- Part Two –  

You are not free! If you are to succeed at weight loss—or at life—this is something you must understand!

Our lovely national anthem notwithstanding, you are not now—and never have been—free.  You may believe you are free, but in reality, you are farther from free than you can probably imagine.

You may believe you have freedom of choice, but in reality you have virtually no choice at all—at least, not yet. The truth is that you are running on automatic! Your programming started at birth, and continues to operate to this very day. Just like the computer in your den, you are programmed to respond mechanically and automatically to the world around you, according to the beliefs that were programmed into you so long ago.

As a result, you are literally operating on "auto-pilot." Just like the cat that comes running every time she hears the electric can opener, or the dog who goes nuts when he hears the his owner's car door slam, you are programmed to do. . . whatever it is that you do.

You are, in effect, simply a unique collection of learned, habitual behaviors—some of which are helpful, and some of which may be extremely harmful, or even deadly. The worst part is that you don't have a clue what has been done to you. You live in an illusion so convincing that you can't even see it. (Think Matrix, but without the technology.)

We like to tell ourselves that “ignorance is bliss.” But I ask you—is your current programming creating a blissful life experience for you?

This is what you get for being born into “the devil's own back yard.” Or as Joni Mitchell put it in her song, Woodstock, you are “…caught in the devil’s bargain.” This is your earthly legacy. This is the world's gift to you. You don’t need to like it—but you absolutely need to know it!

Please understand: None of this is your fault.  But it is your reality. And if anything is going to change, it's going to be your responsibility.

The good news is that you CAN be free! But there a few things you will need to do to get there. First, you will have to take a proactive role in the process. You will need to actively become the programmer. You will need to accept responsibility for the future direction of your own life.

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OK, now that there is (hopefully) no doubt in your mind about what the problem is, Part Three of this article will reveal to you the solution. Your solution. Because the happy truth is that whatever was learned can be unlearned. Whatever was programmed can be reprogrammed. And best of all, whatever damage was done can be undone!

Now, nobody can do it for you. But you can definitely get help doing it. If you're truly willing to stop being the victim of your own past, and start playing an active role in creating your own future, then the sky really is the limit!

If you've had it up to here with the body (and the life!) your "old programming" has created for you so far, stay tuned! Next time we'll get in to some solid and specific techniques for getting your hands back on the steering wheel, reclaiming control of your life, and charting the course that will finally take you where you want to go!