A Wish or a Desire?

There is a Zen story where a young novice approaches the master asking how he could achieve his wish of experiencing true enlightenment.

Without a word the master roughly grabbed the young man and dunked his head underwater in a nearby horse trough. He struggled for some time until the master released him, sputtering and gasping for air.

"When you desire enlightenment as much as you craved air just a moment ago, then you will find it," said the elder monk.

A bit extreme and not very nice if you ask me, but it does raise a question. What is the difference between a wish and a desire?

It may seem like a bit of semantics, but a wish is kind of weak and passive where a desire is strong and all consuming.

You may want greater health or success, but has it been a wish or a desire? This is an important distinction because in order to make significant change you have to overcome the natural tendency to fall into predictable ruts.  Emotion and passion is what will drive you out of the rut.

Yet this raises another question. What curbs our desires?

In Dr Rolf Alexader's classic book The Healing Power of the Mind (1989), the author notes that the subconscious mind will sometimes withdraw desire as a protective measure, when the fear of disappointment is greater than whatever emotional or physical pain you are going through.

This can explain why people often remain stuck even though the reasons to change far outweigh those to stay the same. People know they should stop smoking, eat and exercise well, be more confident and so on. However, reasoning is a conscious mind function and when it comes into conflict with subconscious programming, the latter almost always wins.

Hypnosis can help you quell those fears of failure and other negative conditioning. Having an experienced hypnosis practitioner in your corner can frequently help you make a significant breakthrough. If you would like to learn more, I am here to help. Call me directly at (732) 714-7040 for a free and confidential Life Enhancement Strategy Session.

Hypnosis and Nausea Relief?

Getting sick to your stomach is one of the most unpleasant experiences going. Yet did you know that in certain cases hypnosis may offer significant relief?

More frequently than not vomiting is a protective and potentially life saving involuntary response. Often it occurs when we are exposed to a pathogen (stomach bug) or ingest an excess of alcohol or something else that is toxic in high enough doses.  The body is purging itself of something it recognizes as harmful and this should not be suppressed. 

However there are also two fairly common situations where nausea is not productive and can actually do more harm than good. One goes by the medical term of hyperemesis gravidium, but is better known as morning sickness in pregnant women. The other is the nausea that occurs as a side effect of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer. 

With both morning sickness and cancer treatment there is a physical reason for the nausea. A woman's body undergoes dramatic changes in order to carry a baby. Cancer can be a tenacious disease, so the drugs used to treat it need to be powerful as well.

Yet due to the way the brain works, by unconsciously matching patterns, it is possibly for the nausea to start being initiated by environmental and emotional cues that are simply associated with but not actually related to the original chemical trigger. Its as if stress and negative expectation teaches a person to get nauseous in once pleasant or neutral situations. 

(Note: excessive stress  and the subsequent fight or flight response in and of itself often manifests in all manner of disturbances in the digestive tract, including nausea)

This can be highly problematic, making it difficult for a woman to endure a wanted pregnancy and can interfere with the nutritional needs of both herself and the new life she is bringing into the world. 

Cancer patients may want to discontinue necessary medical treatment and they too have heightened nutritional needs.

Where hypnosis comes into play, is that it is the most effective method of neutralizing unconscious triggers because it addresses them at their source. There are a number of highly effective techniques that can help you experience significant relief and in my practice I have seen good results in just one or two visits.

If you would like to learn more, please give me a call at (732) 714-7040 for a free, confidential phone consultation. 

Stress and Tension Help NJ

My new video gives you an idea what to expect during the Anti-Stress Toolbox class

Life Enhancement Hypnosis-New Book Release!

Have you been curious as to whether hypnosis can enable you to change bad habits, alleviate unhealthy stress or improve your self-confidence? Hypnosis often helps people when nothing else has worked, but it is a topic that is often shrouded in mystery.

I am pleased to announce the release of Life Enhancement Hypnosis, an anthology of articles written by experienced hypnosis practitioners on topics for which they have a passion for working with and a high level of expertise. Included are:

Change the Meaning and Release the Stress by Dr. Patrick Conte, M.D., Ph.D.
How Our Brain Interprets Reality by Elaine Billy
Hypnosis for Children by Annette Bergstein
Only the Shadow Knows by Tony DeMarco, LLB, Ph.D.
Hypnosis for Performing and Visual Artists by John Kalinowski
Release the Fear That's Limiting Your Life by Rhoda Kopy
All Hypnosis is Self-Hypnosis by Roseann Petropolous
The Language of Change Creation by James Malone

Learn whether you too can benefit from Life Enhancement Hypnosis like so many others have. You may download a free digital copy at:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/814374

Brainwashing, Willpower, Hypnosis and Weight Loss?

After smoking cessation, weight loss is one of the primary reasons a person will seek out the services of a professional hypnotist.

Now more than ever people are seeking effective ways of releasing excess weight and with good reason. Public health statistics indicate that overweight and obesity may soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable death and illness in our society.

Now you may be wondering how brainwashing, willpower and hypnosis fit into this situation as the title of this article suggests?

Although the definition of hypnosis varies on who you talk to, I usually go with something along the lines of it being, "a process that utilizes a naturally altered state of consciousness in order to bring about helpful changes in a person's habits and perceptions at a subconscious level of mind."

Using the example of smoking cessation, the shift in perception from cigarettes being a "true friend" that enables a person to manage stress to the more reality-based position that they actually make stress worse will enable a person to let go of that habit much more easily.

(For the record: nicotine raises your heart rate and blood pressure while constricting your blood vessels, that is not relaxation!)

A smoker is literally brainwashed into believing the habit has value. However over time the person begins to experience inner turmoil as they realize the nicotine demon is causing significant harm yet has fear that his or her life will be unmanageable without it.

Many attempts at quitting are based on conscious willpower and these are often short-lived and unpleasant. That's because if the person continues to believe that smoking has some sort of value then not smoking feels like deprivation or a struggle. It doesn't take much to drift back into old patterns in that scenario.

Yet do you "struggle" not to suck on the exhaust pipe of your car? Of course you don't because you perceive any value in doing so. Once you realize smoking never helps and only harms, the fear of not smoking will be replaced with the happy realization that you are free and don't have to smoke anymore.

Now swinging back to weight loss, a huge obstacle is the perception that healthy eating and getting regular activity are too difficult and will make your life less enjoyable. But is this true? What kind of cultural brainwashing may be at work here?

Ask yourself, is carrying around the extra weight making your life easier? Are you happier because you can't wear the clothes you would like to wear? Do the unwanted pounds bring about a feeling of joy in the joints of your knees, hips and back when you try to climb a flight of stairs? I think you get the idea.

Imagine perceiving that eating healthier and getting more regular activity were in fact a gift you give yourself that provides wonderful benefits such as improved appearance, higher energy levels and enhanced self-confidence. Would it take a tremendous amount of willpower to stick with those healthier behaviors if you saw them in that light?

If you would like to learn more, I am here to help. The telephone number here is (732) 714-7040 or fill out the Life Enhancement Strategy Session form and I will get back to you ASAP.

Hypnosis for Enhanced Healing and Recovery

Some skeptical types may think of hypnosis as being out there and too "woo" to be taken seriously, especially when it comes to helping with medical disorders.

However there is plenty of evidence to suggest it deserves a place in your total health care plan.

Two primary aspects of hypnosis: deep relaxation and the cultivation of positive expectation are well documented in their relationship to physical health. The mind and body are not separate entities!

Below are some academic citations of interest. Please feel free to connect with me if you have any questions by calling (732) 714-7040.


Autogenic Training was a "powerful" therapy in early stage cancer patients
Hidderley, M., & Holt, M. (2004). A pilot randomized trial assessing the effects of autogenic training in early stage cancer patients in relation to psychological status and immune system responses. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8(1), 61-65.

Surgical Wounds Healed Faster with Hypnotic Visualization Technqiues
Broadbent, E., Kahokehr, A., Booth, R. J., Thomas, J., Windsor, J. A., Buchanan, C. M., . . . Hill, A. G. (2012). A brief relaxation intervention reduces stress and improves surgical wound healing response: A randomised trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 26(2), 212-217.

ACL Knee Surgery: the group that practiced imagery showed greater improvements in knee stability and reduced levels of stress hormones. The study authors speculate that imagery may speed recovery by reducing stress, which has been shown to interfere with healing.
Maddison, H. Prapavessis, M. Clatworthy, C. Hall, L. Foley, T. Harper, D. Cupal and B. Brewer. (2012) Guided imagery to improve functional outcomes post-anterior cruciate ligament repair: randomized-controlled pilot trial (pages 816–821). Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

GHT (Gut directed hypnotherapy) improves IBS-related quality of life, is superior to supportive me dical treatment alone, and shows a long-term effect even in refractory IBS.

Moser, G., Trägner, S., Gajowniczek, E. E., Mikulits, A., Michalski, M., Kazemi-Shirazi, L., . . . Miehsler, W. (2013). Long-Term Success of GUT-Directed Group Hypnosis for Patients With Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 108(4), 602-609

Hypnosis for Social Anxiety and Fear of Public Speaking?

A new video on how hypnosis can help you experience greater social confidence