“We’re in a state of hypnosis more than we think”, explained Cormac as he introduced the process to me.
“Anything we do without much conscious thought is done in a kind of trance, or hypnotic state. Hypnotherapy is simply working with the subconscious mind’s narrative, guiding it and clarifying what you want.”
I was there because I have been smoking recently.
At first, it was with a few drinks. Then when playing golf. In the past week, I smoked when I felt like it (knowing this hypnotherapy session was imminent).
Except of course when I was around people I’d be ashamed to smoke in front of….many, many people…most of all my kids and my parents. Complete denial on those fronts!
I hate the idea of being a smoker.
I read the Alan Carr book years ago and his process worked well for me then. I hated smoking towards the end of my habit, so it was an easy choice to stop.
So what was hypnotherapy like?
We spent an hour chatting first. I explained that I didn’t identify with smoking. It didn’t fit into my sense of who I am today, my vision for myself in years to come, or my values. We unpacked what all of that meant to me.
Perhaps it was a rebellion and two-fingers against the ‘performance culture kool aid’ I had drunk for a few years which I now know limits me. It most likely papered over some unmet emotional need.
Whatever it was, it didn’t feel right. It was time to do something about it.
After the chat, the hypnotherapy began. I’d describe it like a guided meditation, bespoke and aligned to my vision and values. I had a clear visualisation of the two paths ahead of me.
- One as a smoker (that future visualisation was genuinely revolting to me).
- One as a fully-energised person, living life freely with vitality.
We worked along a timeline for both from 12 months away, towards old age.
As we finished, I felt so encouraged and clear on one thing “I am free from smoking”.
No more internal conflict. No more deceit. No more hiding from the kids when we had friends over, or we were out with friends. No more mouthwash and sprays to hide the smell.
No more feeling trapped internally. No more chestyness when I wake up. No more inner criticism when running a tough Tuesday session. No more worries about me sabotaging my own health.
I’m not the cynical type, but we all have a bit of a cynic in us somewhere – judging ourselves and each other. My cynic is asking “what happens when you’ve a feed of creamy pints in Connemara in 10 days time?”
Who knows…but I wouldn’t write about it this soon if I wasn’t fairly confident the rewiring has changed the way I look at the habit.
I know what worked for me before. What has worked is focusing on who I am, how I choose to be and aligning my habits with that identity. After yesterday, my identity is very clear on this front.
So, what about you?
- What habits (thinking, behavioural, working, exercise etc etc) are you engaging in which are a contradiction to your own sense of self?
- If you were freed of that habit, what would be possible for you then?
- What are you going to do about it?