Whenever we learn how to do something, the subconscious creates a new sequence. The subconscious uses sequences for every action it performs, and usually makes good, logical links in a sequence. This is how it can prepare your body for an event to come. For instance when you are afraid, you may have to run away, so in anticipation the subconscious increases your heart rate, expands your lungs, and increases your blood circulation.

There are many sequences that are quite logical, even if they can seem inappropriate. For instance, if you were talking about squeezing a lemon, your mouth might water, even if there is no lemon in sight.

Past Experiences and Memories Trigger Sequences

Feeling awkward, shy, unconfident or embarrassed can also be links in a sequence. The sequence begins when something opens the memory-boxes containing past experiences. The blend of escaping memory-waves creates an unwanted feeling. This feeling then links to the next action in the sequence. In this way feeling embarrassed may link to blushing; feeling sad may link to crying; a feeling of joy may link to a smile; a feeling of annoyance may link to a frown.

The links in a sequence can be in any order. Present-day feelings, symptoms, present events, and past events can link in any combination.

Many things will link up to form a sequence. Each single part is not the sole cause of the problem; it is simply one link in a complex chain.

Sequences are begun by an instigating experience, which could involve many things, referred to as triggers. Chocolate, cheese, and red wine are common triggers for migraine. An angry telephone call can trigger irritable bowel syndrome. Hormonal changes can trigger irritability. An exam can trigger diarrhea. Winter months can trigger a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

There are no rules when it comes to subconscious attachments. Anything goes. Sometimes the look on your partner's face can trigger a headache!

Sometimes it takes a combination of different things to be a trigger. On the other hand, it is quite common for people to have no idea what triggers their symptoms.

Once the first step in the sequence has been taken, the other actions follow like carriages behind a train. The precise order often — but not always — remains constant for each individual.

Introducing the Magic Carpet Exercise

The magic carpet exercise introduces a new, alternative sequence that can replace an existing one. The sequence is quite simple, with just three steps. The exercise begins by creating the last step — your 'ideal destination'.

Take a moment now to think about times in your life when you were really happy, well, (symptom-free) and confident. It might be a brilliant night out with your friends, or the time you received your degree, the time you walked down the aisle on your wedding day, or a time you were riding a horse through the countryside. Any moment in time will do, even if the events either side of that moment were not all that special. This is your `ideal destination,' where you felt physically and mentally perfect.

The first step of the sequence is a special command, "Go away," said in precisely the right way. And finally, to join the first step to the ideal destination, you can take a magic-carpet ride!

The magic carpet sequence goes like this:

1.  The command, "Go away."

2.  The magic-carpet ride. [new, alternative sequence]

3.  Arrive at your ideal destination, feeling good.

It all sounds a bit magical, doesn't it? Well, it is! Remember, though, that you won't feel the magic until your subconscious begins to use this new sequence.

Your Natural Resistance to Change

Your subconscious uses sequences for when you want to walk, drive a car or lock your own front door. Then it guards them.

All of your hard work learning these sequences must not be wasted by allowing them to be corrupted. How would you like to have to relearn how to swim or drive a car? To protect your useful sequences, your subconscious resists change.

Every time your subconscious has to make a change to a sequence, it involves work. You will almost feel your subconscious saying, "Do I have to?" like a teenager! Be prepared for resistance, and just do it anyway.

You will see how you can create a new sequence with the nail-biting exercise, coming up next. In this exercise, new links are added to the existing sequence, to give your conscious mind time to intervene. Adding links to a sequence is an easy task for the subconscious; all it requires is ten minutes of repetition.

Stop Biting Your Nails!

This is a way to stop biting your nails by using simple re-sequencing. This is an easy way to change an unconscious habit, but it will only work if you really want to stop the habit.

Make sure you won't be disturbed by telephones ringing, other people or pets, or any noises. It's fine if you start giggling halfway through; just make sure you keep going — and going — for the full ten minutes.

The ten-minute exercise:

move your hand toward your mouth as if you were going to bite your nails, and then stop just before your hand touches your mouth

tap your head twice

tap your shoulder twice

tap your knee twice

and clap (once)

Repeat this new sequence for ten minutes. Don't guess the time — watch the clock.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition Leads to Success

If you don't repeat it enough times, it won't work. When you have completed this exercise, you will have a sequence that you can interrupt. In future, you will find that when your subconscious begins the sequence to bite your nails, it will begin by tapping your head. Then you can intervene easily and make a conscious decision not to bite your nails.

When you find that, in future, your hand comes up to touch your head, just say "thank you" to your subconscious and then do something else anything else — except bite your nails!

©2012 Olivia Roberts. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Findhorn Press. www.findhornpress.com. 

This article was adapted with permission from the book:

Chronic Pain and Debilitating Conditions Resolution: Make Unwanted Symptoms Disappear! -- by Olivia Roberts.

This handbook lays out a plan for eliminating ongoing illnesses and the unpleasant emotions associated with them. Each part includes mental exercises that retrain the subconscious part of the brain. With the aid of the included audio CD, the guide’s 65 case studies, and simple mental exercises, it is possible to eliminate persistent, debilitating maladies over time.

Click here for more Info and/or to Order this book.

About the Author

Olivia Roberts is a Master NLP Practitioner, an Alternative Pain Specialist and psychotherapist. Olivia works with people who have many different conditions in her practice as a full-time Resolution Magic therapist -- successfully helping clients suffering from migraine, M.E, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and many other symptoms and conditions.