Healthy Mind, Healthy Body - 2 Spring Shows

With spring comes emotional and spiritual renewal.  (Photo source: PGhealthandhealing.com)

As the frigid shiver of winter begins to subside, it’s time to think about the wonderful feeling of renewal that arrives with warmer days.  Spring presents the ideal time embrace the philosophy of “healthy mind, healthy body,” which, in my view, is the foundation of empowerment.

I have two Hypnotic Experience shows on the calendar that I encourage you to check out.  At each event, I’ll share easy to follow approaches you can use to ensure you are feeling (and looking) great in time for summer.

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Learn Self-Hypnosis for Wellness, Confidence, Success and Exceptional Living

Hosted by Professionals in the City

Tuesday, March 21 from 7 PM to 9 PM

Location: Buffalo Billiards, Dupont Circle, Washington DC

Learn More/Purchase Tickets:

http://www.prosinthecity.com/event/hypnosis-13715

Women Empower Expo

Saturday, May 27 (all day event, my talk is at 10:45 AM)

Location:  Washington DC Convention Center

Learn More/Purchase Tickets:

http://womenempowerexpo.com/washington

*Type in the code HYPNOSIS when purchasing a ticket for a $10 discount

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.

Words of Wisdom for Teen-preneurs

A dozen teenagers gathered on a Saturday morning in Bethesda, MD to study entrepreneurship. Now, that was a sight to see.

Due to my 20+ year run as the founder and owner of a professional services firm, I was invited to speak at a session hosted by the Bethesda Entrepreneurship Academy. I realized after a quick review of the exceptional speakers recruited by Zain Yaqub (the Academy’s founder and a teen entrepreneur himself) that I needed a unique and unexpected topic.

My presentation, entitled “The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Wealth & Empowerment,” delivered just that. In what I believe was a refreshingly candid and entertaining style (hey, I perform stand-up comedy as a hobby), I sought to disabuse these future business titans of the notion that success is measured by your take home pay.

Rather, the value of business creation is in the ability to craft more meaningful and intimate relationships with family, friends, community, etc., while building a lifestyle which is consistent with a belief system.
Here are the five steps to business creation I offered during the presentation:

1. Identify the things important to you in life.
2. Make an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Define the personality type(s) you most successfully work with.
4. Construct a business plan that aligns accordingly.
5. Drip with self-confidence.

Did my message resonate?

Admittedly, it was hard to tell. The youthful audience was reasonably well engaged during my talk, yet the Q&A afterwards lacked any significant meaning or depth.

Perhaps it was merely a reflection of the date/time of the event? Or maybe I came off too much of a tyrannical type A?

Or, worse, this group may not be ready for entrepreneurship…yet?

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Interested in reading more about how visualization can improve the entrepreneurial experience?  Check out these blog posts:

Anxious Decision-Making is a No-No

Pathways to Success, Achieving Confidence through Hypnosis

Busy Execs Get Hip to the Power of Visualization

Self Hypnosis For Stress Mitigation and Empowerment

One person is traumatized by nightmares.  Another grinds teeth a night.  A third picks their skin so intensely it has led to an emergency room visit because of infection.

It’s well understood that stress is negative energy that has a profound impact on health and wellness.  This is why the use of hypnosis as a tool to manage and mitigate stress is a core part of my show.

What about these stress induced habits?

Understandably, some people who I have met with individually to teach self-hypnosis desire immediate relief.  Their hope is that through suggestions to the subconscious mind they can alter behavior, regardless of their commitment to ongoing stress management.

My experience is that this quick fix rarely takes hold.  While there may be a near-term resolution, in time the unwanted behavior returns.  (I’ve found this be true with tobacco use as well.)

It’s for this reason in my sharing of hypnosis I couple stress management techniques with visualizations that reinforce feelings of empowerment and self-confidence.  When a person understands they truly own their emotions and actions, they are typically successful at rising above adversity and making smart, sound decisions.

I often include this power statement in my Hypnotic Experience show, “You get to a secure place in life when you understand the person you are is the person you are suppose to be.”

Empowerment: to promote the self-actualization or influence of     

Hypnosis: Empowered for Success

I served as a strolling entertainer at the South Riding Fall Fest.

This weekend I had the pleasure of performing as a strolling entertainer at the South Riding Fall Fest in Northern Virginia.

It’s during these informal demonstrations of hypnosis and the power of positive visualization that I have the opportunity to chat with volunteers in a more personal, one-on-one setting.  Over the course of two hours at the event, I had 20 volunteers and held meaningful conversations with nearly a dozen.

Here are a few take-aways:

1. There is almost always a need to de-mystify hypnosis and clear up misconceptions.  Most people have been exposed to the concept of hypnosis through film, television and Las Vegas-style comedy shows.  I achieve a high level of volunteer interest by talking through what hypnosis is, applications for a healthier and happier life, and the ability to learn self-hypnosis.

2. The requirement in school, work and athletics to perform in the moment is an outcome with great appeal.  One woman was anxious about a major client presentation.  A young man was preparing to take the GRE exam.  Another guy was just back on the soccer field after an ankle injury and cautious in his play.  Simple visualizations to inspire self-confidence and reduce stress delivered a near-immediate benefit.

3. Ultimately, hypnosis is about empowerment.  Each of us has the inherent skills, drive and focus to achieve our life goals.  By setting an expectation for success our natural talent is allowed to shine.