There are skills that are used by people everyday. Skills such as, reading, writing, and social interaction are just three that are used by most people on a daily basis. Of course, there are also varying degrees of ability within these skills. As human beings we are taught some of these skills through our childhood by parents and school teachers so we can function in today’s society.

There are also skills that have not been part of our typical learning curriculum that would be of benefit to every person on this planet. The skills that I am referring to are hypnosis and meditation. I have worked with both of these skills since 1999, for myself, and have experienced the difference developing these abilities can make for someone. I became a certified hypnotist so I could help and reach out to more people.

Because hypnosis and meditation have not been considered, main stream skills, they are often over looked or thought of in a negative way. Many people have only experienced hypnosis as some sort of entertainment. They may have seen a program on TV or a show at the State Fair but that is not the therapeutic hypnosis that I am discussing here. This is a skill that is used for the well-being of others; for their benefit.  

IMPORTANCE OF RELAXATION 

Hypnosis and meditation is simply a state of relaxation and heightened awareness. Both can help people learn how to take their focus off of the external and bring it into more of an inner focus. Why is that so important? Our lives, for the most part, are extremely hectic and it is very easy to get caught up in the chaos and rhythm of the world. We are constantly bombarded with negativity, as well as, external and internal pressures. What can happen and frequently does; negative and emotional symptoms are created. A few of these symptoms can be, stress, anxiety, fear, doubts, sleeplessness, inability to function, etc. We, as humans, also have the tendency to hold on to past hurts and injustices which adds to the heaviness of life. In my interviews with clients I have learned that few people truly know how to relax, nor give themselves the opportunity to relax.

EXAMPLES AND WHAT DOCTORS ARE SAYING

If we learn to give ourselves the time to relax and reflect, we heighten our awareness of the moment. Hypnosis and meditation, both, are valuable in helping to slow down the external minutia, and allowing us to be in the present moment that we are experiencing. This can also be helpful in controlling our emotions and letting go of past baggage that we have held on to that can hinder our progress. We can learn to relax in stressful situations instead of being reactive or angry. Dr David Spiegel, professor and associate chair of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and a leading expert on the practice of hypnosis, has stated: “One of the interesting ironies about hypnosis is that old fantasy that it takes away control. It’s actually a way of enhancing people’s control, of teaching them how to control aspects of their body’s function and sensation that they thought they couldn’t.”

We have all experienced moments in our lives when our adrenaline started flowing from fear or anxiety. We may feel our hearts pumping harder and our hands become clammy; we are literally in a state of discomfort. This is exactly how one of my clients reacted when he went to his history class on test day. He was a student who cared deeply about his grades and studied very hard trying to prepare for each test. He knew the material and he could answer any question asked of him by his study partner, but when he walked into the classroom on test day, his body went into the old panic mode. This blocked the flow of knowledge that he knew he had, but he could not retrieve it. He went through a hypnosis session with me and was taught relaxing techniques to help him for future test days. He left the office relaxed and happy. He aced his next test and was very excited about his new ability to relax when he felt stress coming on. This is something he will benefit from for the rest of his life.

Life can become very over whelming at times but learning to relax, slow our mind down, and concentrate on the moment, is a skill all people can enjoy. Another way of saying this is being in a state of mindfulness. People can put themselves into this state by learning meditation and focusing on their breathing. Speaking of meditation, Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts and the author of several books on mindfulness, has commented: “You are training your mind to be less reactive and more stable.” He also conducted a study in 2007 where students practiced techniques that he had taught them for 30 minutes a day. He said that this helped students improve their sense of well-being and also helped them with mindful responses in situations that normally would induce stress.

CONCLUSION

As I have stated before: "We do not all live on top of beautiful mountains; secluded and peaceful. No, we are right in the middle of life with all that it throws at us on a daily basis." So, I believe, that learning the skills of relaxation through hypnosis and meditation can help give us the ability to move through life’s challenges and allow us to progress in a very positive way.

References:

Source Citation: “Altered States; Hypnosis can help with problems from anxiety to pain. How it works, and what it does in the brain.” Newsweek International (Oct. 4, 2004): 60. General OneFile. Gale, Apollo Library. 27 Sept. 2008

Source Citation: Kotz, Deborah. “In the Moment—Calm; Pay close attention to each feeling, and let it be. (stress management).” U.S. New & World Report 144.17 (June 16, 2008): 54. General OneFile. Gale, Apollo Library. 27 Sept. 2008