Break your Archetypes

Of late, I have been meeting clients who constantly claim they cannot enter hypnosis even though they have already by my guidance entered a moderate level of hypnosis. So upon emerging them, I asked them what is stopping them from relaxing further.

"I can hear you perfectly well! Shouldn't I not be able to hear you? Shouldn't I be sleeping?"

Well it seems that even though it has explained time after time during consultation and before the session, I would like to take this chance to explain yet again. In hypnosis, we are not sleeping. We are not in a zonked out mood. We are not out cold like an iron bar to the head. In fact, contrary to belief, we are in fact more able to hear our therapist; our sense of sound and smell is much stronger. We feel very relaxed; some people feel heavy while others feel floaty, other than that, they are always listening to the therapist and very aware of what is happening.

Then when they go under hypnosis, I realized the one thing that is stopping them from entering a deeper state: Am I hypnotized? That is the question that most clients ask when they are hypnotized by us therapist. The answer is simple, yes you are if you only let yourself so. By doubting yourself and questioning yourself, you are not allowing yourself to enjoy the full benefits of entering a deep state of hypnosis. The trick in letting yourself go is just to focus on the voice of the therapist, let yourself experience the bodily sensations that will follow and just go with the flow, don't fight it.

SO the next time when you all come for therapy, bring in your stereotypes about hypnosis but be ready to let them be debunked. Do bring in an open mind too!

The importance of "MY" time

It’s been a while since I had time to blog, well, I just came back from a 17 day trip from Beijing to shanghai to hongkong and back home. One word fits what I feel as soon as I went to work today – invigorated. It was good to take a break.

Yes I know it’s hard to postpone your appointments, reschedule your meetings, shift everything in your daily routine to make time; it’s hard to make time for the most valuable asset you own: yourself.

But you see, that’s what’s causing alot of things to go awry. We need to take a break every so often. A man who goes without sleep for more than 48 hours gradually feels his bodily functions shut down on him and in no time he’ll start hallucinating; our body knows that we need to rest; do we? I’m no christian but I know that in the book of genesis, even god rested on the 7th day so why shouldn’t us mortals?

Ok I agree it’s almost impossible to take as long a trip as I did. But it is very possible to take the weekend off.

One of the most common problems that busy people face is burning out. Burn out causes you to slow down in productivity, turn wry your thinking process, become forgetful etc. the list goes on. In my opinion, the best cure for burnout is going some place far far away from the city, like a sunny little island that is not frequented by tourists, long stretches of soft silvery beige sand, cool blue waters that are so clean u can see the fishes swimming, a nice little bar to get a cool drink amd a shady spot to laze in and read. That’s my ideal getaway, it could be different from yours, that’s fine. So long as you feel relaxed and good about the place, that’s YOUR perfect spot.

If after reading this article makes you feel like going somewhere away from the bustling city, away from the constant sms, away from the invading email, then it could be time to call for a break.

Book a time with yourself, commit to it, have a cocktail and chill.



Smile!

Resolute Resolutions

As the passing of 2008 approaches in the next few hours, please look back at your year and list down the number of meaningful events that has happened to you. Be it meeting someone special, attending a special occasion, having a special occasion or marking a new journey in life etc. list it all down. Then write down a list of things that you have learnt from these events and how you can improve on them. Having done that, prioritize the list into which things you want to improve the most and so on.

From there on, list down your goals and new year resolutions. Now please bear in mind that you have to write them down realistically. When I was 5, my new year resolution was to grow wings and fly. After so many new years, it has never been realized and I was some what disappointed by it. So please don't disappoint yourself! Make realistic resolutions! Then give yourself a time line as to when you can accomplish or see the resolution take effect.

Don't hesitate! The hour of 2009 is near!

Auld Lang Syne!

Music and Life!

From Ages past to the present day, Music has been part and parcel of every day life.

Every single culture on this planet has a musical chord in their blood. From the violins and pianos of Europe, the Angklongs of Indonesia, the Dijeritoos of Australia to the Berimbau of Africa. It is in us as it is in Nature. In the day, birds chirp, monkeys shrill, Hippotamuses give a strong bass, Lions with a roar; At night, crickets chirp, bats squeak, owls hoot, the air is alive with music!

Since birth, we have been accustomed to sounds , rhythms and music. Even in our mother's womb, we hear an orchestra of sounds; the dub-dub heartbeats, the slushes of blood pumping through the vessels, the digestive groans and grunts of the stomach, the squelches of the intestines. We have developed rhythm since we were young and have embraced it in almost every thing we do. When we walk, if you take note, every one walks to a certain rhythm. When we talk, we talk with a certain rhythm too! So even if you have not learned a musical instrument in an institute, be not discouraged, for your body has two instruments too! Your Voice and your hands. Clapping is used in many cultures as a bass rhythm. You see, music is just in the air.

Music has always been used in ceremonies and celebrations. It uplifts the mood or brings you to a solemn state. It holds that power to lift you up when you're down. Songs like Ave Maria lets people feel awe and get touched by the holiness. There are just so many songs out there with so many benefits.

How can this help you? Well, to simply put, when you're feeling down, try playing a song that you like. When you're feeling stressed, play some soothing songs in the background quietly. Soon with experimentation and patience, you will find your song.