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/