Letting go is the theme today, let me explain…
Today I am going to share with you another mental imagery technique to be used in conjunction with self-hypnosis. It is a technique that has a variety of applications and could be focused on various outcomes for any individual, but the central theme is that of letting go.
This process could be used for letting go of unwanted thoughts and/or feelings and thus lifting mood, or it could be used to quieten the mind prior to a period of required concentration or going to sleep.
The surface of water is often used as a metaphor within personal development or self-improvement circles. The surface has some kind of relationship with what is going on down below – whether that is obscuring what is going on or accurately depicting what is happening down there.
This process of letting go is going to use a number of traditional themes; nature, water and natural processes to aid letting go of anything unwanted.
So before we start, have a good think about what you are going to use this session for. What aspect of life would you benefit from letting go of? Do you want to let go of something? Are you hoping to clear your mind for a particular purpose? Or would you just like some extra peace of mind? Now move on with the step-by-step guide to letting go:
Step One: Induce Hypnosis.
You can do so by any means you desire or know of. You can use the process in my Science of self-hypnosis book, use the free audio we give away on this website to practice or have a look at the following articles as and when you need them; they are basic processes to help you simply open the door of your mind:
Heavy Arm Self-Hypnosis Induction Method
Using Eye Fixation for Self-Hypnosis
The Chiasson Self-Hypnosis Method
Hand to Face Self-Hypnosis Induction
Using Magnetic Hands for Self-Hypnosis
The Coin Drop Self-Hypnosis Induction
However, with this process, an induction is potentially too much activity, so I teach my clients how to adopt a hypnotic mindset and simply have a mindset that is positive and expectant. Again, to really understand the cognitive set of the hypnotic mindset, go grab a copy of my Science of self-hypnosis book where it is explained in simple but comprehensive terms.
Once you have induced hypnosis, or just adopted the hypnotic mindset, move on to the next step.
Step Two: Imagine yourself in a favourite place in nature. Create this place and let there be a pond there. A pond connected to a gentle river some way away that you can hear in the distance. Beside the pond notice a tree of some kind, with leaves of a shape that you decide upon.
Become aware of the colours, shades of light, tune in to the sounds of the place and notice how it makes you feel so comfortable and safe to be here in this place of your own design. Notice the temperature, the weather, the colour of the sky and feel the breeze if there is any, notice the smell in the air and really immerse yourself in this place.
Use this step to really imagine being in this place and deepen your hypnosis at the same time. Let every breath you breathe guide you deeper while you relax in this place. Once you have created this place and feel tuned into it, move on to the next step.
Step Three: Take a seat beside the pond, as you sit, imagine any discomfort drains from your body, relaxing you and is absorbed by the ground. Gaze upon the surface of the calm pond and notice the reflection of the pond and if you adjust yourself at all, you can see yourself in the reflection too.
Spend a few moments getting deeper relaxed, enjoying the place and the scene, then move on to the next step.
Step Four: A firm gust of wind blows through the place for a moment, you breathe in that clean air and listen to the sounds all around as it fills the place with a momentary movement. As it blows through the tree beside the pond, several leaves fall onto the surface of the water in the pond. You watch some of the leaves, spiral deeper and deeper down through the air and into the pond.
The surface of the pond is now obscured by the leaves and you cannot see the reflection on the surface. Some of them move, they roll slowly upon the gently moving surface by a tiny, noticeable current from the attached river that connects a short distance away.
Many of the leaves are gathering around the edge of the pond, close to you. Observe them for a while and notice them. You can even reach out and touch them if you wish, get a sense of their texture. When you have noticed them gathering nearby, move on to the next step.
Step Five: Start to consider yourself and contemplate your goal for this session. Start to think of what it is that you wish to let go of. Or of thoughts you wish to leave you for a while. Or feelings that you would benefit from letting go of.
As you think about them, in this wonderful place of your imagination and creation, now start to place them one by one on to the leaves and as you intend to let go of them, notice the leaves beginning to move slowly and surely away from you and towards the part of the pond that connects with the river.
Watch as you place each worry, or unwanted thought, or distraction or whatever onto the leaves and the leaves then transport it away…. They move away, out of sight, out of mind and leave you feeling clearer and more more comfortable and more at ease.
Continue to do this deliberately and purposefully until you have let go of everything that you wanted to for this session. Then move on to the next step.
Step Six: Spend some time watching the pond clear and enjoying the relaxation and peace of mind that brings. Notice the reflection coming back and enjoy basking in the tranquility for a while.
Step Seven: Once you have enjoyed that experience, then wiggle your toes and fingers and take a deep energizing breath, and open your eyes to bring this session to an end. Alternatively, if you are using to lull yourself to sleep. Just continue to bask in restfulness after step six and drift off comfortably.
There you go, enjoy that, free your mind with this neat process of letting go.
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Have some of themes here resonated with you? Then have a read of these pages:
1. Do you need help or support in a particular area of your life?
Coaching with Adam Eason Or Hypnotherapy with Adam Eason
2. Would you like a satisfying and meaningful career as a hypnotherapist helping others? Are you a hypnotherapist looking for stimulating and career enhancing continued professional development and advanced studies?
Adam Eason’s Anglo European training college.
3. Are you a hypnotherapist looking to fulfil your ambitions or advance your career?
Hypnotherapist Mentoring with Adam Eason.
Likewise, if you’d like to learn more about self-hypnosis, understand the evidence based principles of it from a scientific perspective and learn how to apply it to many areas of your life while having fun and in a safe environment and have the opportunity to test everything you learn, then come and join me for my one day seminar which does all that and more, have a read here: The Science of Self-Hypnosis Seminar. Alternatively, go grab a copy of my Science of self-hypnosis book.
