In hypnosis, how something is said often matters more than what is said. Yiddish works the same way.
Hypnosis says, Relax, you’re safe here.
Yiddish says, Relax, everyone’s a mess, you’re in good company.
My favorite Yiddish saying is: Man plans, God Laughs
We all need more laughter and worry prevents us from living in the now. Here are some tools to use when you find worry is robbing you of energy to do those things you ought to be able to do.
Label it: “This is worry.” Then imagine placing that worry on a shelf, in jar with a lid, or in the trunk of a parked car. This takes away the urgency.
Breathe. Give the breath a rhythm. Inhale for 4, exhale for 6. Inhale for 4, exhale for 6. Inhale for 4, exhale for 6. Now hum Happy Birthday while counting in for 4, and out for 6.
Ask These Access Consciousness Questions:
What is this?
What can I do with it?
Can I change it?
If so, how can I change it?
Don’t look for answers. Your brain will go on auto pilot if you ask and move on, allowing your body to relax. You may have to ask these questions numerous times. I choose to ask questions during a day when something is up for me. Again, ask the questions and stop looking for an answer. You will get some form of awareness.
The first time I used this technique I was on my third rotation of questioning. I asked, “Can I change it?” and I received a, “No.” My voice, my knowing. That gave me choice. I couldn’t change what was happening and I chose not to participate.
I have used this technique and found myself speaking words of wisdom. No thinking about what is right or wrong or appropriate. What comes out of my mouth is what needs to be said in the moment. This makes life easier. Other times I’ve had an awareness to go about ‘the thing’ in a different way. And sometimes the worry fizzles out and dies. Worry is like a rocking chair that doesn’t go anywhere.
Keep a Worry Journal
When you hear yourself worrying about something write it in your Worry Journal and tell the thought, “I’ll get back to you later.” Let your attention go to something else knowing you have set aside a specific time every day to worry about whatever you’ve written down.
“How?” you ask.
Choose a time that works for you. Example: every morning when I drink my coffee I will take time to worry or, after I eat lunch I will take time to worry or, from 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm I will take time to worry. Have one worry session a day and pick a time that works for you. Before bed is not an appropriate time to try this technique as you will not get the rest your body requires. (Sleep Hypnosis is a wonderful way to reclaim sleep).
When you are ready to tackle the worry journal, set the timer on your phone for the length of time you plan to worry (between 10 and 20 minutes) and place the phone across the room. When you are at home, set the timer on the microwave so you are required to stand up and walk into the kitchen to turn it off.
Read the worries you have listed in your journal. Pay attention to each specific worry. Now imagine the worst-case scenario. Revel in it. Run through every possible horrid scenario. Go all the way until you die from this worry. Make it into a movie or book. Have it become so ridiculous that you won’t feel the need to continue. Next, cross the worry off your list for that day.
Take the biggest worry first and if you don’t have time for all of them, tell the list you will see them tomorrow because you are now done for the day.
At some point, you may notice your patterns. You’ll understand what specific topics keep you worried. Some people worry when they are bored as their mind has put that on an auto pilot system. Some people worry when they read disturbing things. For that I say, “Stop looking, listening, and watching those things.”
When your timer goes off, get up and get ready for work, or go vacuum the rug, or start dinner. Have something you plan to do immediately after you have completed your Worry Session. This is important so I will say it again. Have an activity planned or something you have to do right after your timer goes off. Don’t keep sitting there, do something different!
Hypnosis is great way to find the root cause of worry. This could something you learned from your mother or father. You might have started when you were young so you have this false belief that you have to worry or you can’t stop worrying. Hypnosis helps you turn the corner on what you think you can’t control.
Worry is borrowing future trouble and uses up precious energy. Hypnosis is great for reminding your central nervous system to stop the thoughts that are sabotaging you from having a life filled with ease.
Worry about what you can control. If you can’t control it, let it go using one of the above techniques. You know you need a hypnosis session if you continue to obsess about something you can’t control.
I’m ready when you are ready!
Donna Brown is a Certified Hypnotist based in Houston with over a decade of experience helping clients create positive change through the power of the subconscious mind. She is a graduate of the National Guild of Hypnotists, Inc. and the National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists. Certifications include Access Bars, Access Facelift, Access Certified Facilitator, Body Code, Emotion Code, and Belief Code Practitioner, Psych-K, and NLP.
