Musings on Hypnosis by Certified Hypnotherapist Donna Sherman, CHt

Photo by Donna Sherman I am thinking outside the box more and more these days.   Which is what a good Hypnotist needs to do because, Lord knows, we already know too well what’s in the box. And what we seek probably isn't . It's January and I am thinking about Betrayal, Forgiveness and Redemption. The first one is easy for humans, the second two; not so much. And yet they are all 3 bound up together are they not? I have had clients come to see me to find a way to move past betrayals and being that I do not have superpowers to cause the Betrayer to be struck dead,  or the situation to disappear ...I have to offer them something else. While  not leading them to any path I have in mind; I can hold their hand in the dark and offer flashlight to light the map they already have in their pocket.  Hypnotherapy can help one see they at least have a map... Hmm, what is this map?  What does it lead to?   A map to PEACE in their o...

Photo by Donna Sherman I am not sure that this post has anything at all to do with Hypnosis, but I am writing it anyway. We'll see what happens.... Everything is indeed connected , all actions begin with thoughts often born from emotion. All of these aspects originate within us, many times in response to what is outside of us.     In this sense; this is about Hypnosis because Hypnosis is about the power of suggestion, after all. Our vast technology has changed the landscape of our interior worlds profoundly.  It has given us a knowledge of events and opinions far greater than in any time in human history.  And, like all knowledge, once known, it can not then be UN-known.   I’ve written before about the sense of bombardment.   Things coming at us from everywhere… The news,  the arguing,  the imagery, the advertising… There is a subworld online and outward  that we’ve created and like the proverbial F...

  Artist: Vladimir Ku sh  Happy April.  The most painfully exquisite month of all. Now April has been called “The Cruelest Month” and for me personally, I could surely believe this. But I am choosing to see it’s beauty instead. As I have said in so many different ways from my very first blog entry here….its is all what we tell ourselves... which comes from how we look at things...the  language and way we use to describes things, even to ourselves….changing our perception deep down; changes the reality. Changing the reality, changes how it makes us feel.  This is not the same thing as ignoring reality! I came across a study recently, I don’t think it is a new one, it has been put forth in various ways…. Unfortunately, for this one  I did not bookmark it, so I don’t have the exact statistics….but bear with me; because you’ll get the somewhat brilliant point just the same! A bunch of people were asked the question: “ Is it ok ...

 Photo by Donna Sherman   Hello again.  I am writing today, exactly 26 days into 2015, wondering how those New Years Resolutions are going for you? Right. Many of you may be wondering the same thing, yes? Well, no worries.  I am here to tell you that, in general, New Years Resolutions don’t work. And I will tell you why, although you already know.   Because it is actually quite arbitrary, a “New Year’s Resolution”. Because it is just “A Thing To Do” or even  “A Thing To Say You Will Do”  Something linked to a vague idea of a new year starting fresh, so it seems like a good idea.  But unless your resolution gets linked in some way to something deeper than a calendar day,  there is no real power source for the “resolution” to keep going.  Let’s face it, New years begin after a good month of parties, stress, disruption of schedules, etc.  Come January 1 most people just want to find some structure again,...

Artist: Alastair Magnald   Gratitude. Gratitude is the ultimate opposite of everything negative.  When you are truly grateful, you are truly open. Faked or false gratitude won't cut it.   The real true emotion of gratitude is one that permeates mind, body and soul.   It is very easy to feel true gratitude for the good things in Life.  Of course. But all of Life's challenges and heartbreaks and difficulties that come to everyone sooner or later,  what happens when you can find gratitude for those things too? A lot happens.   Talk about a magic wand!  Talk about an antidote for poison.  A balm for wounds.  Food for the starving.  Rain for parched land.  A warm blanket for the freezing. Gratitude feels simple but achieving this emotion fully,  is actually like hoisting up a pair of giant wings to take you anywhere.  Simple but extremely POWERFUL. Feeling thankful, even...

  It is good to be back to my practice.  Though the circumstances were far from ideal,  it has been a time of real personal growth for me, and I feel that quite a bit of it will also be of great benefit to my clients.  I had two choices; I could let the loss of my partner do me in, or I could let it be an opportunity for higher knowledge and expansion.  Pretty sure there was never an option for a middle ground. I chose expansion.  I am glad that I did.   I had a good talk with someone today who asked me about what I do. What I actually do. I do not psychoanalyze people. Sometimes knowing why you do what you do, does not change the behavior. Sometimes too much focus on a particular problem or issue can actually reinforce it. Things do need to be acknowledged and understood to a degree, no doubt.  It is not about ignoring what may be negative.  But it is a perspective shift on the entire issue that will allow a per...

"The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali ***May 5, 2014*** As many of you may know, my partner of 15 years passed away suddenly on Saturday, April 26, 2014.   This (below) is the blog entry I had been working on and literally just completed moments before I got the call to tell me what had happened.   I could not make this fact up if I tried.   I post it here now, below, in the hopes that what it says it may truly reach some of you reading, as it is now resonating in ways for me personally that I never could have dreamed of when these words first were written:    ************************************************************* Do you remember the last time you almost busted a gut laughing?   Laughed so hard that tears ran down your face? Can you recall a sight you saw or a moment you shared with someone that took your breath away and changed your whole world forever? If asked, could you envision a memory when you tr...

  Artist: Quint Buchholz   Bombardment.  This is on my mind lately.  The swirling tornado of imagery, advertisement, updates, news flashes, texts, emails, articles, website links, sorrows, celebrations,  that we exist in the middle of every day. Our collective virtual plethorum of stuff that BOMBARDS us pretty much 24/7. It is an assault on the senses.  I guess every period in history has it’s unique challenges, and this would be ours.   Do you feel like some days; your thoughts aren’t even your own?   Do you ever wonder if, in a sense, we are all somewhat under hypnosis all the time? Fire. Radio. T.V. Computer. Smartphone. Oh the things we have gathered around over time, to stare at and glean from. At least the first 3, we used to do in the company of others, mostly. Now we stare at these little rectangles in our hands.   Alone. And we are hypnotized. I have heard the theo...

March 13, 2014 Photo by Donna Sherman   On one of my certification tests, one of the questions asked: What is the most important tool in a hypnotist's “tool box”?   There were four possible answers.   Skill. Knowledge. Integrity. Confidence. All of them are beyond important.  All of them are necessary.  But which is the most important? Integrity. Without a doubt.  Above all else. My wonderful teacher instilled this in me and I remain every day in full agreement.   But how would a potential client know this?   How does anyone seeking help for anything know the person they choose is trustworthy?  Especially a hypnotist.  I invite you or anyone out there considering visiting a hypnotist to trust their gut.  Your “gut” is your subconscious and it knows.  You must listen to it. And do your homework. If you are unsure; get referrals.  Talk to other people who have worked with this per...

Well one month into a brand new year, I’ve barely had time to write but the musings going on in my mind have sure not stopped!   As this winter has taken us into the single digit temps I decided to try an experiment . I wanted to see if I could quickly warm myself up using only self hypnosis.   I wanted to see if it was possible to do a long walk to my parked car,  without abject misery, on a 5 degree night.  I was sure it was doable, though I had never tried it.   And just like everything I have found with respect to hypnosis,  once the right state of mind is achieved; it is easy!  Yes there I was in 5 degrees, wind chill very possibly below 0 degrees,  strolling comfortably towards my car.  Not shivering, not cursing, not wishing I was encased in a climate controlled spacesuit, just me strolling comfortably, getting into a deep freezer known as a parked car, and calmly awaiting the engine to warm up! ...

  Well it has been quite a time! I do hope everyone had a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving, I sure did, and I find myself enjoying this holiday season more than usual. I have been seeing lots of clients and every time I do, I just keep on learning and more. Experience really is the best teacher and my work has been so unbelievably gratifying! It is never too late to make a change in your life. If anyone reading this thinks so; it is time to rethink that. The human mind is always ready for change as long as it functions. Bad habits can be transformed into good ones. Creative blocks can be unblocked. Old fears can melt away like an Autumn snowfall. There are always new paths to travel. I don’t mean to sound like a motivational speaker, I realize I might. I don’t think there is a “one size fits all” solution to motivate anyone, the way many actual motivational speakers do. I think it is very individualized, what rings the right bell for a person or what meta...