Category: Stress Management

Self-Hypnosis to Conquer Fear of Midlife Change

Life is full of changes but as we move into our 40s and 50s, we seem to become even more immersed in change. Our bodies are changing, jobs may change, children move out of the house, spouses leave and even our interests change. Change is frightening and if we let them, our negative thoughts can take over. We can end up being paralyzed by fear.

One way to combat fear is to learn self-hypnosis and install positive suggestions in the subconscious. Much of our self-talk tends to be negative. Thoughts and self suggestions such as the following will ensure that we don’t achieve what we want in life and that the changes we want to make will not happen:

I can’t (the one we use the most)
I’ll never get it right
I’m sure to fail
This will never work
I’m not good enough
I’m not bright enough
I’m too fat [or tall or thin]
I’m an idiot

People who are successful use positive self-hypnosis and suggestions such as:

I can (the most important one of all)
I am good 
I’m skilled
I’m an intelligent person
I deserve the best
I know how to do it
I am achieving my goal

Installing positive self-hypnosis into the subconscious is the key to achieving success. The process is simple …

Find a quiet and comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed for at least 15 minutes. Think about any affirmation (such as a suggestion from the list above) you might want to use. Close your eyes and begin to visualize your whole body relaxing from the top of the head all the way down to the toes. Slow down your breathing. Go through each part of the body giving it a gentle command to “relax” as you continue to breathe slowly.  You might even imagine yourself at your favorite place, somewhere you feel completely at peace, safe and comfortable.  When you feel you have reached a level of relaxation that is appropriate for you, repeat (in your mind) the affirmation you have selected.  Repeat the phrase or word at least 10-20 times, take a few more deep breaths and then gently return to wherever you are. Open your eyes and feel how relaxed you are.

Your imagination is a powerful tool.  Use it to create the life you want and make the changes YOU choose.

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categories Stress Management | | datetime May 5, 2009 7:14 pm | comments Comments (0)

Stress Management: April Taxes the Body, Mind and Soul

When faced with stressful situations such as doing the paperwork for the dreaded annual tax return (which we’re probably all doing right now), studies have found that blood clotting factors associated with increased risk of heart disease are much higher than in calm periods.  Blood platelets increase in numbers as does their tendency to clump together. Levels of clot-promoting factors jump.  These changes in blood during chronic mental stress associated with increased workload may provide one of the links between mental stress and heart disease.  Blood coagulation is just part of the picture. Mental stress has other damaging effects. Arteries constrict and become more susceptible to blockage, blood pressure and cholesterol levels increase, sleep and diet patterns change.  Midlife is the time when we start to notice these health issues.

Each of us operates a machine so incredibly complex that researchers are continually making new findings about it.  We often read of things we should do to keep the machine – our bodies – running well. 

Wellness is not just a body issue.  It is a holistic concept.  Anything short of that is incomplete and ultimately ineffective.  We need to look at the whole person – the body, mind and spirit.  Just picking the dimension of wellness that you like or that is convenient and minimizing the others doesn’t work in the long run.

*** Imagine each dimension of wellness in your life like a spoke on a wheel.  Draw a picture of your wellness wheel, extending your nutrition spoke, your physical fitness spoke, your personal growth spoke, your spiritual development spoke, your play spoke, your community involvement spoke, your work spoke, etc out as far as you feel you have developed it and practice what you preach.  Does your wheel look like it would roll reasonably well?  Or does it have numerous jagged edges?  Would it not roll at all? Where do you need to put more energy to make the wheel more balanced? ***

Living only for this moment, with the intention of making it the fullest moment possible, will help you to achieve a better quality of life in all the areas of your “wellness wheel”.  There are many things that we think about in a minute of time.  We see our new experiences through glasses that have been molded by our old experiences.  We look to the future with uncertainty, hopes, fears and excitement and we tend to take things for granted if we are not fully focused on experiencing life in the current moment.  We need to learn to savor every moment as it happens, keeping our minds completely in the present, as much as possible.  This is not easy, but the payoffs are tremendous. 

The past is behind us, and if you think about it, no longer exists, except in our minds.  The future does not exist either, because we are not there yet.   Most of us base our current fears of what will happen in the future on experiences we had in the past. Some of us cannot get over the memories of past experiences. We may become fearful that these experiences might happen again.  Being in this situation only robs us of being able to enjoy life in the current moment, so we need to make a choice on whether we want to allow the past to color our current experiences, or whether we want to take control and remain focused. 

Living in the moment does not necessarily mean living as if there is no tomorrow.  You still need to plan for the future.  Conscious living means becoming aware of all the choices we have and acting on them. It involves the realization that we don’t have to run our lives on automatic pilot.

Just remember that YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW.  Spend your time thoughtfully and appreciate every moment (good or difficult) and you will fill your life with value and purpose, rather than letting years and experiences go to waste.

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categories Stress Management | | datetime March 2, 2009 11:42 am | comments Comments (0)

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