Simplify Your Releasing

Lester Levenson used to encourage people to "keep it simple sweetheart" - KISS! However the mind likes complexity so it will resist a simple but proven formula. We are all likely to get caught up in unnecessary releasing processes that add nothing. There is a better way...

Find a releasing process that works for you, one that suits your nature and push it to the limit. See if there is a limit and then explore to see if you can go beyond that apparent limit. When you do this you can attain true mastery of a deceptively simple but highly effective process. As Bruce Lee put it - "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."

For example, let's say you want to achieve a goal. All you need is the Goal Chart. There is nothing complicated about it. You set a goal, identify the now feeling and let go of the wanting approval/control/security driving that feeling. And then repeat the process. The key is to keep going until you check for the now feeling and there are no more feelings to let go of. That takes persistence and the determination to release to completion.

Because the Goal Chart is simple the mind may reject it. Your mind can easily conclude that such a simple process can't get you what you want. The mind will tell you this because the ego resists change. The only solution to this drama is to establish proof. Run the Goal Chart to completion and let evidence in your personal reality show you whether the process works or not.

If you don't let proof be your guide, you'll go on the hunt for a more complicated goal process. You may find one but complexity doesn't equate to effectiveness. Complexity also demands more effort of you - that may stop you using the process when you most need it.

The beautiful elegance and power of releasing is available to everyone. Yet few will realise this potential. Choose simplicity, persistence and dedication. Do that and you'll discover the promise of releasing is true.

Jump Up the AGFLAP Chart to Solve Problems

Imagine this scenario. You have a problem you need to deal with but you feel unresourceful and unsure of how to proceed. Then, you think to yourself, why not release on it? But it seems too difficult to even begin releasing on the problem. This can happen when you're at the bottom end of the AGFLAP chart.

The best way forward is to change your emotional state so you feel capable of releasing. Is there a simple way to jump up the AGFLAP chart? Yes, there is. Choose to generate a feeling of gratitude for the problem! I know that sounds odd when you want to be rid of the problem. With this approach we are using gratitude as a resource we'll leverage to handle the problem. This is very different to dropping your intention to solve the problem because you feel comfortable.

You can choose how you feel. Don't let the problem dictate your emotional state. If you decide to feel grateful you'll be operating from Acceptance at the top end of the AGFLAP chart. Acceptance means seeing the situation as it is, facing the problem and deciding what to do from a highly energetic state. You'll have a clarity of mind and an ability to take action that is unavailable to you when you're stuck lower down the AGFLAP chart.

How to Jump Up the AGFLAP Chart

1 Notice you have a problem 

Accept that you feel unable to handle it. And know that you can shift your emotional state even if the problem persists. You're going to decide how you feel not the problem!

2 Decide to be grateful for the problem. 

Ask yourself: could you decide to be grateful for the problem?

Keep asking this question until you feel happier, lighter, more relaxed and a greater sense of possibility. When you truly feel grateful you will be in a state of Acceptance. That's a big shift - a jump from the bottom to the top of the AGFLAP chart.

3 Release on the problem

Use whichever releasing process works best for you. Now that you're in the highly energetic Acceptance state you'll find releasing far easier and faster. Decide to release until you feel PEACE, the top of the AGFLAP chart, whether you solve the problem or not. When you feel at peace regardless of the outcome you'll enjoy a clarity of mind that can produce new and unexpected solutions you would never have thought of when you were lower down the AGFLAP chart.

Go high to release, don't release to go high as Lester Levenson taught.

The Difference Between the Having State and Being Hootless

When you release on a goal, as you move up the chart of emotions you'll have greater clarity and more profound insights. Put another way, you're dropping more and more self imposed limitations as you go progressively higher up the chart, so your perception of reality more closely matches reality itself. You drop the clouded judgement produced by incorrect thinking and unresourceful feelings.

In a state of Wanting you'll get ideas that are of little value or practical use. Move up the chart to a state of Having and you'll see options and opportunities you never thought of before, you'll see possibilities where previously you could only see difficult problems.

If you persist and clear out every single piece of AGFLAP you'll become Hootless about the goal. This of course is the whole point of releasing - to become imperturbable about the goal. This is Step 1 of The 6 Steps.

In this high state of peace and freedom, your insights and new ideas will be far superior to what the Mind produced when you were in Wanting and in Having.

So when you make it to the Having state - don't stop! Keep digging, root out all of the thoughts and feelings in the way of becoming Hootless. It's what you must do to become Hootless and to experience your true nature. And this is when you'll tend to easily and effortlessly make your goal become real.

Prove It Doesn't Work

When you first discover the Sedona Method/Release Technique you hear about the big promise of releasing. Testimonials speak of the great health, wealth and happiness generated by successful application of the releasing techniques. Your curiosity is stimulated, your desire for personal change becomes elevated and you wonder how soon you'll have your own big success story.

But it might take time and effort before you stack up a series of small wins. Then it might take even more dedication until you achieve a huge success. And that's why a lot of people get discouraged. They decide that unless they quickly and easily generate an enormous shift in their life that releasing just doesn't deliver on the promise.

This is a big mistake. Would you take a few singing lessons and expect to perform in a musical? Would you expect to take driving lessons for 6 weeks and then be ready to compete in a Formula One event? Of course not!

It takes trial and error, ongoing learning and determination to master any skill. And it's only mastery that can lead to an impressive performance of those refined skills. This applies to all skill acquisition even when you have a relevant aptitude. And yes, it applies to releasing too.

If you're frustrated because releasing isn't delivering huge successes I have a suggestion for you...

See if you can prove releasing doesn't work. How? By following the releasing training materials to the letter. Go over the processes and absorb all of the details. Then, apply the techniques to a small goal and push the releasing technology to the limits to see if you can skillfully apply releasing to a small goal and still not produce a successful outcome.

Be like a scientist with a formula to be verified. Use the formula exactly as taught and give it your full commitment to see if a thorough application of the formula can fail. This means if you're releasing on a small goal that you go deeper and further into your releasing than maybe you ever have before. Until there is no emotional charge, positive or negative about the goal or issue. This is hard work.

And then if you can't prove the releasing formula doesn't work you'll have demonstrated to yourself that you can use releasing to produce small results. Now your belief in the formula is grounded in proof you'll have the self belief you need to us the formula again and again on progressively larger problems or goals.

Be Happy Now With Sedona Method Releasing

Many of us get into the Sedona Method/Release Technique so we can become more effective at getting what we want and along the way we become happier, have more peace of mind and develop a greater sense of being connected to all of life.

However we can also get caught up in the busyness of getting what we want out there in the world and lose sight of the source of our happiness. In fact, we might even develop habits of thinking that guarantee unhappiness.

Here are some ways we typically make ourselves unhappy...

1. We make a decision we will only be happy when we achieve a goal

2. We decide that we will only be happy when we have the perfect relationship

3. We expect to be happy one day when there are no more problems to deal with.

4. We wait until we look and feel fabulous before we will be happy.

If you`ll look more closely at these erroneous decisions and choices you`ll see there is a fear behind them all. And that`s the fear that being happy will stop us from having what we want.

It goes like this, "if I`m happy why would I do anything about getting into shape? If I was completely happy I`d have no reason to go to work and be successful!"

In other words we think we`d live in a state of apathy. Not so. Happiness is right at the top of the scale of emotions, its above AGFLAP and belongs in CAP. When you feel happy and energetic you`ll want to be active, you`ll want to create and you`ll be very effective at whatever you set your mind to.

What can you do now to be happy today?

1. Release on happiness, let go of wanting happiness by using Attachments/Aversions, Advantages/Disadvantages or Likes/Dislikes.

2. See that all your goals have the same underlying goal - the desire for happiness

3. Release on your goals with an emphasis on having step one in place - decide you want happiness more than you want the goal.

4. Moment to moment during the day, when people or situations provoke AGFLAP, ask yourself: could you decide you want happiness more than you want to hold onto this feeling? Do that constantly and you`ll be lighter, freer and happier.

5. Decide to choose happiness over lacking approval, control and security. The following questions are useful to play with to encourage deep releasing.

- Could you decide that you want happiness more than you want to hold onto lacking approval?

- Could you decide that you want happiness more than you want to hold onto lacking control?

- Could you decide that you want happiness more than you want to hold onto lacking security?


Happiness is not a state of mind we can postpone and get one day, that itself is a decision to keep it in the future. If you want to be happier right now then use releasing firstly as a tool to become happy and secondly as a tool to get what you want in the world. Ironically, that`s when you`ll be much more care free and much more successful at getting what you want.

The Getting of Happiness

Quick post. I got tricked again by the lure of achieving goals to get happiness.

Yes, it was another case of getting an "important" goal and then afterwards thinking "is this it?"

The brief goal attainment high quickly gave rise to dissatisfaction.

This is of course is a great reminder to keep step 1 in place - decide you want happiness more than you want the goal itself. I`ve been doing this more honestly, really making that decision, and ironically I`m on a roll and getting more and more of what I want - I`ve got the happiness first and the goal getting is happening.

Be happy first!

Avoiding What You Don`t Want

While its clear that wanting approval, wanting control and wanting security are running in the background its not always so clear the ways we deny this.

Take wanting approval. If you want to avoid the pain of not getting your want of approval satisfied you might decide to avoid disapproval. What would that look like? You could avoid situations and people that are likely to present you with the disapproval you fear.

You might also convince yourself that you don`t need or want the approval of anyone - you decide to live with a lack of approval and never seek to get approval to ensure you never get rejected.

The same applies to wanting control and wanting security. You might decide to adjust to living with little control over you destiny and in a state of ongoing insecurity while all the time telling yourself that happiness, success, money, control, security and self-determination are not important to you.

This avoidance achieves nothing. Those unsatisfied desires are still driving you and taking from your peace of mind. But you deny this and so you get stuck.

What can you do about this?

Be honest. What do you really want? If you want something, release and get it. Whether that be a kiss, new friends, greater harmony at home, more success at work or some toys you really want.

So many people avoid going after their dreams because they fear failure and for many they fear success even more! Be brave, face your fears and let it all go.

If you can handle success you can handle anything! With releasing you can drop the AGFLAP that pops up when you become more in control, more secure and more approving of yourself and the world. You`ll be okay!

Be The Freedom You Want To See In The World

If you`ve listened to the audios you may have heard Lester talking about going high to release. This means getting into a high emotional state before releasing agflap. That way you are in a much more resourceful state and you can let go of the heavy issues much more easily.

This is a key distinction Rich Furlanic, one of Larry Crane`s trainers, noted when developing the Lesterizing process. A core principle in Lesterizing is getting into the state of goal havingness before letting go of the agflap in the way of having the goal. At the same time you make sure to have step one in place - you decide you want freedom more than you want the goal.

I was releasing earlier this evening on a goal and the thought came to mind - what if you get into the state of freedom before you start releasing the agflap? I tested this and for me it gets me into a very high state, a state higher than the state of goal havingness. Its as if you are looking down on the goal from a place of power over it rather than striving to grow to get it.

How do you get into the freedom state?

You decide to! Simply pretend you can and imagine how it would feel right now in this present moment. How would you sit, how would you breath and what feelings would you focus on in your body? This is all about using some imagination to create that state in the present here and now. It feels just like making it up because you are!

Maintain the freedom state

Then release as you usually do. Maybe you like to use attachments and aversions. Release on a polarity, then check you are in the freedom state. If you are not, get back into freedom before releasing on the next polarity. And so on..

If you like you can test this for yourself and let me know what happens.

About Step 4 of The Sedona Method

Step 4 of The 6 Steps is to make releasing constant. That is, instead of suppressing or expressing feelings choose to let them go instead, moment to moment, as the feelings arise. Pay attention to the feelings, go to wanting approval/control/security and let it go.

What happens when you make releasing constant?

You feel happier constantly and rest in Beingness more of the time than when you were suppressing or expressing feelings. Your sense of ego fades away and the world seems less real, less definite.

If you are learning and using the sedona method to get lasting peace, happiness and to achieve goals ultimately you may still want something even better i.e. freedom. Test it for yourself - make releasing constant, it becomes a moment to moment choice before it becomes a new habit.

You`ll feel happier, you`ll be more successful (even though that might no longer be a concern) and you`ll be living free of resistance and enjoying the ease that comes with that.

If you only release now and then that`s ok. Just bear in mind if you want to see the big promises offered by the sedona method show up in your life its step 4 that makes all the difference.

Sedona Method Observation Method

I have been running a lot of letting go of wanting to figure it out/wanting to think/wanting to know what to do routines lately. It is amazing the insights that pop up when you let go of wanting to know anything.

Yesterday I got an inspiration to release in a slightly different way.

The Observation Method

1. Choose an issue to release on, a goal you desire or a problem you want resolved.

2. Observe your experience of that matter. Simply notice what you are observing in terms of feelings, images and internal dialogue. Pay attention to what you are observing without wanting to change it. Just keep watching it - the more attention you give it, the more you will notice.

3. Notice what happens

Observe the experience without judgement, effort or trying to fix it. It will then let go on its own.

I am not talking about allowing the feelings to be present. I am not talking about going deeper into the feelings to explore them. All I am saying is watch them and see what happens.

Sedona Method Scam?

You learned the sedona method and you let go BUT you never got the success you wanted. You`re frustrated, had enough of trying to make it work and you`re online looking for the new new thing that will work and get you everything you`ve ever dreamed of.

The Truth About Making The Sedona Method Work

The issue I see all the time since 1999 in this forum is that people don`t fully understand what it takes to fully release on a goal or problem.

Here is a reference checklist to consider if you want to finally get the big results that are possible when you truly let go.

Letting Go Checklist

1. Release to completion

Keep releasing on the goal until there is nothing else to let go of. When you get to this stage nothing at all pops up when you view the goal from these different angles:

- resistance
- fear
- attachments/aversions
- agflap chart

Instead of noticing more limiting feelings, you`ll feel happy and at peace with a sense that the world is perfect as it is. Of course step 1 must be in place to facilitate this - release to release not to get something.

This takes commitment and time. How much time? That depends on the issue and how much agflap you have already let go of before facing the current issue.

I often have 5 hour releasing days to make progress on a goal. Then I give more hours to it on consecutive days to stay high on the chart of emotions so as to keep clearing out agflap.
I know people who release from the moment they wake up and all day long until the moment they go to sleep - they get the big results that are possible when you completely let go.

2. Momentum

When you invest time daily in releasing you will spend more time in the flow and its much easier to reach down and quickly let go of any agflap that pops up. When momentum is on your side: it is quick and easy to let go - as promised in the sedona method marketing materials.

The opposite is true if you only release now and then or when you happen to think of it. It is like starting a car on a cold winter morning after coming home from a two week holiday. It takes a lot of power just to warm up!

3. Havingness

When you are completely released on a goal there is a sense of having it right here and now. There is no sense of lacking, wanting or separation from the goal. It is as if you do have it even though that makes no sense to the mind.

Yet, there is no thinking and no trying to figure it out because you are at peace and feel that havingness with conviction. Just like you have that sense that you have your car key in your pocket before you put your hand in your pocket to open the door.

4. Step 6

Step 6 of the six steps is key if you want to go from dabbling to mastery of your world. When you make releasing constant you`ll see the power of letting go.

Use these points as a checklist if you are frustrated that the sedona method doesn`t work.

Could it get any better?

Let Go Of Disapproval - Give Yourself Approval

I have been releasing with the sedona method/release technique since the summer of 1999. And I am still going deeper and deeper into the fundamentals. Why? Because just like the simplest meditation technique you can become more skilful and see greater success if you will commit to mastering the fundamentals. There is tremendous power and wisdom in the simplicity of the sedona method.

Last week I started averaging 2 hours a day releasing on letting go of disapproving of myself as well as giving myself approval. This is simple to do...

Could I let go of disapproving of myself? And more, and more and more...
Could I give myself approval? And more, and more, and more...

The results were surprising and even better than I expected. I started to feel happier and happier which I did expect and I was more accepting of myself and others. Then, some surprising events happened.

A friend I had not seen in 4 years contacted me very keen to meet up. We met the next day and had a great time catching up. Then, another friend I had not seen in 2 years contacted me also out of the blue. We met up the same day and had a blast. These are the kinds of happy "coincidences" that I often experience after a lot of releasing.

Another interesting result was that I started to notice when I was either disapproving or approving of whoever I am in conversation with. Then, by simply letting go of the disapproval as soon as I notice it in the moment the rapport in the interaction shifts immediately.

I also notice that the more I approve of myself the more people are drawn to me. Its like having a glow about you that causes people to want to be with you. Some people also commented that I looked great: that glow is what they are talking about.

Being The Goal

How To Get What You Want More Quickly With A Little Help From Beingness

Lester talked about going high to release because that is when we are most capable of letting go of all the limiting thoughts and feelings that keep us from having freedom. Releasing from a high place also causes us to achieve our goals more quickly.

If you already have experience using the sedona method goal process and you`re starting to see results you might like to consider making some adjustments so you can go higher to release and speed things up.

How can we quickly go high to release?

We want to leave AGFLAP behind and start releasing from CAP.

1. Go directly to Courageousness

Consider what you want and adopt the posture you`d have IF you knew you that "Yes, I can do this, I can get what I want!" Get into that feeling state, feel the courage and the sense that you can do it. This is a decision - it does not need to be complicated.

Then release from this high state on your goal until you are hootless.

If you want to go even higher read point 2 and point 3 below.

2. Go to Havingness

Havingness is more a sense of Acceptance. You feel as if you already have the goal even though you do not yet have it. Again, simply get into that emotional state and you`ll feel as if you almost have it right now. Decide to feel you already have the goal, imagine that and feel how that would feel now in this moment.

Release on your goal in the usual way until you are hootless.

Want to go even higher? Read point 3 below.

3. Go to Beingness

Beingness is a sense of oneness and a knowingness that everything is perfect as it is. You can release on a goal from Beingness. I call this being the goal. Instead of having the sense that you have the goal, imagine that you are the goal - be the goal.

Yes, this sounds odd. Test this for yourself. Imagine there is no separation between you and the goal, the goal is part of you and you are part of the goal. Again, be the goal! Start by feeling havingness and then just imagine you are the goal - not only do you own the goal, it is you. This is how you feel when you completely love someone - oneness. i.e. you have only love feelings.

Be the goal right now in this moment and release from this high place to speed up goal achievement. Release until hootless!

If you`re new to these ideas start with releasing from Courageousness. Then as you see results, move up to releasing from Havingness or Beingness. Play with these states and be childlike rather than analysing it all.

Just notice how letting go is easier and much faster from CAP. And letting go from Beingness in the present moment is very different from the experience of releasing from AGFLAP. Its like accelerated releasing!

Could it get any better?

New Year, New Decision

Life is a decision. Want a happier year in 2010? Then, make a real decision to be happier.

In the world we live in there are always reasons not to be happy at a personal, local and international level. If we wait until there are no problems in the world we will never, ever be truly happy.

On the other hand being happy is the best gift you can give yourself. You`ll live life much more fully and you`ll have a much more positive impact on the people in your life.

Here are two polarities I release on to let go of the agflap that blocks happiness:

1. What do I need to be happy? Release to - wanting approval,control or security

2. What do I need to avoid to be happy? Release to - wanting approval,control or security

Release on these polarities for 60 minutes and you`ll be happier. Do that often and you`ll notice that your happiness has nothing to do with anyone else or anything else. It is all about letting go of non loving feelings. Be more loving and you are happier. Releasing the agflap allows you to be more loving.

When you are only loving you are happy.

Go and test this for yourself and be happier today!

Have A Happy New Year!

All The Happiness You Can Handle

Want even more happiness? Here´s what to do...

1. Release on "I allow myself to be happy!"

Run this goal through one or all of these polarities until you are hootless.

- attachments and aversions
- advantages and disadvantages
- likes and dislikes

2. Release on what you need to have and avoid to be happy

- what do I need to be happy?
- what do I need to avoid to be happy?

Go to the level of wanting approval/control/security and keep releasing on the responses to these questions until you are hootless.

3. Drop any resistance to happiness

- what do I resist about being happy?
- what is my resistance to happiness?

Keep releasing until no more resistance comes up.

4. Provide the commitment

The single most important success factor with releasing is doing the work of releasing. Anyone can read and understand the sedona method book, listen to and understand the audio courses etc. Releasing is experiential it is not intellectual.

If you really want happiness - make a decision to release and keep going until you have the happiness you want. In my experience it takes hours and hours of focused releasing to get to hootless on a goal. Even over many days. This is time well spent.

Could it get any better?

From AGFLAP to CAP to Hootless: Goals

Recently I have made changes to how I work on goals with releasing that speed up the process of going higher. Here are my top tips based on my recent experience.

1. Use a written goal chart

In the past I have tended to work on my goals without writing them down. However using a written goal chart allows you to track your progress from agflap to cap. This is encouraging and keeps you focused.

Plus, it roughly halves the time it used to take me to work through agflap because my concentration is so much more focused.

There is a goal chart with usage guidelines in the "Files And Downloads" section in the left hand margin of this site.

2. Aim to go to hootless

Releasing to get to CAP is a good start but that is all it is. If you aim higher and keep releasing to get to the hootless state you´ll see a big shift in your outlook. You´ll get a taste of imperturbability - you´ll be living step 1 of the 6 steps.

When you get to CAP you´ll think more clearly and may even have lucky coincidences or insights that move you closer to your goal. Go that extra step to hootless and you´ll have what you really want - imperturbability. Plus, the goal may just pop in with very little effort.

Take on the effort of releasing in your mind and you´ll have less efforting in the outside world.

3. Do the work

Releasing takes dedication and commitment if you want to see big results.

I have been working on one particular goal over the last week and I´ve not got to hootless yet despite five sessions of 45-60 minutes. I am much, much freer in terms of the goal but I´m not done yet.

Why do I persist?

Because I feel so much more peaceful and because the completed goal charts prove I have moved up through a lot of agflap to get to where I am right now in Acceptance. I can see I am getting somewhere, I am not imagining it!

Why not put these tips to use in your own releasing? And then report back to let me know how you got on.

Releasing Is Not Analysis

Very often we can caught up in discussions about the problems people want help with.

These posts offering potential solutions while well meaning and possibly helpful are not what releasing is about.

Releasing is not about diagnosis, analysis and suggesting possible solutions.

Releasing is all about letting go of problems, letting go of wanting to figure out what to do and allowing in freedom.

If you have a problem you can let it go with releasing...

- let go of wanting to figure it out
- let go of wanting to know what to do
- let go of wanting to know the answer
- let go of wanting to think

Strange eh! Yes it is because releasing may be unlike anything else you have ever used to become happier and free.

You can also shift focus from the problem (what you do not want) to a goal (what you do want)

Finally, letting go of all resistance to a problem can work wonders.

Sedona Method Course Review On Video

If you are curious about what is contained in the Sedona Method course click on the video below for a look at the cds and workbook as I walk through the contents.

Sedona Method Releasing: Love & Approval

Want more love and approval from people?

The most direct way to work on this is to give yourself love and approval all day long for no reason whatsoever.

How?

Simply say " I love you!" to yourself for hours at a time. Whatever thoughts or feelings pop up simply continue by saying "I love you!".

Go one step further and do this in front of the mirror if you really want to go for it!

If you´ll do this for a while you´ll start to feel very loving and accepting of yourself, this will then expand to the people in your life and to the world generally.

You could also release on the goal:

I love and accept myself.

Run attachments and aversions, advantages and disadvantages or likes and dislikes until you only have loving feelings for yourself.

Enjoy!

3 Great Ways To Release Resistance

1. Bring up the feeling of resistance, really feel it and allow it to go. This involves no thought about the nature of the resistance. Keep going until you feel lighter and freer.

2. Ask: what is my resistance to the goal.

e.g. what is my resistance to being fit?

Then, let go of each aspect of the resistance that pops up.

3. My BUT... technique

State the goal and add BUT to bring up resistance.

e.g. I allow myself to be fit BUT....

This might bring up responses like --

BUT I´m too lazy
BUT I´m too busy
BUT I´ll start another time

This is a great way to bring up more resistance to having the goal. Then, release in the usual way.

In all work with resistance I keep going until I feel lighter and freer about the goal. I will refer to the AGFLAP chart to see that I am in CAP before expecting that most of the resistance is gone.