Big or small vision?

Creating a large, flexible vision...not a small, rigid one.

The mind loves rules. That's its job. To set the boundaries for your life. And oh, how limited it can be.
Let me explain.
Since I am a practising chiropractor I see many types of people, with all sorts of 'conditions'. But having a conversation yesterday sparked my desire to share the idea of tapping into a new potential for yourself.
I was called to ask this woman why she was coming in for her visits. She hadn't been under care for long, maybe around 12 visits or so, but I wanted to see what she was valuing, what her intentions were, and what her motive for laying on my table was. Through her eyes, I was curious as to what was she hiring me to do? So she said that she would like to have her low back pain go away, and then keep it away, but there was definitely a lack of clarity as to what she was really doing there.

I was intrigued that she was going to limit herself to what she could accomplish for herself, so I asked a few questions as to what she had noticed to this point. She said she had noticed that her breathing was improving and that she was connecting to areas that were painful.

So I then asked if she was breathing more fully on a regular basis does she think she would manage stress better? She of course said yes. I said, if you are more connected to your body, learning how to move and breath with it, could you manage stress more effectively, and release more tension? Yes. If you could breath better, release more tension, you will be more flexible. If you were more flexible could you perform better at sports and heal faster and recover from injuries better? She said yes. I said, if you were to continue to master just those two, do you think you would manage work stress better? Yes. If you could breathe more fully and stay connected to you, do you think you could manage your stresses when your kids are crazy and their is chaos in the house? Yes. And so on.

So here is the craziness of healing. If she was to come in to my office right off the bat, and say, "I want to be a better mom, I want to maximize my athletic performance, I want to be a master at managing my stress, and I want to feel great and be excited about life."With this intention, she would start to have things align for that to happen. Her focus would be different, what she watched for would be different, her energy would move differently, and her experience of care in my office would be different. Even if we did exactly the same thing...how she received care would be different. If she set a bar low, she will eventually hit that bar. If she set the bar high, she will eventually hit that as well. Either way, she will eventually hit the bar. One approach will have her stay the same, minus her pain (which we call Restorative Therapeutics), and the other way is that she uses low back pain as a way to transform herself, her health and her life (Reorganizational Healing). The choice is ultimately hers. But first is to recognize that pain is not there to inconvenience her life. It is there to wake her up so she can make a change!
Now the timing will be unique for each individual, based on their history, their life, their utilization of their energy and mind, and their stage of healing they are in. But my job, in part, is to hold you to a bigger picture and larger vision for what is possible for you; to help you see what you currently cannot.
And then take action steps to begin the process of movement toward an upgraded version of you.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Where have standards for you been way too low?
Where have you minimized your efforts just to squeek by?
Where are you settling?
Where are you continuing to make excuses?
What would life look like in 3 years if I stayed this course and kept playing small?
How much pain would I feel by not stepping up to another level?

These are some questions in Stage 4 of the healing process...associating our past pain with inaction.
If you want to learn more about healing...I invite you to our next workshop called:
The Power to Heal.
Check our website for details
www.veressentlife.com

Happy Healing!
Dr. Steve

Don't pick your scabs!

A simple scab on my daughters face allowed me to reflect on what true healing is all about.

We've all done it. Ripped that frickin' scab off early because we just want it gone. And what happens every time we take a scab off before the time is right...more pain, more sensitivity, often more bloodshed and longer healing time.
Then we have to wait for the body to re-scab because of our impatience and judgements that we don't want it to be there. Maybe its ugly, maybe its itchy, maybe its annoying. But we just want it gone.

But under this scab, tremendous healing is taking place. Cellular repair, cleanup, immune responses, and new cell formation is taking place every second. It seems like the scab is so static, but yet, underneath, is an entire world of healing. And the key; when the healing is done, the scab falls off. As humans we might call this, "letting go." You can't force the healing, it just happens. You can't force the change, it just happens. You can't force the letting go, it just happens. If you force the scab off early, more pain and longer healing. The same goes for everything else.

There is a magnificent timing to all that is going on in our life.

Where are the scabs in your life that you are trying to rip off, or get rid of? Where are you trying to force things to happen instead of letting it flow? (Been there, done that..a million times : ))Where, in fact, do you require more patience, time and healing? Think of the new cells, immune system and clean up crew with the scab, as new people, circumstances, or places that you need to come across and experience in order for the scab of life to change or fall away. There is a timing and rhythm to life and healing, and the people you meet and the places you go each day can all be part of the process of healing the scabs of life. You won't be able to see the healing happening all the time. Sometimes, it's just below your awareness. But know, that under your scabs of life, lies an organizing field of intelligence that is working for you, not against you. Patience, time and healing. Pay close attention to who you meet, names that are mentioned, people you talk to. They may just be an integral part of your healing process.

As I have paid attention, people on average hear about me well over a year before they ever come to seek out my services. Then, when they do, they say, "wow this was easy, I wish I would have listened and come when I first heard about you." And I reply, "the timing was perfect. You weren't supposed to be here earlier."(usually they had to pull off their scabs a few more times before taking action)

Ultimately, the key to healing is to be with your experiences and place yourself in an environment that supports your healing. When you do that, you give yourself the best opportunity for most natural healing. Make the time. Maybe its with family or certain friends, here at Veressent Life, in a yoga studio, sitting with a great cup of tea...Find your place and space to explore healing, patience, rhythms and your transformation! Your entire being will be happy you chose to nurture yourself and your healing.

If your tired  of picking your scab over and over, and want some assistance in your healing, give me a call and we will see if we are good fit. 1-807-628-0718

Exceptionally yours,

Dr. Steve

Finally! I Heard the Magic Words!

I have to say I had a huge smile on my face Wednesday. A practice member of mine, who has been under care for six months and most recently threw out her antidepressant medication and has been transforming her life, made a statement that got me glowing inside. (if what was happening with her wasn't exciting enough!)

She began with the statement I so often hear, "I have a friend who is suffering with fibromyalgia, can you..." Now the typical knee jerk question would be if I could help her friend with her condition.

But then something magical took place. Before she said the word "help", she stopped herself, and said, "well, I guess it doesn't matter what she is experiencing, you can help her."

Instantly, I was elated! Not because she said I could help, but that she had the instant awareness that her friend was not separate from her condition; and because this practice member was experiencing more wholeness for herself, she had the awareness of wholeness!!
She knew the fibromyalgia changing was dependent on her friend choosing to heal on the inside, not healing the condition. And if her friend on some level can heal, than than the fibromyalgia would take care of itself.
And she put together that what we do here in reorganizational healing is not treat conditions, but help the person to heal on the inside.  SHE GETS IT and it was exciting to hear!!

Healing is healing. It doesn't matter what conditions or crisis or circumstance someone is in, anxiety, depression, pain, sciatica, headaches, fibromyalgia, etc. It is the person that requires further healing, not the condition.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, society does not support this thinking. We have a system in medicine that is similar to that of an automobile factory. You come in. Get your part diagnosed. Go see the specialist for that part. Wait a hell of a long time to see the "specialist", get your part fixed and on with life.

There is little recognition for healing the person, and having the whole person addressed. People still feel they need to be labelled, and aren't recognizing that THEY need healing, NOT the part. But I guess that is reserved for us to share!  :)))

So here is a healing tip;

If you have a part of you that seems like it is doing its own thing, off in "la-la land" or just not cooperating, invite it to come back in to the rest of you. Don't condemn it, judge it, ridicule it, or tell it to go away like everyone else does. Invite that part to play with the whole.
Some good questions are;
How can I better accept the part for what it is doing?
How can I breathe with the part, move with the part, so as to invite it to join the rest of me?
How can I dance with that which is uncomfortable or painful?
How can I stay with the pain or circumstance and just be with it without the need to change it?
How can I just let a part of me have a temper tantrum without judging it or getting obsessed about it?

It's not the part that needs to change, but your relationship with yourself, and your healing that requires change.

If you are a long-time member continuing to have difficulties healing, please talk with me, so we can gain greater perspective on what is going on.
Or if you know anyone who needs to hear this message, please forward it on to them, hopefully broadening their perspective on what healing is.Sincerely,

Dr. Steve

P.S. Healing is always an inside job, only to be fascilitated by someone else. No one can heal you, but you.

The Flu: Victim or Opportunity

I had written a blog in the summer about building our resources and not waiting to be in reactive mode come winter. As a summary of that blog, summer and fall are times to work hard at our health, be extremely active, eat "as always" nourishing foods, get plenty of rest when needed, and basically build our "bank account" full of health.  To create healthy internal states and tissues. Then, when winter hits, as less sunny days are there, as the cold sets in, as we begin to get into a more sluggish and contemplative mode, we can draw upon what we built from the summer and fall months....

So if you "got" the flu, or shall we say, if your body showed signs of not being so powerful, it is an opportunity to discover how you were being, thinking, behaving, managing stresses, eating, time managing, etc. during the summer and fall months.

So you still think that germs and viruses "get you?" You know, " I got the flu"

French scientist and "father" of the germ theory said, "the microbe in nothing..the terrain is everything." You are the terrain, meaning that it is your internal state that either supports or defends these critters. This coming from a guy who said germs cause disease.  This outdated model of health still dominates our medical systems school of thought, and this dogma continues to be supported culturally which we have all been indoctrinated to believe. (Dr. Steve rant). Anyways,   he went on also to say, "If I could live my life over again, I would devote it to proving that germs seek their natural habitat - unhealthy tissue - rather than being the CAUSE of unhealthy tissue." This is huge! This means that by treating our body like a temple and creating the most optimal and internal state possible, we live symbiotically with bacteria and viruses, which we have done for billions of years, without them overwhelming and dominating our terrain.  This is empowered health.

In my practice, with the people under regular Network Chiropractic Care, 85-90% of them lived symbiotically and harmoniously with the flu. (Notice how I am wording this : )). 15% of those that did allow the flu virus to dominate, recovered within 24 hours. Those 2-3% that took longer, have been under major stresses within the last 4-6 months, mostly involved directly with immediate family member concerns and worries. Less healthy tissue, longer recovery...it is that simple.

So if you did express the flu, use it as a learning experience, a time to discover how you used or abused your energy being over the last 6 months, and what you will discover will surely awaken you to the next exceptional version of you!

5 tips to change things for right now and next season:

1. Discover your internal stresses over the last 6 months
2. Discover your toxic behaviours, thoughts and state of being over the last 6 months
3.  Discover what aspects of life you have disempowered yourself
4. Transform one area of life that has seemed challenged or weighing you down
5.  Focus your energy on the transformation of this one area to fuel your energy and inspired   bodymind

Happy trailblazing!

Dr. Steve

letting go of the past

Think of the swinging trapeze artist for a moment. He is swinging on one swing, hands all chalked up and gripped tight, muscles bulging, body flexible, rocking and rolling in the air. You can see him building his momentum, the anticipation building from the crowd...
When you are watching him, are you excited that he is going to let go of the swing, or are you excited to see if he floats through the air and grabs on to the other swing? Is he building momentum to let go, or is he building up enough momentum and doing his calculations to ensure he has everything he needs to grab on to the other swing? You got it! Everything is about grabbing on to the other swing.
If they were just focused on letting go, they wouldn't be calculating, swinging their body, building up the energy and physical momentum, or getting their body and mind prepared. They would just let go. And as a spectator, how disappointing would it be to just see him let go of the swing...would we see that as a victory???? I think not.
But he is NOT focused on letting go. He is focused on what it is precisely going to take, the energy he will need, the momentum to perfection, to grab on to the future destination of the other swing in front of him. For him, letting go of the swing is a side-effect of having a clear destination and precisely enough energy, momentum and timing to grab on to his new future. The swing he is on was just a means to PROPEL him to his future! Now when he grabs on to the future...the crowd cheers!!
Get it yet?
You don't need to let go of your past. You can't. It is part of you. But you can accept that you experienced the pain, anger, fear, guilt or shame, and use that as a catalyst for you to redefine yourself, your life, your actions, so that becomes your new swing or your new focus. The past doesn't go away...but becomes irrelevant to your new level of thought, actions and focus. And you can then view your past as a gift to catapult you to the next greatest version of you. You can't shame or blame the past, if you view it as a gift.
Exceptional loving,
Dr. Steve
P.S. Let go of guilt or grab on to self worth?
Want to grab on to something new? Visit www.veressentlife.com

summer slacker?

Hey guys,
Just wanted to mention a quick word about summer being the best time to build your health and deepen your well-being. Summer classically is the time where our rhythms are designed to take action. Although we often associate summer with chillin' at the camp or cottage, bbq's, and relaxing by the pool, historically, summer is a time for harnessing our resources and taking MASSIVE, CONSISTENT AND DISCIPLINED action. Spring and summer are times where we plant seeds, weed, water, fertilize,..consistently...we should be out in the fields working our crops..why? Because when fall and winter hit, we will be able to reap, harvest and last through the winter. If you don't work now on building your health, you may find by the time winter hits, you are trying to play catch up with your health, and then it is too late. Flues, colds, sniffles, days off, more depressive days, less sunlight,..those do happen, but you can transform your health compared to others if you take smart, efficient action in summer.
Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Lots of water. Plenty of outdoor activity. Keep up with your supplements..hours of hot sun can burn out your energy stores and they need to be replaced. Stay consistent with your entrainments, they assist in building a strong, healthy nervous system preparing you for life now and the winter months. Work the essentials for exceptional health with simplified, easy, but consistent action...YOUR ACTIONS NOW ARE PREPARING YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE!
Have an amazing, fun, and passionate summer!!
Dr. Steve
P.S. take up something new that is fun and will add an element of excitement to your life!

Questions = Actions = Outcomes

The quality of your life is dependant upon the quality of questions you ask. The questions you ask will immediately shift your physiology, posture, brain messengers, stress hormones, and emotions. Generally, if you are stuck in a life situation or circumstance, part of the challenge is the quality of the questions you are asking. To shift any situation to a different outcome, you must shift your questions.
When you have a health challenge, you have been culturally trained to ask, "what's wrong with me?",  "How can I fix this?", "How can I get rid of this?"...Those questions are three questions that will keep your body and brain in stress mode. In fact, say those outloud and see how they feel when you ask them. Yuck!
Now what if you asked, "How can I make the breakthrough?", "How can I never disempower myself again?",...can you feel your energy and posture lifting? : ).........What about, "What is really happening here?", or "What must I do NOW!?". Can you feel the difference!
The difference between those questions, is the first 3 forces you to rely on doctors to determine what is going on. The second batch of questions allows you to do more introspection to shift you and your life behaviours without any outside influence. If we would just focus on what we wanted and the action steps to get there, instead of spinning our wheels looking for outside answers, we would not only save months and years of unnecessary suffering, but we would feel and act in empowering ways.
What if you decided to NEVER ask those first 3 questions again....I did, and so can you.
You will feel so much more empowered and you will take action like never before! And watch your exceptional outcomes when you ask questions that force you to be resourceful, instead of relying on someone else to give you the answers. You will feel great.