What Is Your Programming?

The Limits of "You Always Have a Choice"

I used to hear and repeat the idea that: "You can't control what happens to you, but you always have a choice in how you respond." I now believe that only partially. I've learned that we all have programs running that cause us to act automatically in certain ways. If something happens automatically, there's no conscious thinking involved — therefore, how can one choose a reaction before an automatic one happens? Sometimes there is no choice.

So the key to conscious living — a life that is intentional and full of choice — is found in the programming.

How Our Programming Works

Just like a computer, our programming can change:

• Sometimes the computer just updates, making minor changes to keep things functioning smoothly
• Sometimes new programs are created to fit a need or desire of a community
• Sometimes the computer crashes and renders much of it useless

How do we change our programming — our automatic responses that no longer serve us, those we love, or the world at large?

Step 1: Change Your Language

Let's begin by changing our language. Let's take ownership of the life we're living. We often do things we don't want to do because of obligation, duty, sacrifice, or love — and those can be honorable choices. Note that I didn't include "I want to" in the list below, because I believe choosing is more powerful than wanting.

Instead of saying...	Change to...
"I have to…"	"I choose to…" or "I choose not to…"
"I should…"	"I choose to…" or "I choose not to…"
"I don't have enough (money, time, etc.)"	"I choose other priorities"
"I can't"	"I choose not to" or "I can't…yet!"

Step 2: Become Aware of Your Running Programs

Many programs are designed for survival — to keep us safe. We are hardwired for survival. The limbic brain holds the "fight, flight, or freeze" response. Thanks to the hippocampus and amygdala, our memories are stored in such a way that the most traumatic ones are kept alive and waiting — ready to protect us from similar experiences.

Normal, daily, happy life experiences get stored in long-term memory. The traumatic ones stay in short-term memory and become the programs we run automatically, whether helpful or not. The problem is that most of us aren't in life-or-death situations every day — but the stress (or what we perceive as stress) keeps those survival programs active as if we were.

Step 3: Ask the Diagnostic Question

Next time you notice an automatic response — behavioral or emotional — to a trigger or stimulus, ask yourself:

"Would I ever consciously choose to feel like this or behave like this?"

If the answer is "yes," keep it — it might just be saving your life. If your answer is "hell no!" then it's time for an upgraded program.

Just a tip: when you find a program you can say "hell no" to, first be grateful for it. It's kept you alive and well. In LifeLine we say: "Thank you, subconscious, for the gift of this protection."

Step 4: Design Your New Program

The next essential step in reprogramming is to decide what new program you want to run. This one is your choice. What's the next best version of yourself? How would that next best version feel and behave? Who would you choose to be in the face of that trigger or difficulty? What would you choose?

That becomes the new program. Granted, it still needs lots of repetition to replace the old pattern — but that's where we start.

The LifeLine Process

Every LifeLine session begins this way. We acknowledge the old pattern and bring in a new one. Then we find the areas of the subconscious that are not in agreement with the new pattern and get them on board. These include finding areas of imbalance, gifts of protection, elements of change, expression channels, and holding patterns. It's an amazing process.

The Invitation

Sometimes we just need an upgrade. Sometimes we need a brand new program we've never considered. Sometimes we need to completely reboot. No matter what, changing our language and our programs will help us become the next best version of ourselves. And isn't that what life is all about? Growth and improvement?

I also acknowledge grace in my life. There are times that grace and mercy have intervened and changed me. I believe we've been given stewardship of our own bodies and life creations. We are creators and co-creators once we become aware enough to choose.

May we all awaken a little more each day to conscious living by improving our programs.

Love and light to you all,
Infinite love and gratitude,
Lisa Gilmore
lifelinewithlisa@gmail.com