Hypnosis Helps Unload Baggage, Fearby Kathryn Edler, CCH
Clinical Hypnotherapist and co-founder of CreataVision, Ent.
I find in my practice as a hypnotherapist that the most common denominator and the most asked question of my clients is: "Why am I so stuck? I feel like I am at a major transition period in my life, but I just can't seem to get any momentum going. I'm frustrated that what I want in life isn't coming my way and it depresses me. How do I actually MANIFEST what I want into my reality?"
My answer to those who are stuck and depressed and who have a sense of hopelessness is this: Work on the subconscious level and throw away all of the old baggage. Give it a spring cleaning. Dust away all of the old cobwebs. Then pack your brand new suitcase with goals, dreams, fantasies and desires… and watch the magic begin! It is important to understand that one must work on the subconscious level in order to release negative emotions and limiting beliefs about themselves because IT IS IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS THAT ALL LEARNING BEHAVIOR CHANGE TAKES PLACE.
We are in the subconscious state when we take on those negative emotions and limiting beliefs, so we must go back there to release them. Most of the time we are in the conscious state of being that is logical, judgmental and thinking. It is sometimes good therapy just to talk to friends about our problems and "vent." But that's about just as far as it takes us. The subconscious mind has no logic, judgment or thinking. It accepts everything as a true statement. If you are focused and deliberately feeding your subconscious mind visions of good things in your future, your behavior manifests that way and you go in that direction. But in order to go in that direction, you must become fearless. That maybe one of the biggest dilemmas of mankind: How do I release fear? Not only fear, but all of the other negative emotions that come under that category: anger, guilt, sadness, resentment, jealousy, etc. Hypnosis assists us to tap into the power of our own minds. With regression under hypnosis, one can get to the root cause, the first event, which when disconnected, will cause the problem and the negative emotion or limiting belief to disappear. Then ask yourself, "What can I learn from this experience, the learning of which I can bring back with me so that if I need it in the future, it will be there?"
Your subconscious mind is a perfect memory bank and holds everything that you've ever thought, done, felt, dreamed, said or fantasized about. Sometimes it represses traumatic memories for our protection because it loves us, it IS us, the very core of our being. But the good news is that because it loves us, it will also bring up memories for resolution so that we can move on, have new beginnings and learn to manifest all that we desire without the weight of stress and fear.
There are many misconceptions surrounding hypnosis. Hypnosis is NOT a magic pill. The subconscious needs repetition and sometimes this is a process. But it is an enjoyable, cleansing process. I have seen clients shuffle into my office with head down, depressed and joyless. After several sessions I have witnessed the transformation from being a prisoner in a cocoon into a beautiful butterfly, wings outstretched. So learn to be patient with yourself, pat yourself on the back for going through this process, and know deep in your soul that there is help!
Hypnosis is a totally natural state to be in. Everyone goes in and out of hypnosis at least twice a day: right after you wake up and before you go to sleep. It is not a sleeping state. In fact, you will be relaxed but focused and alert. It is similar to the meditative and daydream states. You simply relax your conscious mind and therefore are allowing your subconscious mind to be the boss in the moment. You are under hypnosis when you are reading a really good novel or watching a spellbinding movie. Have you ever driven in your car, arrived at your destination safely, but forgot how you got there? Your subconscious mind was in control of the driving, while your conscious mind was thinking.
While in this natural state of being, you are always in control! The hypnotherapist is just a tool to help you get to that place. You always know where you are and what you're doing and you will remember the session. If you are one who is actually afraid to face your fears, you can put that to rest. Your subconscious mind will not give you anything you can't handle … remember it IS you. People would not do anything under hypnosis or after they come out of hypnosis that they would not normally do, that is against their moral values or good judgment. This is not the KGB brain washing people…that is different. In order to go under hypnosis, one must be somewhat intelligent, be a willing volunteer and be able to take positive instruction, whether it's from a hypnotherapist or themselves.
I'd like to use one of my clients as an illustration to explain in more detail the benefits of throwing away all of the old baggage and becoming the Divine beings that we all really are. This client, who we will call Joe, has given me permission to tell his story. In fact, he was excited about it because he feels so GOOD about himself! He came to me with low self-esteem, unable to trust in his decisions. He had no self-confidence, was a procrastinator, worried all of the time, had a short-term memory, couldn't focus, had unworthiness issues and always expected the worst case scenario.
After some regression sessions, mostly using a quick and effective modality of hypnosis, Time Line Therapy®, he was able to let go of his fear, sadness, and feelings of rejection and unworthiness. He found out where all of his negative emotions came from and why he felt about himself the way he did. Now he spends his time repeating affirmations such as: "I am loved." "It is a natural process and I see now that it wasn't my fault." "It's OK now because it was someone else's decision that in the past I took on as my own." "I know that others are trustworthy and I now trust in myself." "I survived - I'm alive and having a good time." "I know that things will turn out OK." "I trust that where I am right now is right where I need to be." "I have learned from the past and I now let it go." "I am grateful for what I learned from the past, because it has brought me to the place where I am now."
Today Joe no longer procrastinates with the things he was struggling with before, like doing his bookkeeping every night, straightening up his house or making return phone calls. He no longer worries about trusting in his decisions and is focused and confident. He has learned to identify negative thoughts immediately and then consciously change that thought and then sets a goal for the best case scenario. He feels worthy to receive all of the good things that he is now attracting to his life. He is relaxed and is no longer afraid. He understands now that everything is in its perfect timing for all concerned and that once he THOUGHT THE THOUGHT OF HIS DESIRE, the Universe has already started orchestrating all of the sequences of events to support his goal. He has learned the secret of creatively manifesting and attracting all of his dreams and is joyfully watching his outer reality change … because he has changed the inner reality of himself.
Kathryn Edler has certifications in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Medical Hypnotherapy, Hypno-anesthesiology and Past Life Regression, and is a Reiki Practitioner. She is the mother of two sons in their 20's and is currently living in Bigfork, MT. "Kat" is the co-founder of CreataVision, Ent., and has a private practice using hypnosis. She leads seminars on "Hypnosis and Weight Loss" and "Manifest Your Dreams with Time Line Therapy.®" You can contact her at: (406) 756-8572, visit her website at hypnokat.com, or email her