Dare To Dream!

A Guest Post By Jon Rhodes – Jon is a former professional musician & one of UK’s leading clinical hypnotherapists.  He combines his two passions of music & hypnotherapy to create a unique & powerful collection of therapeutic audio sessions and hypnosis videos.

Hypnotherapy is increasingly being regarded as a legitimate tool for therapeutic change.  In 2001, the Professional Affairs Board of the British Psychological Society concluded that “Enough studies have now accumulated to suggest that the inclusion of hypnotic procedures may be beneficial in the management and treatment of a wide range of conditions and problems encountered in the practice of medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy.”

Hypnotherapy For Any Aspect of Our Lives
It can help with many issues such as stress, relaxation, anxiety, phobias, addictions, weight loss, and confidence.  It is a wonderful resource for relaxation.  Even when I am treating patients for issues such as smoking cessation, they often report what a wonderfully relaxing experience they had.

Is It Possible to Self Hypnotise?
Hypnosis can be expensive, and a good hypnotherapist can sometimes be difficult to find.  However this does not need to be a problem because it is entirely possible to hypnotise yourself.  You do not actually need a hypnotherapist.  A hypnotherapist does not actually hypnotise you anyway.  They guide you into a hypnotic trance, but with just a little practice you can guide yourself.

What is a Hypnotic Trance?
Before attempting self hypnosis, it may help to know what a hypnotic trance is.  The best way of describing it is like daydreaming.  When you daydream you are actually going into a hypnotic trance, which is a perfectly natural and normal state of mind that most of us slip into several times a day.  We slip into a trance when we are engrossed in a book or TV, where people try to talk to us, or significant things happen around us that we remain blissfully unaware of because we are so deeply absorbed.

Practice Makes Perfect
With practice your skills of going into trance should increase.  With a little patience and persistence you should soon be able to go into a hypnotic trance quickly and effortlessly.

Tips on How to Hypnotise Yourself
First it is important to make sure that you will not be disturbed for about an hour.  Turn off all phones, and tell family and friends not to bother you.  Find a comfortable place.  Subdue the lighting if this helps.  You can be seated, or led down, whichever you prefer.

6 Simple Steps to Self Hypnosis – do take your time!

1. Relax and close your eyes.
2. Take 5 slow deep breaths in through the nose, and out through the mouth. Say to yourself the word ‘Relax’ on each out breath.
3. Imagine yourself at the top of 10 steps with a door at the bottom.  Very slowly walk down, one step at a time, counting back from 10 to 1.  With every slow step you take down, feel yourself becoming deeper and deeper relaxed, until you finally reach the door.
4. When you reach the bottom, open the door to your ideal place of relaxation.  It could be a tropical beach, a garden, anywhere you want.  It could be somewhere real, or imagined – your own unique special relaxing haven.
5. Use as many of the senses as you can.  Take a good look around.  Pause and listen to any sounds.  Perhaps you can hear the call of a bird, or the breeze gently blowing.  Maybe you can smell the sweet scent of flowers, or the salt from the sea?  Touch objects and make the experience as real as you can.
6. Explore your relaxation haven, and enjoy it for as long as you wish.

This is a great technique to help relaxation, and your ability to relax will improve the more you do this.  Most of us do not relax anywhere near enough, and this can damage our health in many ways.

What if I Want Some Help With It?
If you are struggling with this technique, persevere.  Getting into a hypnotic state is a skill that will improve over time.  Don’t expect too much.  Hypnosis is not the ‘magical state’ that the media often portrays.  You will probably still be aware of what is going on around you, and may well think ‘is this it?’.  However you will notice the difference when you wake up.  If you are struggling with this technique then it may be worthwhile visiting a clinical hypnotherapist, or buying a recording at least once, in order to experience the feeling of a trance.  When you have experienced a trance a few times, you will be more informed as to what the state of mind is that you are seeking.

It Can Only Get Easier
With repeated use, you will find it becomes easier and easier to slip into a hypnotic trance, and your mind will become calmer and more ‘still’ than ever before.  You may wish to eventually experiment with certain types of therapy.  For example once you open the door, you may instead visualise yourself at your ideal weight, or being really confident in a job interview, or even winning a sporting event.  Whatever you visualise vividly and repeatedly, your mind will strive to make it happen.  Great improvements can be made in this simple way.

There are many other ways to do self hypnosis, but this is one of the easiest and most powerful methods.  Have fun relaxing, growing and learning with this technique!

A Guest Post By Sadhvi Siddhali Shree – Siddhali is a spiritual monk, director of Siddhayatan Spiritual Retreat in Dallas, Texas and maintains a spiritual blog.

Meditation is commonly practiced for various reasons such as inner peace, self-realization, calmness, or to be connected with the universe through soul. There are many techniques and tools to help a person meditate and relax. Visualization is one of them.

What is known as Visualization Meditations are guided meditations by the meditation teacher. The teacher guides their students on a relaxing journey using many images and sounds that help calm the body and mind. For example, the teacher may say, “Visualize healing light all over your body, and feel that you are becoming more relaxed by the second.” The benefits of visualization, for the beginner, help them concentrate, focus, and relax. For the advanced practitioner of visualization, they will have the ability to see objects with closed eyes.

photo credit: h.koppdelaney

Misconceptions of Visualization
Visualization is being claimed around the world as a means to manifest your desires – wealth, health, and achieving goals. Blindly believing in this misconception will not advance their visualization practices. For example, the “Law of Attraction” is not true. Only when you put sincere efforts on your path will you see a result. Merely imagination or visualizing will not help you.

The Process of Visualization
Visualization is the ability to see objects (people, places, things) with your eyes closed. If you wish to heal someone in meditation, you would want to visualize their face so that you can direct healing energy and positive thoughts towards them. Visualization is not an easy practice to do at first, but with effort it will become natural to you.

Visualization first starts with imagination. Using the example of healing a person, you would want to imagine them sitting in front of you and imagine healing them. After many months of practice of imagination, you might start to visualize.

Visualization begins to happen after imagination. When you are able to see the person’s face and body with your eyes closed, without imagination, and able to see yourself direct healing energy towards them, this is an example of visualization. Both imagination and visualization belong to the mind.

After Visualization comes Actualization. Actualization is the direct experience through your soul with the person you are healing. Your eyes are closed, you are still sitting in the same position, and yet you literally can see the person you are healing and what they are doing. You will see what they are wearing, how their hair is, and where they are located. It’s a real-time experience of the soul with another soul. Real healing happens in Actualization. The mind is completely absent in Actualization.

A Simple Visualization Exercise
1.    Light a candle
2.    Stare at the flame for 30 seconds
3.    Close your eyes and try to see the flame
4.    Once the flame disappears in your mind, repeat the exercise

After each week of daily practice of this simple technique, practice extending the time of seeing the flame when your eyes are closed. When you are able to close your eyes and see a figure of the flame (without needing a lit candle) you are beginning to practice visualization. When you are able to close your eyes, see an actual flame and turn the flame on and off at will, you are practicing actualization.

How to Visualize and Actualize People
This visualization exercise can also be applied towards people.
1.    Get a person’s picture
2.    Stare at the picture for one minute
3.    Close your eyes and try and see their face
4.    Repeat steps

When you are able to see a person’s face without the physical photo and without imagination, you are practicing visualization. When you are able to see what the person is literally doing, this is actualization.

Why you should Practice Visualization
· Increase focus power
. Increase strength
· Ability to Concentrate on one point
· Discipline of the body
· Possibility to Actualize (see objects in real-time, for an extended time, with eyes closed)

Visualization is one of many tools for meditation and healing. Remember, where there is selfishness and ego, real visualization and actualization cannot happen. It happens when a person is fully relaxed. With practice, visualization and actualization will become your nature and effortless, like meditation should be.

photo credit: Keith Allison
Do you know that Tiger Woods has been practicing visualization since he was only a young child of 10? It is no wonder that by age 21, he was a pro not only in his game of golf but also in his mental prowess. That goes to say that the longer you put into practice and make it a habit to incorporate visualization in your daily lives, the better you get at it. Practice makes perfect. What a cliche, but hey, it works! So come on guys, let’s make daily visualization a part of our lives. The rewards you will reap will far outweigh the initial difficulties and challenges you may (or may not) face. Life will never be the same again. Don’t take my word for it. Do it and judge for yourself.

Oh yeah, back to Tiger. With every shot, Tiger already sees the outcome in his mind. Establishing a mental swing routine is fundamental to his success. He plays it in his mind and manifest it in his physical stroke. Tiger is able to remain in the moment and sustain an intense focus. This is the quality which sets him apart from even the best in the game.

Yes Tiger had the “good luck” of having mental training with Dr. Jay Brunza, who was a psychologist and also a family friend. He was only 10 then. But what was special about him was his own personal discipline and commitment to harness the abilities of his mind, every single day, which is rare of someone his age. Even if you do just a fraction of what he does, I bet you the outcome will be phenomenal even to your own standards. The key is to model his mindset. You do not quite need to hire a psychologist, unless of course you are into professional sports. Information on visualization is ubiquitous. In fact, where you are right now, Hypnotic Visualization Tips & Techniques the blog, can be your very resource.

Visualization – take your time to develop this very powerful skill. Apply it. Nurture it. You’ll be astounded by the ‘magic’ it brings into your life.

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photo credit: Matt Callow

No matter how bogged down you are with Life, never let a day go by without you visualizing the Life that you want. See the irony? Many of us go through Life actually wishing we have a different one. If the latter is what you are really after, then you’ve got to stop and take stock of your Life. Ask yourself, “Where am I at this very moment? Where do I really want to be?”

Set Aside a Little Time Each Day to Visualize

Know what your desires are and ‘get down and dirty’. Make time for yourself to visualize. Yes it could be anything; a loving and harmonious  relationship with your partner, more income, a baby boy, a cheque in the mail, that dream vacation, a reconciliation with your estranged spouse, whatever. Just remember; Do It Every Single Day. Pick a specific place and time for doing this and stick to it. Make it a habit. Remember, habits die hard, so if you do it often enough, very soon you’ll be on autopilot; you wouldn’t need those post-it-note reminders anymore. 10 Best Places & Times to Visualize contains a very helpful list to get you started.

Am I On The Right Track?

Every now and then you may get distracted, you sidetracked a little or maybe become somewhat confused about the whole process of visualizing. Don’t sweat about it. By giving your dreams the time and attention, you are already starting the wheels of the unseen attracting to you what’s occupying your mind. If you allow yourself the little time and space that you’ve committed yourself to diligently and long enough, then surely you are on the right track.

photo credit: DerrickT

A couple of people have asked me “So what’s the best time for me to practice my visualization?”, “Are there certain places I should go to?”

Here’s an easy list to get you started:
1.   In the Bathroom: while taking a shower
2.  .. while having a bath/soak
3.  .. while on the john
4. In a Vehicle: while driving sorry, too dangerous
4.  .. on a train ride to work/school/etc.
5.  .. on a bus ride to work/school, etc.
6.   On the Couch: during commercial breaks while watching TV
7.   On the Bed: just after waking up and before dozing off
8.   During Leisure: while gardening
9.   .. while painting/drawing/sketching
10. On a date: while gazing into the other’s eyes (my personal favourite )

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

A Guest Post By Armen Shirvanian – Armen is a professional blogger and writes for Timeless Information on topics including mindset development, social interaction, communication, and competition.

At this time, with respect to a goal you are working on, you are here, and the goal is there. Between you and the goal is a path, or various paths, that you have to take before you get there. In the same way that I had to wind my way through a mountain trail path for 5.5 miles to get near the top of a mountain recently, you are going to need to wind your way to your goal by taking multiple actions. How do you figure out which actions you need to take?

Let Your Mind Do The Work

What you want to do is to let your mind solve the problem of lighting up the path to your goal. You need to disconnect from other activities for a period of time, and imagine yourself either where you are with relation to your goal, or already at your goal and looking back, and your mind will fill in the pieces of what you need to do. If your vision is to rent office space in a local building to start your own face-to-face type company, you can imagine yourself already at the office, glad about getting there. Then you will see what the details of your vision are, like that you will need rent money, or that you will need to get your qualifications that you will put on the wall.

You Will See The Steps To Take

Regardless of what your vision is, you get a better idea of what the steps are to get there if you stop and visualize yourself getting there. Maybe then your mind will tell you that you will need to hurry and focus before a certain deadline, or that you need to talk to a certain person to get help from them, or that you need to practice something for the next three weeks. These all have a sense of urgency to them, but this urgency isn’t palpable until you visualize the process or result, which puts your mind into a state where you can’t ignore the reality involved in building your dream or making a step towards a goal of yours.

This Is A Mindset Development

Making the choice to visualize as described here is an upgrade from not doing so, because it brings your mind right in line with the reality it knows. It doesn’t work to visualize in some perceived reality, because then it will feel like fantasizing or daydreaming. Real visualization goes smoothly as long as you take the reality you gain from it and act on it right away. If you visualize and don’t take action on what you gained, it might as well be worse than not having visualized at all.

Here is the main process:

1. disconnect from other activities and spend some time visualizing your desired state or goal
2. accept any realistic difficulties you see in the process of getting there
3. take a couple of pieces of actionable information from your thinking and write down a plan to work on them
4. carry out what you can handle
5. repeat as desired along the way to your goal

I’ve been itching for another cheque. It’s been a while. It’ll sure feel great to open up the mailbox and tadah! there it is again. It doesn’t matter how big or small the amount.

2 days later, amongst my various bills, there it is. A cheque for $90. Geez, wished I had visualized for ‘BIG’ instead of ‘no matter big or small’.. WHACK! A slap on my own head for that. Haha, just kidding. I am every bit grateful for it. It has become very much like a game.

What was the cheque for by the way? It was from the hospital for an overpayment about 3 or 4 months ago. Hmm..that makes me wonder, will the hospital give me that if I hadn’t visualized it? I guess some questions are beter not answered

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

Everybody hates getting a ticket, be it for parking or speeding. My advice is, the best way to avoid getting it in the first place is to just abide by the parking and traffic laws. Yes, I mean put out those coupons. It’s only fair that we pay for the space our vehicle is taking up. It is, after all, only a few bucks (if you compare it to a ticket!).

I know, I know, there ARE times when you just can’t help it. Your cat’s injured and you got to race to the vet, beating the speed limit. You can’t hold your bladder anymore and just didn’t have the time to put out the parking coupons. You really wanted to, but you just happen to run out of coupons. Yada yada yada. It is Not Your Fault, you say.

Well if your reason is honest and valid, by all means do not feel guilty for doing the following:

1. As you get out of your vehicle, briefly close your eyes a couple of seconds.
2. See yourself coming back to it feeling relieved and grateful that it is ’safe and sound’ (you know what I mean )
3. Do this one or two more times as you walk off from your vehicle.
4. That’s it! That is all there is to it.

Note: I figured roughly 70% of the time this worked for me. Twice I did get a ticket though. But they were later waived after my appeals were accepted.

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

Dedicated to Believers & Followers of Napoleon Hill’s Principles

Part 4: APPLIED (ABSOLUTE) FAITH

“Whatever The mind Can Conceive and Believe, The Mind Can Achieve”

Sorry folks, just a little late in posting this. But a promise is a promise and here it is. Part 4 of Napoleon Hill’s rare video footage. But hey, where’s Part2 and 3?

Ahah, so you noticed eh Well, to keep in line with the theme of this blog i.e. Visualization, I have selected ones which touched on how the mind works. Fair enough.
In this particular segment, Napoleon Hill sent the message that we can have whatever that we desire as we have absolute control over our mind. Ask it, as if it is already yours; never beg for it. The key is to have Absolute Faith that you WILL get it. Well, let’s enjoy the movie now shall we..

(Psst..I’ll have another one coming out this Wednesday so stay tuned alright. Or just get it via RSS Feeds or Email. )

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

Dedicated to Believers & Followers of Napoleon Hill’s Principles

Part 1: DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE

“Whatever The mind Can Conceive and Believe, The Mind Can Achieve”

Listen very carefully to this special video and you will realize just how Visualization ties in deeply with Napoleon Hill’s Timeless Principles.
Need I say more?
I trust you find this rare footage a gem. It’ll be great if someone can transcribe it. I’ll have it uploaded with your links. Shoot me a message here.

(Psst..more videos coming to you Monday, so come back and check it out! Easier alternative, get it via RSS Feeds or Email. )

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009