*KINDLY NOTE: Cynthia will be doing an experiential, please don't do this while driving* What is self-brainspotting? How do you reset your expectations and your rulebook for a better and more authentic life? What does true inner authenticity look like? MEET CYNTHIA SCHWARTZBERG Cynthia Schwartzberg, LSCW, is a well-recognized leader in the ground-breaking Brainspotting field. She has spent decades using Brainspotting and other highly regarded techniques to help individuals and couples discover their authentic selves and lead richer, freer, and more meaningful lives. Cynthia is currently a practicing therapist in Atlanta who delights in the voyage to authenticity she and her clients embark on daily. Using the latest neuroscience as well as ancient wisdom traditions from around the world, she has devoted her life to going as far as possible into the experiences of both curiosity and wonder. Visit Cynthasis and read her book, The Curious Voyage. Connect with Cynthia on Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, and LinkedIn. FREEBIE: Check out this Brainspotting Session and find out more about Financial Flow. IN THIS PODCAST: The importance of authenticity 03:51 Changing your rulebook 07:26 Releasing your expectations 17:17 Self-brainspotting 26:12 The importance of authenticity Authenticity to me is about helping somebody come home to themselves and to live their life from their heart, and their true nature. (Cynthia Schwartzberg) Therapists are invited into a person's journey and voyage to self-discovery and acceptance, which ultimately leads to authenticity. Therapy and mental health practices teach people how to regulate and how to be in the "flow" of life so that people can progress throughout their lives instead of fighting uphill battles. Changing your rulebook Within our subconscious and conscious awareness, we know that there are things we should and should not do. However, there are also things that we have been taught not to do by the societies, communities, and families that we grew up in. These rules you can tweak, and these rules you should question so that you can find the ones that are authentic to yourself instead of feeling obliged to follow what everyone else does. A lot of us will say, "oh, that's the way we do it in our family" … but that may not be your way, that may not be the right way. Have you ever thought about it? Have you ever questioned it? (Cynthia Schwartzberg) You can change your rulebook and self-awareness by keeping track of keywords and patterns that you have. When do you have certain thoughts? The key is to become aware … that's why [my book] is called The Curious Voyage. Start to get curious about things by asking yourself a few questions. (Cynthia Schwartzberg) Releasing your expectations Our expectations get stuck when fear and a sense of forcing something to happen are present. I realized how much we each create our struggle because [we] expect other people to show up in a certain way, and they do not. (Cynthia Schwartzberg) We experience distress when our expectations do not match the present moment. To experience a sense of peace, we need to accept reality for what it is instead of what we hoped it would be. You can always improve where you are in life and make positive changes to what is happening, but you cannot wish for something that is to be something else. All sustainable change begins with the acceptance of the present to then shift it for the future. Self-brainspotting Brainspotting is based on the idea that where we look – the position our eyes rest in – can impact how we feel. This resting eye position is combined with a grounding activity to center the client into a space of calm. It is from this space that difficult matter is dealt with, and with a therapist present, the client can make great progress in overcoming stress. Where do you gaze when you allow your eyes to settle? Self-brainspotting is what you do without a therapist present. Further Notes: Suggestions for Therapists to Consider as They Guide Clients on The Curious Voyage Set an intention of what you want to get out of this book as we go through some of the exercises. (Having an intention to embark on the journey can help keep the work focused.) • Chapter One How do you feel connected to people in your life? Who do you feel most connected to and why? Who do you feel least connected to and why? • Chapter Two What beliefs keep you bound to your mother/father that are causing you stress and confusion? • Chapter Three Consider you may need time to go back to Chapter 2 as you work with Desire, Imagination, and Expectation. • Chapter Four As the client is working with Love, Power, Serenity Exercise: Releasing Capes, consider asking: What is one next step you are ready to take and what do you need to release? • Chapter Five Explore Listening together. Connect With Me Instagram @holisticcounselingpodcast Facebook Join the private Facebook group Sign up for my free email course: www.holisticcounselingpodcast.com Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Resources Mentioned And Useful Links: BOOK | Cynthia Schwartzberg – The Curious Voyage: A Rule-Breaking Guidebook to Authenticity BOOK | David Grand – Brainspotting: The Revolutionary New Therapy for Rapid and Effective Change Visit Cynthasis and read her book, The Curious Voyage. Connect with Cynthia on Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, and LinkedIn. The Mindful Practice of Zentangle with Cathy Boytos Practice of the Practice Podcast Network