Progress at Your Own Speed

In compliance with current WHO and CDC recommendations to minimize risk of exposure to and spread of the COVID-19 virus, I am temporarily suspending in-person hypnotherapy sessions with me in my office. However, phone and Skype consultations ARE and WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE! 

(This blog was originally posted on February 12, 2015)

Photo by Rick Hustead

Opportunities and events rarely just drop into our laps. An immediate, successful outcome is not guaranteed. Usually we must put in a lot of work and have a lot of motivation to reach a goal or milestone. Days, weeks, months and even years can pass without making any obvious progress toward our goal. During that time it is easy to become frustrated and even disillusioned about when/whether/if we will ever get our “break.” Sometimes life even steps in and replaces the original goal and desired outcome with something better than you could have ever dreamed of.

Recently, my dad commented (again) how excellent it was that actor Benedict Cumberbatch has enjoyed such great success in the film industry. However, he has certainly been paying his dues as an actor for many years—mostly on stage in Britain and some roles in television movies and series in Britain and in America. Receiving an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, well, that’s quite an endorsement for the Sherlock star’s acting chops, is it not? Of course, Mr. Cumberbatch’s story is not one of overnight success, at all. Do you remember his very minor role as a cavalry officer in Steven Spielberg’s (2011) film, War Horse? As he landed roles in bigger projects, it just seemed like he suddenly popped out of the woodwork. He had the lead role in the film about Julian Assange and a role in August: Osage County, a major film starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. He even voiced the dragon in a recent Lord of the Rings movie.

Meanwhile, actress Julianne Moore has been acting in and headlining films for approximately twenty-five years. She has received five Academy Award nominations, including her current nod for Still Alice. It seems likely that she will finally win a long-overdue Oscar this year, so say Hollywood pundits, but who knows? Meanwhile, Ms. Moore carries on promoting the movie and working and perfecting her craft.

And, what about the unexpected play that New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler made during the Super Bowl XLIX? Just when it looked like Seattle Seahawk’s wide receiver, Ricardo Lockette, was about to catch the touchdown-winning pass in the end zone in the last few minutes of the game, Butler jumped up and grabbed the ball instead. Suddenly, the comfortable 10-point—and then manageable three-point—lead that the Seahawks had been enjoying through most of the second half of the game was reduced to a four-point deficit from which Seattle would not be able to overcome. Throughout the game, both teams had played hard and made strategic mistakes that could have changed the outcome, but there was no denying that the Patriots constantly continued working and fighting for those winning points. Their unbeatable lead may not have happened as early in the game as New England would have liked, but their never-surrender attitude and determination to win ultimately paid off in the end.

One of the biggest challenges many of us face is being patient with ourselves as we strive to accomplish something. As you pursue that promotion at work are you compromising your health by getting little or no sleep and poor nutrition? The physical consequences of these behaviors could affect your perception, mood and ability to focus or problem-solve, which could inadvertently jeopardize your chances of being promoted. Are you so focused on completing a project that you neglect relationships with or responsibility to family or friends? Are you so focused on attracting that perfect partner that you pay no attention to your professional goals and other social bonds? Where and how will your goal, once it is accomplished, fit and balance with other important areas of your life?

Limited-Time Offer: Free Phone Consultation

This is a great opportunity to find out why hypnosis is so effective and how hypnotherapy can help you achieve your self-improvement goals. Call/send me a text message at (661) 433-9430 or send me an e-mail at calminsensehypnosis@yahoo.com to set up your free, 30-minute phone or Skype consultation, today!

Offer valid through August 31, 2020.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. In July 2019 she was voted the Best Hypnotherapist in Santa Clarita, California. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2020

Hypnotized by Super Bowl XLIX

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Office

 

 

A lot of people observed particular rituals on Super Bowl Sunday. Devoted fans of the participating teams donned jerseys sporting a favorite player’s number. Millions of pizzas and chicken wings were prepared and eaten. Seemingly countless glasses of beer were poured and consumed. There were parties, cheering; then celebrating the winning team…or commiserating with/for the losing team. Three or four hours spent watching football and the hilarious Super Bowl ads went by as if no time had passed at all, and at the end of it we may have wondered: So, what happened, exactly? No, seriously: What happened during those hours?

If that scenario sounds familiar, you were likely in a state of light trance or environmental hypnosis. This phenomenon is exactly what it sounds like: whether you were cheering at the football stadium or partying at home or a local bar, the stimuli around you so overwhelmed your conscious mind that you entered a hypnotic trance. (Don’t worry, this kind of environmental hypnosis is a common and natural phenomenon that you have likely experienced before if you have ever been so lost in thought that you missed your freeway exit while driving home.)

Here are some contributing factors of Super Bowl Hypnosis:

·         Overload of sensory stimuli. Before the game even started, you were bombarded by a cornucopia of visual, auditory and olfactory stimuli. You heard the raucous shouts, whistles and cheers of the opposing teams’ fans in the stadium as well as similar noises that you and your friends were making at your party. You saw bursts of color in the stands: people wore their team’s colors and waved team pennants and the bright costumes worn by halftime-show entertainer Katy Perry. Meanwhile, at home, the vision and smells of all those game-day delicacies you and your friends bought or prepared competed for your attention. This sensory overload, combined with any stress (anticipatory anxiety) you were already carrying around as the game progressed, could have easily pushed you into environmental hypnosis.

·         Low-blood sugar effect. When we are hungry and/or after we have consumed alcohol, the level of glucose (sugar) in our blood drops. This state induces a state of hyper-suggestibility to various factors in the environment, warned Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D. In addition, a sudden drop in blood sugar can trigger physical symptoms such as shaking, light-headedness and feeling tired, as well as depression, paranoia, irritability and memory problems. These psychological symptoms can be particularly problematic in this kind of a high-energy environment, when emotions are already running high and inhibitions are likely to be low.

·         Food and drink. Chances are high that the goodies you munched on during the game will not be the most healthy food choices you will make during the week. In addition to the veggie platter, there would have also been chips and dips, buttery popped corn, the aforementioned pizza, various sweet treats and, of course, alcohol. If you were already worked up about the game you—especially after having rushing around to purchase and prepare the party spread—these items will have likely made you even more suggestible. Anything that is loaded with sugars and carbohydrates will also negatively affect your blood-sugar level, which likely also increased your suggestibility.

     During their afternoon broadcast KFI 640 AM afternoon on February 2, 2015, co-hosts Elizabeth Espinosa and Mark Thompson described different food-related behaviors while watching the game. One the one hand, Espinosa said she and her friends got so caught up watching the game that they barely touched any food during their Super Bowl party. In this case, environmental stimuli such as interacting with friends, watching the action on the screen and listening to the sounds of fans and themselves cheering, etc., overwhelmed the group from the get-go. Conversely, Thompson reported munching through bowls of potato chips, his admitted favorite Super Bowl snack. This behavior suggests to me that as the components of the chips affected his blood-sugar level, his suggestibility went up and he stopped paying attention to other aspects of his environment but continued because the snack was easily available.

What, if any, symptoms of environmental hypnosis did you experience while you watched the big game yesterday?

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2015

 

 

 

What, if any, symptoms of environmental hypnosis did you experience while you watched the big game yesterday?

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2015

Staying Out of Environmental Hypnosis During Super Bowl XLIX

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Office

Whether you will be cheering at the football stadium or partying at home, the intensity of the stimuli around you during the Super Bowl XLIX may so overwhelm your conscious mind that you drift into a hypnotic trance. (Don’t worry: this kind of environmental hypnosis is a common and natural phenomenon. In fact, you have likely experienced before if you have ever been so lost in thought that you missed your freeway exit while driving home.) I suggest the following steps to help you stay completely alert, focused and attentive during the game, halftime performance and all of those entertaining ads:

·         While you are partying, be sure to eat a meal that includes some protein, or at least have a snack that includes cheese or nuts (almonds or peanuts). I recommend eating protein-rich foods because they will lower your level of suggestibility and reduce mood swings that hunger and alcohol consumption (low blood-sugar level) can induce.

·         Limit or avoid drinking alcohol during the game.

·         Practice being Mindful: Take a moment or two every 30 minutes or so to focus on some item in your natural environment, such as the pattern of light and shadow on the field or the sensation of the jersey you are wearing, etc. Make a mental note of each detail that you notice about that object as you draw slow, deep breaths into your lungs. As you exhale, focus on the word “calm” to center yourself as you continue to watch the game.

·         Finally, if (when) you notice that you have started to feel overwhelmed or are eating, drinking or are tempted to buy more souvenirs than you intended to purchase, you are likely drifting into a light state of trance (environmental hypnosis). Simply say the following to yourself: “One, two, three, four, five, [Say your name]; eyes open, wide awake.” These words will count you back up to a fully alert and aware state.

·         If you do drink alcohol, have a designated driver to help you get home safely.

 

Enjoy the game!

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2015

 

Imagery for the Super Bowl XLIX Teams

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Office

Super Bowl XLIX is just a few days away.

No doubt the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks are preparing for the big game by doing practical things like creating and practicing offensive and defensive strategies to defeat the opposing team. The athletes are probably powering up by drinking water and eating protein and other high-energy nutritious foods to build muscle and increase stamina; hopefully, they are also able to get adequate rest (sleep) so they can be focused and sharp on game day.

 I wonder what they are doing to mentally prepare for the game. I am sure that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll are giving their respective teams pep talks to help build up the players’ confidence in their prowess on the field. Following are some imagery exercises I would guide them through before they walk onto the field to further increase their confidence so they can focus on the game and earn another championship ring.

·                     Tune out all of the negative discussion, comments and analysis about your team and NFL politics that you may overhear around you. These things have already happened; now it is time to focus on the game you are about to play.

 

·                     Take a minute to relive how confident and enthusiastic and joyful you felt when you won your previous Super Bowl championship. When you have a good image of this experience, draw a deep breath and feel the power, excitement and confidence that washed over you when you made that snap, threw/caught the touchdown pass, ran the football all the way to the end of the field for that touchdown. Release any lingering negativity or doubt as you exhale that breath.

 

·                     Allow your body to do what it already knows how to do. You have successfully done each of these plays thousands of times in practice and during other games. You did them to win your league championship. You did them when you won your last Super Bowl title. Your body knows how to do each of these things, so keep your mind/thoughts out if your body’s way.

·                     Every time you are in possession of that football, notice how every muscle in your body is feeling stronger. Your confidence in your ability to score (or assist that score) a touchdown grows exponentially. You know that you can run faster, throw further, jump higher, block more effectively than your opponent. You catch that football out of the air as if it was already in your possession, and your confidence in your ability to help win this game is twice as strong.

·                     As you play, you know that you are throwing/kicking/catching/running that football the way you have trained all year for this moment to do. You are also throwing/kicking/catching/running that football with all the joy and excitement of that child in you that has always loved this game, dreaming of this moment to win another Super Bowl championship.

·                     Remember: You are already a champion many times over! You are competing in this championship because you earned the right to be there, through the various competitions you have won during the past year.

Good luck, teams!

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2015