A True Story

In my previous blogs, I have discussed Imagination, Challenging Beliefs, and my concept of Success- belief & action over time. Yet, how many of you have put those ideas and formulas into practice in your daily lives? I suspect that, for whatever reasons, not many of you have done so. But, I know one young lady who has, and, in so doing, has achieved her most current dream, even though others told her not to get her hopes up. Of course, this wasn't accomplished over night.

As with most young people, college was her place of discovery. During her four years as an undergrad, she focused on a variety of majors - from theater to education to human development. Nevertheless, each of these areas contributed to her current success. Theater develops imagination, discipline and presentation skills, all of which are utilized in the field of education. Teaching others motivated her to gain a better understanding of others and herself through the study of human development. This path led her to grad school where she chose to study school counseling, a full-time, two year commitment. Although an honorable profession, school counseling could not be considered a particularly marketable degree, especially in today's economic environment. She excelled in school, graduating with a 4.0 - no surprise!

While following this journey, she became involved with a wonderful young man to whom she is now engaged, but that is another marvelous story for a different time. He is living and working in a nearby state; however that was of little concern, as she did not yet have a job. Where they would settle was dependent on her getting employment.

"Employment." Many questioned her choice of study. It was difficult enough for recent grads in teaching to find employment, but counseling had far fewer opportunities. Still, in her mind she said, "I always visualized myself getting a counseling position." Within a month of her graduation, she "nailed" her very first interview and got the job - in the state, in the town, where her fiance lives.

What did this young lady do to achieve her current success? She imagined herself in the job she wanted, she believed in herself, she believed she could accomplish her dreams, and she took action over time to bring the results she wanted. That wonderful, intelligent, beautiful young lady is my daughter.

.....I appreciate your time reading this Blog
"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources...

"The Professor"

http://www.myhypnosiscoach.com/
http://www.consultant4hypnosis.com/

"Cracking" Your Code

In "The Culture Code," Dr.Clotaire Rapaille describes his book as "a culmination of more than three decades of experience of decoding imprints for major corporations around the world." Imprinting, a term first coined by Konrad Lorenz, is the combination of an experience and its accompanying emotion. For example, parents tell their young child not to touch a hot pan on the stove as it will burn the baby. Because this concept is too abstract, the child reaches out and grabs the hot pan anyhow, and it burns him/her. The baby screams from the pain and learns what "hot" and "burn" mean. The child is very likely never to forget this. Although this scenario may seem extreme, it is an obvious example of how imprinting takes place. As imprints occur, they strongly condition our thought processes and shape our future actions. Dr. Rapaille believes that the combination of imprints may very well define us.

His work on imprinting has led him to the discovery of a third unconscious - the cultural unconscious. Every culture has its own mindset. Rapaille states, "that mind-set teaches us about who we are in profound ways." For example, Dr. Rapaille discovered that for Americans, the emotions attached to the experience of driving a car are very strong indeed. The American Code for cars is IDENTITY. We want cars that are distinctive, remind of us Sunday drives, personify the freedom of getting behind the wheel for the first time, and connect us to many other feelings and situations from our pasts. It was this "discovery" of the imprint of cars in the US that led a famous auto maker to develop a new vehicle that was an instant hit. (You'll have to read the book to find out more). You may be amazed to find out that he and his corporation, Archetype Discoveries, are the architects behind many of the products we buy. The Culture Code is the unconscious meaning we apply to anything - a car, a food, a relationship, even a country - because of the culture in which we were raised.

So, how does he "crack" the Code? He does it in structured three hour sessions. First, he pretends he's someone from another planet and has no concept of the product the company wants to distribute. For example, if the product were coffee, he would ask the group participants to help him understanding what coffee is. Next, he has them cut words and phrases from magazines and make a collage of stories about coffee to give him additional identifying characteristics. In the third hour,(and this is what interests me most), he has the participants lie on the floor with pillows. He then puts on soothing music and instructs the participants to relax. Dr. Rapaille explains why. "What I was doing was calming their active brainwaves (bold is mine), getting them to the tranquil point just before sleep." Now, who can tell me what he was doing in this third hour? Email me at consult4hypnosis@aol.com if you think you know the correct answer.

How the process progresses will be my next topic.

.....I appreciate your time reading this Blog

"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources....
"The Professor"

http://www.myhypnosiscoach.com/

http://www.consultant4hypnosis.com/

Imagination: A Powerful Tool

"Dreams Can Come True...."

One of the amazing things about the subconscious mind is that your Imagination is the inner language of that mind. It's like a rehearsal room where you can practice being the person you wish to be. In your imagination, you can be anywhere you desire...just like when you were a kid in a classroom and you gazed out the window and drifted to some other place you'd rather be...perhaps to a beautiful island or transported back to the last few days of summer camp.

In your imagination, you can be anything you desire....a king or queen, a movie star, or a great athlete, or perhaps president. It's your own private place, where you can travel through time and space. And if used correctly it "dreams can come true..." If not, they are merely daydreams and fulfil us at the moment, but do not bring change into our lives.

Many of us, when we use our imaginations, do so through images and pictures in our minds. We may also hear and feel within those images and pictures. For example; When imagining that beautiful island, we may see ourselves relaxing in a hammock, the water is a tranquil turquoise-green, the sky is a wonderful shade of blue, and we may feel the warmth of the sun on our faces, as we hear the sound of the waves gently breaking on the beach. It's the ability to create an idea, a mental picture, or the sense of feeling or hearing something.

In hypnosis, after relaxing into a deep, quiet, state of mind you use the power of imagination to make the changes you desire. For example, in order to meet a weight loss goal, you may see yourself in that new, smaller pair of jeans and a t-shirt. You notice how you are eating differently: smaller portions, more green, red, blue and orange colors on your plate. You taste the cool, cleansing, crystal, clear, water on your tongue. Experience it as if it were already happening. Imagine yourself at your ideal weight and shape. If your intention and desire is to truly change, you will. Dreams do come true, if you use your imagination and take appropriate action to make them happen.

.....I appreciate your time reading this Blog.
"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources....

"The Professor"
http://www.myhypnosiscoach.com/
http://www.consultant4hypnosis.com/

Challenge Your Beliefs

"One of the great discoveries a man (or woman) makes, one of his/her great surprises, is to find he/she can do what he/she was afraid he/she couldn't do. Most of the bars we beat against are in ourselves --- we put them there, and we can take them down." --- Henry Ford

I would like to add to this quote. Some "bars" are put in our minds by others, and these, too, can be taken down.  Consider the following statements that may run through one's mind, "I never keep the weight off," "You'll never amount to anything," "I can't hit a drive today, " "I know I'll fail, " "You're stupid, " "I have to have a cigarette with my cup of coffee, '' "I can't stop eating," "You don't like me. " The list goes on and on. Thoughts such as these reflect one's beliefs.

"This kind of thinking, says Daniel Amen, M.D, in his book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, makes for a self-fulfilling prophecy..." If you consistently think negative thoughts, you don't expect good things to happen, so you don't try very hard to make them happen. This type of thinking Dr. Amen calls "ANTS"(automatic negative thoughts). ANTs are usually gloomy, cynical, and complaining. The good news is that you can challenge those types of thoughts. When an ANT "pops" into your mind, instead of automatically accepting it as true, challenge it. Ask yourself, "Is it really true that I am stupid?,"or " Have I allowed others to convince me to believe that statement is true?" Whatever your negative thinking (Dale Carnegie called it "stinking thinking"),  STOP and challenge it. If you choose not to challenge negative thoughts, over time they become ingrained beliefs, beliefs about who you are and what you are capable of doing. 

Once you've challenged those beliefs, reframe them with positive thoughts. Remember, thoughts are real. When you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals and electrical impulses that have a real impact on how you feel and behave. Begin to train yourself to think more positive thoughts that radiate a sense of well-being. By now, I suspect that you've made the connection to the opening image of a favorite childhood book. So, let me leave you with thoughts of the"Little Engine That Could"...."I think I can, I think I can"...."I Knew I Could." What will be your next thoughts?

.....I appreciate your time reading this Blog.
"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources...."

"The Professor"
http://www.myhypnosiscoach.com/
http://www.consultant4hypnosis.com/

"B & (A/T) = S"

Belief & ( action/over time) = Success! That's right. Many people are familiar with The Secret both book and DVD. It has inspired many to begin to focus on what they truly want out of their lives. It is based on the Law of Attraction- what you think about, talk about, and imagine is what you get out of life. Yet, it is not merely wishing for success-be it for love, wealth, or health one needs to take action. This where hypno-coaching is most effective in generating results. In our previous study, you learned how to create that which you desire simply by using your imagination- better putting, cleaning out the garage, and making more sales. That is a hypnotic state. The next step is doing. Taking action; otherwise it is merely a daydream. Wishing, hoping, or trying!

Through my hypnosis sessions, I help the clients see and feel and experience the positive changes they desire. In my coaching sessions, the clients learn how to re-frame the suggestions that they think about all day long, and to reinforce the new positive suggestions introduced while in hypnosis. Now, they simply do!

In his book, Guaranteed To Win, Barry Seedman, Ph.D. devoted a chapter on "trying." He writes, "What does it mean to "try"?..."does it mean that you succeed? Absolutely not. In fact, the word try implies not completing the task. "I tried," generally brings along with it the words, "but I failed." I have often heard those exact words from my clients ( during the consult/intake)- "I've tried to lose weight through ( fill-in with the diet program you've tried) but I failed and gained it all back," or "I've tried to quit smoking with ( the patch, gum, etc.) but I failed and didn't quit," or "I've tried to find the time to exercise, but.... think about all the things you've tried to do. Ever "try" to go to sleep?

.....I appreciate your time reading this Blog.

"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources...."
"The Professor"
(See you next week)

www.myhypnosiscoach.com

www.consultant4hypnosis.com

"The Success Equation"

Operating within belief, the key component for change, are imagination, motivation, and anticipation. If you can imagine something and it's within reason, mostly likely you will achieve it (Hadley and Staudacher,1996). What the mind can conceive and believe, you will achieve. Research has shown that when an event is vividly imagined, the body's internal system reacts in the precise same way it would if the activity were actually happening. This is what many great athletes practice: they imagine each part of an athletic event: golfers "see" the breaks in the green, they "smell" the finely cut grass, and they "hear" the roar of the crowd when the ball drops in the hole.

You too can practice this creative visualization process. First, clarify exactly what it is you wish to achieve. Maybe you want to clean out the garage. Imagine yourself starting the project: organizing what stays, what gets thrown out. See the clutter begin to disappear. Notice all the new available floor space. Perhaps you include a garage sale and now see your reward as all the money you have simply because you cleaned out your garage.

Maybe you wish to make more sales. Imagine yourself with your clients: discussing their needs, explaining how your product or service fulfills those needs, describing the benefits they would reap. See yourself shaking hands with the client and completing the sale, and picture yourself receiving your commission.

Practicing this process on a regular basis results in greater physical and mental energy which increases motivation. "Through the conditioned learning process, neural pathways between eliciting stimuli and behavorial responses become hardwired to ensure a repetitive pattern. Hardwired pathways are habits" (Lipton, The Biology of Belief, p103). Now you have the first part of the equation: imagination x motivation= belief (Hadley & Staudacher, Hypnosis for Change). Hadley and Staudacher extend the equation to include anticpation. (That's right, just like the song). If you expect something to happen, postive or negative, it will. It occurs because you have thoroughly convinced your subconscious mind to act upon your goals. This leads into why I concentrate on Hypno-Coaching and have developed my own equation: b & (a/t) = S. But that's for next week...Until then...

.....I appreciate your time spent reading this Blog.

"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources....."

"The Professor"

Your Thoughts Matter

"On a personal level, I knew at the moment of insight that I had gotten myself stuck simply by believing that I was fated to have a spectacularly unsuccessful personal life. There is no doubt that human beings have a great capacity for sticking to false beliefs with great passion and tenacity, and hyper-rational scientists are not immune."- an excerpt from the book, The Biology of Belief - The Science of How Thoughts Control Life, by Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D. (Hay House: 2005). Dr. Lipton continues, " I was exhilarated by my new realization that I could change the character of my life by changing my beliefs. I was instantly energized because I realized that there was a science-based path that would take me from my job as a perennial 'victim' to my new position as 'co-creator' of my destiny." He was speaking, first, about the Science of Signal Transduction which recognizes that the fate and behavior of an organism is directly related to its perception of the environment. Secondly, he is describing the new Science of Epigenetics (see the Science Times article, "Beyond The Gene," New York Times, Tuesday, November 11, 2008), which is the science of how environmental signals select, modify, and regulate gene activity. This science demonstrates that our genes are constantly being remodeled in response to our life experiences.


You may be thinking to yourself, that's all very nice, but what has that got to do with hypnosis and coaching? As this Blog aptly states: Hypno-Coaching is "Understanding how you've been hypnotized throughout your life by parents, teachers, peers, government, religion, advertising and self. More importantly, it teaches how to take control of your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and live a happier fulfilled life." What Dr. Lipton is saying is that if we change our thoughts, we change our lives. This is what hypnotists teach their clients. Clients learn how to recognize on a conscious level (coaching) how they develop repetitive statements associated with repetitive behaviors which turn into beliefs which are then stored in their subconscious minds. For example, smokers tell themselves that they always have a cigarette with their morning coffee. The repetition of the statement and the behavior are stored in the subconscious mind as beliefs. In Hypnosis for Change, (3rd edition, New Harbinger Publications: CA), Hadley and Staudacher write about the "Success Equation," and they state that the key component for change is Belief. Within Belief, three factors are operating: imagination, motivation and anticipation. In my next week's blog, we will examine each of these three factors. Until then..

.....I appreciate your time spent reading this Blog.
"As you begin to explore your capabilities..... and discover more of your resources....."
"The Professor"