Cynthia Morgan

Compassion for Spring Shoe Fashion!

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:21:00 +0000

The hardest part of being vegan is not giving up cheese, it's giving up shoes. At least for me.

Luckily, times are a changin, and with a more evolved consciousness comes more vegan options. (Did you know that cows, pigs, goats, sheep are often skinned alive, fully conscious, for their hide to make leather? No thanks, I won't be supporting that.) We don't have to sacrifice our ethics, cash, or style for fashionable vegan shoes. Girls, this post is for you. Boys, you will always look cute in Converse.

I worship at the altar of Stella McCartney (Vegan Paul's talented vegan fashion designer daughter), but I cannot justify spending $550.00 for a pair of sandals, no matter how freaking ridiculously cute they are, as seen below.

Instead, over the years, I've had to rummage through loads of leather and sites, but I have thankfully found cute "man made" shoes at DSW, Alternative Outfitters, Zappos, and Toms. But guess where I can ALWAYS find a pair of stylish vegan shoes? Payless. Yes, good ol' Payless is making being vegan easier in any city across America. The only time I ever shopped at Payless was with my grandma. She loved their shoes. Looks like grandmas and vegans love Payless.

Here is what I went in to get: $26.99

But they were sold-out. Lots of vegans in LA.

So I got these: $29.99

And since they're having a BUY ONE GET ONE 50% OFF sale, I bought these: $27.99

I paid less than $40.00 for two totally cute, super comfortable, summer heels.

Hurry, girls! Snatch up these and other adorable shoes before they sell-out. Luckily, grandmas don't wear 4" wedges.

By the way, if you're looking for vegan fashion inspiration, here is a great vegan fashion blog. And check out this awesome vegan fashion store from London, BoBo.

And if you are interested in learning more about the leather industry, check out the lovely Stella McCartney speaking out against this cruel practice.

Let compassion guide your fashion choices this summer!

Meatless Monday Recipe: Gardein

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:45:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

The signs that I am living exactly where I need to be are literally all around me. On my block there is a PETA anti-fur billboard (Can you believe fur is still an issue? Most people are not aware that it takes 40 minks to make ONE mink coat, or that much of the fur lined collars in America are from cats and dogs in China. Insane!) and, on the next block over, there are two Gardein "Cheat on Meat" billboards.

Gardein is a vegan food line started by Yves Potvin who created the vegan food line Yves that is still available, though I believe he sold that company. Yves' goal with Gardein is to make healthy protein options to meat, hence "Gardein"which comes from Garden/Protein.

Gardein has changed being vegan; it's made it tastier and easier than ever. My boyfriend and I eat Gardein on a weekly basis when we want something quick and nutritious for dinner. Because Gardein is relatively new, they come out with new products regularly. Lucky us!

Our favorite is the Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n, which we put on rice.

The photo at the top of the blog is the Zesty Marinara Crispy Chick'n Filets. I usually make a simple pasta side dish and a salad.

You may remember that I did a taste test of Tofurkey loafs for Thanksgiving last year, and Gardein's loaf was the clear winner! They roll it out for special holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Don't forget to ask your local grocer to carry Gardein, if they don't already. I've found Gardein at most large grocery stores and almost every Super Target.

With great, low fat, zero cholersterol, healthy protein packed alternatives like Gardein, it's easy to cheat on meat! Even renowned vegan chef Tal Ronnen is a huge fan. Check out one of his recipes using Gardein here.

For more information, check out the Gardein website. There's a great video in the middle of their "About us" section.

Daily Affirmation

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 19:04:00 +0000

I created a daily affirmation for my clients, readers, friends, and myself. Post it on your bathroom mirror and say it like you mean it each morning. What we say to ourselves changes our lives.

I, _____________, love and accept myself.
I am divine, innocent, and blessed.
I am healed, whole, and filled with gratitude.
I am at one with all things.
I am an important and valuable part of the creation of a peaceful world.

Meatless Monday Recipe #10: Peanut Butter Dog Treats: "Kookies."

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:53:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

Did you know that the world's oldest living dog is a vegan named Brambles? If you'd like to check out this amazing being who could teach us all a thing or two about food, both for ourselves and our pets, click here.

My previous dog, Mason, died of kidney failure, and with 20 fatty tumors plaguing his poor body. I have no doubt it was because I fed him commercialized dog food.

When I adopted Kansas he had degenerative back disease and hip dysplasia from the get-go. He walked like an old man, even as a puppy. I began researching, and found that not only was the cause a lack of proper nutrition, but the solution was also to be found in nutrition.

In fact, there were no cases of hip dysplasia in dogs before commercialized dog food like 60 years ago. And dogs' ancestors, like wolves, do not have hip dysplasia either. I blogged about this a couple of years ago. Check it out here. The post also contains a recipe for stew that I make Kansas each week. His diet is 75% vegan. And though I was told Kansas would not live a long life, he's going strong at 7 years old.

As Hippocrates, the founder of medicine, said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Not only do I make Kansas his food, but I also make his treats. I've adapted this recipe from others and added flax seeds for extra nutrition. I've made these many times without flax seeds though. And I have yet to meet a dog who doesn't love them!

Peanut Butter Dog Kookies (K for Kansas)

1/2 cups peanut butter (I use all-natural.)
1 cup water
2 Tablespoons oil (Dogs naturally love refined coconut oil, but you can use vegetable or canola oil.)
1/8 cup ground flax seeds
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour

Preheat oven to 350. Mix peanut butter and water and oil, add flax seeds, then slowly add the rest of the ingredients. Knead dough.

I roll the dough out to 1/4" and use a cookie cutter. But you could also just make the dough into a long cylinder shape and slice pieces to flatten. (I mark them with a "K," because I'm ridiculous like that.)

Bake for 25 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. Let cool on cookie sheet.

The flax seeds make this a bit gooey because flax seeds by nature are an egg substitute that I use in baking. I usually bake the kookies a bit longer when I use flax seeds.

The treats do go bad so I usually leave about 10 out and refrigerate the rest.

Here's Kansas eating a kookie this morning. A happy peanut butter loving dog!

Photo: Brad Klopman

Five Books I Most Recommend to Clients

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:13:00 +0000

1. Living with Joy

Like it's title, this book is a joy. It came out like 25 years ago and it's still worth reading. It's a simple classic book in changing your perception. And there are exercises to help you do it. Some of the material is dated, but as a whole it is by far the book I most recommend. I can vouch that the authors, Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer, are lovely people. This book is included in their "Earth Life Mastery Series." The other books in this series are great too. One of those books, Creating Money, I suggest to clients who are stuck in their careers or financially.

2. Many Lives, Many Masters

First let me tell you that the author, Brian L. Weiss M.D, is a graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School, and is Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami.

Then let me tell you the topic of this book: hypnosis and past life regression. Clients often ask about past life regression. It's a fascinating subject. Many Lives, Many Masters is the story of a traditional therapist Dr. Weiss and his patient Catherine, a young Christian woman, who was riddled with anxieties and phobias that no one could cure. To her surprise, and to the surprise of Dr. Weiss, she began having remarkable past life insights and recollections as she relaxed in her therapy sessions. It reads like a novel as they embark on a journey of healing, gaining messages from "the space between our lives." He had a son who had died and she was able to contact him, helping him to heal, and he was able to eventually cure her through past life regression therapy. It's also about him having to move beyond his fear of being ostracized from traditional medicine by publishing these revelations, and her having to expand her view of existence and the after-life. Good stuff.

3. All Your Worth

This financial self-help book was written five years ago by Elizabeth Warren. Yes, the Elizabeth Warren that was just on The Daily Show last week. Yes, that Harvard Law School professor who is running for Senate. (Who I hope wins because we need more SMART women in politics.) Yes, Elizabeth Warren, the special advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She wrote a book for you and me right before she knocked it out of the park. This book has a simple formula for managing your money for life. I'm doing what she says. And it makes perfect sense. I've read a lot of financial self-help books and this one is tops.

4. The Easy Way to Stop Smoking

Smokers smoke through reading this book, and stop on the last page. Genius. It's by a guy who smoked 100 cigarettes a day for like 30 years and after trying to stop through various methods, he finally kicked the habit by seeing a hypnotherapist. He was so amazed by the process that he began researching how the suggestions worked. He came up with a formula, opened up stop smoking clinics all around the world, wrote this book, then died of lung cancer. It's helped millions of people stop smoking. Buy it for someone you love, if he or she can't get to a hypnotherapist themselves.

5. A Course in Miracles

Well, this is a touchy one. It's not often that I recommend this book, but I'm including it because it's the book that has had the most profound affect on those to whom I refer it. It's been my spiritual path since I was 19. I don't proseltyze when it comes to my spiritual path, in fact I rarely talk about the Course, but every now and then someone will walk into my office and I just know. I know they are a student of the Course, waiting to happen, seeking. I tell them about this book.

If you have a spiritual path that suits you, God speed. If you don't, and are looking, and are interested in spirituality and psychology and not having to join anything or go anywhere to find it, then this book might be for you. I wouldn't be a hypnotherapist if not for A Course in Miracles. I wouldn't be with my soul mate if not for A Course in Miracles. I wouldn't have purpose in my life if not for A Course in Miracles. I wouldn't have found peace if not for A Course in Miracles. I wouldn't be writing this blog if not for A Course in Miracles. I owe this lifetime to this book. In my opinion, it's the greatest book ever "written." But fair-warned: It's a serious life-long spiritual discipline just as, for example, Buddhism would be. (For more info, here's a previous post: "The Five Attractions to A Course in Miracles.")

Runner-up: HypnoBirthing

We pretty much do child-birthing wrong. This book sets all things right. Know someone who is having a baby? This is the book I recommend for pain-free childbirth. It even includes a hypnosis CD.

*****

All of these books are linked for your convenience to Amazon. A Course in Miracles has gone through numerous publications. The one I linked to is the newest edition in small paperback. The other paperback edition has 311 reviews and you can look inside, but it's a bit more expensive so I listed the less reviewed, cheaper edition.

There are so many books I haven't included like the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, or any Edgar Cayce or Seth material, all of which had a profound impact on me growing up. But there's a difference between books I love and books I recommend to clients.

Many of my clients know I'm a vegan and animal welfare advocate so they often ask me to recommend a book on this subject to them. That's my next list. Stay tuned. In the meantime, Happy Reading!

Meatless Monday Recipe #9: Fried Tofu Squares

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:41:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

The seriously healthy might want to look away. These things are fried deliciousness!

I like to dip them into a soy sauce and fresh lemon juice concoction. I usually make rice or couscous and either a salad or sauteed spinach, and call it a meal.

I made these yesterday and the omnivores loved them! That's always saying something.

Fried Tofu Squares

1 package extra firm tofu, drained and pressed into towels to remove moisture, and cut into 2 inch squares. (Size is a preference. You could also cut the tofu into thinner long slices for sandwiches.)
4 T. oil (for frying.)
1/2 c. flour
3 T. nutritional yeast
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. dried sage
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. garlic powder

Sift the dry ingredients onto a plate. This is for breading your tofu.

Put oil in frying pan over med-high heat.

Roll tofu squares into the breading, getting a good coating.

Fry, turning over when well done to make sure all sides are fried. Add more oil as needed.

Dipping Sauce

1/4 c. soy sauce
1 T. fresh lemon juice

Happy fried vegan food!

Meatless Monday Recipe #8: TVP Sloppy Joes

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:46:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

Today we are making Sloppy Joes from TVP (Texturized Vegetable Protein). Basically TVP is dehydrated soy protein. It's packed with nutrients and has more protein than meat. TVP is a good source of essential amino acids, and also contributes to calcium and magnesium in one's diet. It can be fortified with vitamins, including B12. It is very high in potassium. And it's super economical. There really is no good reason to eat meat when you have healthier meat substitutes like TVP that also have zero cholesterol, and could feed the world.

You can buy it in bulk at places like Whole Foods. It also comes packaged. Here's what it looks like:

TVP Sloppy Joes

1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 large green pepper, diced
2 Tbl. olive oil
1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 1/2 c. tomato sauce
1 c. ketchup
1 1/2 Tbl. chili powder
1 pinch of pepper
1 t. salt
1 Tbl. soy sauce
1 Tbl. mustard
1 Tbl. sugar
1 1/2 c. dry TVP

Saute onion and green pepper in oil. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.

You can play with the ingredients. If you don't have ketchup, add more tomato sauce. If you like your sloppy joes runny, add more water or tomato sauce. If you like them spicier, add another pinch of chili powder, etc.

It's that simple!

Meatless Monday Recipe #7: Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:11:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

I thought I'd post a super easy Vegan dessert recipe. These chocolate peanut butter balls are so delicious that I had to make them twice during the holidays because they were eaten up quickly--and mostly by non-vegan friends and family.

I searched high and low for a good recipe and then tweaked it and veganized it. I added Rice Krispies for some crunch, and vanilla for a bit more flavor.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls (Vegan)

Filling:

3 cups peanut butter, softened

1 cup Earth Balance "butter," softened (I like the original whipped.)

1/4 t. vanilla (can be omitted)

5 cups powdered sugar

1 cup Rice Krispies

Mix the peanut butter and Earth Balance and vanilla, and then slowly add powdered sugar. Once well blended, stir in the Rice Krispies. I get in there with my hands at this point. Roll into balls and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Refrigerate for an hour.

Coating:

1 bag vegan chocolate chips (Ghirardelli makes them. Also Whole Foods has chips that actually say, "Vegan Chocolate Chips.")

2 Tbl. vegetable shortening (There is non-hydrogenated shortening if you prefer. Adding shortening seems to make the chocolate stick better and not crack as easily. It's not a deal-breaker though. Skip it if you like.)

Melt chocolate chips and shortening together and blend well. Dip each ball in chocolate and then place on lightly greased cookie sheet. The photo above is a full dip. The next batch I made I decided to dip only half of each ball, which made them much less messy to handle. I placed the non dipped half on the cookie sheet.

You can either refrigerate these, as my boyfriend prefers, or eat them at room temperature, as I prefer. Or do as we do and put half in the fridge and leave half out.

I also decorate them by putting sprinkles on top. Man, I wish I had some right now.

Meatless Monday Recipe #6: Chili

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:04:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

I won't lie. This is another one of my mom's recipes. She makes the BEST vegan chili. And it's so simple. Here's her recipe.

Vegan Chili

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 med. onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

16 oz. vegan "meat"(like the "hamburger"-type crumbles.)

In a big soup pot, saute garlic, onion, pepper, and vegan meat in 2 T oil until the onion is transparent. About 5 minutes or so.

Add:

24 oz. can chopped tomatoes and basil

2 c. shredded zucchini (white or green)

2 vegetable bouillon cubes or 32 oz box vegetarian broth

2 cans chili beans, not drained

2 cans pinto beans, drained

2 cans kidney beans, drained

You can use any canned beans to total 6 cans, but for best results always use 2 chili cans.

Add enough water to cover. Then add salt and pepper and chili powder to taste. Season to your liking. Simmer 30 minutes on low.

Enjoy!

Self-Esteem (Excerpt)

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:09:00 +0000

I thought I would post an excerpt from my upcoming book, You're Already Hypnotized: A Guide to Waking Up. I'm hiring a company to turn the manuscript into an e-book, so my best guess is that it will be available for download in a couple of months. The following excerpt is from the chapter on self-esteem.

Our self-esteem is the internal picture we hold about ourselves. Whether high or low, right or wrong, it is our honest assessment of who we are. We present that idea to the world, and the world responds accordingly, which then contributes to our internal picture. How we were raised by our authority figures, what we have experienced along the way, and how we have interpreted those experiences contribute to our self-esteem.

High self-esteem generally results in an accepting, peaceful, confident, communicative, decisive, and productive human being. Low self-esteem manifests into such negative qualities as anxiety, depression, insecurity, aggression, passivity, blame, a need to control, aloofness, indecision, defensiveness, phobias, comparing oneself to others, and seeing only the negative aspects of life, themselves, and others.....

I use a hypnotherapy process in which clients uncover their core negative thought and then we reverse it, reprogramming the opposite idea in its place. I look at the process as going in and plucking out the weeds and then planting some new seeds. Most everyone has a core negative belief stemming from unconscious guilt. Mine was “I am unlovable.” Other popular core negative thoughts are “I am bad,” “I am not good enough,” “I am unworthy,” and “I am alone.” The latter is popular among smokers; thus, they join the “tribe” of smokers so as not to be alone, they huddle together for a smoke, they feel free to approach other smokers and bum a cigarette, and that’s also why they often refer to cigarettes as their “best friend.” There are two things we do with our core negative thought:

Prove that it’s true, so we won’t have to change: “See, my relationships don’t work because I am unlovable.”
Overcompensate for it and pretend we’re not it: “Look at how much I do for everyone because I am lovable.”

I used to be everyone’s best friend—the shoulder to cry on in the middle of the night—often helping my friends to feel better at my expense. People would introduce me as “Cynthia, my best friend.” And I would think, “Wow, really?” Then someone else would introduce me as “Cynthia, my closest friend.” And I would think, “I am? I feel like I barely know you.” It was a lovely sentiment, to be thought of that way, but I realized I was the best friend of ten people, and I didn’t feel the way they did.

After one particularly long night consoling a friend about her absentee boyfriend, I woke up the next morning exhausted and thought, “I have so many needy people in my life.” The next thought was “No, Cynthia, they’re not the needy ones—you are the needy one. You need needy people to prove you’re lovable.” Ouch.

Unconsciously, I was using those relationships to make myself feel better under the guise of being loving. I was expending copious amounts of energy overcompensating for a negative self-thought about myself that wasn’t even true. On the conscious level, I was just trying to be a good friend, lending an ear, giving advice, but the truth is, I wasn’t really helping anyone, because I was fulfilling my own ego's desperate needs. I was not coming from my superconscious mind. And I was feeling exhausted and trapped because nothing was really changing—they were still unhappy and so was I. When we come from ego, we can never truly know what we or anyone else needs in any situation.

I healed the thought that I was unlovable through hypnotherapy, and something interesting happened—those best friends disappeared. There were no heated confrontations. The relationships just fell away.

When we de-hypnotize ourselves of the core negative ideas we’ve been carrying around, we begin to live in accordance with a higher purpose, and those who are meant to join us on that journey will be there. We no longer look outside of ourselves for validation. We look within, where our true source of acceptance and strength lies. High self-esteem comes from a mind aligned with a higher source. Low self-esteem comes from a very low source—fear.

The book goes on to guide you on how to uncover your core negative self thought and heal it. I've also included tips, 30 daily reprogramming statements, and self-hypnosis exercises to build your self-esteem. I hope you'll check it out when it's available.

Meatless Monday Recipe #5: Stuffed Pasta Shells

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

One of the best vegan chefs I know is my mom, and she's not even vegan, or vegetarian. When I go home she has tons of vegan dishes and baked goods prepared. How lucky am I? I just saw her last week and she had made these stuffed shells that were delicious. She wrote the recipe down for us.

Stuffed Pasta Shells

2 Tbl. olive oil
1 med. onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
2 cups vegan hamburger or crumbled "meat"
1 10 oz package frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
1 16 oz extra firm tofu, drained (crumbled or diced)
1 2lb 13 oz jar pasta (spaghetti) sauce (Ragu, Prego, or anything you like)
1 package Daiya "cheese" mozzarella
1/4 c. red cooking wine
1 box jumbo pasta shells
parsley, oregano, italian seasoning, salt, pepper to taste

Saute onions, garlic, mushrooms, and vegan meat in 2 T olive oil in skillet over medium heat until onions are soft. Mix in the spinach and cook for a bit. Then mix in the diced tofu and the seasonings. (My mom doesn't measure, so just use your best guess.)

Cook the shells according to the box and then stuff them with saute mixture. It's easiest to stuff by hand. My mom says she had 10 shells leftover from a 12 oz jumbo box.

Pour 1/4 c. wine into the spaghetti sauce and heat. When heated, pour 2 cups of the sauce into a 11 X 15 baking dish.

Place shells on top with open side up. Pour remaining sauce over shells. Cover and bake at 350* for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes sprinkle with the cheese and bake 5 minutes longer, covered.

Remove from oven and serve.

Thanks, Mom!

Meatless Monday Recipe #4: Soy Rizo Tofu Scramble

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:18:00 +0000

Photo and Meal: Brad Klopman

When I wake up to the smell of fried Soy Rizo wafting through the house, I know it's Sunday morning and I'm in for a delicious breakfast. This week I am posting a breakfast meal. My boyfriend Brad has created a Soy Rizo Tofu Scramble that is seriously better than any I've had in a restaurant. Also, you can skip the Soy Rizo if you'd like it less spicy.

Soy Rizo Tofu Scramble (serves 4)

3 T. olive oil

1 package hash browns that serves 4, frozen or refrigerated

2 T. Earth Balance "butter"

1 tomato, chopped

1 1/2 c. mushrooms, chopped

1/4 c. onion, chopped

12 oz. extra firm tofu

6 oz. Soyrizo (1/2 of package shown above)

1 avocado

1 cup Daiya mozzarella or cheddar "cheese"

Start off by making the hash browns, they will be frying while you will make the scramble because they take twice as long as everything else. Put the hash browns in a skillet with 2 T. olive oil and pat down and fry over medium heat until golden brown. Do not stir. Flip half way through, just like making a pancake.

While the hash browns are frying begin the scramble.

Melt butter in a medium to large skillet at medium heat. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, and onion, and saute for approximately 5 minutes until the onions are soft. (You can add any vegetables you like.)

Drain the tofu and wrap it in a paper towel to release excess water. Crumble it in a bowl to the consistency of scrambled eggs. You'll want some larger and some smaller crumbles. Mix into the skillet of vegetables and cover for 10 minutes.

Add 1 T. olive oil to smaller skillet over medium heat. Add Soy Rizo and flatten into a pancake. Fry until very slightly burned on one side and then flip it like a pancake to fry the other side. Approximately 5 minutes on each side.

Add fried Soy Rizo to skillet of scramble or combine them in a bowl. Mix well so the tofu turns a yellow/orange color.

You can either add the fried hash browns to the scramble or you can serve them separately as pictured above. I prefer the hash browns mixed into the scramble. Brad prefers them on the side so that they stay crispy.

You can also add the avocado chopped to the scramble, which I like. Or on the side, as Brad prefers.

What we do agree on is how much of this we can consume on a Sunday morning.

Garnish with Daiya and serve.

Thanks, Brad!

Enjoy!

Meatless Monday Recipe #3: Thanksgiving Sides

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:09:00 +0000

I've always been a big believer that knowledge is meant to be shared. And I extend that to recipes too!

So I asked Tamar from The Curveball to guest blog a couple of her favorite plant-based Thanksgiving sides for us, and boy did she come through!

Two Thanksgivings ago Tamar went vegan, cold turkey style. I was so interested in her journey that I asked her to write an essay for my blog. That essay became my inspiration for The Vegan Decision, a website comprised of essays from people who decided to stop eating animals and how that choice has affected their lives. Here is her essay.

Veganism has more than affected Tamar's life, it's changed it. She has done a 180 in her career and is currently getting her certification in health coaching/nutrition. You can find her website here.

Here are the recipes Tamar shared with us. Enjoy!

Photo: A Alittlebitcrunchyalittlebitrock

Mark Bittman’s Quinoa w/ Caramelized Onions (serves 4)

4 medium yellow or red onions (about 1 lb), halved and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 T brown sugar or molasses (I like molasses with this recipe)
¾ cup quinoa (I like to use red quinoa as it has a slightly chewier texture)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1-1/2 c veggie stock, beer or water
2 or three sprigs fresh thyme

Put the onions in a large skillet with a lid over medium heat. Cover and cook, stirring infrequently until the onions are dry and almost sticking to the pan, about 20 minutes. Add the oil and brown sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions brown, another 10-15 minutes.

Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the quinoa, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir as the grains start popping and toasting, a couple of minutes, then add the stock and bring to a boil. Stir one last time, add the thyme, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook, undisturbed, for 15 minutes.

Uncover and test the quinoa for doneness. If the kernels are still sort of hard, make sure there’s enough liquid to keep the bottom of the pan moist and cover them to cook for another 5 minutes or so. When ready, taste, adjust the seasoning, and remove the thyme, adding a few extra grinds of pepper.
Variation: Saute about 1 lb of cremini, white button or oyster mushrooms in about ½ Tbsp coconut oil. Saute for a few minutes, until mushrooms release water. Season with salt, pepper, and ½ tsp liquid smoke. Add mushrooms to quinoa mixture.

Photo: Killer Bunnies, Inc

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Tempeh Bacon and Toasted Pinenuts (serves 4-6)

1 Tbsp coconut oil, divided
1 package tempeh bacon (I like the Lightlife brand: Organic Smoky Tempeh Strips)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound thinly sliced brussels sprouts
¼ cup pine nuts (or slivered almonds if you don’t like pine nuts)

First, prepare the brussel sprouts by rinsing and draining, then cutting off the tip on the bottom and slicing the sprout in half lengthwise. Slice each half into thin, lengthwise strips. Set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ½ tablespoon of the coconut oil to pan. Add the tempeh strips to pan and cook over medium high heat for about 5 minutes on each side until brown and crispier. Remove from pan, chop up into small pieces, and set aside.

Add the remaining coconut oil to the pan and the garlic and cook for about a minute. Then add the Brussels sprouts to pan and sauté for about 5-10 minutes, until the leaves look browner and crispier.

While the brussels sprouts are cooking, in a separate small skillet, toast the pine nuts or almonds at medium heat, until you smell them! Take care not to burn the nuts, they can burn easily. It should only take a few minutes over medium heat. You can do this separately if you want. When both nuts and brussels are toasted/browned and crispy, take off heat and toss the nuts, brussels, and tempeh bacon together. Enjoy immediately.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving side? I hope you'll share a recipe with us!

Oh, and here's a link to more Vegan Thanksgiving sides recipes.

Happy Compassionate Thanksgiving!

Meatless Monday Recipe #2: Thanksgiving Loaf with Gravy

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:46:00 +0000

Photo: Brad Klopman

Let this be the year you take yourself off the cruelty-grid and celebrate the beautiful spirits of all life with a meat-free Thanksgiving! Let peace begin on your plate. I promise it will spread to every area of your life.

Turkeys and chickens are not protected by law like our beloved pets. But they are no less sentient creatures that show tremendous love, form strong family bonds, and they've been known to mourn. Turkeys and chickens have the same desires as our dogs and cats--for love and safety and a peaceful existence.

Because they are not protected, the cruel conditions in which these birds live and die is unimaginable. And to think we are eating that energy! (Here is a NY Times article about what is unfortunately common practice in turkey processing plants. Click here.)

I simply want to suggest that there is kinder, gentler, healthier way for all of us to live. And this Thanksgiving, let peace begin on your plate with a vegan loaf.

When I ate meat, turkey was my favorite. So I would not lead you astray when I say the Tofurky loaf is delicious.

Tofurky also has a whole to-go Thanksgiving meal prepared. You can bring it over to your friend's or family's house so they don't have worry about how to feed the vegans! It feeds six.

The Feast includes the following:

One Tofurky Roast (made with organic non-genetically engineered soybeans)
Savory Giblet Gravy
Wild Rice, Whole Wheat Bread Crumb Stuffing
Tofurky Jurky Wishstix
Amy’s Organic Vegan Chocolate Cake
Happy Tofurky Day card & coupons
Each feast is 100% vegan, cooks in about an hour, serves six and tastes fabulous!

Yesterday I tried the Field Roast Celebration Loaf. (Available only at Whole Foods, I think.) And it was just okay. God bless them for trying, but to me it's not as good as other brands. (It's in the top photo.)

Word on the street is that the BEST veggie turkey comes from Gardein, pictured below. I'm excited to try it this Thanksgiving Day. I hope I can find some in San Antonio, where I'll be.

So the rest of the meal is just sauteed spinach with mashed potatoes and gravy. The most time consuming part of the meal is the gravy, but the recipe makes a lot and it lasts a long time.

Sauteed Spinach:

Heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil with about 1 teaspoon of garlic in a large pot over medium heat. (Don't let the garlic brown.) Throw in a bunch of washed fresh spinach with a pinch of salt. Saute for a minute. Put the lid on and let it cook for 2 minutes, then remove the lid and turn up the heat to high for about 30 seconds or so. I usually dribble a bit of lemon juice over it too.

Mashed Potatoes:

5-6 large potatoes, peeled, cut and quartered, and boiled for about 20 minutes, or until a fork can pass through easily.

When done, drain the water and add:

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 c. Unsweetened Soy Milk

3 Tablespoons Earth Balance "Butter"

Golden Gravy:

(Taken from The Real Food Daily Cookbook)
Click here for the recipe. It's so freaking good.

There you have it. Happy Cruelty-free Thanksgiving, friends!

Next Monday we have a guest blogger, Tamar from The Curveball, who is going to give us some easy vegan Thanksgiving sides recipes. Stay tuned....

"Let peace and love begin with me."

To learn more about the turkey industry, click here.

Meatless Monday Recipe #1: Pizza!

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:20:00 +0000

My boyfriend, Brad, and I LOVE pizza. I seriously make it about once a week. Most of the time I make the dough and sauce from scratch, but when I'm feeling lazy, I make it with a ready made crust and a jar of pizza sauce. Finding a vegan ready made pizza crust was not easy. But I did, and it's really good. Here ya go:

Last time I checked the label, it was vegan. As far as sauce, I use this tasty, cheap stuff:

Now for the toppings. The one thing Brad and I don't agree on is pizza toppings. He likes olives. I don't. I like onions, He doesn't. He also likes his crust verrrry well done (hence the burnt pizza photo) and I don't. So we indent the pizza at the half way mark and top our respective halves. (When the pizza is done, we cut it in half and his half goes back in the oven.)

We both, however, agree on two ingredients always. The first is Daiya cheese. (Pronounced Day-ah.) Daiya is a god send. There has been a dearth of tasty, melty, stretchy vegan cheese until Daiya came along. It's so good. I promise. No one will know it's not regular cheese. The upside? Health. And not supporting animal suffering. And contributing to the destruction of the environment. (Here's a previous post I wrote on Gandhi's regret of drinking cow's milk. Click here.)

The other topping we love is vegan pepperoni. Honestly, you can't tell much difference, and again so much healthier. Either brand is very good.

From there, you can add whatever toppings your heart desires.

If you're up for making your own pizza sauce, I've experimented with lots of homemade pizza sauces and I've narrowed it down to this simple, no cook recipe.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Just throw all of this in a blender:

6 ounces can tomato paste

1 cup warm water

2 cloves garlic, peeled

5 leaves fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

pinch of sugar

As far as dough goes, here's one that's simple, quick, and contains ingredients most likely already in your cupboard. Click here.

As you can see, I'm not going to be blogging many fancy shmancy recipes. But the upside is they're super easy. And not only are they meatless, they are totally animal product free. Doesn't that feel and taste good?

PS. If you are interested in eating less animal products, here's a list of my favorite dairy replacements. Click here.

Meatless Monday Recipes Coming

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:57:00 +0000

I was at Real Food Daily (great vegan restaurant in LA) the other night having dinner with a friend who is not a vegetarian, and the topic of veganism naturally came up. She told me she wanted to start making more meatless meals but since she had two small children she needed the recipes to be fast and easy. One of her children, Sophie, who just turned 4 the other day, decided on her own at age 2 that she did not want to eat animals. (!) My friend was scrambling to make quick healthy meatless meals for her vegetarian daughter.

Synchronously, that morning I had the idea to blog Meatless Monday recipes (if you can call them that, they're more like mash-ups) of simple things I throw together and call a meal. The inspiration came from another friend's 5 year old son, John, who wanted to stop eating so many animals and drinking milk. (I hear he's now enjoying almond milk and other dairy substitutes!)

I like experimenting in the kitchen and trying new elaborate vegan recipes on occasion for myself and my boyfriend, but mostly I'm a lazy vegan. Not totally lazy, I eat more than a PBJ. But I'm no gourmet chef. I do, however, have easy vegan meals down to a science.

So on behalf Sophie and John and their awesome moms who heed their wisdom, I'd like to share my Meatless Monday recipes with you starting this Monday. Get ready for yummy, easy recipes that even the most die-hard carnivore will enjoy.

Me and the wise soul that is Sophie.

Photo: Brad Klopman

Dear John Letter to Negativity

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:26:00 +0000

One technique I use with clients who want to change an unwanted behavior or release a negative emotion is to write a break-up letter to it. Just as if you were writing a break up letter to a person, it should include the usual, "it's not you, it's me" sort of ideas, such as why you needed it, what purpose it served in your life, and why you can no longer continue the relationship. Be gentle--I'm sure the relationship had its pluses. Here is an example from one of my clients.

Dear Lethargy,

Thank you for the time we shared together. You attracted me with the shrug of your shoulders, your slow pace, and your “who cares” attitude. When I think of us, I will remember all the time spent in bed or cuddled up on the couch watching T.V. Our bond grew stronger the worse I looked or the less I did. In fact, you continually assured me that you would be right by my side no matter how bad things got. Your low expectations were what I needed then but my heart tells me that it’s time for us to go our separate ways.

I very recently ran into Life and Purpose. We hadn’t seen each other for a while and, as we started talking, a familiar sense of hope and excitement returned. They have a light and a joy that is infectious and it made me recall why I first fell in love with them. They speak with such enthusiasm about Spirit, and art, and talent, and dreams. They encourage me to grow, and laugh, and participate. Sometimes they scare the heck out of me but I know that I can’t thrive without them.

Please don’t think that I lack appreciation for you getting me through one of the most difficult times in my life but, now, I desire more than the idleness we shared. I choose to believe that I deserve more and, amazingly enough, I feel as though I have something to offer.

I wish you well and, if I ever see you with someone new, I will be kind and understanding because I know that your listlessness and empty gaze are wrapping and tending to an unseen wound. May grace and peace always follow.

Sincerely,

Tara

GETTING UNSTUCK Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:44:00 +0000

I am teaching a new Healing Through Hypnosis workshop this weekend called GETTING UNSTUCK.

Here are the details:

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

11:00-2:00

$45.00 pre-register (I've cut the price of workshops in half!)

At the beautiful Mondrian Hotel

Are you feeling stuck in your an area of your life? Relationships? Finances? Career? Anxiety? Body Issues? Self-esteem? Health? If so, then join me! It's going to be fun and transformational.

Click here to register.

RUSSH Magazine Interview

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Hey Friends!

Click on the article above to read an interview featuring me in the latest issue of RUSSH magazine. RUSSH is an Australian fashion, art, music magazine available on newsstands now.

Be prepared to be inspired!

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:01:00 +0000

I don't know what's gotten in to me lately. All I seem to want to do is watch documentary films. Lately, I've been drawn to those on food and eating and agriculture in America. What I've learned is this: Things are severely screwed up. More so that I thought. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is another way available that is in the best interests of everyone. It starts with our daily, individual choices--in the grocery store, in a restaurant--and being conscious of what we are choosing to eat and drink.

I am begging you to watch these important films. The first documentary is KING CORN which came out a few years ago.

The second documentary is called FAT, SICK, AND NEARLY DEAD. And boy, is it inspiring! If you know someone who is overweight, or on loads of medications, this is the movie for them. I'm a fairly thin, healthy vegan, and it inspired me to make even more changes in my diet.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on them.

Your Daily Grind is Your India

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:57:00 +0000

Hi Friends!

So I'm taking this week off to finish writing my book, YOU'RE ALREADY HYPNOTIZED: A GUIDE TO WAKING UP. Yeah, I know, I've been saying that for years now. But believe it or not, I really do see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just working on final, final edits. I've decided to make it an ebook available for download and for electronic readers, so I've still got to get the cover designed and figure out exactly how to go about making an ebook. I have also recorded about forty hypnotherapy sessions that will be available with the workbook section of the book that I need to somehow get on a new site for downloading. (If you have any suggestions or know how to do this, please email me.) In the meantime, here's an excerpt from my book. Thanks for your support. We'll talk soon. Now back to the grind.

Excerpt from YOU'RE ALREADY HYPNOTIZED: A GUIDE TO WAKING UP.

Over the past nine years as a hypnotherapist, I have seen a thousand clients with a thousand different issues, and though I treat each client individually, at the root, every problem is the same: We are asleep. We don’t remember who we are. We have forgotten our identity as children of God—or goddess, love, our higher self, truth, spirit, source, the universe, or whatever you prefer to call that spiritual apex—and that forgetfulness has caused a sleep-like state that has manifested into myriad specific problems seemingly “out there."

To heal is to awaken. But we must first understand that we are asleep before we can awaken. Only then can we begin the process of undoing the false ideas we have accepted into our mind. Healing doesn’t actually require us to do anything. Rather, we must undo the roadblocks or, as I call it, “de-hypnotize” or “deprogram” ourselves.

The path of awakening is highly individualized. For some, the most spiritual and healing thing they can do is daily meditation. For others, however, it is to get out of the house and get a job, or learn about food and lose weight, or give up alcohol. By tackling the behavior, they develop the self-esteem needed to look at the underlying issue. It would be silly to tell a heroin addict to reflect on his deeply buried psychological and spiritual issues. He couldn’t do it. But if you change the behavior first by getting him clean, he would then have the capacity and perhaps the willingness to look at the cause of his addiction.

I’m not here to decide whether meditating or getting sober or finding a job is the right place to begin your awakening. I don’t have enough information to make that call. That’s why this book addresses common issues from all levels: physical, psychological, and spiritual. How do you determine the most “spiritual” thing to do? It varies with circumstance. It wouldn’t be mindful to pay for yoga classes every day if you owed people money. It wouldn’t be enlightened to follow a guru for months while neglecting your children, or spend hours in meditation in a filthy house. It wouldn’t be virtuous to teach healthy living while secretly living as an addict. Nor would it be holy to care about people, but not about animals and the environment, or vice versa.

This doesn’t mean that we have to be perfect before we do what we feel guided to do or are passionate about. If we all waited until then, we wouldn’t start anything. It just means we must be honest with ourselves. Awakening requires a certain amount of consistency. The outer and the inner need to reflect each other as much as possible. But until we are healed, we will be dreadfully inconsistent.

I remember a client who said her life’s goal was “to achieve enlightenment,” yet as we talked, I noticed she had trouble standing up for herself—she was scared to quit a job she was miserable in and too insecure to leave an unhappy marriage. I wanted to tell her, “If you’re too afraid to change jobs, you’re not exactly ready to transcend mortality.” But I didn’t. In hindsight, maybe I should have. The best I could do for her was to help her gain enough self-respect and confidence to be decisive and communicate her needs. Once she achieved that, her life took off. She switched jobs, got a divorce and a new boyfriend, and is much more fulfilled.

We can’t skip steps up the ladder of enlightenment. Our quest begins right here, today, exactly as we are. It’s true that no one becomes enlightened with a drinking problem. And no one can love herself, yet hate her thighs. No one is free who carries monstrous debt. And no one reaches self-mastery by being duplicitous, hurtful, or despising himself or anyone else. Not because we’re being punished if we do those things, but because our choice to do those things blocks our highest self.

Enlightened people don’t need drugs, food, people, or things in order to do, change, cause or fulfill anything. They have no lack. They’ve awakened to the truth that all they need is within. Our wounded behavior reflects our sleeping mind. And a sleeping mind is not aware it is sleeping. It desperately and unsuccessfully looks for its identity in the world. Our only real purpose here is to wake up. We begin that process by using whatever is in front of us—addictions, phobias, grievances. Anything can lead to awakening if we follow it far enough.

Carl Jung, the Swiss psychologist, hypothesized that we spend the first half of our lives developing an ego and the second half trying to get rid of it. I interpret this to mean that we must express individuality before we can know oneness. That’s why people rarely seek to know their spiritual self in their youth. They’re too busy figuring out who they are in the world. We first need to know how different we are from everyone else and gain confidence in ourselves before we can see the truth that underneath it all we are all the same. We must develop a keen sense of our individualized, egoic self before we can transcend that self—only then do we become truly revolutionary.

The spiritual journey is an inward journey of awakening your mind, not an outward excursion. You don’t have to trek through India, do yoga, or spend long hours meditating. All those things can be important if you feel guided to do them, and certainly the world would be a better place if we all stilled our minds each day, but everyone’s path is different. It’s a mistake to think the spiritual path is big and fancy and brightly lit or that it involves only what we think of as “spiritual.” The spiritual path is actually quite small and quiet and doesn’t necessarily look good in purple. It’s so humble that we constantly overlook it. You may be expecting a magic wand to change everything while neglecting the potential miracle of growth right in front of you.

Your daily grind is your India. It is the spiritual classroom you chose in order to learn your life lessons. Each new day brings you to a precipice with the opportunity to leap into greater awareness. You just don’t see it because it’s hidden in the mundane like washing dishes after you use them, accepting your body as it is, letting go of addictions, being able to receive a compliment or say “no,” or “yes,” learning to walk away or to stay, choosing love when you want to choose fear, and finishing what you start. Those perfunctory tasks can teach us the mindful qualities of integrity, discipline, honesty, responsibility, and respect—all necessary ingredients for self-realization.

That’s why Buddhist monks lead simple lives: wake up, meditate, eat breakfast, clean, meditate, eat lunch, meditate some more, prepare dinner, meditate again, bathe, and sleep. Their day-to-day routines rarely change. Nisargadatta Maharaj, arguably the greatest Indian sage, was the keeper of a small goods store and lived in a very modest apartment on a crowded street in Bombay. People flocked to his apartment from around the world, crowding each other to sit on his bare floor and listen to the wisdom of non-dualism that flowed. Nisargadatta’s life was uncomplicated and ordinary in form, but extraordinary in content.

Another Great Documentary: Buck

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:29:00 +0000

Wow, this documentary blew me away. It made me want to be a better human being. Here's the link to the movie's site. Check it out.

Must See Movie: Forks Over Knives

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:49:00 +0000

Man, I've missed you, blog. We needed a break, but I'm ready to have some fun together again.

My dear blog readers (anyone still out there?), if you haven't yet read the fascinating book The China Study, don't worry, they've already made a movie about it. A new documentary called Forks Over Knives, which is based on this seminal book, has just been released. May I suggest that you RUN to see it?! It is not an exaggeration to say it could save your life.

ECOLUXE magazine

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 03:30:00 +0000

I've been wanting to tell you about a fabulous new magazine called ECOLUXE that has hit the Internet with gusto. I'm thrilled to have been asked to be the monthly "spiritual columnist" where I answer readers' questions and give tips. Here is my first installment. If you have a question for print, please send it to me!

Bad Habits (and tips for stopping)

noreply@blogger.com (cynthia morgan) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:53:00 +0000

Excerpt from my upcoming book, You're Already Hypnotized: A Guide to Waking Up.

"Holy Child of God, when will you learn that only holiness can content you and give you peace?"—A Course in Miracles

….The reason we don’t quit our bad habit even though we say we want to is because our subconscious thinks we’re better off with it. It’s called a negative payoff. There is always a negative payoff underlying any bad habit. Even though the habit may be destroying us at worst or annoying at best, subconsciously we think it’s serving us on some level. Otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it.

The bad habit is often the only way our subconscious mind believes it can get its deeper needs met. From what I’ve uncovered with clients, the biggest negative payoff is protection. The maladaptive behavior becomes a defense mechanism protecting us from what we fear: getting hurt, succeeding, failing, conflict, feeling our feelings or being held responsible.

It’s a good idea to get rid of the bad habit, but consciously taking it away or just stopping cold turkey doesn’t cure deeper subconscious beliefs. We might stop that particular behavior, but we start another one, or pick it up again later. Our subconscious believes the habit gives us something of value, and though we easily let go of what we no longer need or want, we cling to what we value, even though it’s hurting us.

Giving up an unwanted habit then requires a change of value, which is nothing more than a change in perception about what the habit is for. If a smoker, for instance, thinks cigarettes are her best friend, she’s not going to give them up. But if, through hypnosis, I take away that value by changing her subconscious mind, then what she gives up is valueless and therefore easier to relinquish.

What a smoker thinks she gets from smoking takes precedence over the harmful effects. All smokers know it’s bad for them. Respiratory infections, emphysema, lung cancer, heart attacks, wrinkles and impotence don’t faze them because smokers value smoking, and their cars, more than their body. Most smokers hold their cigarette outside of their car window while driving. It doesn’t make sense. They fear the smoke dirtying their interior and the smell lingering on their dashboard, yet they inhale it into their lungs. It takes some reorganizing of their subconscious for them to see the habit from a right-minded perspective. My job is to convince them that smoking offers only an illusion of value. In and of itself, a cigarette has no value. Our mind assigns meaning to things outside of ourselves, and it’s that meaning that keeps us stuck, not the behavior.....

All of the smokers I’ve worked with say smoking relaxes them, but that's a lie they've come to believe. They are not questioning the reality of the problem. Smoking, like any unwanted habit, does not provide true relaxation. On the contrary, cigarettes cause agitation in the body through the withdrawal of toxic chemicals and nicotine. The perceived relaxation from a drag on a cigarette is simply the rush of nicotine back into the system. Is a heroin addict truly relaxing with each hit? He might think he is, and it feels that way for a moment due to the rise of dopamine in his brain (the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure), but the truth is, he’s simply feeding the craving that caused his anxiety.

And this is true with any bad habit. They feed anxiety. They do not allay anxiety. Healing comes from a different part of you. Bad habits and anxiety go hand in hand. When you are deeply relaxed, like in a hypnotic state or asleep, the need to pull out your hair or drink or smoke disappears. Your body is in the parasympathetic relaxation mode, not the sympathetic fight or flight response that generates cravings....

We all know that we use things and behaviors and other people to fill a void. We also know this void is basically a lack of love. Typically, most psychologists and hypnotherapists trace the void back to childhood. But this void is ultimately not about what our parents didn’t give us, though we can begin to heal it there. The void is deeper than that. It's an absence of God, or truth, love, whatever you want to call that connection to your highest self. That’s why bad habits never bring lasting satisfaction. The ego’s edict is “seek and do not find.” We are seeking a physical solution to an essentially psycho-spiritual neurosis.

When you decided long ago that you would live a life separate from God, you became unhappy. But you didn’t know why, so you turned to the ego for a solution. That was the only mistake you have ever made, and it’s the only one you keep making. The ego told you to seek that fulfillment though your body and in the world. So you did. And you’re still searching: in a person, a candy bar, a whiskey bottle, pot or lip gloss. But the ego will never tell you that your real addiction is to suffering. Your addiction is to your own ego thought system. The cause of pain is the choice to choose against God, because it is a choice against yourself.

If you want to permanently change your behavior, you must go back to your mind and relinquish the value you have placed on the habit by listening to a different teacher. Ask God to use your bad habit for His holy purposes. Anything the ego makes can be reinterpreted by God to bring you Home. Today you are given the opportunity to live your life differently. The past is over. Every attempt at healing, no matter how little, has great strength behind it. God will use the situation, just as it is, to bless your life, rather than as your ego has been using it, to hurt you....

Tips

ü Call upon a higher source. Welcome God, your higher self, Jesus, Buddha, whoever or whatever, into your mind or to sit down beside when and if you indulge in your bad habit, or if you simply feel the urge. It can be as simple as “I invite God into my relationship with alcohol.” You can’t be in the mind of God and in your ego at the same time, and bad habits are ego. By remembering your right-mind, you naturally relinquish fear and allow a wiser perception to guide you. Keep inviting a higher source into your mind to help you see things differently.

ü Rubber band trick. Habits are often unconscious and habituated responses to stress stimuli. Healing then requires being conscious and aware. Put a rubber band on your wrist and snap it each time you are tempted by the unwanted habit. This helps “snap” you out of unconscious behavior. Use this, or something similar, to distract yourself with for thirty days, which is the length of time it takes to replace an old habit with a new one.

ü Stop signs. Stop signs are everywhere so we might as well use them for purposes other than stopping our cars. How about stopping unwanted behavior or thought patterns? Stop signs can be great reminders to change. Each time you see a stop sign, see it as Switch To Opposite Perception (STOP) and simply say, “I can stop __________________.” (Insert bad habit.)

ü Use an alternate activity. If you are addicted to internet gambling, for instance, put A Course in Miracles by your computer and when you have an urge to go online to gamble, open the book and read a section. Or have the daily reprogramming statements associated with this chapter with you at all times so you can distract your mind and change your perception. This will eventually hardwire your brain for a different outcome to the cravings. I heard about a man who was attempting to heal his internet porn addiction. Every time he went online with a craving to search porn, he instead searched for ways to heal his addiction.

ü Delay. Challenge yourself not to partake in the behavior for as long as you can. Delay it for a few minutes, then work up to an hour, and then perhaps a couple of hours. Keep pushing yourself to delay for longer periods of time.

ü Label your feelings. Notice what you are feeling when you have the desire to cave to your bad habit. There is always a feeling associated with it. Is it loneliness? Boredom? Frustration? Address the feeling by doing something to satisfy it—call a friend, take a walk, or meditate.

ü Meditate. This is probably the fastest, most effective way to heal your mind. Research indicates the effectiveness of meditation in overcoming addiction. It’s been shown that meditation trumps behavior strategies in healing addictive thoughts. If you don’t know how to meditate, not to worry, use the self-hypnosis induction in this book to induce a meditative state. Make meditation a part of your daily routine.

ü Mark your calendar. Pick a day that feels like the right day to stop your bad habit and mark it boldly on your calendar. It could be today or tomorrow or in two weeks, or maybe it has already passed. This is a very important day, as significant as an anniversary or a birthday. If it’s appropriate, tell your family and friends so that you are held accountable.

ü Count the days. Keep track of how many days you have gone without indulging, and be proud of yourself for each day. When you’ve reached a week, or a month, reward yourself. Take it day by day, but make thirty days your first goal. Then another thirty days, and so forth.

ü Forgive yourself when you relapse. Relapse is often a part of recovery. I have many clients who have healed their addictions and bad habits, and most of them relapsed at some point in the beginning. We learn through contrast. Relapse does not have to be a hindrance to healing, in fact, it can be a part of the recovery process. I often liken relapse to bad break-up sex. Sometimes we have to go back to what’s familiar in order to realize that we don’t want it. We trick ourselves into believing that our old ways will fulfill us as they once did, but we only end up feeling worse. We are held accountable to what we know. If we know we should be making better choices, and we don’t, we will always pay a price. The blessing in relapse, however, is that it can solidify our commitment to staying on the right path.

ü Avoid people or situations who have the same bad habit or trigger your cravings. While in the process of recovery, you are not strong. However, you are in the process of learning that you have strength within you. This is a fragile time of rebuilding your self-esteem, so be kind and gentle with yourself. Protect yourself vigilantly against any and all trigger responses to your bad habit. It’s not unusual for those stuck in their bad habits and unhealthy patterns to attempt to sabotage our healing because it reminds of what they are neglecting within themselves. Misery loves company. Keep the company of healthy individuals who are walking the high road.

ü Clean your environment. Get rid of anything and everything that reminds you of the addiction or contributes to it. If you are a smoker, for instance, have your car detailed, and toss all cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters. Delete sites on your computer. Buy a sage smudge stick and cleanse the energy in your home. Create a safe and healthy environment.

ü Talk to someone. Tell someone about your addiction, a trusted friend or loved one, a family member, counselor, minister, or support group or even a stranger you meet online in a recovery program. Secrets and isolation hurt us; joining heals us.

ü Do the exercises for this chapter. As mentioned, it takes thirty days for a new habit to replace an old habit, which is why each chapter contains thirty daily reprogramming statements. Using these daily will make the healing process much easier. The only reason people experience adverse withdrawal symptoms is because they have not changed their subconscious mind. Without changing your core thoughts, you will fail. And you were not meant to fail. You were meant for greatness.

Daily Reprogramming Statements for Bad Habits

(Repeat each statement for throughout the day aloud or silently then move on to the next statement the following day. Do this for thirty days.)

I am ready to change.

I can stop ____________________ (drinking, smoking, biting my nails).

__________________ has no value.

__________________ will never improve my life.

I have made the final decision to stop ___________________.

__________________ doesn’t make me happy.

I don’t enjoy _____________________.

___________________ may have served me in the past, but it no longer serves me today.

I replace ___________________ with self-respect.

As I relax more and more, I no longer need _____________________.

I forgive myself for _______________________.

I will not fool myself into thinking that _____________________ fulfills me.

Let peace replace _____________________.

I no longer use ______________________ to mask my problems.

I express myself instead of repressing myself with ___________________.

___________________ does not make me smarter.

The longer I abstain, the easier it is.

I am patient with myself as I let go of _____________________.

I do not have to ______________________ when I am upset or lonely.

I no longer weaken myself by _______________________.

____________________ is self-punishment, and I don’t need to punish myself anymore.

I am stronger than my urge to _______________________.

_____________________ is ego gratification, and I am not my ego.

I enjoy challenging myself to be better.

I develop new habits that empower me.

When I stop _____________________, I make room for miracles.

I stubbornly refuse to _________________________.

Under no circumstances do I ever _______________________.

I do not envy people who _______________________.

My craving for _____________________ is vanishing.

I am happy to be alive.