Is Debt Freedom and Happiness the Same Thing?

I hear two things fairly often in my comings and goings around the office. The first thing I hear is something to the tune of "I want to be happier." The second refrain is stress about debt. Now you probably are already guess the chorus. If I only had no debt, I'd be happier. The assumption seems to be that these two things are related.

Well, there isn't much I can do about the debt problem as I am not a credit counselor. I can suggest various ideas to help straighten out the debt such as paying attention to credit cards and credit cards rating. You can use a site like Credit Card Club to learn the nitty gritty behind the plastic in your wallet. It might even inspire you to lessen your credit card load and get rid of the ones that nag you with high interests rates, fees, etc. But beyond that, I can't help lessen the current debt.

shopping, What I can also do is help you get to the bottom of some financial bad habits (compulsivecompeting with the neighbors, those sorts of things) and help you transform your life with better habits. So here is the thing - you will get different results in a hypnosis session depending on your goals. If you ask for help in attaining happiness, the end product may have little to do with finances. If you want to work on your spending habits, that we can accomplish. Will it bring happiness with it? Maybe, maybe not. The happiness would be a side-affect.

To make the most out of your session, have a goal in mind and share it with the hypnotist. Do not assume he or she will be able to help you manifest anything other than what you tell them. Know what it is you seek. Things may be related and you may learn a lot more about yourself, but do not assume this will be the case.

I have had clients who come to me with the goal of working on their patience in a relationship. What I have come to find out in one case, after the fact, they were actually looking to be happier in their relationship. This had little to do with patience in the end.

So again, have a direct outcome you would like to gain in a hypnosis session. Be sure to disclose it to the hypnotist and make sure they understand its importance. You will be more apt to get teh results of which you are expecting.

Want a Vacation?

So, its summer and it is pseudonymous with the idea of vacationing. What with the price of gas, let alone affording the increasing prices of travel, the idea of taking a week off to go somewhere exciting may now seem a bit depressing. So what's a person to do?

Well, for one, you can plan well and use online travel guides such as the ones at Trusted Tours and Attractions. You could visit a place close by. For instance, if you live in the North East, there are many options. Things to do in New York City are an unending list.

But, aside from the obvious, there is something else you can do - take a mental vacation. Humor me here. If things have piled up and you just can't get away, you can probably find a few minutes and use a technique called revivification - allowing yourself to remember and relive a past vacation. The effects give you a slight lift and a brief vacation that may make the rest of your day go well.

You just begin by closing your eyes (also you may want want to take a few deep breaths and exhales). Think about the idea of a past favorite vacation. Start at the beginning of the trip (whenever and where ever that may be), and begin to recall all the details that you can about what made it so wonderful. Let time do its own thing - if there are moments you want to skip over, well, skip over them. If there are moments you want to play over and over again, do so. See if you can remember what it felt like or even what conversations you had.

For me, I often go back to a vacation I took years ago to Orlando. And though there are many things to do in Orlando, I always go back to being able to ride Space Mountain eleven times in a row at The Magic Kingdom. I can feel the air blowing around me as the ride starts, the exhilaration of letting go and reveling in the physics of motion. Then I think about convincing the ride controller to let me stay on again.

But, after you do this and you still find yourself in the mood to plan a vacation, you might want to sign up for Trusted Tours and Attractions newsletter. They often give incentives for signing up, such as giving away GPS devices and such.

Are You Afraid to Ask for Help?

Seriously? Are you the sort of person who holds it all in and figures you can handle it all alone? Or are you the sort of person who relies on other people to help you with everything? Or do you have a good balance between asking for help when you really need it and functioning on your own when it is most healthy?

By asking for help, you are often helping someone else. Allowing someone else to be part of your life, part of a positive solution, you can strengthen relationships. But you can not do this grudgingly, just as the person helping you cannot lord it over you. It is all part of a give and take, and it can work smoothly.

An example of this is one of the finalist in the RenuzitTriScentsHomeMakeover Contest. In this competition, people entered the Transform Your Home with Tanya Memme Promotion in hopes of winning a $20,000 home makeover. The entree I am mentioning is a very simple plea for help. In it is just a photograph of a family's house and accompanying it is a letter. The letter is straightforward and talks about the struggles the family is currently undergoing. All they want is a sanctuary, which is what a home has the potential of being. So, they entered this contest, thus asking for help. Perhaps the help will come. To see this entry and vote for it, just visit the semi-finalist gallery. You can be part of the solution for these people.

Now ask yourself, doesn't it feel good to help someone else out? This little exercise is so simple. Put yourself in their shoes. Maybe when you need help, it will be easier to ask for it.

How trendy are you?

Here is something to think about: are you trendy? Seriously? Do you have to have the latest, coolest fashions like Roca Wear Boots or whatever else is deemed coolest at the moment?

Why am I asking this on a hypnosis blog or more exactly, why am I asking this on a Tuesday? Well, it is simple, especially since this is the weekly post where we talk about ways for you to have a positive hypnosis experience. If you are a trendy sort then it helps define what currently motivates you and motivation is a really important part of the hypnosis process.

It works two ways.

1. It may be an indicator of why you chose to try hypnosis or not. It could be that the real reason behind why you chose to go - because those around you think it is cool. Now this can be a good thing, provided that you really want to make a certain change. If you do not want to make the change, then it will be a waste of your money and time.
2. However, if you find the only reason you are not going to a hypnotist is because it isn't cool, but believe it can help you, than sticking to this trend is bad. It means that you are letting someone else stand between your personal success or failure.

Everything in life can work for or against you. Look at your life and take notice. For instance, there is a trend to clean up our acts and stop smoking. Many who come to me for smoking cessation mention how badly they feel they are treated by non-smokers. This motivates many to eventually give it up. It helps. Or how about clothing. Sure there are companies who make larger fashions, but the labels that the populace favor often exemplify those who are in great shape. This can be a motivating factor to lose weight. If one does not chose these trends, it can impact one's self-esteem and marketers would have it that your self-esteem improves with being able to use their products. And sometimes, it can work to our advantage.

Just notice what motivates you and let it help you make the changes you want to make.

5 Ways to Have a Successful Hypnosis Session

Sometimes I have the urge to say that experiencing hypnosis is not rocket science. It is not harder than waiting tables. But then for some, it is like rocket science or learning to wait tables. The positive thing for these folks is that if you wanted to be a rocket scientist, you could. You could go to college and study it. If you wanted to be part of a wait staff, you could learn from training or DVDs. So, if you can do both of those things, you can be good at reaping the benefits of hypnosis.

How?

1. You could research it (on blogs and such like this one) and learn what it is and is not.

2. You can research hypnotists and find one with whom you are comfortable.

3. Follow the hypnotist's instructions. That should really help. If you find you are going into a session and feel fearful or untrusting of the hypnotist, go to another one.

4. Do not expect to have an experience like those shown on popular television fiction. Ask the hypnotist about this if he or she has not given you an idea about what to expect.

5. The more you use hypnosis the better it becomes. You might even want out some self-hypnosis programs.

And at the end of the session, maybe you will not understand jet propulsion, but you can look at it as if it were a glass of wine, filled with your beverage of choice. Not only will your glass be half filled, it will be totally full.

A Simple Commitment

Wouldn't it be nice if personal change could be as easy as applying Makeup or for a more masculine slant, deciding whether or not to shave for the day?

However, there is a misconception with hypnosis that it is even easier than doing either of these things. Here is how it goes: you have a vague idea about something you wish could be different and that a hypnotist can magically snap their fingers and change it much like a fairy godmother would do for a beloved god-child. But even the fairy godmother knows there are certain things must be adhered to for the wish to come true. There is timing and certain steps that one must take to get to the ball and win the heart of the royalty.

The deal with hypnosis is that you have to be willing to do a little work. You have to be willing to actually commit to making the change. Before you even step through the door, it must be in your heart of hearts that you are willing to make the changes you want to make. You cannot expect anyone else to do it for you.

For instance, if you decide to see a hypnotist to stop smoking, when you go for that session, you should have the mindset that when you leave you will be a non-smoker. Do not question it and see if you can still smoke. Of course you can, it is not rocket science. But instead see how long you can remain a non-smoker, see how long you can remain committed to yourself.

So, as you put on your shaving cream or line those lips, think about something you wish you could change. And when you are ready, commit to it. The commitment is as easy as shaving or putting on the make-up.

Are You Going Into Battle?

He sits there, body ridged and ready for combat in his BDU Pants. He will be strong. He is on the offensive. He is ready.

But ready for what? A tactical in Iraq?

Let me describe the setting a little more. Sunlight filters in. The couch he sits upon, waiting, is soft and comfortable. There is instrumental music wafting through the rooms, and all is quiet...except for his mind. It races. He is ready for whatever comes. He is prepared - or so he believes.

But the truth is, he is not, otherwise he would not be here, in my waiting room. He is here for a reason, be it smoking cessation, weight loss, nail biting, self-esteem boosting, or what-have-you and he needs a little help in doing so. For him, this is combat.

Only, I cannot help him. He is not ready to deal with me. Instead, he has come with another purpose and that is to debunk hypnosis. He wants to prove that he cannot be hypnotized. He is determined. And if I did not notice this, he would succeed with this wrong tactic stance.

Though this scenario is becoming rarer, people still come in, defenses up. I write this in hopes that those reading this may understand a little more about hypnosis and the mindset needed for it.

Ask yourself, if you are thinking about going to a hypnotist, why are you going? Is it because someone is hounding you to do so or you just want to prove that you cannot be hypnotize? If you are going because of the former, do not waste your money. Only go if you want to make a change, not because someone else wants you to. If it is the latter, do not waste your money. You will prove that you cannot be hypnotized.

When Not to Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

A few Tuesdays ago, we talked about the timing for actually setting up a hypnosis session. Today let's step back a bit more. How do you know when you need to make a change in your life when it seems so easy to just let sleeping dogs lie? Well, those dogs are not sleeping. They may look like it, but they have already begun to growl.

What am I getting at? I am talking about things that decay your sense of self-esteem. You may not even realize it is happening.

Here are some things to think about:

1. Do you feel as though people are tending to avoid talking to you?
2. Do you find that you want to avoid looking at yourself in a mirror?
3. Are you having to go to great lengths to hide a habit from your friends and family?
4. Do you avoid things you used to enjoy (healthy things) because for some reason they now make you feel bad?
5. Do you make excuses for your actions?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may mean your self-esteem is being affected. Now ask yourself - why did you answer yes to any of these questions. Are you happy with the answer?

If not, this is a time to look at making a change. It is your self-esteem that is in question. Sure, you can bury the information you just answered, but it is only going to make it worse. Rather, use the answers to be a catalyst for something new and positive. Imagine how it could be if you had answered (truthfully) no to those questions (and if you did, three cheers). There is, after all, only so many breath mints you can stomach to hide the breath of tobacco or alcohol. There are only so many times you can make yourself comfortable by buying larger clothes. There are only so many times you can use the same excuse before it plays like a broken record.

And from there, you have an answer to knowing it is indeed a time to make a change.

The Mindset of Commitment

Sometimes we want to do things the easy way or better yet, we want it done for us. We look for quick fixes, short-term diets, exercise machines, and face creams. We contemplate the Human Growth Hormone to make us feel and look younger. And sometimes all these things work for us - sometimes for a long while, sometimes for a shorter duration. So, we try this or that and learn from it all.

But what we really want is change - a positive change that will make us feel better about this living process in which we are all engaged. Often clients come to me for various things and what they all need is a lifestyle change. That is the basis of hypnosis and many other products that promote health, wellness and self-esteem. You see something, such as hypnosis that can help you change something within you. Inevitably what it means is that for hypnosis (or what have you) to work, it is a commitment to change the daily rituals in your life. You have to committee to the lifestyle change for it to be effective.

For instance, if you go to a hypnotist for weight loss, the pounds do not magically go away. You have to commit to whatever change you are making - whether it is changing eating habits, exercising more, or dealing with stress differently. Going into the session, you have to understand that the hypnotist cannot do the work for you. She or he can help work on the mind set for creating the change, but it is up to you to follow through. The oly way to do this is to accept that you are about to change your life style.

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You may have noticed the link to growth hormones above. To learn more about them, please click on that link. Please remember that N*tranced is merely sharing information. If you are interesting in using such a product, it is always good to check with your doctor first.

The Art of Reframing

When you utilize hypnosis(or NLP), one of the things that often happens in the process is that you find yourself doing something called "reframing." Reframing is exactly as it sounds. It is like having a picture. Maybe the picture would look better with a different frame around it, so you choose a new frame that suits it. Reframing in the hypnosis setting is just like that idea. You are the work of art and you want to change something (that is the frame), so you choose to make a change.

In more general terms, it is looking at something you are not happy with and relooking at it in a new way that works.

An example would be if you find that you stress easily and because of that have a lot of excess energy that builds up in the form of anger. Maybe it comes out in hurtful words to others or even violence. Rather than succumbing to such an end, you could reframe the energy and frustration found in anger into a more positive outcome. You could take up martial arts, buy
karate uniforms, learn the discipline, and heck, become a little more physically fit. The energy becomes a useful tool in overall health. In a sense, you have reframed the energy and frustration that was once destructive into something extremely good and healthy.

Of course you can do this without hypnosis. Committing to the reframing process might just be enough. However, hypnosis in this sense is helpful in getting to the bottom of the issue and making suggestion for the change. In the case mentioned above, the hypnotic suggestions would be to release the energy build-up in a disciplined environment of martial arts.

A Tuesday Tip - When to Change

If you are wondering what happened to the hypnosis information on this blog, it is still very much a part of it. In thinking about how to make this a more efficient and productive reading experience, I am toying with the idea of having regular segments along with the regular blogging stuff. I have already put this into play with the Monday Contemplation. So, I think Tuesday will be "Tuesday Tips or Trivia" and these post will be how to incorporate hypnosis into your life, how to make the most out of a hypnosis session, or interesting facts related to hypnosis.

So to start out with, let's talk about timing. Considering we are discussing Mayan time and potential change in 2012, current time is a great place to start. This sometimes comes up often in phone conversations before appointments are actually made. The questions are usually something to the effect of:

I want to quit smoking, binge drinking, lose weight (or insert your own reason for hypnosis here), but next week, I am going to go vacation, have the in-laws visit, have a stressful ordeal (again insert your personal event here), should I wait until after this to schedule a session?

Brilliant, but tough question. The answer is totally dependent on you. If you want to wait and use the excuse (I'm going on vacation, my in-laws will be visiting, etc.) as a last hurrah or crutch, than by all means, use it. I say this in terms of the idea that it is up to you to choose your start time for the change you have in mind. Hypnosis, if you want to get your money's worth, is not something to be entered into lightly. When you go for that first session, the change is in effect. It means that upon leaving my office (or any hypnotist's office), you have made the conscious commitment to move forward in your change. This is the first day in your new life.

On the other hand, if you may choose instead to go forward before the event (vacation, in-laws, etc.) because you are excited about the new you, that is extremely positive. It may be a celebration in change, knowing you can do anything you want to do. You are in control. Often being in a situation where in the past you would have, say - smoked, drank yourself to oblivion, gorged on junk food (or what have you), it is extremely empowering to go through the situation without regressing to past bad-habits. It can really strengthen your self-esteem and commitment to change.

With all this said, if you are planning to use hypnosis for self-change, you are the one deciding on the factors, such as when the time is right. There is a time and place for everything - only you can decide.