Interesting Perspective on the "Flow" of Hypnosis

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with a woman who I know socially.  She is intelligent and thoughtful, and very much committed to her career and to her family.

She tried hypnosis more than two years ago and found it to be interesting.  She asked me if I could teach her the process, so she could help someone in her life more effectively manage stress.

My focus is on teaching the practice of self-hypnosis, yet in certain instances I’m happy to share with someone who I know and trust how to create a safe, trance-like state in others.

Our get together last week included walking through a hypnotic induction based on guided meditation and progressive relaxation.  This approach will serve as the foundation for how she induces hypnosis and also gave me the chance to reinforce feelings of confidence for her.

I’ve included below the Email she sent me after our session.  She does a wonderful job of articulating how hypnosis can be an empowering experience.  It has allowed her to direct her mind to achieve positive and meaningful outcomes.

Again this time, I found hypnosis to be  - I can't find the precise word - profound and important both come to mind, but neither is quite what I want to say. I think that hypnosis is perhaps an immersive way to experience what folks in my area call 'flow'; being in the moment and away from all the little pings, responsibilities, tasks and interruptions that bombard us all every day and distract us from 'being here now.'

In yoga, finding that flow is a matter of practice and, in a sense, work - both physical and mental. With hypnosis, the challenge is trust, which is a biggie, but once hurdled, allows an intensive experience and can make the work part easier and more rewarding.

Again as before, it is sticking with me and I return to it somewhat spontaneously throughout my day.

Can a Type A Personality be Hypnotized?

I blend well in Washington, DC.  It’s a city of on-the-go, type A personalities who jostle for a taste of action in fast paced political and business circles.

My practice, teaching and performances of hypnosis are an enjoyable hobby.  I pay my mortgage as the CEO of a business consulting firm.

A misconception about hypnosis is that the volunteer forfeits control to the hypnotist.  This would then make take charge personality types resistant to gently drifting into a highly suggest-able, trance-like state. 

The truth is actually a near 180 degree opposite of the perception.  The practice of hypnosis and its ability to help a person manage stress; enhance confidence; improve academic, career and/or athletic performance; and recover from injury is incredibly empowering.

It makes type As who are open to it wonderfully gifted when it comes to hypnosis.

This past Friday I had the pleasure of meeting with a young woman who has booked my “Hypnotic Experience” show for an upcoming event she is organizing.  We talked through expectations for the show, audience and logistics.

I then asked if she wanted to give a hypnotic induction a try.  She agreed, yet with an understandable level of cynicism.  That’s because she is the definition of overachiever:  National Merit scholar, exceptional student, multi-sport athlete and self-taught musician.

Yet, upon taking her through a series of relaxing visualizations she soon achieved a deep and sustained level of hypnosis.  And this was in a somewhat public environment with a significant amount of background noise and activity.

We focused on a couple of post-hypnotic suggestions designed to promote stress mitigation, confidence and concentration.   I then shared with her how to achieve a trance like state on her own in as little as 10 seconds. 

She emerged from the experience enthusiastic, positive, refreshed and…empowered! 

A focus exercise combined with a simple sleep command puts a volunteer into hypnosis.

A Steamy Night for Self-Hypnosis

I offer event organizers three versions of Hypnotic Experience: 1) an entertaining, informative and instructive seminar to teach self-hypnosis; 2) a comedy oriented stage show for community festivals, fairs and parties; and 3) a more informal approach where I engage small groups of guests and attendees to demonstrate the power of visualization.

Each performance of my show presents a unique set of challenges – host expectations, venue, logistics, audience engagement and volunteer suggest-ability.

I practice what I preach and visualize a positive outcome prior to each show.  The incorporation of self-hypnosis into my pre-event preparations served me well this past week.

I maintain a relationship with a Washington, DC-based social organization called Professionals in the City.  Last year, I was one of the entertainers at the group’s New Year’s Eve party held at the Capital Hilton.  

That performance led to my teaming with Professionals in the City to organize and host an event on Thursday entitled “Healthy Mind, Healthy Body: Learn Self-Hypnosis for Wellness, Confidence and Success.”

It was a steamy evening in the Georgetown neighborhood of the city with the temperature sniffing at 100 degrees, even though it was nearly 7 PM.  I arrived at the venue to learn that the facilities manager experienced a health issue and had to depart.  It was up to me and the two Professionals in the City staffers to prep the room for our 20 guests.

Challenge #1:  The facilities person neglected to share with us how the venue’s sound system worked.  Thankfully, I had my wireless microphone and speakers in the car, parked four blocks away.

Challenge #2:  After walking to the car and returning with the speakers, I realized I had mistakenly left the microphone in my trunk.  Back to the car I trudged in the sweltering heat.  By the time I began to set-up in front of the guests I was drenched with perspiration.

Challenge #3:  Thankfully, the venue’s air conditioner and fans kept the room cool.  Yet, the humming and whizzing of a dated system created a distraction for some of the attendees.  It only became an option to power the system down once the temperature outside chilled.

Despite these obstacles, the event was a big-time success.  It was a wonderful group of attendees who were accommodating of the situation.  They had come to learn about and experience hypnosis as a tool for wellness, yet also enjoyed my entertaining pre-talk.

Nearly all of the guests achieved a level of hypnosis with a few slipping into a deep and relaxing trance.  I employed two of my favorite visualizations – “healing waters” and “confidence” – which left the guests feeling energized and empowered.

As I personally thanked each guest at the conclusion of the evening, I was reminded why I am so lucky to be aligned with groups like Professionals in the City.  I have the opportunity to meet and interact with exceptional people.