Things Can Only Get Better!

Yesterday was Blue Monday. It may have been the most depressing day in history according to Dr. Cliff Arnall, a psychologist in Britain. Arnall has mathematically pinpointed Jan. 19 as the most depressing day of the year, based on factors including the weather, holiday bills and abandoned resolutions. But this year, he factored in job security fears and economic collapse. "(This was) potentially the most depressing Blue Monday we have had," Arnall said.

Today, we can officially say we survived and what's more we are experiencing some pretty exciting history. With the inauguration of Barack Obama, America's first black president, many are hopeful for the change that will accompany this. Just the mere energy of hope is profound, it is like electricity running through the airwaves.

On a personal level, focus on change. Forget resolutions, instead, think about one small change you have made or can make starting today. For instance, instead of worrying about losing 50 pounds, what if you slowed down your eating? That's right, place your utensil down between bites and be aware of chewing your food. Instead of paying off all of your debt, what if you made one small change in your daily spending habits and placed that money in a separate account, or even a piggy bank! One small step at a time.

Just for today, smile at a stranger. Commit a random act of kindness. Think a good thought about a co-worker. Take a moment today to breath deeply. Close your eyes and imagine your world a safe and happy place. See yourself smiling and hear your own laughter. Then at the end of the day, notice if you don't feel just a teeny bit better.

For My Local Friends

Another chance to network. A great opportunity to meet my friend and author, Janet Conner. I am giving away a free session as one of the door prizes. So make plans to join us!

Register on-line and receive

$5 off your admission.

Making Dreams a Reality

in 2009!

Join us on Thursday, January 15th

from 6:30 to 8:30 pm

for a Girls Night Out

We will kick off the night at Aquastone Well Spa

then end the evening at Maison Rouge

300 Beach Drive N. (entrance on 3rd Ave. N.)

St. Petersburg

Guest Speaker: Janet Conner

Author, Writing Down Your Soul

Free Wine & Appetizers

Great Goody Bag!

Awesome Prizes including $100 Gift Card to Coco Brazil!

$20 Admission in advance, $25 at the door. Attendance is limited to a maximum of 50.

Make your reservation today!

Friday Silliness...

Wednesday evening I decided to go to a local comedy club for some hypnosis. I had heard that a traveling hypnotist was going to be there, to put on a show. How could I resist? I sent this gentleman a note on one of the online boards for hypnosis mentioning that he was going to be in my neck of the woods and I would love to see him. When I didn't hear back, I figured he was busy with the show and probably didn't even see the comment. Besides, I am sure I am not the only hypnotist to watch his shows.

So, I set off for the event with my dear, long time friend and webmaster Dona. Did I mention that she is a very dear friend and very loyal, too? (This becomes important soon.) Thinking I am flying under the radar, we arrive at the club (Coconuts) and the owners know me. They know me not as a hypnotist, but rather from my teaching days, so they were pleased to have their daughter's former teacher visiting. I settled in, incognito as the former teacher, happy as a clam.

When the show began, there was the usual call for volunteers. This particular crowd was going to be a tough sell. So, with the encouragement of my very dear (and loyal) friend, I went up on stage to volunteer. After all, I love hypnosis and I know it is safe, fun and natural. When Patty McGee began his induction, I went down like a brick. Oh yea, I love this feeling and my shoulders were feeling better already.

The fun began. Patty McGee had me convinced I was on a trip into outer space. I was so excited. I love flying of any sort, planes, jets, hot air balloons, so why not a rocket? There I was floating, weightless, in space. Oh my, that felt good.

He did ask me to eat jello that was floating around. Poor guy didn't know that I HATE jello. You see, I had ponies growing up. My father told me that jello was made from the hooves. Well, if you have ever cleaned a horse or pony hoof before shoeing, you know that jello could never be appealing again. Not to mention, in later years I realized the hoof wasn't just the shavings. But, I digress.

The time progressed (I'm really not sure how long) and I had a blast. Upon my return to planet earth I showed everyone how Martians dance. Apparently it was quite impressive and this is where I know that if film of this ever shows up anywhere, my dear and loyal friend Dona will make sure it is eliminated and not posted on my site.

A few more tricks and it was time to emerge. Everyone seemed to enjoy the show. After the show, when I was leaving, Patty told me he knew who I was. He was very gracious about my attending his show. I believe he will do very well on the circuit and he will represent hypnosis proudly.

There are those in the hypnosis profession who practice in an office that don't approve of stage hypnosis. They feel that it gives our chosen vocation a black eye. I disagree. When done properly it is a great tool for educating the public while having a rollicking good time. Patty McGee is very professional. He has a baby face that you want to trust and he is true to his word. He did not ask me to do anything that I would be ashamed of. (Although I am not so sure I am proud of the dance, simply because I was once asked to leave dance classes as a child and haven't improved much since!)

Did I mention that Dona is a very dear and loyal friend?

Things Are Looking Up!

Last Saturday I was scheduled to give a 2 hour talk on making your mind recession proof. This was a free talk I was giving in honor of World Hypnotism Day. It was held at Oak Trail Books, a lovely book store that hosts this event annually for me.

Press releases were sent out in advance and the result was amazing. I am still receiving calls from folks who saw articles written about the event in newspapers and periodicals I was unaware of. Our local CBS affiliate had me on in the morning show, at 5:45 a.m. and 6:45a.m.! (That was a testimony to my dedication to hypnosis, trust me. I drove an hour to be there, getting me out of bed at 3:20 a.m. I believe my son was just going to bed as I was waking up.) The interviews were fun, I was given the opportunity to put two different producers into trance, live on the air.

The phone at the store rang off the hook. There were so many people calling to say they would attend, we decided to break the hour into two one hour segments. That way, more could attend comfortably, we figured. The building was filled to capacity. The second event, we moved outside to a lovely garden area the store has, it was full. I ended up giving a third talk on Sunday, so those who could not fit into the first two were able to attend.

At the end of each talk, I did a short hypnotic journey. Reminding people of times they felt happy, safe and content. I asked that they make the memory as real as possible, recalling familiar smells, sounds and images. We intensified the memory as if we were creating a movie in our minds. When the moment of contentment arrived, we placed our index finger and thumb together to make a physical anchor for that moment. Breathing it in and feeling our contentment, we felt our fingers. We repeated this process 3 times. Now, the simple memory of that moment, touching the fingers together and a deep breath will help us handle any situation life may hand us with calm grace.

For me, the pleasure was seeing so many people walk away with some new idea that they could use in their own life to better their thoughts. I tried to fit as much into each hour as I could. Perhaps my favorite suggestion for one and all is to look up. That's right, look up. You see, when we look up as we discuss a concern, the emotion drains and we can get into fact finding and solution creating. Think about it this way, when we pray, we look up to the heavens. When we feel optimistic we say, "things are looking up". Where does a person who is depressed look?

So my friends, look up! Speak your concerns while looking up, then breathe deep and close your eyes. Allow your eyes to relax and begin to imagine a future moment where the concern is behind you. You are now looking ahead, fear is behind you. Breathe into that moment, that solution and realize that fear only exists in your thoughts.

World Hypnotism Day

Time for the fifth annual celebration of World Hypnotism Day. Tomorrow, January 4th is the official day, however, my event is being held today. As I have traditionally done in the past, I am holding my event at Oak Trail Books. We will be addressing how to Recession Proof Your Mind.

This event is a great chance for the world to see how safe, natural and life improving the practice of regular self-hypnosis is. It is amazing how our bodies are built to help us, if we just pay attention. Deep breathing, helps us to relax, think clearly and even lower our blood pressure. Exercise releases endorphins, those feel good chemicals. Visualization sets the mind on the road to success.

I must keep this short, as I am off to Oak Trail Books. Here are some links to interviews I did on television (local CBS affiliate, 10Connects) This was fun, I was asked to put two different producers under on the air! The St. Petersburg Times reporter wrote a lovely article as well.

If you are local, please stop by, this promises to be a fun event. if not, check out http://www.worldhypnotismday.com/ for an event near you.