2 Great Shows to Check Out This Week

Nearly three years ago I shifted my focus as an entertainer from stand-up comedy to a fun, family friendly, informative and (most important) unique hypnosis show. 

Rather than a carnival-like atmosphere, my goal is for the volunteers and audience to gain an appreciation for the practice of hypnosis and visualization.  I want to dispel the misconceptions about hypnosis, and focus on its use as a tool for health, wellness, happiness and success.  

I’ve since created a myriad of versions of “Hypnotic Experience” to address the needs of a specific audience.  There’s a comedy show for high school after proms and college social events; strolling entertainment for street fairs and community festivals; and even a more academic version for psychology and health classes.

This week I have two performances lined up that I’d like to invite you to attend:

GreenWheaton Anniversary Gala in Wheaton, Maryland

Wednesday, June 25 from 6 PM to 9 PM

This is one of my most favorite charitable events of the year because GreenWheaton is such a fabulous organization with such an important mission.  Unlike other more policy oriented environment groups, GreenWheaton works at the grassroots level helping businesses and households adopt more sustainable practices.

I performed as a strolling entertainer at last year’s gala and had a wonderful time.  Here is a write-up of my experience sharing hypnosis with attendees.

Please consider attending this event by purchasing a ticket at this link.  Type in the promo code GREEN and you’ll receive a discounted rate on the ticket.   

An Executive’s Guide to the Power of Positive Visualization:  For Health, Happiness and Career Success  (FREE TO ATTEND)

Hosted by Carr Workplaces on Friday, June 27 at 12 PM (includes lunch)

1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1500, McLean VA

I’ll lead an entertaining discussion about how busy professionals can harness visualization as a tool for: 

    

--Relaxation and stress management

--Better and more restful sleep at night

--Inspire self-confidence

--Healthier eating habits

--Focus and concentration at work

--More energy and positive outlook on life

This is a complimentary event offered by Carr Workplaces and...yes...it includes lunch.  Please message me at m.russell.hausman@gmail.com if you'd like to attend and I will make all of the arrangements. 

Positive Visualization Scores at the World Cup

 

Scoring the game winning goal against Ghana is a dream for USA soccer's John Brooks.  (Photo credit: Huffington Post.)

It is near impossible for a 21-year-old newbie to shine on the grandest stage in all of sports.  Yet, that is exactly what American soccer player John Brooks did when he scored the game winning goal against Ghana during the opening game of this year’s World Cup.

In a startling post-game revelation, Brooks said that he had dreamed the very scenario that played out on the pitch.  “I told some teammates that I dreamed that I scored in the 80th minute and we won the game,” Brooks explained in a media interview. “And now it was the 86th minute and we won.”

Is Brooks’ premonition an indication of some sort of clairvoyance or divine talent?

Probably not.  It’s most likely merely a coincidence.

Yet, Brooks’ experience and his resulting success in competition is an important lesson for athletes at all levels.  By visualizing a positive outcome, you can create the expectation that when an opportunity to excel presents itself your performance will be at the optimal level.

I have written extensively on this blog about the use of visualization and hypnosis by athletes to enhance performance, improve endurance and more quickly recover from injury.  Here are a few articles worth checking out:

Confidence and Attitude:  a Winning Combination in Sports

Whitman High School Athletes Give Hypnosis a Try

Positive Visualization Helps Athletes at All Levels

Talent, training, endurance and hard work put Brooks on the field during the World Cup.  It was his mental preparation though that allowed him to realize his full potential.

One Woman's Impression of the Hypnotic Experience

All of the people who come into our lives – is it destined or simply happenstance?

I think about this from time-to-time.  Seventeen years ago I decided on a whim to place a recruitment ad in the local college newspaper.  It was for an entry level client service position at my marketing services consultancy. 

Only one person responded.  She was hired, did an excellent job and after six months left the company so we could date.  Fifteen years of marriage later we have three wonderful sons.

In mid-April my family enjoyed spring break on a cruise in the Caribbean.  During the flight south to meet-up with the ship we sat with a charming family.  I had the pleasure of chatting with the mother about her practice of yoga and its resulting mindfulness.

And guess what?  The family happened to be at the airport in Florida booked on the same flight home.  This gave the mother and me the opportunity to talk hypnosis, and how it can possibly produce a comparable feeling of mindfulness.

Upon our return to the Washington, DC area, we were able to get together so I could take her through a hypnotic induction and then interview her for this blog.  Included below is an Email she sent me after her initial experience with hypnosis.

It’s thoughtful, well crafted and provides unique insight into one person’s impression of the hypnotic experience.  That’s why I have shared her Email in its entirety.

So, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the experience. I continue to find the whole thing fascinating and I have continued to try spending a few minutes focusing on self-hypnosis each day.

It's a different thing to try to focus on something rather than to get rid of the extra junk in your head, so I think it'll take a little more practice to get it down. I feel like hypnosis in a non-stagey context is such a unique experience in this culture; I wish I had someone to compare notes with.

But, perhaps I should start at the beginning. 

Though I did achieve a trancelike state, I don't think I got as deep as I could have during the session. I have wondered why and have a couple of thoughts, but no answers. 

Was it a trust issue? As a woman, I think there may just be something about putting yourself in the hands of someone you don't know very well, even when things are presumably as safe as they can be. Talking with your family went a long way, but I wonder - would a group session have been easier? Would a follow up session be easier? 

Was it a focus issue? I think I told you that the process seemed fast to me, especially at the beginning. When you asked me to take two deep breaths, I only took one in the time before you started moving on. Am I dependent on a slower process to quiet the mind?

I was also getting ready to go away the next day and had the usual list of 1000 things I had to do in my head. I think I was able to put it aside, but I'm not totally sure. I know it was a little tough to lose the traffic sounds and the sensation of the chair, and my knee for the first portion of the session. 

That said, it was really interesting and invigorating. I don't often have too much trouble with sleep, but I didn't notice a huge change there.

I did get woken up a couple of times by external sources during the night and was a little afraid of being wide awake and ready to start the day in the middle of the night; thankfully, that wasn't an issue. I did get a couple hours less sleep than usual and didn't feel any worse than usual, so maybe that was a bigger payoff than I realize.

After that, we were off for the long weekend and sleeping with the sounds of the wind and the water. I have been relaxed, but can't say objectively whether the hypnosis was a factor. I'll keep you updated as the end of the school year draws near and I start stressing in earnest about getting my paperwork done.

The funniest thing I have to report is that I had several bouts of cognitive dissonance on Friday. I had no idea how often I use deep breathing to keep myself regulated during the day -- driving, right before I walk into a classroom, while switching from a disastrous plan A to plan B while working with a challenging kiddo.

I found myself starting to count backwards without really realizing what was going on in several inopportune situations and sort of jolted myself back. I think I have that pretty well under control now, but boy was it a strange day!

I've been trying to focus on patience, creativity and productivity (more in a personal than a professional sense.) I find that so far, it is easiest to induce self hypnosis in bed, which was the most successful visualization for me during the session; that image was very vivid and continues to stay with me and facilitate focus, though I am experimenting and will let you know how things are going. 

Weekend @ Timberline - Swimming, S'mores and Hypnosis

Stunning view at Timberline Lake Camping Resort.

We headed north on I-95 to the New Jersey Turnpike and then cut east across the state for nearly 90 minutes.  The roads became more rural and the houses fewer and farther between, before we eventually arrived at our destination:  Timberline Lake Camping Resort.

Two of my sons joined me on this adventure which (admittedly) was our first time camping.  I worked out an agreement with the owners of Timberline for a stay at the lake in return for a performance of my Hypnotic Experience show.  To use a cliché, this turned out to be a win-win.

Here are a couple of observations and photos from the weekend:

--Although definitely rural and somewhat rustic, Timberline boasts enough amenities to make even a suburban clan like the Hausmans comfortable.  The swimming pool is top flight and the facility also features full court basketball, which was a big draw for my sons.

--I proved to be the ultimate novice when it comes to camping.  When dinner time rolled around, others at the resort fired up their grills and broke out steaks, chicken, burgers, veggies, etc.  The smell of barbeque was intoxicating, which made our pretzels and peanut butter that much more unbearable.  Next time I’ll come more prepared.

--Strolling the grounds proved to be a winning idea.  Most of the seasonals – folks who camp throughout the summer – were gracious and invited us to join them by their fire.  One particularly group insisted that my sons join them for s’mores, which was incredibly appreciated.  It’s obvious that Timberline has fostered a wonderful sense of community among its campers.

Hausman boys test out the lake, before deciding on the pool.

--And finally, my show was held in the Rec Hall and well received.  I had about forty people attend at all age ranges – from younger children to adults.  About a dozen volunteered to be hypnotized and six remained on stage, including two women who were the true stars of the show.

We had to leave early the next morning to make it back to Washington, DC for a couple of youth baseball games, yet my sons were buzzing during the car ride back.  Next time we’ll need to go fishing.  Spend more time hiking.  And canoe on the lake.

Next time. 

The Rec Hall was the ideal venue for my Hypnotic Experience show.

My two "rock star" volunteers are given the subconscious suggestion to make a strange face when asked to smile for the camera.  Hat tip to hypnotist Marc Savard (http://marcsavard.com/), who I borrowed this idea from.

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UPDATE, JUNE 4: Comment on Facebook from one of my rock star volunteers about hypnosis:

Omg!!!!!!! What an awesome experience!!!!!!!!