Rita Black: We are now hitting ground zero of the 2023 holiday season. And not only the pre-holiday stress is at its peak, but we are heading into that wild and wooly week between the holidays when the willpower is at its all time low, and thoughts of just letting things slide until January 1st is at an all time high. So I have a holiday gift for you, a relaxing hypnosis session designed to help you stay connected to yourself and your true wishes to be healthy through the holidays. So sit back and get ready to be transported to a healthy and light-filled holiday. And come on in.

Rita Black: Did you know that our struggle with weight doesn't start with the food on your plate or get fixed in the gym? 80% of our weight struggle is mental. That's right. The key to unlocking long-term weight release and management begins in your mind. Hi there, I'm Rita Black. I'm a clinical hypnotherapist weight loss expert, bestselling author, and the creator of the Shift Weight Mastery Process. And not only have I helped thousands of people over the past 20 years achieve long-term weight mastery, I am also a former weight struggler, carb addict and binge eater. And after two decades of failed diets and fad weight loss programs, I lost 40 pounds with the help of hypnosis. Not only did I release all that weight, I have kept it off for 25 years. Enter the Thin Thinking Podcast where you too will learn how to remove the mental roadblocks that keep you struggling. I'll give you the thin thinking tools, skills and insights to help you develop the mindset you need, not only to achieve your ideal weight, but to stay there long-term and live your best life.

Rita Black: Hello, and seasons greetings and happy warm holiday wishes to you and yours. I figured you are probably short of time this week coming up to the holidays, am I right? I know my kids are coming home in a few days and I am excited to dive into the warmth and connectedness of the holiday. I've already started beginning that with my friends, but I'm really looking forward to having my kiddos at home and snuggling with them and cherishing them. So here is the thing, though, the quality of my holidays, I'm really clear for me and my experience of it will not be because of my amazing kids and what they do or they do not do because who knows how amazing they will be. Oh, they might irritate the heck out of me. Or even the presents because who knows? People forget to give presents or, you know, they, I've gotten some really interesting presents in the last couple of Christmases, let's just put it that way, or the music or any of it.

Rita Black: My experience of Christmas and the holidays will just really be dependent upon my connection to myself in a loving, mindful, and heart filled way. Grateful for everything. You know? I have spent holidays where I got great presents and loving family was all around me, but I felt like I was a prisoner in a dungeon on a desperate cycle of overeating and hating myself. Very, very disconnected from the holidays. So my single most important wish with this holiday hypnosis session that I'm going to share with you is that you get all the goodness from the holiday because you stayed connected to yourself. So that whether you are alone this holiday or with tons of family and friends, whether there are no presence under the tree or menorah, or there's lots and lots that your holiday shines bright and warm with a connection to yourself, my thin thinking friends.

Rita Black: So now I gave this hypnosis session earlier in the month to my monthly mastery membership and they loved it. So I am passing it along to you now to enjoy. And here's some things, if you haven't been through a hypnosis session before, this will be a light hypnosis session. You won't be going that deep, but please do not drive during a hypnosis session. I think that's probably pretty obvious or operate any heavy machinery. I know I always feel strange like that you're gonna be out in the farm plowing the fields with your tractor while doing hypnosis, but you know what I mean, like, no, you know, heavy machinery, gardening equipment, saws or, you know, even, blenders. Please, just find yourself a quiet place please and lay down or sit, sit down or sit up if you tend to fall asleep or go deep during hypnosis sessions, maybe you wanna sit up a little bit, but just somewhere you will not be disturbed for the next 15 minutes or so.

Rita Black: Like I said, it's a light hypnosis, it's not gonna go too deep, but if you do go deep and lose the sound of my voice, you know, in the beginning or during the session, just know that your subconscious mind is getting the value. So don't get stressed out about it. That's the last thing I want you to do and really listen to me with your 100% open and loving and success here is like, yes, I wanna warm and healthy holiday season and just stay open-minded. Your conscious mind may wander during the session and be thinking about like, did I get that present for Aunt Mildy? You know? And that kind of stuff. And if you do find yourself doing it, which you probably will just guide yourself back to the sound of my voice. Okay?

Rita Black: So just begin by taking a nice deep breath in, and as you exhale, close your eyes and just begin by allowing each and every breath to carry you deeper and to deeper relaxed, allowing all the sounds within the room and outside the room to focus you more fully and completely upon my voice, allowing all my words building one upon the other to go with you as you drift and dream. And let's begin now by you allowing your awareness to just settle gradually on your breath, traveling in and traveling out. You don't need to try to breathe. Your Breath just breathes itself naturally for you. And take another deep breath in now into your body and send a wave of relaxation from the top of your head all the way down to your feet and out of each and every toe. And again, take a deep, deep breath into your body as you just begin to relax more and more, as relaxation flows up and down and in and out and all around you.

Rita Black: And as you relax even deeper, now you can just choose to relax more and more deeper and deeper now into a very peaceful, very relaxed, very comfortable position. You may even choose to become as comfortable as you want. And as I count now from 10 down to one, just imagine yourself on a staircase of relaxation. And with each number down, you descend even more deeply into relaxation twice as deep as the number before. So starting with that top step 10, taking that first step down, nine, deeper and deeper, relaxing and letting go of all the stress of the season. Eight, even deeper, knowing you have everything within you to have a happy and healthy holiday. Seven, even deeper opening your mind to connecting with yourself and your self-care. Six, even deeper now, relaxing even further down to five. And now four, deeper and deeper, drifting and dreaming. Three, deeper and deeper, two way down now and one.

Rita Black: And at the next step, the bottom of the step, stepping off to the bottom, now down to zero, you see in front of you. Now at the bottom of the stairs, a door to your subconscious mind, go ahead and put your hand on the handle of the door and open the door. And as you push, you find the door opens easily for you. And as you open that door, you step into a really beautiful place of peace and tranquility of your own imagining. And it may take you a little time to get a sense of this place, but wherever it is, it's a place out in nature that means relaxation to you. So maybe it's a relaxing beach scenario, or a mountain meadow or a wonderful forest, peaceful and serene. And as you come into the center of this place, we'd like to call it your subconscious mind, your place of your imagination, where you can create change at a very rapid pace.

Rita Black: Just allow yourself to be relaxed in this wonderful setting with nature all around you. And imagine yourself walking around with lightness and ease in your own natural light and healthy body. And as you take a moment, just notice that at the edge of this place of nature is a mirror, just a full length mirror. And as you take a moment to notice that in here, in this wonderful tranquil setting of your own choosing, you can see a mirror, just a full length mirror where you can imagine yourself standing in the mirror and you can see yourself at the end of the holiday season, in the new year, looking happy, healthy, lighter, having released weight and stuck with your weight released goals. So seeing yourself at the end of the season, in the new year with confidence in your eyes, a look of feeling really happy and connected to yourself because you made healthy choices over the holidays, you made light choices over the holidays. So as you get a sense of that, you at the end of the holiday season that you, that feels proud of their choices, confident, just take a nice deep breath and bring this image inside you as an internal blueprint.

Rita Black: Good. And now take another deep breath and bring yourself in your imagination inside your body. So just for a moment, I'm gonna ask you to see yourself from the inside out, from the top of your head, all the way down to the tips of your toes, as if you are in the inside of yourself. On the inside you're imagining you're in your body. And you can see and notice that there's some areas of your body, even your memories, all that you have ever experienced are lit up with tiny lights, maybe like holiday tree lights, twinkling with different colors. And you can probably see that some lights are burned out, they no longer work. And of course you know that some light needs to be replaced. So let the lights begin in your head with the light that represents your thoughts. So just in your mind, let's look at the lights. And the first light you look at represents your thoughts. And notice what color this light is good. And now, deeper inside your brain is a light that represents your self-talk and thoughts and even memories about yourself. What color is that one? And your throat has a light that is related to the way that you communicate with yourself and other people.

Rita Black: So notice that color and your heart has a light related to your feelings and emotions. What is the color of that light? There are lights all over your body, some bright, some dimm, some heavy with darkness. And maybe it's time now for you really to take notice of these lights, to pay attention to yourself, to your health and wellbeing this holiday season, staying connected to the light within you. Because these lights are the signals in those areas of your body or mind, that light the way for you to enjoy staying connected and making healthy light decisions for food and exercise this holiday season. But maybe you haven't realized yet that some lights may need your attention. So why don't you test the lights one by one while you pay attention to the color of each light and what each color means to you. And especially notice whether the lights are bright or dimm or even the place inside you where the light has gone out. And if you're ready in whatever way that you see with your inner eyes, begin now to make sure that all the light inside you is on. Taking one light at a time is good enough for you to notice any areas of your body or your mind, or even your memories that have dimmer lights than others, or lights that are completely out. So just take this moment to notice. Pay attention to yourself.

Rita Black: And imagine you are traveling inside of your own body towards any of the lights that need to be replaced. As you look around, you might notice a light out somewhere inside that is preventing you from choosing to feel good about yourself. So go ahead and adjust that light now. Allow that light to be bright. Filling up the dark places with light is the self-loving choice. And now how about the light that represents your self-advocacy? Asking for what you need, creating boundaries, allowing yourself to say no thank you. When you really don't want something, or to ask for what you need in support and help, go ahead and adjust that light and brighten it now. And while you take a good look around, don't even think about it is not important to remember that you have resources, you have everything that you need to make a change into lightness of movement and ease. Go ahead and find that light for movement and exercise and turn that up bright connecting to yourself with moving your body every day lovingly through the holiday season. And now your task is to listen carefully to what is revealed to you about strengthening your intention to be healthy each and every day of this holiday season. So go ahead and find that light that represents healthy food choices

Rita Black: And saying no to the foods that trigger you or make you feel off center. Go ahead and lighten that light up now. And while you're at it, you're lightening up your body for your long and healthy life. After all, this is your life good. And as you scan your body, again, take another look at the light inside you and if there are any other lights that need to be replaced, and now ask your subconscious mind, is it safe for you to turn on all the light you need to walk around in the new year in your own natural light and healthy body? And then ask your subconscious mind to start with just one light at a time. Just like one pound at a time is good enough to slowly but surely

Rita Black: Return to filling up with the lightness of self-care. As you place yourself into the next year, a future where the light is on you and in you to see yourself walking around in your own natural and healthy body, naturally light moving with lightness and ease. And when you're ready, allow yourself to feel what it's light to be moving with freedom and lightness and ease. What clothes are you wearing now that you gave yourself the gift that keeps on giving? All the light you need to feel good about yourself is a good thing. After all, this is your life and you can walk lightly through it. One light at a time is good enough. Just like some part of you already knows this image is that new blueprint light enough to be your reality. And because most people know that to see something they want to create out in your everyday life is visualize yourself walking around in your own natural ideal weight healthy body.

Rita Black: Now moving with lightness and ease. Notice how being light fills to your body. And every time you turn on the light, anytime anywhere lights up your intention to take in only that amount that feels light. That's right each and every time you turn on a light, anytime, anywhere, a clear image of yourself already walking around in your own natural, healthy, ideal weight body appears in your mind almost as if you couldn't even help it at all. And now, as I count forward from one to five, just allow yourself to come back 20% each way. One feeling good, ready to step through your holidays with lightness. Two, staying connected to yourself on a deep, deep level. Your true intention and desire to end this year feeling healthy and well and light. Three, knowing you have everything you need and within you here today to see this through, for ready and willing to take good care of yourself each and every day through this holiday season and into the new year in Five Eyes Open, coming back, ready to get on with your day, or if this is a time of sleep, heading off into a peaceful slumber. And welcome back.

Rita Black: And hello. Well, I hope you found that session very enjoyable and that it prepared you to be good to yourself this week. And also take a moment to grab my shift outta sugar cravings hypnosis session. It's always in the show notes. And so my thin thinking, friends, I will be holding you in my heart this holiday season. I'll be thinking of you every day, and I wish you and the ones you love, a safe and healthy and light filled with light holiday season. And remember always that the key and probably the only key to unlocking the door of the weight struggle is inside you. So keep listening and find it happy. Happy holidays. I'll see you next week as we welcome in or get ready to welcome in the new year.

Rita Black: You wanna dive deeper into the mindset of long-term weight release. Head on over to www.shiftweightmastery.com. That's www shiftweightmastery.com, where you'll find numerous tools and resources to help you unlock your mind for permanent weight release tips, strategies, and more. And be sure to check the show notes to learn more about my book From Fat to Thin Thinking, Unlock Your Mind for Permanent Weight Loss.