level light therapy for androgenetic alopecia: A 24‐week, randomized, double‐blind, sham device–controlled multicenter trial. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1111/dsu.12200
• Kim W-S, et al. (2011). Is light-emitting diode phototherapy (LED-LLLT) really effective? DOI:
  doi.org/10.5978/islsm.20.205
• Lee SY, et al. (2007). A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, and split-face clinical study on LED phototherapy for skin rejuvenation: Clinical, profilometric, histologic, ultrastructural, and biochemical evaluations and comparison of three different treatment settings. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2007.04.008
• Lighting the way for quicker, safer healing. (n.d.).
  spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2005/hm_1.html
• Phototherapy. (2018).
  psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/treatments/phototherapy
• Tchanque-Fossuo CN, et al. (2016). Low-level light therapy for treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: A review of clinical experiences.
  jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961616P0843X
• Schindl A, et al. (1999). Low-intensity laser therapy is an effective treatment for recurrent herpes simplex infection. Results from a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10469307
  
• Stelian J, et al. (1992). Improvement of pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee treated with narrow‐band light therapy. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb01824.x
• Wirz-Justice A, et al. (2011). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of light therapy for antepartum depression.
  europepmc.org/abstract/med/21535997
• Wunsch A, et al. (2014). A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase. DOI:
  doi.org/10.1089/pho.2013.3616
• Yousefi-Nooraie R, et al. (2008). Low level laser therapy for nonspecific low-back pain.
  cochranelibrary-wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005107.pub4/abstract

tips for raising picky eaters

 Tips for Raising Picky Eaters: What’s a Parent to Do?

If your child prefers bags of chips to healthy meals and boycotts vegetables most nights, then you may be the parent of a picky eater. While raising picky eaters is certainly a challenge, there are steps you can take to point your children in a more balanced direction.

The idea of encouraging your kids to consider new foods may seem daunting. Picky eating, however, is far from uncommon. A longitudinal study published in the Eating Behaviors journal revealed that 8% to 50% of chil- dren between the ages of two and 11, depending on the sample, are reluctant to try new ingredients, unwilling to consume the recommended amount of healthy grains and produce, and inflexible at mealtimes.1

To persuade your kids to consume consistent, wholesome meals, you may need to be creative. Here are some strategies to help your picky eaters expand their dietary horizons: 

1. Engage your children at the grocery store.

If your kids scoff at the produce on their plates at home, take them on a “field trip” to the grocery store or farmer’s market, and ask them to pick fruits and vegetables that appeal to them. Vibrant options like rainbow carrots and watermelon may help them view certain food groups from a new perspective.

You can also pique your kids’ interest by discussing the unique benefits and flavors of the ingredients on display. Then, have them identify their favorite items along with something new they would like to try. Encouraging your children to voice their opinions and participate in the food selection process can help reduce pickiness at home.

2. Incorporate healthy ingredients into your kids’ favorite dishes.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), fruits and vegetables should account for roughly half of what’s on the plate.2 But nutrition authorities haven’t said anything about ensuring these items visibly take up half the plate.

With this in mind, consider combining healthy ingredients with your kids’ favorite foods—doused in tasty sauces, for example, or mixed into dishes they like. Here are a few options:

• Add blueberries or oats to pancakes
• Serve fresh cabbage or other greens with tomato sauce
• Stir finely chopped broccoli into a bowl of macaroni and cheese
• Add a powdered probiotic to a drink to help support gastrointestinal health

There are countless options in this vein. The point here is to show your picky eaters that even the most intimidating ingredients can taste delicious when prepared in familiar ways.

3. Blend fresh produce into a nutritious smoothie.

One surefire way to lessen picky eating is to blend fresh produce into a nourishing burst of flavor. Trans- forming raw fruits and vegetables into a smoothie is especially effective for children who dislike specific food colors and textures.

For instance, if your kids refuse to eat leafy greens, consider preparing a kale smoothie masked behind a swirl of colorful berries and a smooth consistency. Here’s a sample list of ingredients that will yield two servings:

• 1 cup apple juice 
• 1 cup kale 1 cup blueberries
• 1 banana
• 2 tablespoons ground chia seeds

If you’re worried the taste of kale will overwhelm your picky eaters, start by blending a single stalk of the vegetable with the other ingredients. You can always add more kale as your kids adjust to the flavor.

4. Put your children in social situations with nonpicky eaters.

Parents who want their kids to broaden their dietary horizons should consider subjecting their picky eaters to peer pressure. While this may sound counterintuitive, children are more likely to sample new foods when they observe their peers eating nutritiously. Research indicates that peer pressure can help promote cooperation in the long term.3

Of course, there’s no need to view this approach as pressure—at least not explicitly. Rather, simply make an effort to place your children in social situations with nonpicky eaters. Do you have a friend or relative whose kids will try anything? Invite them over for lunch or dinner, and by the end of the meal, your chil- dren may end up reaching for an extra helping of quinoa.

5. Create a salad bar for supper.
The USDA states that getting kids involved in the meal prep process can help cut back on picky eating.4

Creating a salad bar is a seamless way to have your children put together healthy, colorful plates of food.

Similar to taking them along to the grocery store, this tip gives kids a greater sense of agency. So, with this in mind, lay out a spread of fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, corn, kidney beans, chicken, and other wholesome ingredients. Then watch as your children take pleasure in eating a balanced meal they’ve “created” themselves.

Above all else, make sure your children understand the importance of eating healthfully and mindfully. Encour- age your kids to stay at the table until mealtime is over, and ask them to try at least one bite of everything on their plate. By implementing the abovementioned tips, and by being flexible and understanding in your ap- proach, you may find your children will outgrow their picky eating habits as they mature.

References:

1. MascolaAJetal.Pickyeatingduringchildhood:alongitudinalstudytoage11years.EatBehav.2010;11(4):253-257.

 2. USDA.MYPLATE.http://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate.AccessedMarch16,2018.

3. ManiAetal.Inducingpeerpressuretopromotecooperation.SciRep.2013;3:1735.

4. USDA.HealthyTipsforPickyEaters.https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/audiences/HealthyTipsforPickyEaters.pdf.Accessed March 16, 2018. 

 

Why do I feel so defeated, rudderless and ordinary?

 Who knew that looking through archived emails to clean them up would push me down an old and familiar rabbit hole, leaving me feeling sad and rudderless.

I read a beautiful email from a colleague, who had experienced some of the same trainings I had, and his experiences through and since then. It was a magical enlightened journey for him. I attended a provider evening at another colleague's office and met many wonderful people.

Why am I telling you this? Well, both of these events led to me waking up this morning and thinking about my childhood and how I survived abuse and trauma by believing that there was so much more to my life, that I was special and would do wonderful meaningful things for humanity in my life, however upon  reflection this morning, I came to feel that there is nothing special about me, that I am ordinary and without purpose and as yet, have not really done any big things to impact humanity. To help all to awaken to love and create Utopia (my dream) And also that there are so many truly special and gifted people out there and around me. People whom I feel are doing great service to humanity. The comparison made me feel sad, rudderless and totally defeated. 

I am surrounded by these amazing practitioners and people who are living their purpose and doing so many wonderful things and, in my eyes, impacting the world. What the hell am I doing?

You can now see that I went deeply into a dark space within myself. Questioning, doubting and over analyzing everything. 

I feel like I am half ass-sing everything in my life. My work in health care, my fitness/balance teaching, my mindfulness practice. Am I really committed? Is that why my purpose is not revealing itself to me. Could I be doing better, doing more? 

This feeling of inadequacy is not new to me. Every once in a while I look around and feel like a total imposter. I am seriously not as good or committed as all the people I admire and am surrounded by.

How strange we humans are when we look at ourselves and when we compare ourselves to others. We never seem to see our magnificence. I had to be reminded by those I love how blind I am.  We forget that it is truly the little things that matter. The one person who you touch with love and compassion. The one little thing you do to share love and be kind that ripples out and changes the energy in the world, to usher in the big changes.  Unfortunately we may never see how each sincere and heartfelt thing we do and say impacts those around us.

The positive of being surrounded by so many amazing people is that they actually think you are amazing too and they do not hesitate to tell you this or show you this when you crawl so deeply down the rabbit hole that you cannot see the light.

I guess I am sharing this to let everyone know that we all have moments of self doubt and feeling utterly helpless/hopeless, defeated or just 'why am I here'. And to let you know that you may not see the small and miraculous ways in which you are serving humanity and earth. I certainly don't and definitely did not this morning during my rabbit hole excursion.

To me this experience was an unfamiliar, yet familiar feeling and by that I mean, it was familiar as I have felt like this before but, it was unfamiliar as I have never felt the true depth of sadness and loneliness of it as I did today. 

I am hoping, and on some level believing, that feeling this so deeply is a turning point, an opening to a shift, to something miraculous waiting to enter? To a deeper awareness that being me may just be enough. That sharing my heart and love for myself and humanity is enough.

I had to get up, move my body, receive the love from my husband and my amazing friend and get out in nature to shift the energy.

Do I feel better? Certainly after writing this, I have more clarity. (thanks Kimberley for suggesting that...everyone needs a great friend like her) Am I still rudderless? Somewhat. Does my life have meaning? Absolutely.

And the fact that I may not know my purpose, just means that I have a burning question for the Universe in my daily meditations and mindfulness practice...

How can I help humanity and the earth more? Show me the way!

Obesity and our children

 Majority of US Children Today Will Be Obese by Age 35

Over half of today's children in the United States will be obese at the age of 35 if existing trends continue, despite the fact that currently, less than 20% of them are obese, a new simulated growth trajectory model indicates.

"Right now, about 17% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have obesity," lead author of the new research, Zachary Ward, MPH, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, explained in an email to Medscape Medical News.

"But we project that the majority of them — 57% — will have obesity when they turn 35," he added.

In fact, only those children with a current healthy weight have less than a 50% chance of becoming obese by the age of 35 years, the researchers say in their paper, published in the November 30, 2017 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

And perhaps not surprisingly, early development of obesity predicted obesity in adulthood, especially for children who were severely obese.

"Our findings highlight the importance of prevention efforts for all children as they grow up and of providing early interventions for children with obesity to minimize their risk of serious illness in the future," Dr Ward noted in a statement from his institution.

Obesity Is a Trajectory That Is Difficult to Change 

In the United States, obesity has declined recently among children between the ages of 2 and 5 years and has stabilized among those between the ages of 6 and 11 years of age but continues to rise among adolescents and adults, say Dr Ward and colleagues.

And although the obesity epidemic has been well characterized at a population level, less is known about the individual-level risk of adult obesity for a given child on the basis of current weight and age, they explain.

For their estimates, the researchers pooled five nationally representative data sets involving 41,567 children and adults who had repeated measures of height and weight over time, and they developed a simulation model to predict individual growth trajectories. They then created 1000 virtual populations of 1 million children through the age of 19 years that were representative of the 2016 US population and projected their trajectories in height and weight up to the age of 35 years.

"Among obese children, we found that the probability that they will still be obese at the age of 35 years increased with age," they report — that risk being almost 75% at the age of 35 if children are obese at the age of 2 and over 88% if they are obese at the age of 19.

Excess weight gained during childhood can therefore put children on a trajectory that is difficult to change, the authors say.

And this is particularly true when it comes to those with severe obesity — a condition that currently affects 4.5 million children in the United States. This was defined as 120% or more of the 95th percentile in children or BMI 35 mg/kg² or greater in adults.

At age 2, these children have only a one in five chance of not having obesity at age 35; at age 5, that chance drops to just one in 10.

Maintaining Healthy Weight Throughout Childhood Cuts Risk of Adult Obesity 

In contrast, children who are not obese at the age of 2 have a lower risk of becoming obese by the time they reach 35, provided they maintain a healthy weight through to the age of 19.

For example, if children are not obese at the age of 2, they have a 57.8% probability of being obese at the age of 35, but if they are still at a healthy weight at the age of 19, that risk drops down to 44.4%, the researchers point out.

But despite these figures, "we also found that the majority of obese 35-year-olds were not obese as children," the authors say.

In other words, approximately half of the prevalence of obesity seen in adulthood begins in childhood, while the remainder is explained by adult-onset obesity.

"It is critically important to implement policies and programs to prevent excess weight gain, starting at an early age," stressed senior author Steven Gortmaker, PhD, also of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

The research was supported in part by grants from the JPB Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Donald and Sue Pritzker Nutrition and Fitness Initiative, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network.The authors had no relevant financial relationships.

N Engl J Med. 2017;377:2145-2153.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Simulation of Growth Trajectories of Childhood Obesity into Adulthood

Zachary J. Ward, M.P.H., Michael W. Long, Sc.D., Stephen C. Resch, Ph.D., Catherine M. Giles, M.P.H., Angie L. Cradock, Sc.D., and Steven L. Gortmaker, Ph.D.

N Engl J Med 2017; 377:2145-2153November 30, 2017DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1703860

BACKGROUND

Although the current obesity epidemic has been well documented in children and adults, less is known about long-term risks of adult obesity for a given child at his or her present age and weight. We developed a simulation model to estimate the risk of adult obesity at the age of 35 years for the current population of children in the United States.

METHODS

We pooled height and weight data from five nationally representative longitudinal studies totaling 176,720 observations from 41,567 children and adults. We simulated growth trajectories across the life course and adjusted for secular trends. We created 1000 virtual populations of 1 million children through the age of 19 years that were representative of the 2016 population of the United States and projected their trajectories in height and weight up to the age of 35 years. Severe obesity was defined as a body-mass index (BMI, the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of 35 or higher in adults and 120% or more of the 95th percentile in children.

RESULTS

Given the current level of childhood obesity, the models predicted that a majority of today’s children (57.3%; 95% uncertainly interval [UI], 55.2 to 60.0) will be obese at the age of 35 years, and roughly half of the projected prevalence will occur during childhood. Our simulations indicated that the relative risk of adult obesity increased with age and BMI, from 1.17 (95% UI, 1.09 to 1.29) for overweight 2-year-olds to 3.10 (95% UI, 2.43 to 3.65) for 19-year-olds with severe obesity. For children with severe obesity, the chance they will no longer be obese at the age of 35 years fell from 21.0% (95% UI, 7.3 to 47.3) at the age of 2 years to 6.1% (95% UI, 2.1 to 9.9) at the age of 19 years.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of our simulation models, childhood obesity and overweight will continue to be a major health problem in the United States. Early development of obesity predicted obesity in adulthood, especially for children who were severely obese. (Funded by the JPB Foundation and others.)

I am willing to change

I love Louise Hay and all the many ways in which she encouraged us to go within and discover our blockages, our limiting belief systems and all the way in which we hold ourselves back.

I love the following exercise she recommends for change...enjoy!

Make a Decision to Be “Willing to Change” 

If you really want to know how stubborn you are, just approach the idea of being willing to change. We all want to have our lives change, to have situations become better and easier, but we don’t want to have to change. We would prefer that they change. In order to have this happen, we must change inside. We must change our way of thinking, change our way of speaking, change our way of expressing ourselves. Only then will the outer changes occur. 

Exercise: I Am Willing to Change 

Let’s use the affirmation, “I am willing to change.” Repeat this often. “I am willing to change. I am willing to change.” You can touch your throat as you say this. The throat is the energy center in the body where change takes place. By touching your throat, you are acknowledging you are in the process of changing. 

Be willing to allow the changes to happen when they come up in your life. Be aware that where you DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE is exactly the area where you NEED to change the most. “I am willing to change.” 

The Universal Intelligence is always responding to your thoughts and words. Things will definitely begin to change as you make these statements.

Many Ways to Change 

Working with your ideas is not the only way to change. There are many other methods that work quite well. 

Just think of a few now. There is the spiritual approach, there is the mental approach, and the physical approach. Holistic healing includes body, mind, and spirit. You can begin in any one of these areas as long as you eventually include all the areas. Some begin with the mental approach and do workshops or therapy. Some begin in the spiritual area with meditation or prayer. 

When you begin to clean your house, it really doesn’t matter which room you start in. Just begin in the area that appeals to you most. The others will happen almost by themselves. One level will always lead to another as long as there is the willingness to grow and change. 

Exercise: Willing to Change 

So we have decided we are willing to change, and we will use any and all methods that work for us. Let me describe one of the methods I use with myself and with others. 

First: go look in a mirror and say to yourself, “I am willing to change.” 

Notice how you feel. If you are hesitant or resistant or just don’t want to change, ask yourself why. What old belief are you holding on to? Please don’t scold yourself, just notice what it is. I’ll bet that belief has been causing you a lot of trouble. I wonder where it came from. Do you know? 

Whether we know where it came from or not, let’s do something to dissolve it, now. Again, go to the mirror, and look deep into your own eyes, touch your throat, and say out loud ten times, “I am willing to release all resistance.”

Mirror work is very powerful. As children we received most of our negative messages from others looking us straight in the eye and perhaps shaking a finger at us. Whenever we look into the mirror today, most of us will say something negative to ourselves. We either criticize our looks or berate ourselves for something. To look yourself straight in the eye and make a positive declaration about yourself is, in my opinion, the quickest way to get results with affirmations. 

In the infinity of life where I am,
all is perfect, whole, and complete.
I now choose calmly and objectively to see my old patterns,
and I am willing to make changes.
I am teachable. I can learn. I am willing to change.
I choose to have fun doing this.
I choose to react as though I have found a treasure
when I discover something else to release.
I see and feel myself changing moment by moment.
Thoughts no longer have any power over me.
I am the power in the world. I choose to be free.
All is well in my world.