The problem with will power.

Will power, positive thinking, affirmations, mental mantras, this all seems like a good thing doesn't it? Indeed positive self talk and will power are important, however the problem with will power alone is that it does not sustain itself over time and automatically. In the fight between will power and imagination, imagination will always win. When you say a positive affirmation to yourself that you don't truly believe you are subconsciously saying to yourself something to the effect of "who are you kidding, you can't really do this" but you keep saying to yourself that you can, this in and of itself will prove to be a futile effort. That is why when using will power alone to stay on a diet, it will necessarily fail. So what can you do to make all of those dreams of yours a reality? Here is how:

The way to reprogram your subconscious mind is by utilizing positive imagery that has an emotional charge. Using your imagination, and creativity along with setting realistic goals that create gradual change over time, you will no longer be monkeying inside of your mind with mental jargons of self doubt. When you find yourself doubting yourself, take a step back and focus on a smaller more realistic goal for the time being, keep in mind the long term goal that you will eventually achieve. This will set yourself up for creative imaginative thoughts that will inspire you and get you to where you are going.

In the case of health and fitness, for example don't focus on the foods that you cannot eat, focus on the goals that you have of why it is so important for you to look and feel a certain way. If you are still not inspired, you need to work on the dream, the goal, and the fantasy. You need to create a goal that is so interesting and so compelling that the thought of it will make your journey easy and successful.

One of the first things we do in hypnotherapy is find out what it is specifically that you want and also how your life will be better once you have that. Then we create a visual and auditory symphony in your brain that the road to your goals seems effortless.

So if you are finding yourself struggling with any goal, whether it be dropping weight, excelling at a sport, feeling calm and relaxed, or becoming a non smoker, get back to the drawing board and focus on goals that will stimulate you to where it becomes so easy you will be amazed and delighted at how simple achieving your goal is. So if you are still bent on practicing will power, then use your will power to be creative and create a goal that will excite you. Without that, will power alone will make it a long and troublesome road ahead. With creativity AND willpower, now you are so set for success that people around you will drop their jaw at how easy you achieve the things that you want.

More myths about Hypnosis- fear of revealing secrets

The fear of revealing secrets falls under the umbrella of fear of loss of control. Many people find it challenging to relax when they are under the misconception that once they relax that the hypnotherapist is going to "get into their head" and make them say things they don't want to say or reveal secrets they don't want to. So the hypnotic induction lingers on and on and the client never really gets the benefit of hypnosis.

When you understand this basic presupposition about hypnosis you can enjoy it more fully and allow yourself the change you came for and deserve, it is this: You are always in control and you will not do anything that goes against your will, values or beliefs. This includes giving out any information you prefer to keep to yourself.

One of the great things about hypnosis is that we are outcome focused, so the dirt or secrets, for me personally, I don't really care about those anyway. I am going to focus on what you want. If there is something you need to let go of. (there always is) I will instruct your unconscious mind to do that without us even going into content. It is quite brilliant really, the way the unconscious mind works. I am interested in you feeling better and more relaxed and more effective in your life when you leave my office. I am not interested in your secrets anyway.

I love to compare hypnosis to meditation, because anyone who has ever really experienced the feeling in meditation, the state of hypnosis is very much like that. You should feel relaxed, rejuvinated and lighter after each hypnotherapy session.

Please feel free to e-mail me your questions about hypnosis as future topics of discussion.

Myths about Hypnosis- Loss of control

Most people, even ones who have actually been to a hypnotherapist don't really know what hypnosis is or why it works, how it works, and when to use it. This creates a big challenge. Like having an awesome tool in your tool box that does many things but having no idea what those things are. It is difficult for people to tap into the power of hypnosis when they are unsure what it is. Nowadays youtube and other videos showing and demonstrating stage hypnosis and hypnosis as gags and jokes really makes people more weary about it, unsure of it and leaving them to think of it as one of my college's first client's said when first asked what does he think about hypnosis, he said that he thought it was "hocus pocus". Funny, he thought that and yet was willing to be hypnotised anyway. I am going to be doing a series of topics related to what hypnosis is, what it is not, what it is used for and what it is not used for. Contrary to many web sites that list hypnosis as a remedy for everything under the sun. I tend to take a more moderate approach and use that tool when it is necessary and use something else when appropriate. My ultimate goal with my clients is giving them the change they ask for. If they can do that in a waking state, fine by me. If a trance state is better, fine by me too.

Part of the challenge with hypnotherapy is that many people learn the techniques to hypnotic inductions only, they don't really learn any therapy. I think it is very important to make sure you are in a trance state, after all that is the basis of hypnosis, being in an altered state of mind, however inducing trance is just the beginning. What you do when you are in a trance is really the meat and potatoes of the effectiveness of the "therapy".

Most clients are so busy "disbelieving" hypnosis that they don't allow themselves the benefit of change. A hypnotherapist is better off just talking to someone in the awake state and getting them results that way. That way they are not talking to themselves wondering if it is working. The thought of the hypnotherapist having a magic wand is widespread. When a client finds out that in fact they themselves are the ones making the change, they sometimes are very disillusioned by this and think, that hypnosis is not what they thought it was at all. And most likely they are correct.

So, with that long winded introduction, I am going to demystify the number one myth of hypnosis and that myth is "loss of control" One of the factors involved with someone who is in a hypnotic state is that they have bypassed the critical faculty of the mind. Now what does that mean in layman terms? That the part of their mind that cares to distinguish fantasy from reality is suspended. Just like when you are reading a book, watching a movie, dreaming, or goal planning. In all those cases, you know that what you are thinking is not actually real. You know in the movie Batman, that someone is not really flying through the air using their coat as wings. Although technologically possible with enough work, we do not question it, in order to enjoy the movie and suspend that critical faculty. Hypnosis works the same way.

Some people say that they cannot be hypnotised because they are a control freak. If you say this, then you are really bad at control. Because you must not be able to watch a movie or read a book, without having to be in control. Now there are good movies and there are bad movies, sometimes you are watching a movie and you think to yourself, wow this movie really sucks. The writer failed to get the storyline across to you. Same with hypnosis, once trance is elicited, it is the hypnotherapists job to take you on a wild ride that has a function of eliciting change.

My number one priority with my clients is finding out what they want. I want to know outcomes. Then we together can focus on getting to those outcomes however we see fit. In trance, out of trance, in then out of trance. Whatever works, if they get their outcome, I am happy.

So think about this, before you do self hypnosis, or go to a hypnotherapist, what is your outcome? What is it that you want? You will make each session a whole lot more enjoyable and successful if you are aware of your goals.

The hypnotic state is much like meditation, some people even say the only difference is the spelling. An interesting concept. If you come to a hypnotherapist with an outcome and are willing to suspend your critical faculty in order to elicit change, now you are on the right track of using this tool for success.

Hypnotherapy in the Wall Street Journal

I have always admired hypnotherapy for stress release, that is one of the fabulous things about hypnosis. If you don't think stress release is important, then think about the things that are stressing you out, money, kids, job, career.... what if you felt great about those things? That is what it feels like to be free of stress. It takes practice. Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal, of how a man helped his financial burden feel a lot less stressful.

Hypnosis Article

Enjoy the article, and let's lighten up a bit shall we?

Nancy

new book fascination.

I am very excited that Jerry and Esther Hicks have finally gotten a book on the best sellers list, in fact it was number 1 last time I check. It is amazing you have to write a book about money before massive amounts of people buy it. They actually have many other books before this, I have I think, 4 others besides this one. Well anyway here is an excepert, and it keeps haunting me to get it. Do you get it? Please post your comments.

"All the money that you want is available for you to receive. All you have to do is allow it into your experience. And as the money flows in, you can gently allow it to flow out, for like the air you breathe, there will always be more to flow. You do not have to guard your money (like holding your breath and not letting it out) because there will not be any more coming. More is coming."

Fascinating!!!!! What do you think?

Hypnosis using the pendulum part 2

I just added another video on my youtube page about hypnosis using the pendulum. One of my clients, Susan tried out the pendulum technique with a necklace and I am happy to report she is alive and well. (haha) fun with pendulum, go check out the videos. Then, play with the pendulum. It is great fun.

FUN new hypnosis induction mini session

I just added a fun mini hypnosis session to my youtube page. Now you can sit back and enjoy the relaxing benefits of hypnosis right in front of your computer. Enjoy!