Relaxation

New year resolutions and the power of positivity

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Now that we have entered a new year in the light of the difficulties, we have all experienced over the course of the last year, so much hope is being placed on the importance of our health, personal relationships and mental health. This of course is the time we often re-evaluate our lives and challenge ourselves to be different and take a different course in the new year to the one that went before. It is an opportunity to wipe the slate lean and start again.

We draft our list, sometimes it’s a long list of hopes, and sometimes we come up with just one wish, be it giving up alcohol, start a fitness regime, making time to see more friends. At the core of all these new resolutions that we draft up, is the inner wish to want to make things different and better for ourselves. But for so many these resolutions last a few days, weeks if we are lucky. The trouble is we intellectually want the change, but often we don’t have the true desire to see it through.  This is the point where thinking in a positive way can make a world of difference to our success or failure in our pursuit of change.

If we look at why positive thinking is so important to everything we do, first we must understand the mind body connection.  If I were to describe to you a vivid description, while your eyes are closed, of holding a lemon, and getting you to imagine I that you were cutting up the lemon and putting a fresh slice into your mouth, and squeeze some lemon juice onto your tongue. I would be surprised if you didn’t find that your mouth would start to water even though the reality is that there is no lemon in sight. This because the primitive mind doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality. What you tell your mind it starts to believe, and it has the ability and to trigger the chemical reactions it needs to ensure it is prepared to taste the sour lemon. The same is true for stress, or negative thinking. If we tell ourselves constantly things will go wrong or if we give our mind a reason for something to go wrong, the mind will look for ways to ensure that it will.

So, how does this relate to our resolutions? It’s quite simple, we need to not only tell our minds what we want, but we need to be positive that we will succeed.  if we tell our mind we are committed to the change we want to see, and really imagine this deeply with as much detail as possible, we can build and grow the desire to see out this change. The more we re-enforce what we want and infuse it with positivity we tell the part of our mind that runs the old negative patterns that hold us back that our new path is our what we truly desire. We literally grow new cells in our brain that wire a new pattern. The more we stick with the pattern with desire determination and positivity, the more likely the change will stick for the long term.

As a hypnotherapist, my role is to support the conscious will of the intellectual mind to convince the subconscious mind that any change is worth making. Trance simply stops opens up the barrier that prevents an alliance between the two and facilitates a strengthening of will to take the direction that the intellectual mind wants, reprogramming negative beliefs that are held at a subconscious level and creating new positive beliefs that represents the solutions you want to see.

Whether you have stuck with your resolutions, or you are needing help, I hope positivity can be the key to your overall success.

Best Wishes.

Craig

Common Hypnotherapy Myths Debunked – Top Five

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Hypnosis Myth One – Not everyone can be hypnotised.

This is one of the biggest myths levelled at hypnosis. This is in fact not true. Everyone goes into trance often many times a day, when they are reading, watching TV or simply deeply engaged in an activity.

The Key here is that Hypnosis requires  a level of cooperation between the individual to be hypnotised and the hypnotherapist.  A good hypnotherapist will ask appropriate questions to find out about the person they are looking to treat, to assess how they can best be helped by the process. The information and rapport developed between therapist and the client builds the trust needed for someone to go into trance successfully. If this is not established then a resistance can develop and someone can quite easily refuse to go into trance. Ultimately all hypnosis is self hypnosis, so if a client is ready to make a change in their life then there is a much greater chance that a change can be made.

Hypnosis Myth Two – You Are MADE To Go Into Trance By Someone Else

Again this is untrue. All hypnosis is self hypnosis, and it is not possible for someone to go into hypnosis and do something that they don’t want to do.

We all hypnotise ourselves everyday by convincing ourselves of things that, in reality, might not be true. An example of this would be to imagine a trip to the dentist, where a needle might be used. We imagine the pain to be terrible, far worse than the reality,  and the outcome is that it hurts in a terrible way because we have self hypnotised ourselves into believing this is true.

Hypnosis is a partnership based on trust, and a good hypnotherapist guides you into a state where your subconscious is better able to listen to the changes you want. Think of it as more of a partnership between you and your hypnotherapist.

In my sessions I will always ask my clients how committed they are to see change happening. If on a scale of 1 to 10, the want is high I will agree to work with the client, if not I wouldn’t want a client to waste their time effort and money. For example if someone doesn’t really want to give up smoking, it doesn’t matter how much hypnotherapy they have, the suggestions under hypnosis simply wont work in the long run. Hypnotherapy, when used well, works to assist and strengthen an individuals willingness to see change. If a desired change is what you want, it’s a powerful tool to aid the mind to bring it about.

Hypnosis Myth Three – You are not in control when you go into Trance

A fear that some people have regarding hypnosis, is that they will lose control and someone else will have control of their mind. This is often the image that is presented by stage hypnotherapists. This can cause people to be afraid of the natural process and not ask for the help they really need.

In reality you remain in control at all times,  and can come out of hypnosis at anytime you choose.

Many individuals who consider themselves to be ‘control freaks’ often make the best hypnotic subjects because they are often very self-aware and can give more detail into their problem which the hypnotherapist can use for maximum effect. That greater level of concentration can be an asset to them when they want to bring about the change they are looking for.

Hypnosis Myth Four – Hypnosis can be bad for your health

Again this couldn’t be further from the truth! It is quite the opposite. I would suggest that all medical practitioners would agree on the health benefits of deep relaxation. One of the great benefits of Hypnotherapy is that it brings about a deep relaxation. By allowing our mind to enter a deep relaxing state we can bring about a homeostatic balance – a balance within the system, of mind, body and soul bringing a calm to ourselves both emotionally and physically. We in the west have a medical system where we are told the importance and need to relax, but often not the ways in which to best achieve it.  Hypnosis can never be bad for your health, in fact we go into trance to some degree when we exercise, read a book, or watch television or simply day dream. Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state, so if you want to feel a balance within yourself, it is the best state to be in. Hypnotherapy is a great way to guarantee that deep mental and physical relaxation, we all need, to recover, centre and balance ourselves.


Hypnosis Myth Five – All Hypnosis Is The Same

There is a huge variety in the different styles and techniques that come under the banner of hypnosis. You could see two different hypnotherapists for the same issue and they may take completely different approaches to your issue.

The two main approaches when using hypnosis are ‘authoritarian’ and ‘permissive’. Authoritarian techniques are direct and instructive and often not that great for most people as the direct nature of the suggestions can Jar the mind, making them resistant to the change they want. It can feel as if you are being shouted at and being told what to do. This can lead to clients who rebel against what they are being told to do, even if it is what they said they wanted to do!

Permissive hypnosis is more subtle and tends to work better with most people in most circumstances (in my experience!). This style of hypnosis tends to look for agreement with the client so they feel they are in control and don’t feel that they are being threatened or ordered by the suggestion, but simply part of the process of change that they have sought out for themselves. This is the style of hypnosis I use with clients and always seek to agree the solutions for which they want to adopt going forward in their lives.

Welcome to Illuminating Minds

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What is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy ?

This form of Psychotherapy is designed to reduce anxiety and Stress related symptoms. It is called Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and as the name may imply during our sessions we focus on the solutions for future, rather than dwelling on and analysing the past. It is structured to empower people to change the way they think, and as long as a person is committed to this change and follows the process it can be highly effective in relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety.

By focusing on the solutions and not dwelling on the past problems we instead ;

  • See where you are currently.
  • Highlight and illuminate where you want to be going forward.
  • Empower you with the tools to make the changes required.

When it comes to the mind we say ‘Use it or lose it’. We are looking to lose the ruminating on painful memories part and rewire and fire the brain with positive actions that can only move us forward.

Famous quote

“You can’t effect the cards you are dealt, but you can determine how you play them “ Milton Erikson

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses practical, modern, well-researched strategies to help people make significant and beneficial changes in their lives.

It is an extremely effective treatment for Fears, Phobias, Giving up Smoking, Anxiety, Weight Loss, Depression, IBS, Sports Performance and many more.