Loving the Good in Who You Are

An important part of my Hypnotic Experience show is when I talk about the use of hypnosis to energize and charge up confidence.  The power statement I employ that typically resonates with the audience:

“When you realize the person you are is the person you are suppose to be, and that the people who really matter in life – your friends and family – love you and appreciate you for who you are, then there isn’t anything you cannot accomplish.  You get to decide what makes you happy and successful.”

Something to keep in mind during such trying times.

Cosmo Goes All-In with Hypnosis

Here is a wonderful article in Cosmopolitan about a woman's experience with hypnosis.  Her initial goal was to use visualization as a tool to have more energy in the morning, yet the ultimate outcome turned out to be much more meaningful.

Good for Cosmo for showcasing how hypnosis can serve as a tool to inspire health, wellness and exceptional living.


I Got Hypnotized to Boost My Confidence and Feel Like a Bombshell
Cosmopolitan (10.26.15)

I honestly say I felt super-relaxed yet doubtful that anything would actually change.  It wasn't until I woke up the next day that I noticed a difference. I felt amazing. The first thing in my closet fit perfectly. My liquid eyeliner winged out flawlessly on the first try. My husband, my boss, the Starbucks guy — pretty much everyone I saw complimented me on something.

Thoughts and Impressions from a Day of Hypnosis at Whitman HS

Do you actually get paid to do this?

That’s what a volunteer asked with a touch of sarcasm in her voice.

Well…in my case…the answer is “no.”   I do have a full time job as the CEO of a marketing services consultancy, which affords me the opportunity to donate my time to perform my Hypnotic Experience show and speak on the topic of positive visualization.

That’s why I focus on community festivals, street fairs, charitable fundraisers, non-profits, and high school and college events.  They are worthy organizations that often lack the financial ability to hire entertainers.

This brings me back to today and my return visit to Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD.  I have an excellent relationship with one of the school’s educators and she has been kind enough to include me as a speaker in her health class.  Here is a link to the blog post I wrote after speaking to her classes in February – My Impression of Hypnosis for Health at Whitman High School.

Similar to last semester, I came away from today’s talks incredibly impressed with the intelligence, focus and creativity of the students.   This is a school of high performers (i.e. athletes, musicians, scholars, artists, etc.), yet it is in these environments that issues associated with stress and confidence can be even more pronounced.

  

These kids have to manage pressure from their family, friends and the community.  However, they also expect great things from themselves and it is this pursuit of perfection that can often create challenges.

Today was a whole lot of fun and rewarding.  My talk about hypnosis for health, wellness and exceptional living was well received, and I had a wonderful group of volunteers during each class. 

I also had a number of kids chat with me afterwards with specific questions.  What was the most frequently asked?  Can hypnosis help a person sleep better a night?  I get that question all of the time from people of all ages.

So…what about our skeptic?

I’d like believe I got her thinking about an approach she may have never considered.  I’m the first to acknowledge that hypnosis is the not right tool for everyone.  You don’t know though until you try.

Plus, it is a sign of strength and confidence to question those around you.  Form your own opinions.  Define your own path.   That’s empowerment and (ironically) one of the core messages of my talk.

Is hypnosis real?  In 2012, this group of students at Oakton High School in No. Virginia respond to the sleep suggestion.

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.   

It's All Personal with Hypnosis

There are incredibly smart researchers studying the science of hypnosis.  What exactly happens to the brain?  Why are some people more suggestible than others?

Here is an interesting quote from a recent study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry:

“Hypnosis is described as a trance-like state during which a person has a heightened focus and concentration…it works by modulating activity in brain regions associated with focused attention.”

I’ve practiced self-hypnosis for nearly a decade, taught the process to more than 100 people and, during the past three years, performed my “Hypnotic Experience” show for nearly 1,000 guests.  I had no idea my induction technique was modulating brain regions.

Candidly, it doesn’t concern me much.  That’s because I am more focused on helping people realize the positive outcomes achieved through hypnosis – stress management, self-confidence and esteem, academic and career performance, and physical well-being.

Yet, I also recognize many of the attendees at the events where I perform seek more than just the experience of hypnosis.  They have a sincere interest to better understand a process often defined by misconceptions.

My performance this evening for DC Global Adventurers is a wonderful example.  Readers of this blog know I’ve struck up an intimate relationship with this 1,800+ person social group because of the respect I have for its founder and the high caliber of people I’ve met at her meet-ups.

You can read recaps of my previous presentations of hypnosis to this group here and here.

About 20 exceptional professionals gathered at my Tysons Corner office for an introduction to hypnosis.  Although the room was a bit cramped (and warm), the induction was smooth and resulted in most of the attendees drifting gently into a state of relaxation and focus.

We then invested nearly 30 minutes in a fascinating Q&A session and discussion of what it felt like to be hypnotized.  Here are a few highlights:

--When asked to visualize a relaxing scenario (i.e. lying on the beach), many pictured themselves with a loved one or close friend, rather than alone.  It’s obvious the desire for social engagement permeates the subconscious mind.

--For some, the pace of my induction was too quick, while others found it just right.  

--My countdown methodology of alternating between three, five and, in one instance, ten also threw some off because of a lack of consistency.  I’ve heard this before and may need to alter my approach.

--And finally, nearly every attendee reported a unique experience when hypnotized.  There was some constants, such as feelings of being relaxed, comfortable, energized and confident.  Yet, the actually experience of hypnosis is clearly a personal one.

The researchers at Stanford provide us with a plausible reason why, “The brain is complicated, people are complicated.”

Each hypnotized guest reported a unique experience when asked to visualize themselves lying on a beach.

More Hypnosis with DC Global Adventurers - Mostly Positive with an Unexpected Twist

Let’s start this blog post with a Nejla Routsong love-fest.

Who is Nejla?  She is the founder and lead organizer of DC Global Adventurers, a social Meetup group that I’ve established a partnership with to co-host a series of events about self-hypnosis.

DC Global Adventurers now exceeds 1,600 members because of Nejla’s commitment to organize unique activities that contribute to physical and emotional well-being.  Hiking, snowboarding, meditation, yoga, hip hop dance, cultural celebrations…it’s all on the agenda.

Plus, the group earns its “global” name by offering once-in-a-lifetime trips to exotic locations like Thailand.

This evening nearly 30 professionals gathered in Chevy Chase, Maryland for a DC Global Adventurers Meetup entitled “Self Hypnosis for Love.”  I’ve included below my observations and thoughts about the event, comparing it to a group session I hosted with Nejla in January.   You can also find a few photos from the event at this link.

1.  Larger and more diverse set of attendees.  Attendance this evening was 2X the number in January.  I attribute that to Nejla’s promotion of the event, the 500+ new members who have joined DC Global Adventurers in the past month and the mostly positive reviews I received after last month’s session.

The group this evening was more balanced in terms of gender, as compared to January which was 13 females and a lone male.  There was also a more diverse mix of demographics and cultural backgrounds, which is representative of the Washington, DC community.

2.  More intimate pre-talk.  As I have written on this blog, the most important part of my “Hypnotic Experience” performance is the pre-talk.  I clear up mis-perceptions about hypnosis, discuss its benefits and set expectations for what is to come.

This evening I extended the length of the pre-talk to incorporate a few more personal anecdotes about my life.  I addressed the role my subconscious mind played in an ill-fated decision to pick a fight while in college, as well as a challenging time in my marriage.

Hypnosis is an intimate experience and, as I have come to learn, a group session with a collection of relative strangers can be intimidating.  My goal was to demonstrate my own vulnerabilities to establish a connection and comfort with the participants.

3.  Changed up the hypnotic induction.  I changed up the lead-in to the hypnotic induction and asked the attendees to close their eyes more quickly.  I still took them through an initial focus exercise, yet wanted to remove the visual stimuli that results from a group setting.

With nearly 30 people in the room, there was a mix of responsiveness to the hypnotic induction.  Just as I expected, I had a handful of attendees who dropped deeply into trance, a few who bounced in and out, and a couple who achieved only a light stage of hypnosis.

After bringing the group out of hypnosis to discuss their experience, I had a few attendees ask me to fire up the wireless microphone I bring to performances.  It was needed for clarity as I soften my voice during the induction and suggestion process.

4.  Positive outcomes.  I relied primarily on my “go to” positive visualizations for self confidence and stress management.  I did introduce a new scenario that focuses on meaningful change, yet (admittedly) need to work on language and flow.  My delivery was a bit clunky.

The reaction I received from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive.  I define what a person should consider a successful initial experience with hypnosis (i.e. refreshed, relaxed, positive and interested in trying it on their own), and that seemed to be achieved.

In fact, I have a group of attendees who expressed interest in a one-on-one session.  That’s when I can tailor the process and approach to their specific outcomes.

5.  An unexpected twist.  One DC Global Adventurer member came away from this introduction to hypnosis feeling sluggish with a bit of nausea.

I have had this reaction from show participants in the past and it’s often associated with someone who experiences motion sickness.  The deepening process of the hypnotic induction is motion-based (i.e. go 20x deeper every time I suggest “sleep”).

I spent a few minutes with this participant in follow-up to the event.  I brought the person back into hypnosis, tested the level of suggestion acceptance and then shared a few visualizations to promote physical stability (i.e. lying comfortably on the ground under a tree).

The environment wasn’t ideal though, so the outcome was only moderately successful.

Nejla and I are already in discussion about co-hosting another appropriately themed event on self-hypnosis in March.  Stay tuned in to this blog post as I’ll update it as soon as the event is announced.

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UPDATE:  FEBRUARY 14

I raised the issue of the participant who felt nausea to an online community of hypnotists I am a member of called Hypnothoughts.  I thought this insight from a hypnotist named Sean Michael Andrews was particularly helpful:

Sounds to me like a "hypnotic hangover." Sometimes people will emerge with a headache or feeling of nausea or sometimes just feel "fuzzy." Re-hypnotize and emerge with suggestions of vitality and energy and all sorts of good feelings.

I used to get this in about 5% of subjects, but since I emerge with lots of health suggestions, this never happens anymore.

Teeth Grinding Stress - Can Hypnosis Help?

In the six years since I began to introduce others to the soothing, calming and healing affects of hypnosis I have come to realize we all have issues.  In our personal lives.  In our careers.  And in how we view ourselves.

Here’s a recent example.  This past week I shared the hypnotic process with a woman who works in the health and wellness industry.  She’s a fitness junkie and an active practitioner of Pilates, yoga, cardio exercise and weight training.

Her physical beauty is just part of her story.  She is personable, intelligent, focused in her career and, as a result, in a job she loves and finds fulfilling.

It’s all perfect, right?

Not quite.  Like all of us, she deals with stresses from multiple sources – some new, others long-standing.

She has a strained connection with a close family member.  She has been in difficult romantic relationships.  She works in an industry that can be unstable at times.

Soothing visualization is a part of the hypnotic process.

As I have written about on this blog, stress is negative energy our body often seeks to remove through physical outcomes.   

We could have trouble sleeping at night.  Our immune system might become compromised leaving us open to illness.  We may develop chest pains or tightness of breath.

For her, the physical outcome is grinding teeth.  It happens often and especially at night.  And, creates an unfortunate and self-perpetuating cycle of grinding…which leads to anxiety…that generates stress…which causes more grinding.

Can hypnosis help unwind the cycle?

In my approach, an introductory session walks a person through a hypnotic induction to make sure they are comfortable with the process.  I focus visualizations and suggestions on general stress relief and self confidence.

Yoga practitioners tend to be excellent hypnosis subjects because of their ability to focus.  This woman was no exception as she dropped quickly and deeply into a wonderfully relaxed state.

We didn’t address the teeth grinding, yet I had her come out of hypnosis feeling positive, confident and in control of her surroundings.  Here is what she wrote to me in an Email exchange the next day:

“It was so wonderful to meet you! I feel great…I plan to use what I learned yesterday in the yoga class I am about to take.”

After some research on Hypnothoughts (an online community of hypnotists), I sent her a couple of examples of how positive visualization has helped people overcome teeth grinding.  They’re included below. 

I’ll update the blog if we meet up again to take this issue head on.

Example 1:  My hypnotherapist had me relax my jaw muscles, then double it, and again double it, (I was drooling at this point) and gave a very direct suggestion that my jaw and mouth stay that relaxed while I sleep. I've had great results though during times of extreme stress I notice tightness. I then reintroduce the relax suggestion with self hypnosis.


Example 2:  When I married my husband I had to find a quick way to "cure" bruxism. He ground his teeth so badly every night I couldn't sleep. Every 3-4 weeks he had to get his dental appliance either repaired or replaced.

Since I was really new to hypnosis I did a very easy direct approach, "Every time your teeth touch while you are sleeping you will immediately relax your jaw and mouth muscles". Yes, I now know I didn't address the cause, but one session and 3 nights listening to his tape fixed the problem. Once every 3 to 4 years I notice a little grinding and put the tape in the player. Usually one night is enough reinforcement.

We have been married going on 17 years. The only unhappy person is the dentist who actually called to see why Herb had quit coming for fixes.

A Higher Plain of Happiness

You're driving in the car and a song comes on the radio that takes you back to your high school days.  Neglected memories instantly emerge from deep within your mind. 

Or perhaps you are walking down the street and the smell of freshly baked bread transports you to Sunday dinners growing up.  You're with your family as if time itself has stood still.

That is the power of your subconscious mind.  It has the ability to associate external stimulus (i.e. smells, tastes, sounds, etc.) with warm and pleasant memories.

When properly directed, hypnosis can serve as an effective tool to harness these wonderful feelings to effectively mitigate stress, and improve physical and emotional well-being.

This evening I visited with a woman who from an outsider's view is the definition of exceptional.  Stunning, smart, personable and professionally successful.

Yet, like many of us, she has been challenged to manage a stressful environment and address long-standing self-esteem issues.

We went through a relaxing hypnotic induction which provided a stress release.  After a couple of deepening exercises, I then walked her through two visualizations:

1)  Opening a door to a warm, glow of light to establish base feelings of confidence, comfort and strength.

2) A memory of a time in her life when she recognized and embraced her beauty, intelligence and appeal.  We then attached this feeling in her subconscious mind to a special phrase, which we then reinforced through a mantra.  (It's a process similar to the "umms" during yoga.)

After such a positive experience, I believe hypnosis will serve as a tool she can use to find a higher plain of happiness in life.

For me, it was equally rewarding.  I realize I'm not curing cancer.  Yet, helping one person truly appreciate how wonderful they are is gratifying.  

Visualize a warm glow of light to establish feelings of comfort and confidence.  Image source: cgmotionbox.com