Tom, this is sort of in response to your latest blog.
Keep talking, we're listening. This is good stuff. I know that it's helping me to move forward. Some of us have lots of issues :) - you know, you could actually have fear of failure and fear of success all wrapped up in one body.
But you'd be proud of me. I am taking your advice and "Failing Forward Fast". I made myself a checklist of what must be done to take that first client and am clearing it fast. For some reason every time I take the steps to move forward the Universe just takes 4 more for me. I know it's that Law of Attraction and the Art of Allowing stuff I keep doing. I love it and I hate it.
So, yesterday, I had scheduled the fire inspection at my office (needed for business license - checking off my list fast) and the massage therapist is there who I rent from, and she says she is ready for me to hypnotize her (exchange of services) for exercise motivation. And I think, okay, that should be pretty easy. So I say I'm ready, let's schedule you.... (she is very excited that I am there but wants to experience it herself before she can wholeheartedly recommend me to her clients.) So everything is good until...
Then she says that she also wants me to hypnotize her 12 year old for 1. thumb sucking and 2. for losing control when she plays poorly in sports. Of course, I say. "Children are so easy to hypnotize, it's very successful with children, I'm looking forward to helping her." Now, I'm thinking, "okay, never hypnotized a child before and these sound like kind of tough issues." (yep, fear is setting in).
Then her client comes in while I am there and of course, I am very good at talking about how great hypnosis is, so she is interested in me hypnotizing her husband for his golf game. So I say, "sure no problem, that's really easy." But I'm thinking, "I know nothing about golf, and haven't even looked at a sports script yet." Now at this point, I'm still smiling but yep, more fear. I'm pulling back on those reins, thinking, whoa... Then she says, she would like to be hypnotized too and I was thanking God at that point that she had to go in for her appointment.
So, now, I'm practicing my "what ifs"....
(I learned this from the book "The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent"
What if... I am so successful when I hypnotize the massage therapist and her daughter that she praises me so much to her clients that I get lots of business right away from her.
What if... I find hypnotizing children is easy and I really help her daughter.
What if... every time I hypnotize someone it goes great and it gets easier and easier
What if... after I post this I get some great advice from some awesome hypnotists out there which results in every one of the previously mentioned sessions being highly successful.
What if.. I find out it's really not that hard hypnotizing people and I just happen to be really great at it!
So, Tom, thanks, I'm "failing forward fast" .
Sherrie
"just loving life"


Okay Sherrie.. a few things. First, it's Fail Forward Fast. Meaning, make mistakes as you go, while learning and improving. People are afraid to fail but there's no such thing as it is all (life that is) an ongoing learning experience. Scientists call it Trial and Error.
Tom NicoliWhat if... I am so successful when I hypnotize the massage therapist and her daughter that she praises me so much to her clients that I get lots of business right away from her.
YES! SUPERB!
What if... I find hypnotizing children is easy and I really help her daughter.
FANTASTC!
What if... every time I hypnotize someone it goes great and it gets easier and easier
GREAT!
What if... after I post this I get some great advice from some awesome hypnotists out there which results in every one of the previously mentioned sessions being highly successful.
Humbly I write: I'm here posting aren't I?
What if.. I find out it's really not that hard hypnotizing people and I just happen to be really great at it!
That will happen and then there will be times you'll think, "What the hell was that session all about." Then you'll look back at it and find what went wrong and IMPROVE! YES!
BTW... soon you will learn you will hardly use scripts. Direct suggestion is just a small part of it all. Gather more "scripts" in the way of metaphors, double bind verbiage and indirect suggestion.
With children, remember they are 1) usually very imaginative and guided imagery can work well with them and 2) usually don't remain in hypnosis for as long of a time as adults... less attention span. Bring them in and out using eye open, eye close fractionation.
"In a moment I'm goingto count to 3 and your eyes will open... but, even with your eyes open you will remain in hypnosis... a deep relaxation. If you understand, nod your head for me. (response) And... when I say "Sleep"... your eyes will close and you will go deeper in to this relaxed feeling... and the deeper you go the better you feel. If you understand, nod your head. (nod) Great... you're doing perfectly.
1...remaining deeply relaxed now... 2.... feeling even more relaxed... and 3... eyes open. (while lifting the arm by the wrist a bit off the chair or their lap say...) Take a deep breath (and as the client exhales) drop the arm and say)..., "Sleep.
Use this with anyone. It's a great deepening technique. Now... off to exercise and to the office.
My best,
Tom
08:52 AM CST