| Recently one of my clients name Jon brought up this | | | | of affirmation, using Neuro-linguistic programming to |
| question. Jon a highly motivated middle-aged guy | | | | re-train the brain. |
| transformed his body over the last year. By following | | | | It’s important to form the new positive |
| the protocol I set out, Jon built added an impressive | | | | declarations into emphatic statements in the present |
| amount of muscle to his frame while shedding a | | | | tense for them to be effective. When stating these |
| tremendous amount of body fat. Although he’s | | | | declarations, touching your body in certain kinesiological |
| now the envy of his friends and now sports a body | | | | points increases the effectiveness of the statements. |
| most men half his age would kill for he still had that | | | | Let me explain: |
| burning desire to get to the next level of physical | | | | T. Harv Eker author of “The Secrets of the |
| development. | | | | Millionaire Mind” uses this format to elicit rapid |
| Jon, like many trainees, made continuous process for | | | | changes in peoples thinking. Here’s how the |
| about 6 months. After the first 6 months the progress | | | | process works: |
| slowed somewhat compared to his initial gains. Then | | | | State the first statement written below with your hand |
| as Jon approached the 1-year mark his progress | | | | over your heart. State the declaration loudly and with |
| seemed to come to a stand still. No matter what Jon | | | | enthusiasm. Then touch your forehead at the point |
| tried, he could not get his bodyweight past 185lbs. | | | | between your eyes and make the second statement, |
| Jon changed diets, tried new routines, added extra | | | | with the same energy and enthusiasm. |
| supplements but with only minimum change in his body. | | | | This process is called anchoring. Anchoring connects, |
| Frustration began to set in and those little nagging | | | | thoughts, words, and actions to the bioelectric |
| doubts began to creep into his mind. All of the familiar | | | | meridians in your body to elicit faster responses. |
| negative self talk plagues the minds of everybody at | | | | World-renowned motivational teacher Tony Robbins is |
| some point, started coming up in Jon’s brain | | | | a master of this technique. He and many other |
| such as: | | | | motivational speakers use this or similar techniques in |
| I don’t have the genetics. | | | | public seminars to instantly change people’s |
| Natural guys just can’t that big. | | | | lives. |
| Nothing is going to work. | | | | Your declaration statement would go something like |
| I am not training hard enough, long enough, frequently | | | | this: |
| enough, etc… | | | | My inner world creates my outer world. |
| I am eating too much… | | | | I have a muscle-building mind. |
| I am eating too little… | | | | What I heard about bodybuilding is not necessarily true. |
| I don’t have the time to put into the gym. | | | | I choose to adopt new ways of thinking that support |
| I don’t have the time to eat properly. | | | | my bodybuilding goals. |
| I am not getting enough sleep. | | | | I have a muscle-building mind. |
| Maybe I am too old, too young, too whatever… | | | | What magazines say about genetics is not necessarily |
| I am not getting protein… and so on. | | | | true; I have the genetics to build mountains of muscle. |
| Does this sound familiar? If so keep on reading. | | | | I have a muscle-building mind. |
| Like millions of bodybuilders Jon had reached a | | | | I release my unsupportive bodybuilding experiences |
| “Mental Ceiling” and his outside actions | | | | from the past and create a bigger, more powerful |
| were actually contributing to | | | | body. |
| “self-sabotage”. Most people fail to | | | | I have a muscle-building mind. |
| recognize it’s the inner world that creates the | | | | I observe my thoughts and only entertain those that |
| outer world. Every action or non-action you perform is | | | | empower me. “I create the exact level of my |
| actually just a reflection of a program held in your mind, | | | | muscle building success” |
| whether conscious or not. | | | | I have a muscle-building mind. |
| The mind is a powerful ally and a formidable enemy. | | | | By repeating this process you erase old |
| What one holds in the mind tends to manifest in our | | | | “failure” programs that run in your head |
| lives. Virtually every self-help book since Napoleon | | | | and create new neural pathways that lead you to |
| Hill’s timeless classic “Think & Grow | | | | rapid success. |
| Rich,” written in 1937, has illustrated this fact. | | | | You can make up your own declarations after |
| Modern day psychiatry legend Dr. David Hawkins | | | | analyzing your self-talk. Change any negative belief |
| author of “Power vs. Force” explains in | | | | systems into positive belief systems in each statement |
| measurable detail the effects of every belief system, | | | | and then anchor it with the physical movements as |
| self-talk, and the emotions connected to thoughts or | | | | illustrated above. |
| “states of being” with his Map of | | | | Although at first glimpse this strategy seems |
| Consciousness. | | | | extraordinarily simple, rest assured it’s |
| If you are experiencing a limitation in life I highly | | | | application is powerful and extremely effective. The |
| recommend checking out these two excellent books | | | | key is daily repetition of the declarations. I suggest you |
| to overcome one’s own self-imposed limitations. | | | | go through your declarations first thing in the morning, |
| I have experienced sticking points myself; as have | | | | and last thing evening, just before you go to bed. |
| virtually every client I ever trained or worked with | | | | Perform these declarations faithfully everyday, until you |
| during my 19 years in the industry. The reality is these | | | | truly believe in your statements. |
| points are ALWAYS SELF-IMPOSED! Einstein once | | | | What happens is the body starts to manifest |
| said, “ The mind that solves a problem, must be | | | | behaviors that support your declarations. The personal |
| different than the mind that created the | | | | barrier is usually broken within a few weeks, |
| problem.” | | | | sometimes only days, depending on how focused the |
| Since all “challenges, problems, and sticking points | | | | individual is when repeating his/her declarations. Most |
| originate in the mind, the athlete must seek out and | | | | sport psychologists use variations of these techniques |
| eliminate or replace the mental attitude or belief | | | | with professional athletes. It definitely works as records |
| system that is holding them back from achieving their | | | | keep getting broken every year. |
| goal. | | | | Another more radical strategy to employ is hypnosis. |
| Here’s what you need to do overcome self | | | | Bodybuilding Legend Bill Pearl used Self-Hypnosis to |
| created limitations. | | | | overcome physical limitations and built perhaps the |
| First, take ownership of what you’re | | | | greatest drug free physique of all-time. The challenge |
| experiencing. In other words don’t place blame | | | | with Hypnosis is getting the procedure done by a |
| on outside circumstances, people, places, things, time, | | | | professional Doctor who is well schooled in its |
| etc. While it may appear that these things are stopping | | | | application. |
| you from making the gains you desire, the truth is | | | | The Final strategy and probably the most beneficial, is |
| it’s your mental programming that’s | | | | to learn a process of meditation. Meditation is without a |
| drawing you into these limiting conditions or | | | | doubt the most effective personal study to uncover |
| circumstances. | | | | the inner workings of the mind. Science is now taking |
| Review your thoughts through journaling. This is very | | | | notice of the tremendous benefits meditation produces |
| important. Every evening write down your thoughts, | | | | in all aspects of people’s lives. |
| and actions of the day, what you were thinking, and | | | | Meditation produces the most long lasting and powerful |
| what you did or did not do. Was your self-talk positive | | | | results or any psycho-physiological technique and can |
| or negative? Did you experience old self-defeating | | | | be performed without much training in the privacy of |
| patterns of thought? What people influence you in | | | | one’s home. |
| your life? Is the people in your life positive or negative? | | | | There are numerous organizations that teach |
| When you carefully analyze your thoughts, | | | | meditation, which is often referred to as the science of |
| experiences, and feelings, it becomes clear just how | | | | the mind. Simply look for one in your area until you find |
| many of them are self-defeating. In fact most people | | | | the technique or teachings that resonate with you. |
| are not aware of how many limiting thoughts, belief | | | | So here’s a quick review on how to smash |
| systems, and emotions are running in the back of their | | | | through any self-imposed ceiling in your life. |
| mind or within the subconscious mind. Most of these | | | | First, accept responsibility. |
| negative programs were picked up in early childhood, | | | | Second determine the mental thoughts, patterns, |
| from television, or emotional events that you may or | | | | behaviors, through journaling and self-analysis. |
| may not remember. | | | | Third input proven mental strategies to overcome the |
| The question then comes “Hey Wade, how can | | | | old limiting programs or beliefs. |
| I fix something I don’t know about?” | | | | Fourth, repeat the process over and over as new |
| Again, if your not producing the result you want, | | | | programs or old programs can come back if left |
| it’s clear that something some limiting thought is | | | | unchecked. Success comes through repetition. |
| in your mind that’s preventing you from | | | | So there you have it. Employ these mental strategies |
| achieving your goal. Accept responsibility for your | | | | and develop your own mental game plan. Every great |
| thoughts and actions, and you have made the first and | | | | athlete recognizes and uses mental strategies to |
| most important step to changing the result. | | | | produce optimum results. The sooner you do, the |
| The next step is canceling out those negative | | | | faster you will achieve your muscle building goals. |
| programs and inputting new mental programs that | | | | For those interested in self-hypnosis for bodybuilding |
| promote exactly what you wish to achieve. This is | | | | email me at and I will provide you information and |
| best achieved by declarations, which is a specific form | | | | resources. |