That Lightbulb Moment

(This blog was originally posted on May 6, 2014)

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

          According to Albert Einstein, the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Comedian Bill Maher once told his Real Time With Bill Maher audience that some of the best decisions he ever made involved quitting a behavior or lifestyle that didn’t make him happy, including quitting smoking and leaving Catholicism. He explained that continuing to smoke cigarettes was jeopardizing his heath, and practicing a religion he didn’t believe in was making him miserable (Maher is now an atheist). The comedian realized that he needed to change or even abandon some of his previous beliefs and behaviors in order to lead a life that was more authentic for him.

But what about Thomas Edison, who famously joked that through his efforts, society now knew about 999 ways not to build a light bulb before he perfected the design on the 1,000^th or so attempt? His success was the product of hard work, dedication and perseverance as a scientist. He was able to turn disappointment into motivation and even a teachable moment. If he had stopped trying to perfect his invention on the third or 999^th attempt someone else, somewhere else, likely would have created the light bulb. Creating the light bulb was Edison’s invention, his goal to achieve, his life path to follow—and he stayed on-course until he realized this dream.

When my clients initially contact me to help them achieve a new vocational or avocational self-improvement goal through hypnotherapy, they often want to give up a habit that no longer works for them. Some people want to quit smoking; others want to lose weight (stop over-eating). Still others want to increase their self-confidence and build their self-esteem so they can truly, finally, leave an unhealthy social, work or romantic relationship. Others want to learn skills or techniques that will help them relax and follow through with a plan or persevere and finally complete a project.

According to Einstein’s logic, stopping or quitting unproductive or even potentially harmful behaviors might be construed as a sign of sanity or even genius. On the other hand, he might argue that it’s a waste of time to spend years, money and energy repeating a pattern or design that seems to never work out—except, it did. In my role as a certified hypnotherapist, I focus on the most efficient and ecologically sound ways of helping the client achieve those goals that will not harm the person or others in his or her environment. I use hypnosis and guided imagery techniques to help the person explore his or her motivations to change an undesired habit that is limiting personal growth and replace it with one(s) that will enhance and maximize that individual’s potential. You know what you want to achieve. Your conscious mind thinks it knows what you are capable of. Through hypnotherapy, you can re-program any limiting or negative mental scripts into those of self-confidence, dedication and perseverance. I trust and respect your desire to do this work so you can also live the life you want to be leading, and I look forward to helping you achieve these self-improvement goals!

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/.

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