Insomnia Takes a $63B Bite Out of Work Productivity

Here is a stunner:  new research from Harvard University reveals that insomnia leads to a loss of $63.2B in productivity each year.

This is why innovative companies like Google, Goldman Sachs and Johnson & Johnson have developed programs to help employees sleep better at night.  The Washington Post published an interesting article that details these efforts, as well as some of the new sleep-aid tools available from vendors like SleepMed and Big Health.

What about hypnosis?

It’s a natural and empowering approach to reduce stress, find balance and…yes…sleep well at night.  I have written extensively about this topic on this blog and encourage you to review these articles.

Insomniac Turns to Hypnosis to Re-discover Sleep

Sleeping Well with Hypnosis

Over the Counter Sleep Aids or Hypnosis:  Which is More Effective

Hypnosis Gets National Visibility on NBC's Today Show

Today Show hosts give hypnosis a try.  (Photo Source:  NBC News)

While on spring break with my family in April 2013 I had the pleasure of checking out Richard Barker perform on the Carnival Freedom.  The Incredible Hypnotist’s show was entertaining and featured volunteer skits appropriate for a cruise ship.

Richard was in the spotlight this week thanks to a 20 minute segment on NBC's Today Show.  Here is a link to the YouTube clip of him hypnotizing the show’s hosts.

While this type of national visibility benefits Richard and will help him score a myriad of well paid gigs, his motivation for raising awareness of hypnosis seems to be sincere and genuine.  He explains in this blog post:

“I did this because I honestly want the public and our society to learn and take advantage of the benefits of hypnosis. I wanted to inform and educate and demonstrate the power of the mind to the public.”

Well played, Richard.  I share his commitment to raising the profile of hypnosis and visualization as a tool for health, wellness and exceptional living.

Check out the comments from attendees at an event I performed at last year.  Hypnosis can be fun and fulfilling, yet (more important) inspire us to achieve amazing accomplishments in our personal and professional lives. 

Community Festival Fun

Arlington County Fair features rides, games and entertainment.  (Source:  Washington Post)

My performance calendar flows in phases. 

December is about holiday parties along with a New Year’s Eve show hosted by Professionals in the City at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.  April through June finds me at high school after prom and all night graduation parties.

Late summer and fall is for community fairs and street festivals, and I have three wonderful events already on the schedule.

Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival

Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia

July 30 – August 2

I’ll be on stage for an hour long show on Saturday, August 1 at 5 PM and Sunday, August 2 at 12 PM.  This is my first appearance at this event, yet it looks to be an amazing time with rides, events and entertainment for the entire family.

Arlington County Fair

Thomas Jefferson County Center in Arlington, Virginia

August 5 – August 9

This is my second year performing at this event and it’s an absolute winner.  There are carnival rides and games, as well as sports related entertainment from the Harlem Wizards.  Perhaps most popular is the “Racing Piglets” show, which is something you will definitely want to check out.

Burke Centre Festival

Burke Centre Conservancy in Burke, Virginia

September 12 and 13

I will be part of this wonderful community event for a third year in a row this coming September.  In addition to games, rides, entertainment and presentations from locally-based organizations, Burke Centre also hosts a popular wine tasting.

Volunteers at my "Hypnotic Experience" show at the Burke Centre Festival in 2013.  Community events are all about family friendly entertainment.

Was It a Hypnotic Hat Trick for Carli Lloyd?

Carli Lloyd celebrates a goal during the World Cup.  Did hypnosis help? (Photo Source:  USA Today)

The World Cup final this past weekend was stunning – not in its outcome, but rather in the flurry of goals the USA scored against the stout Japanese defense.

Perhaps most imaginative was Carli Lloyd’s mid field strike that caught Japan’s goalie flat footed and out of position.  It was one of Lloyd’s three goals tallied in the initial 20 minutes of the first half.

What was at the heart of Lloyd’s creativity at the highest level of athletic competition?  Could it be the practice of self hypnosis?

Here is what Lloyd told journalists after the game:

During a break a few weeks before the World Cup began, Lloyd was home in New Jersey, training on her own.

“Just my headphones, myself and I,” she said.  “I just completely zoned out and dreamed of playing in a World Cup final and visualized scoring four goals.  It sounds pretty funny, but you can be physically strong, but if your mental state isn’t good enough, you can’t bring yourself to bigger and better things.”

Carli’s commitment to mental fortitude doesn’t sound funny at all.  The practice of positive visualization inspires athletes in a myriad of sports to ratchet up their performance and success.

Read more here:

Hypnosis Helped Mary Lou Retton Vault to Olympic Gold

How the Lady Terps Achieve Zen

Hypnosis for Athletic Success, Capitals Style

Peterson's is a Jewel in Magical Clifton, Virginia

Peterson's Ice Cream Depot is part of the foundation of the Clifton community.

A visit to Clifton, Virginia is a wonderfully magical journey to a time when neighbors were more like family and life was simply sweeter.  It’s hard to process the fact this quiet community is a mere 45 minutes outside of the nation’s capital.

The center of community and social activity in Clifton is arguably Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot, which occupies a prominent corner in the heart of the town’s small, yet thriving business district. 

 

Families arrive for cones.  Teens and tweens gather to gossip.  Young couples share fries and a soda.  It all happens at Peterson’s.

Family owned and operated by two generations of school educators, Peterson’s is the definition of social entrepreneurship.  Yes…it’s a for-profit venture.   

Yet, Peterson’s goes above and beyond to raise funds to support charitable organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Wounded Warriors Foundation.

It’s for this reason it is a privilege to entertain Peterson’s customers on Friday evenings in the summer through my Hypnotic Experience show.  Rather than a traditional comedy stage act, I take volunteers through a simple hypnotic induction and introduce suggestions to instill feelings of confidence and well-being.

Hypnosis volunteer at Peterson's.

This is consistent with the approach I employ at community festivals and high school events:  de-mystify hypnosis and educate about how its practice can help a person achieve health, wellness and exceptional living.

Of course, Hypnotic Experience is a show, so I strive to make participation as a volunteer or audience member fun and memorable.

My next appearance at Peterson’s is this coming Friday, July 3.  I encourage you to make the drive to Clifton, enjoy dinner at one of its local restaurants and then swing by Peterson’s for dessert.  The ice cream (and entertainment) is fabulous.

Hypnotic Experience set-up on the back deck at Peterson's Ice Cream Depot.  Friday evenings are perfect for a tasty treat and fun entertainment.