Seattle Area Clinical Neuro-Linguistic Hypnotherapist & Licensed Trainer of NLP ™ shares the truth about hypnosis, NLP and the unconscious mind to create powerful, positive, and lasting life changes. Mindworks Hypnosis & NLP
Are you tired of hearing about the same old methods for achieving health and wellness? Well, today we’re diving into the realm of hypnosis and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) to supercharge your wellness journey!
You’ve probably seen those funny videos of hypnotists turning people into pillows or making them believe they’re in a zombie apocalypse. But hypnosis is so much more than entertainment! It is a powerful tool to help you break free from bad habits, boost your self-confidence, and even reduce stress! 😉 Wouldn’t you like to have a new zest for life like the pup above?
But wait, there’s more! We can’t talk about hypnosis without mentioning its best friend forever, NLP. Think of NLP as Tonto to hypnosis’ Lone Ranger – they’re a great duo that work together to create lasting change! NLP is all about reprogramming your mind by understanding how you communicate with yourself and others. It’s like learning the operational codes to your brain… and voilà! You’re ready to tackle life’s challenges with a newfound sense of control.
Here are some ways hypnosis and NLP can help you live your best life:
Kick those pesky habits to the curb! 🚬🚫 Whether you’re battling a sugar addiction or trying to quit smoking, hypnosis and NLP can help you outsmart your cravings.
Stress, begone! 🧘♀️ Is your life busier than a Kardashian’s social calendar? Hypnosis and NLP can help you manage stress like a pro.
Boost your self-confidence! 🚀 Do you ever wish you had the confidence of Beyoncé strutting down the runway? Well, with hypnosis and NLP, you can become your own “Queen B”! You can tackle life’s challenges with newfound confidence.
Improve your relationships! 💕 Hypnosis and NLP can help you communicate more effectively and deepen your connections with others. It’s like having your very own Love Guru to guide you to relationship bliss!
So, are you ready to add some power to your wellness routine? Give hypnosis and NLP a go! Remember, wellness isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. It’s all about finding what works for you – and sometimes that means exploring the amazing world of hypnosis and NLP. Now, go forth and harness the power within!
Another one of my happy NLP and hypnotherapy client reports:
“Hi Connie, Just wanted to thank you again for your wonderful help. I’ve lost 40# in 4 months, and I feel confident that I’m going to lose at least 40 more. It’s truly remarkable what a few easy sessions with you have done for my life. As a health care worker, I’ve always known healthy diet and exercise were key to losing weight, but I never seemed motivated to seriously make those long term lifestyle changes. I grew so obese that I even considered surgery. But the risks scared me, so I decided to try calling you instead.
Even after one session, everything changed. I found myself craving healthy foods, appropriate portions, and daily exercise. My sweet tooth and chip obsession disappeared overnight. My self esteem skyrocketed . I finally knew I could conquer my lifelong struggle with my weight. It’s been months since I’ve seen you and yet I’m still right on track with my goals.
Hypnosis is easy and it truly works. You’ve changed my life. Thank you!” –E, Seattle, WA.
Call us at 425-564-8608 and set up your own success story.
Coronavirus is ramping up. Wouldn’t you like to take control and amp up your own immune system and make it stronger? You can. With hypnosis.
How? We can give unconscious communications to the systems of the body directly via NLP Neuro-Linguistic Programming and hypnosis. We can give positive suggestions of health and wellness, resilience, and a mindset of optimism. The right mindset can help reduce stress in the body, and boost the immune system, increasing resistance to viruses, flu, and colds. We also help with pain management and accelerated healing of the body.
Ultimately, health and healing comes from within. Medical professionals and their prescribed drugs do what they are able to help, however, one piece of this puzzle called wellness is within the body itself and its own natural functioning.
Is anxiety a thing in your life? It doesn’t have to be.
Hi, Hypnosis Friends!
Anxiety is so unnecessary. It’s not a given, it’s not a law of nature, it’s not something everybody shares–it’s something learned. And it can be UNlearned. That’s what we do at Mindworks Hypnosis & NLP. Turn off stress, anxiety, and all the problems which flow from that–panic attacks, sleeplessness, stress eating, biting fingernails, abusing alcohol, and so on. The responses to stress are individualized and learned as well. Again, habits and patterns of behavior can be UNlearned. And something new and useful put in its place.
Here is the story of Lisa, in video form. She was suffering stress and anxiety, and it was affecting food and body weight. She came to Mindworks Hypnosis and NLP for help. And she found it! Here’s her report after Neuro-Linguistic Hypnotherapy:
“Hi Connie! I want to let u know I am doing simply fantastic!!!! No stress, no anxiety. I still have 7 pounds or so to go but I’m already down 7 pounds!!! I went to my chiropractor today and he hasn’t seen me in like 3 weeks and he could not believe how calm I was! I said you are a miracle person. He asked me for your info so I gave it to him. He is a really nice guy and he wants to see you for weight loss. Hope he contacts you!!! Thank you thank you thank you! You have changed my life !!!! 😘😘😘” — Lisa, Seattle, WA.
Lisa is happy with the results. We’re sharing her happy. She’s ended anxiety. Her words: “No anxiety, no stress.” She’s lost 7 pounds so far (it’s easy when you remove stress eating). Others are noticing the changes in her, as well. She’s in the mindset of success. You can be, too. Learn more, we offer free in office consultations.
We’ve trademarked our proprietary service to remove stress: it’s called “Designer Feelings.” No one else does what we do at Mindworks. Other hypnotists simply don’t come anywhere near to our skill set. Hypnotherapy should be as individual as you are and we craft and customize everything for your goals. How would you rather feel? How would you rather live?
Would you like a side of pure positive energy, healing energy, with your hypnosis? We can do that! At Mindworks Hypnosis & NLP we have a variety of tools for a variety of clients and life goals. Reiki is one of those tools we offer. Hypnosis and reiki– like chocolate and peanut butter, two great things that go great together!
I like authentic people. People who are true to themselves, and live life honestly. Lies have a way of becoming found out. People who are phony bull-oney, well, that comes out as well. As they say: “action talks and bull**** walks.”
There are some so-called expert weight loss therapists in our Seattle area who pretend they understand healthy lifestyles and how to manage weight. So, maybe they understand, or, maybe not. But have they lived these challenges, and won? Are they DOING it for themselves? Living it? Being authentic?
I choose authentic! I am! I’m living long term weight loss success. Power and control of habits. Choice in action. It’s now ten years at a healthier weight through self hypnosis and my own NLP work on self development. These are the same tools I use and mindset I help clients achieve at Mindworks Hypnosis & NLP. Hypnosis is a hugely successful tool for weight loss. Check out the pictures of me, below
Unfortunately, hypnotists in Washington State are not required to have any specific credentialling or training. Truth! It’s a buyer beware world! Some hypnotists are clueless and ineffective. It’s not wholly their fault, they may have had weak and uninspired training. Those bad schools are out there. Or, no training at all.
If weight loss is your goal, find someone who knows what the heck they’re doing. Not craziness or fad diets, or traditional talk therapies to figure out WHY you’re stressed and overeat. That’s not relevant. We just stop that behavior, and develop new healthy behaviors. Not skinny ninny hypnotists who have never experienced what this is all about. Not unskilled obese hypnotists who can’t solve their own problems. Find someone who is proven successful, who can guide you to success as well with a toolkit that works.
Did you see the New Year’s fireworks celebration at the Seattle Space Needle? I did! It’s officially here, happy 2015!
“It’s time!”
Those are action activating words for me, and I hope for you as well. It’s time.
It’s the first week of January. Time for assessing the new year ahead and taking stock of healthy goals. It’s time to lose that extra weight you’ve been carrying around. It’s time to stop buying and smoking those ridiculously expensive and unhealthy cigarettes.
It’s time to dump the fear that’s been holding you back from truly experiencing and enjoying life and connecting with others: fear of public speaking, fear of flying, fear of rejection…(you fill in the blank). Fear is often unnecessary, and we can communicate that fact to the mind, on unconscious levels, and choose something different.
People tend to work those New Year’s Resolutions for a a day or two, a week or two, then give up. You don’t have to go it alone when there is skilled help available.
I love what I do. I help activate people’s desires and make them real. My work (hypnosis and NLP Neuro-Linguistic Programming® ) is a joy-maker and a success-maker. This time of year, people are very in touch with those desires–we call them New Year’s Resolutions. Let’s make them real. Call me and I’ll set up a free in person consultation in my office in Bellevue to explain the work I do and how your dreams CAN become reality. (425) 564-8608.
Neuro-Linguistic Hypnotherapy is more powerful than “traditional” hypnotherapy alone. NLP is a conversational hypnosis that speaks directly to the mind beyond conscious thought, using the currency of life experience: sights, sounds, smells, taste, emotion, and it’s an amazing success accelerant. NLP is my prime work tool, as I am and Michael is also, a Licensed Trainer of NLP ® through the originator of NLP. There are only a few dozen of us at that skill & certification level working and teaching NLP in the United States.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Time is moving. And life is happening. If you want yours to be different in positive ways that you have resolved, the time is now.
Room for one more, honey! (Line from a Twilight Zone episode I particularly enjoy!) 🙂
Hi, Hypno-Friends!
I’m teaching another course at Bellevue College. This one is “Building Confidence and Self Esteem Through Self Hypnosis.” It’s 2 nights, tonight (Feb 15) and also Feb 22. Six hours total. In those magical 6 hours, I’ll be presenting an experiential hypnotic extravaganza of learning.
I hypnotize the group en masse, and set a trigger for the students to return to “instant trance” anytime they like. With this tool, we can focus our own minds on positive changes–and the unconscious mind is the part of your brain that makes things happen. It’s the seat of our emotions and behaviors.
In the class, we practice hypnosis. We learn the truth about hypnosis. We learn how to craft what’s known as a “well-formed goal.” (You have to know what you want in order to get it!)
It’s fun. It’s hypnotic. It’s inexpensive. This class through Bellevue College is only $89. What a deal! If you want in, there’s still room as of this writing:
Hypnosis. It’s everywhere you want to be. Including Bellevue College tonight. Join me if you can, you must sign up through BC. I know you’ll be glad you did!
Hi, Hypno-Friends. Take a look at Nicole and her transformation in process. Isn’t she beautiful?? And read what she has to say about her experience with Mindworks Hypnosis and NLP to help her attain her goals. In short, hypnosis works!
Caveat, when shopping for your life change, you need to find a skilled hypnotist, one who has some creativity and inspiration, as well as creative “power tools” like Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Hypnosis is not only a science, it is an art. My mother was an artist. And so am I. 🙂 Judge some of my work for yourself.
Here’s what Nicole says about her tranformation:
“I’ve worked with Connie on a couple different occasions, and she has changed my life completely. I went to her for my lack of energy and enthusiasm for working out and losing weight. I’ve lost 50lbs and am now 10lbs from my goal!
“I love hypnosis…I feel a foot taller. I feel thinner. I feel lighter. I feel like a superstar!…Go see Connie! She’s magical!”
If you would like to begin some similar life changes for yourself, that beginning is as near as your telephone. Call me. Connie (425) 564-8608. Also, more information on my weight loss services is available here:
I hope you’re having some happy holidays, and more to come! Wishing you and yours a fun and glorious 2011. Resolve to enjoy life more and more every day. I’m about to share with you all a simple technique that is the backbone and my favorite “magic” of NLP–something which drives home like a jackhammer the idea that you control your own life, mind and body. Specifically, I’m going to share with you a touch of calm, for the holidays!
NLP is Neuro-Linguistic Programming ™, a term coined by my teacher, Dr. Richard Bandler.It’s a way of understanding the world and how we create reality.And can change it.It’s about enhancing communication, inside ourselves and with others.For more info on what it is and the myriad of powerful and wonderful uses of NLP, you can check out my primary NLP website:http://www.seattlenlptraining.com.
How would you like to communicate to your own mind:“It’s time to relax!”And have it actually happen in your body in an instant?(Your wish is my command!)Wouldn’t that be especially useful this time of year, with all the turbulence of wild weather, traffic, ice, work demands, family and extended family, parties, gift shopping, holidays, STRESS?
Here it is!It’s called an “anchor” in NLP parlance.It’s a stimulus-response mechanism, which we can capture and activate at will.With intention.So many times we are stimulated to a response (one we don’t particularly want or enjoy) by living and events.Examples:Your significant other starts using THAT critical tone of voice, and your body temperature rises.You see a chocolate bar and the cravings kick in.You smell popcorn, and you know you NEED a bucket.How nice to create a stimulus-response in ourselves that we like.And use it for…A Touch of Calm.Apply as needed.
Here’s a technique for you.
Begin to remember a time in your life when you felt calm.I mean REALLY calm.Relaxed, with clarity of mind.In that precise moment of time, nothing could ruffle your feathers.Pick a memory from anywhere and anytime in your life, in any context, from childhood, to adulthood. In the hot tub, snuggled in bed, on the beach in Hawaii, in hypnotic trance, jogging, it doesn’t matter.Let your mind remember CALM.Now, put yourself inside that memory, that experience. Be there now!
Experience it. What’s going on?How do you feel? What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? Involve all your senses, fully and completely. Let calm grow in you. Feel calm moving in your body. Flow it, grow it.Stronger.When calm is just about at its peak, and you’re feeling really good, touch the tips of your thumb and ring finger of your left hand together and hold for one second.Let go.Think about something else for a moment or two, some neutral thing, and then imagine yourself again inside the calm memory.Feel it.Breathe it.Once again, flow calm through every nerve and fiber of your body.When you feel good and calm, touch the thumb and fingertip again.Hold for a second, and let go.This unique touch is now associated (anchored) with calm.This touch will elicit calm!In your body.Forever.Just that fast, you’ve trained your mind/body to do that!How cool is that?This is why Michael and I call NLP “The Magic of Instant Change.”
Now, whenever you want a dose of calm to flood your body, touch that same thumb and finger together and hold it (for a minute or so) in the way you’ve just anchored, and feel calm return. Automatically!Feeling stressed by Aunt Sue’s conversation at the party?Touch and hold.🙂Stuck in mall traffic and beginning to grit your teeth?Touch and hold.Standing in an endless line at the supermarket and feeling irritated?Touch and hold.Joe at work pushing your buttons?Push your own.You now are armed with “a touch of calm” for the holidays.And any time.Enjoy!
Warm Regards,
Connie
Connie Brannan, Master Hypnotist
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Enjoy this short video. It is VERY cute! Here’s someone demonstrating confidence and positive self-talk and focusing on what’s good in her life (“what I like”). What a terrific way to feel good and do good. “I can do anything good! Better than anyone.” 🙂
My niece is on Facebook. So am I. I noticed her post today: “I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.” I gave my Auntie Hypnotist unsolicited advice. STOP IT! Stop telling yourself TO be sick. And that’s exactly what she is doing. I told her: “Hypno Hint: stop telling yourself that you’re sick and tired. Your brain hears you focusing on that (sick and tired) and says, “OK, I can do that!” It thinks that’s what you want, and your unconscious mind is VERY accommodating. How would you rather feel? Healthy? Energetic? Focus on that.”
It’s called “organ language.” When you give your body instructions as to how to feel, your unconscious mind is listening attentively. And does what you suggest. Creates what you want. Or, what it thinks you want. Your unconscious mind is super literal. What you focus on expands, or, expressed differently, you get what you think about.
“That makes me sick!” You’re focusing on sick. You’re telling yourself to get sick. Direct language: “make me sick.” Don’t do that!! “He gives me a pain in the neck, he’s a pain in the behind.” You are telling yourself to have pain. Don’t do that!! “She makes me so mad I can’t see straight.” You’re telling yourself to have vision problems. “He makes my blood boil.” You’re asking for high blood pressure. Your mind/body can do that. And will! When you focus on illness “I’m sick and tired” your mind/body says, well, OK, if that’s what you want…I’ll get it for you! Apparently, my niece is a very persuasive hypnotist inside herself. It’s just time to change the hypnotic suggestion.
Hypno tip of the day: Focus on the flip side of illness and physical distress in your language to self. My first hypnosis teacher joked about upsetting situations: “Well, that just UPS my metabolism.” Could be useful! 🙂 What do you want? Focus on healthy. DO NOT tell yourself “it’s cold and flu season.” That’s a suggestion to get ill. “It’s healthy time! I feel so good. I always stay healthy. That’s right!” Listen to yourself and notice if/when you give yourself negative suggestions of pain and discomfort and illness which instructs your body to focus on and manifest more of that. And then stop it, and think of what you’d rather feel. Something good, I mean!
It couldn’t hurt. Just do it!
Warm Regards,
Connie (who has only had one cold in 5 years)
I had a crazy dream last night. My husband, Michael, and I were sitting in a restaurant, going out for dinner. There was a party of several people at a table next to us, engaged in a project, making quite a bit of noise. So we watched.
It was a project of intense thought and concentrated effort. The waitress was waiting to take their order. Instead of ordering, they had a large whiteboard standing on a frame and a person standing beside it writing on it. She was making a list, and checking it more than twice. The items on the list? What each person didn’t want for dinner that night. They would shout it out, randomly, as it occurred to them, and it got added to the communal list. The whiteboard person would write it all down. One girl shouted: “And I don’t want YAMS!” “yams” would appear on the board. The list was getting quite long. “I don’t want scrambled eggs with peanut butter on top.”
It occurred to me (in my dream) that this project was quite stupid. You walk into a restaurant. Rather than order what you do want from the menu, you’re creating your own menu, of what you DON’T want. How useful is that, if your goal is to eat something for dinner right now? I think the waitress wandered away, probably bored.
Crazy, right? Never happen in a million years, right? But this is precisely how so many people’s minds operate in the wide awake, day-to-day, “real world.” They focus on what they don’t want. That’s not going to move you forward. A shift of focus is called for, a shift to the postive. What DO you want? How would you rather feel? What would you rather do?
I had a client come in last night with a plethora of fears. A litany of fears. Being alone, the dark, airplanes, and more, creating panic attacks. I asked her how she would rather feel. She couldn’t answer that, she was so mired in what she currently feels and doesn’t want. Calm is not on the menu. Only fear. We’ve got to put calm and safe and happy on the menu. Then she can order it, and enjoy it!
What hypnosis does is focus your mind on positive change, and a desired outcome, in a way which stirs the magic of the universe (how’s that for technical jargon?) to actually creating that positive change. It IS magic. But you’ve got to know what you DO want in order to get there. I’ll help you make those shifts.
I like words. I like learning them, hearing them, using them. Words are “my thing” (which is terrific for a hypnotist). And they always have been my thing. Soon, I’ll be “honing.” My skills in hypnosis & NLP. My tools, my abililty to HELP. My FUN. Honing. Sharpening. Making better. I also like dictionary.com. 🙂 “To make more acute, intense or effective; improve; perfect: to hone one’s skills.” Absolutely! 🙂 It also means “To move or advance toward a target or goal.” Hone in.
I’m doing both!
Because here’s what I’m honing towards, here’s what I want. To be the absolute best changeworker and hypnotist/hypnotherapist possible. I already am the best in the Pacific Northwest, but the world’s a big place. I want to be one of the absolute best in the universe. So, I’m continuing my education, and studying with and learning from the best of the best. Modeling genius. It’s time intensive, it’s money intensive, it takes committment. But I’m doing it! Michael and I both!
We’re off for a couple weeks of more hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming trainings. In Orlando, Florida, with the co-originator of NLP, and in my opinion, the best hypnotist living, Dr. Richard Bandler. We go where the geniuses perform/teach and it’s not always nearby. We’re doing it! It’s my joy, my passion, as well as my comittment to honing! It’s also my birthday present to myself! (I’m a July baby!)
A committment to excellence. That’s a good thing! 🙂 I’m on Facebook (you can be my friend), and recently noticed an example of a differing attitude. A fellow hypnotist and NLP-er posted on one of my teachers’ pages whining (or so it appeared to me) that her training certification, the actual certificate she earned from him had an expiration date on it. Why, she asked. The answer is simple. Hypnosis and NLP is not something you learn once, and wham, done. I guess some people do approach a profession this way. “I know how to cut that piece of brick. I’m done.” Not me. No way, Jose. That certificate is only the beginning.
For me, learning is a never-ending unfolding process, and I’m ALWAYS desirous of improving my skills. One can ALWAYS be better. Sharper. More inspired. In the realm of the mind, there’s no hard and fast, “this is it.” There are more things to LEARN! When you bring in native intelligence and a passion for and committment to what you’re doing, and add the continued exposure to excellence, the continued honing (of something absolutely worth honing), you get someone who knows what they’re doing.
I know what I’m doing. And that means I can help you better, faster, more efficiently, more creatively than other people can. If you really want change, I certainly think you should seek out the best for that. Aren’t you worth it? Another wonderful mentor/teacher of mine said to me once: “It ain’t bragging, if it’s true.” I’m not bragging. I am extremely talented at this work, this art, and getting better all the time.
I hope to post here from Orlando and the trainings! Michael and I send warm (upper 90’s) greetings!
This brief, and I mean BRIEF video gives you an overview of everything you need to know if you’d like to come on over to Bellevue and learn something life changing. That, plus this sign up link, of course! :
I’m offering a “taster course” in the power of your mind. 2 evenings, for 3 hours each. To learn self hypnosis from me, to experience hypnosis, to learn how to craft well-formed outcomes, to empower you to change your mind and change your life. The focus of this course is Confidence, but these tools can truly be used for so many things, habit change, weight management, stress release, and more!
I found this pillow at Ross, and you know, I HAD to have it! It’s got that spiral design I like, which you may have noticed on my website as well. It’s an “old-time hypnosis” symbol. To me, it’s fun. I call it: Hypno-wheel.
So, this is the Hypno-wheel Pillow, sitting on the Trance Chair, my leather recliner, in my office in Bellevue. It’s waiting for you! You don’t actually sit ON the pillow, I move it when we get down to business, it’s really for “ambiance!” 🙂 The symbol also means “infinity.”
And that makes great sense to me…as hypnosis is an ancient art. In the time of the Egytians, they had healing “sleep temples” where hypnosis was practiced. Hypnosis and healing, that connection has long been known. Hypnosis has been written about by well-known psychologists of the 1800’s, including William James. In India in the 19th century, hypnosis was used on the battlefield to help with necessary amputations–without anesthesia, without pain.
Hypnosis is not new. But, there’s a growing awareness and acceptance in the world for hypnosis as a mainstream healing art and science, which I find wonderful. Holly-weird has done it’s best to create fear and a negative mystique surrounding hypnosis, but the truth has a way of coming out. And the truth about hypnosis is wonderful. What it can do for a person, and the pleasant nature of the experience itself.
Here are some actual quotations from my clients upon emerging from trance and commenting on the experience: “That was delightful.” (Gene, Mercer Island) “Wow!!” (Monica, Bellevue, and dozens and dozens of others–this is the most common response) “Better than sex.” (Andy, Seattle) “I loved it!” (Michael, Bellevue) “That was amazing!” (Jennifer, Kirkland)… Some people are speechless, but the grateful smiles on their faces speak volumes.
When you’re in trance, in hypnosis, you are connecting to the best part of yourself. That part of you that wants success and fulfillment and thriving and good feelings! The part of you that can make those things reality.
So, what does trance feel like? In general, and for me personally, a sense of well-being permeates trance, and stress packs its bags. People do experience it differently. To some, it’s very very similar to their natural waking state. To some, it’s “otherworldly” and beyond words. Some people find their limbs turning so heavy, heavy relaxed, so comfortable that they don’t want to move. Some people feel light and floating, as though disconnected to their physical bodies. Some people feel warmth and tinglings. Some people get cold. (I also offer “the dream blanket” during trancework.) It has also been likened to those transitional moments before sleep.
We experience trance every day of our lives, doing everyday, just-living-our-lives things. Reading a book, playing on the computer, driving a car, daydreaming, watching television. It’s nothing “woo-woo,” and it’s nothing bizarre. It’s just us, activating our minds in a specific, natural way. What’s cool, what’s magical, is how we can use this “hypnosis state of mind” to create change in ourselves and in our lives. When you apply hypnosis, for a desired outcome, guided by a professional, that’s what is called hypnotherapy. That’s what I do.
So, if you’re still wondering: “What does trance feel like? And what can it do for me?” I’d like to show you.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about fear. And how unneccessary it is. To feel it. I had a spider phobia for a LONG time, long long long time. Decades. (I don’t really want to advertise how old I am, but I know precisely when and where I learned to be afraid of spiders–I was grade school age, probably around 7, at the bus stop on Mercer Island, off of 72nd street–while talking to a girl named Paige.) It was a one-shot learning. And, as I discovered a few years ago, it can be unlearned just as quickly.
I was telling a story to Paige. Not a nice story. It was about spiders. I was trying to scare HER. With words. And somehow, I scared myself so thoroughly and horrifically, that it STUCK. I suppose that’s justice! I was terrified of spiders for more than 30 years. Seeing a spider would set me OFF–body recoiling, heart pounding, adrenalin pumping, an involuntary gasp or scream or two, and so on. But not only that–I lived “on alert” for spiders. Anytime I would enter a room, any room, but primarily bathrooms, I’d scan, the floor, the walls, the crevices, looking for danger. Looking for spiders. Any spider, regardless of size, would set off the same phobic response in me, even microscopic spiders. If I’d see a speck or dot across the room on the wall, I’d have to wonder and worry: “Is that a spider?”
I had what my hubby came to call “bug radar.” If a spider was anywhere near, I’d know it. And, freak out!
To lessen the tension of this horrific story about how I was tortured for decades with fear–let me tell a more pleasant spider anecdote! When I first started dating my future hubby, I had an apartment. He had an apartment. Neither of us had cars. One night, I was getting ready for bed, and found–horrors!!–a spider in my bathtub. What to do? I could not, no way, no how, just go to bed knowing a spider was around. Nor could I touch it, or go near it. I was distraught. I called Michael. That sweet man took a city bus across town (probably more than 1 bus) to come save me that night. When he did that, I knew it was LOVE! Then and there I decided to keep him, forever, and I am. 29 years and counting!! 🙂
So, anyway, everyone knew about my spider “thing” and some people laughed at me about it. Like my mother. We went camping and a spider was crawling up her leg at one point in one of those open-air-bathrooms in the woods. She laughed, thinking how I would scream. Yes, I would have. I didn’t see or know any way out of this FEAR. Yes, I knew it was unreasonable, spiders are tiny, I wasn’t, and yes, I could stomp the living daylights out of them, but that did not lessen the FEAR. The panic response in my body. The conscious mind wasn’t in charge of this thing.
Seal of the Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming TM (your seal of the best).
Until 4 years ago. I learned NLP. And NLP can crush the daylights out of fear. Quicker than you can imagine. See, when you learn something, you’ve got a pattern running in you. Mine was spider: shriek! spider: recoil! spider: fear! All three of those things together. Well, NLP broke the pattern. In about 15 minutes, conversationally, I learned something new, a new pattern. A pattern called: spider: feel calm! spider: feel neutral! spider: feel clear-minded! And that new pattern has been running for 4 years in me. I’m not afraid anymore.
Of course, I was super skeptical—how could something that’s been such a terror to me just vanish? Well, it did, and how I KNEW, how I came to believe was the next time I came face to face with a spider. Nothing. No reaction in my body. I felt so amazingly free. Calm gives me the clarity to see if the spider is actually a threat or not. Some spiders ARE dangerous. It’s miraculous, actually. That’s what NLP is and does: miracles on demand.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming ™. Neuro meaning the neurology in your body, how you feel and function. Linguistic meaning communications, spoken, unspoken, language, etc. Programming to me means change. Changing how you feel in your body via communication. My spider fear was changed to my spider calm. Neutral. An absense of any negative feelings. How wonderful.
NLP is miraculous on phobias. Every kind. It’s all just unconscious associations, stimulus response patterns which get learned/installed. I can help you learn something better, and more resourceful. Because I’ve learned NLP.
I’ve worked with a wide variety of fears and anxieties with my clients, from claustrophobia, to fear of flying, to fear of public speaking, to fear of records stores, to fear of deep water, to fear of the wind, fear of heights, fear of spiders, and so on… with GREAT success. NLP works! Hypnosis works. Together, they really, really work.
I declare 2010 the “free from fear” year. I want to help people release fear. Sometimes fear makes sense and is appropriate, but when it isn’t–let me help! I’d love to. And I know it works. Every time I come face to face with a spider–a rare thing now–I know it.
I saw a spider on the floor of my bathroom about a month ago, sitting by the edge of some pants that I had thrown on the floor (don’t tell anybody), and it didn’t bother me at all. Before, it would have been a FREAK OUT DELUXE that a spider might get into my clothes…here it was live and let live. I didn’t care enough about the spider to even DO anything about it. It was there for several days, sitting in the corner, and I noticed it calmly and ignored it. That’s freedom.
If you’ve got an irrational fear, think about this: How would you rather feel? The tools I know can get you there, into that new feeling. Rapido!
C’mon and get hypnotized! Once again I’ll be teaching at Bellevue College as part of the Explore! program. This go-round I’m offering two courses. The first begins this month, Monday, January 25th, and it’s on the topic of healing and hypnosis.
I’m quite excited about it, as it’s a topic close to my heart. I had a close family member come very near death, as in coma and on life support and not expected to live, and I believe that hypnosis played a part in her miraculous and thriving recovery. Trust me, I know the power of hypnosis. This is a very personal story I’ll share in more detail at my course:
In this hands-on workshop you will learn about the mind-body connection, and the transformational power of self-hypnosis. You will learn (and experience) what hypnosis is, how your mind works, how to hypnotize yourself, how to craft potent suggestions, how to put it all together in a simple process to use these skills for accessing your power within and enhancing your own health and wellness. This workshop is conducted by Connie Brannan, CHt, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Professional Conversational Hypnotherapist and Licensed Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming ™.
Healing and Hypnosis: Secrets to Wellness
Item: W8955 Connie Brannan
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM North Campus
Sessions: 2 M Address: 10700 Northup Way Bellevue, WA 98004
1/25/2010 – 2/1/2010 Fee: $89.00
Each course is sure to be lots of fun and learning crammed into two 3-hour evening classes. If it fits your schedule, I recommend these as an easy and inexpensive beginner’s taster introduction to hypnosis. Feel free to email me for more info: connie@mindworkshypnosis.net.
Hi, guys! Who watches television? (Raising my own hand, but only half way.) 🙂 I hardly watch at all any more, because the quality of “what’s on” is going down, down, down, and my time for leisure is going down as well. That’s a good thing, but that’s also another topic. This one is:
Dramatic pause. Negative suggestions.
Watching TV this past week, I can’t help but notice the BOMBARDMENT of ads right now, commercials for cold & flu medicines and paraphernalia. Here’s the message: “It’s cold and flu season.” and that means “You’re going to get sick., you can expect to get sick.” I also notice that the stores are stocking the aisles with cold and flu medicines and products–prominent and in-your-face, on the end caps and special displays, with alarming banners warning that cold and flu season is here! Same message: “It’s time for you to get sick now! You’re going to get sick now.” It’s not a warning, per se, it’s a directive! It’s a negative suggestion. And our minds seem quite willing to embrace it without question!
Michael has a story he likes. He was in a work training with a woman. She told this story: She knew that every year she would have one bout of illness per cold and flu season, one only. The reason she’d only have one was because she’d prepare for it, and take massive doses of vitamins. She knew that she’d only get sick once! Her vitamins would protect her from further illness! And yes, it did transpire that she’d only get sick once per winter/season. BUT…one winter she got so busy and forgot to prepare with her vitamins, didn’t think about it at all. Guess what? She didn’t get sick that winter. Not once. Not at all. She forgot to get sick!!
Here’s a personal story about my personal experiences. This is NOT medical advice, because…I’m not medical. I’m a hypnotist. And here’s one positive side effect I enjoy from my hypnosis. Your mileage may vary.
I don’t get sick, either. Ever. Because I’ve decided not to. I USED to get sick, just like everyone else. Two major colds a year. At LEAST two. Until I discovered hypnosis and how the mind processes ideas and suggestions three+ years ago. Three years, and I haven’t been sick. Not a sniffle. I did have food poisoning for one day (some bad shrimp on a Vegas buffet), but it ended quite quickly. I don’t get sick because my unconscious mind rejects the idea, and does what it needs to do to make sure I stay well–strengthening my immune system, or whatever it wants to do. I can happily trust my unconscious to keep me well, and ignore those nitty gritty details as well. I don’t care how. I just know it’s in place. Wellness. I can hang around sick people, avoid hand sanitizer, ignore those commercials and product displays, no flu shot for me, and stay well. Three years and counting…
Hypnosis is incredibly powerful. And our understanding is just a miniscule slice of that giant cake. There’s so much more to know and learn. The unconscious mind knows how to keep us healthy. I talk to the mind in ways it likes, to do just that!
What do you suppose would happen if you decided to stay well this winter?
All the Best,
NLP is Neuro-Linguistic Programming ™, a term coined by my teacher, Dr. Richard Bandler.
