As a society, we have agreed that a healthy self-esteem is essential to raising healthy, positive children. From a young age, we are learning who we are, and how we fit in with the rest of our tribe. Having a healthy self-esteem means that we think well of ourselves, and is crucial if we are to thrive in our lives ahead. Self-esteem differs from self-worth, which goes deeper.

“Self-esteem is what we think and feel and believe about ourselves. Self-worth is recognizing ‘I am greater than all of those things.’ It is a deep knowing that I am of value, that I am loveable, necessary to this life, and of incomprehensible worth.” – Dr. Christina Hibbert (2013).

Given the above definition, it stands to reason that self-worth is the foundation for a healthy relationship with ourselves, and essential to thriving (versus merely surviving). And yet, a high sense of self-worth is often one of the more difficult belief systems to adopt. This is because other beliefs – that we’re not good enough, not smart enough, not fill-in-the-blank enough – block us from embracing a healthier, more positive lens through which to view ourselves.

The most effective, most sustainable way to increase self-worth is by removing these blocks.

The first four sessions of the Pathwaves Basic Training Programming, as outlined below, are intended to help our clients shift their nervous systems to be ready for change. Usually, our neurological function is focused on survival. This creates a situation in which any change in how we function is perceived as a threat to survival. Therefore, our nervous system, hence, us, is often resistant to change. This is why many people have a hard time making changes in their lives.

From a scientific perspective, there are definitive brainwave patterns which will indicate whether or not a client is ready to change neurologically, which our Pathwaves technicians monitor and analyze before moving clients forward with their program.

Removing Conditions of Worth: the Three Rooms Visualization

At Pathwaves, we teach our clients multiple exercises so that they (and their nervous system) feel safe and ready to make change. One of these is the clean house exercise. This exercise begins with a short meditation to bring clients into the now. We then ask them to visualize a house with three rooms.

Room 1: Recognize and Release Fear

In the first room, we ask clients to identify any fears, which are often rooted in the five core fears shared by all humans: extinction, mutilation, loss of autonomy, separation, and ego-death, or loss of integrity of the self or worthiness. Concerns for safety, fear of being lovable or good enough, and fear of being deserving all fall under these five core fears. Once awareness has been achieved, the next step is to begin removing them by releasing judgement, thanking the fear for its service, and moving into accepting and forgiveness.

Room 2: Practice Gratitude

We then direct clients to move into the second room, where after working through any resistance surrounding these fears and releasing them, we ask them to begin practicing gratitude for all the wonderful things in their lives. This is especially effective when anything that is opposite of the fears just released is included. For example, gratitude for a particular person or group of people present in a client’s life when a fear of abandonment is identified in room one.

Room 3: Imagine the Future

After practicing gratitude, we direct clients to move into the third room of the house, and use their imaginations. We ask them to visualize a life in which they function exactly the way they want to, with a foundation of living from love rather than fear.

In the Pathwaves NeuroEmpowerment™ programs, our clients are able to practice these techniques while connected to our brainwave sensors and interfacing with the neurotechnology in order to speed up how fast and to what depth they can implement the change.

Pathwaves NeuroEmpowerment™: Basic Training

The Pathwaves Basic Training Path includes 10 visits that introduce our clients to what’s possible when you take control of your nervous system, or achieve what we call NeuroEmpowerment™.

Session 1: Hello Nerves

In the first session – called “Hello Nerves” – we teach the techniques to clear the way for the transformation to come. This gives clients a taste of what it is like to experience a calm nervous system, even if it’s just for a few moments. This primes the neural pathways for a new way of operating, which continue to be tweaked and reinforced in the sessions to come.

Session 2: Calming The Reactive Mind

In the second session – called “Calming The Reactive Mind” – we lead our clients through the process outlined above to calm the autonomic nervous system and reduce fight-or-flight responses. This lays the foundation for the rest of the work we do together to get out of survival mode, and into thriving.

Session 3: Programming Sleep, Mood, and An Ambient Sound (SMASS)

In the third session – called “Sleep, Mood and An Ambient Sound (SMASS)” – we focus on training the nervous system – and all the different systems within the body – to work more in sync with each other, and specifically to improve sleep and mood.

Session 4: Changing Perspective – Be Your Own Best Friend

In the fourth session – called “Changing Perspective – Be Your Own Best Friend” – we begin shifting perspectives in order for our clients to treat themselves as their own best friend, love themselves more, and become a “Human Being” rather than a “Human Doing”. This in turn allows them to start enjoying life more fully in the now.

Session 5: Clean the “Conditions of Worth” House

In the fifth session – called “Clean ‘Conditions of Worth’ House” – we teach tools and techniques designed to release trapped emotions, such as fear, and negative belief systems which are aversely affecting the nervous system daily so they can clear the path to sustainable change.

Through the Pathwaves NeuroEmpowerment™ program, we use a proprietary form of integrative neurofeedback – what we call Neurofeedforward™ – to influence the nervous system, and recondition your responses in order to live a life that embodies love over fear. Our method has been able to effectively help more than 95% of our clients change how they feel and function, so they can live happier and healthier lives.

To help those who cannot afford the services of Pathwaves, consider donating to the Pathwaves Foundation. Please call (305) 858-6616 for more information.

If you’d like to learn how you can accelerate change through our methodology, we are here to help. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation today.

G. Cole
Founder, Pathwaves