Buried deep under frustration, distraction, and worry is a knowing that we have more to offer… if only ‘something’ were different. That ‘something’ we long to be different actually starts inside of us. By default programming, we doubt ourselves and our value, and allow fear run our lives. This is surrendering our authority to the outside.

Connected to our authentic perceiving, our mind and heart are clear, and we always know the best way forward. The truth is, we are the best decision-maker in our own lives. No one knows our experience, our purpose, or our potential as well as the higher parts of us do.

In early 2001, on one of my first trips to study NLP with Dr. Richard Bandler, I (Joan Weisman) was encouraged by a friend to “go up and ask him for a specific result you want from the workshop.”

After some time reflecting I approached Dr. Bandler during a break. I was nervous. He looked at me, sideways. “What do you want,” he said.

“I want to be my own authority!” I responded.

His face immediately changed as he turned to face me. “Good one.” He said, and began.

He started talking. To be honest, I do not remember a word he said. We were facing each other in front of the large conference room with people wandering around on break, but all of that disappeared.

What I do remember, is a vivid mental image of myself in a small, white room with the walls covered in photographs. Each picture was a person or position that my subconscious believed had authority over who I could or should be. For me, the photos were stacked floor to ceiling and the oppression was overwhelming.

I remember describing to him what I was seeing.

Then, I heard Dr. Bandler’s voice and in a fierce instant a bright orange-red flame rose up and engulfed all the photographs. It was a pure, cleansing fire. The imaginary room burned into ash and dropped away. As it did I felt relief sweep through me – from my mind down into my cells.

As we get over fear, doubt, and self-criticism, we are liberated and strengthened.