December 2005

Break free from self‑imposed limitations

by Dr. Robert Schiffman

While working with people and chiropractors for these many years of practice, I have never encountered a person who doesn't want to improve upon his or her life or be happier. The goal that I want to reach the most is to educate chiropractors ‑‑ and everyone ‑‑ to the fact that your life is based on the unconscious (i.e., dreams, desires, love, hurt...) and help them become more conscious of their individuality so they'll know and take control of their life and destiny.

Everyone moves to a different beat, everyone is different, everyone is programmed differently, and functions at different levels. The way that you function and are productive is based on how you were raised, how much love you received and what you experienced in life as a child. These things remain in your unconscious and what you believe and perceive about life and what it has to offer, are exactly what you will create. If you believe life can not be full and fulfilling, then that is what you will create your future and life to emit.

As a chiropractor, you should be able to help people who come into your office looking for help. The negative things that fill your unconscious hinder you from being able to help people. Something to think about, because your brain could be possibly overloaded with experiences from your childhood. You might delete information from your brain because of this.

You learned from your parents the way to handle life and its changes. The way that you handled things as a child would be the same way you handle life as an adult. It's possible to get easily overwhelmed and therefore not "see" the clear choices right in front of you.

For instance, people who've been abused as children or have had significant emotional experiences may come from a place of unconsciously feeling the need to feel safe and protect themselves. Because of the fear of being hurt, people can delete love right out of their life and not "feel" it when it's right in front of them. All types of information may be filtered out in their life and therefore they miss golden opportunities right in front of them.

People may rely on information from others to make a decision because they have learned as a child NOT to trust their instincts because of mixed messages they received. This can prevent them from moving ahead and they can get stuck and prevent themselves from moving out of their comfort zone. That is why as doctors of chiropractic we must get these people educated about chiropractic. You have something that can help them overcome these situations in their lives.

Another thing people tend to do is distort information. There are many ways people do this. The one way you might do this is by miscommunication. People imagine others do not like them (fear of rejection) or people can put the cause outside themselves such as "you made me angry" or make a valued judgment "its' bad to be angry." People also distort information internally to fit their beliefs, values and decisions and in many other ways that negatively effect their life. Again, as chiropractors, you must find a way to reach out to these types of patients and educate them about chiropractic.

The third thing people tend to do is create generalizations. Some of this is valuable or you might have to learn all over again to turn on the TV or radio for instance. Unfortunately, most of the time it can be destructive and create a lot of needless suffering for all.

One type of generalization involves concepts as "never" or "always." Statements such as "you never" or "you always." Words used in communication like this most always instigate arguments and hurt feelings. Prejudice and chauvinism come from these negative generalizations.

Another way involves possibility or impossibility. For some people everything "can" be done. Anything is possible. Others place limitations on themselves such as, "I can't" or "I won't." Rules, in other words create generalizations about what is possible or impossible or what should or must be done. For example, you can be a high volume chiropractor, your patients will stay, and you will fill the hole in the bucket.

Many of your beliefs and values are generalizations, too. They can create or expand your life. These are not all negative. What is negative about it is to allow them to operate automatically outside of your awareness. The goal therefore, is not to eliminate them but rather to use them consciously in such a way that can create the results and experiences you want in your life. Learning this is good, so that now you can provide the best care and produce the best results for your patients.

After people delete, distort and generalize the sensory input they receive, they then make some sort of internal representation of that sensory material and it can be negative or positive. The more conscious you are of this input, the more in control you become to expand your boundaries and break free of your self‑imposed limitations. Patterns are then stopped not only in ourselves but in the next generation as well!

(Studying under CS Gonstead ignited Dr. Robert Schiffman's passion for chiropractic. The Life University graduate's career accomplishments have won him much recognition, and he is one of the most sought‑after speakers in chiropractic today. Dr. Schiffman ‑‑ founder of the Get the Big Idea Seminars and Coaching Programs ‑‑ continues to maintain one of the world's largest volume practices. Contact him by calling 877‑251‑0181, or visit online at www.getthebigidea.com)