Stressed Out and Suffering?
Welcome to humanity. Here's the way out.
A digital painting I hacked after reading about God early this morning. “Look beyond the clouds and you will find the eternal light that illuminates all existence.” - Rumi
This article is about how to use hypnosis, self-hypnosis, and mindfulness techniques to mitigate your stress and suffering, which in my direct experience, is most often self-induced.
I’ve devoted my life to finding a way to live with myself and others in peace, and that’s one reason I love sharing what little I know. I’m learning every day and still finding my way.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." His simple yet profound words remind us that change begins within us, and every effort we make toward self-improvement transforms the world around us.
Humanity's age-old struggle with suffering, stress, disease, war, and the looming shadow of death often points to a need for internal transformation.
Buddha held that "All I teach is suffering and the end of suffering."
According to his Four Noble Truths, suffering is an inherent part of existence. Its roots lie in our attachment and desire. The cessation of suffering is attainable, and the way to end it lies in following the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is a fundamental teaching in Buddhism, outlining the path to the cessation of suffering and attaining enlightenment. It consists of the following eight interconnected practices or principles to be cultivated and developed:
Right View. We are developing an understanding of the nature of reality, including the Four Noble Truths and the law of karma.
Right Intention. Cultivating wholesome and compassionate intentions, free from greed, hatred, and ignorance.
Right Speech. Practice mindful and ethical communication, refraining from lying, gossiping, and harsh and divisive speech.
Right Action. Engaging in wholesome, ethical, and beneficial actions avoids harming oneself and others.
Right Livelihood. Earn a living in a way that is honorable, righteous, and aligned with the principles of Buddhism, avoiding trades that cause harm or suffering. (Ever met a happy liquor store owner or drug dealer? Karma is.)
Right Effort. Continually cultivate positive qualities, abandon negative attributes, and maintain a balanced and focused mind.
Right Mindfulness. Cultivate mindfulness and awareness in one's thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment.
Right Concentration. Developing deep concentration and focus through meditation practices leads to the mind's purification and tranquility.
Sadly, our smartphones, social media, and the internet have hijacked our focus. The only way to get it back is to steal it back. Otherwise, we remain driven to distraction and divisiveness based on ignorance. And ignorance is only blissful to the ignorant; therefore, we have compassion.
Another Way
Conversely, Jesus Christ suggested a different path::
"In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33
This divergence in worldview is not a contradiction but a sign of the diverse paths available to us in our quest to end suffering. In this journey towards self-improvement and world change, hypnosis is one potent tool. So is following your Savior based on your faith, culture, and current consciousness.
You can also learn to save stress, spare the incessant monkey mind, and head trash yourself. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis, like mindfulness techniques you’ll soon learn, are scientifically-backed practices that induce heightened focus and suggestibility.
When guided by a trained professional, numerous studies attest to its efficacy in managing various issues such as stress, anxiety, pain, and behavioral changes. It’s also possible to hypnotize yourself when you realize hypnosis is a deeply relaxed mind.
One major problem is that most of us have forgotten how to relax. Now, look at us.
There has to be a better way.
The Purpose of Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis
Hypnosis can also serve as a powerful pathway to self-actualization, helping us uncover deeper meanings, purpose, and connections with the world. This is where self-hypnosis comes in.
My decades-long journey with self-hypnosis, meditation, and mindfulness techniques has been profound. Ageless wisdom is shared by saints, sages, mystics, and monks across cultures and throughout history.
They have taught methods of introspection, meditation, and mindfulness differently, leading to the same result; illumination, waking up, heightened consciousness, serenity, and various degrees of enlightenment.
"The root of suffering is attachment." - Dhammapada
To get started on this transformative journey, find a local hypnotherapy professional specializing in teaching self-hypnosis. Beyond that, learning and integrating simple self-hypnosis and mindfulness techniques can help you transcend past traumas, heal, and elevate your consciousness, leading to positive interactions with yourself and others.
The wisest among us recognize the power within us to end our suffering. In the chaos of life and the endless pursuit of "keeping up with the Joneses," there is an alternative - to be still and know the way by heart.
Simple Steps for Self-Hypnosis
The great news is you don’t need to move to India to find a guru or pay a local professional out of pocket unless you feel compelled to do so. Plus, I don’t believe the best healers among us take insurance.
If you are willing, you can learn to hypnotize yourself.
Note: If you’ve buckets of head trash and a history of mental illness, please see a professional you respect and trust.
Practice these simple steps for relaxing and hypnotizing yourself:
Find a comfortable and quiet space where you won't be disturbed. Please keep it simple at first. Sit in a chair for at least 10-20 minutes, and don’t let barking dogs or loud trains get in your way. Over time, you’ll learn to practice conscious breathing, mindfulness, and self-relaxation techniques, including meditation. Be patient with yourself!
Begin with deep, slow breathing to relax your body and mind. I call this conscious breathing. It’s called the “breath of life” for a reason.
Visualize a peaceful scene or place that makes you feel relaxed and safe. (Seeing is believing. You don’t need to see in 3D color to envision yourself as IF YOU WISH TO BE. The secret of visualization is the emerging FEELING, UNITY, ONENESS, etc., within you. You’ll know it when you feel it.
Use positive affirmations or suggestions that align with your goals. Who talks to you worse than you talk to yourself silently? Cut that out! Whenever you hear yourself talking $#@! to yourself or someone else, say silently or out loud, “Cancel, cancel, cancel …” and replace the head trash with healthy thoughts we call affirmations. Act is if! Believe in yourself and the Light within.
Gradually return to your normal state of consciousness. After your “quiet time,” ease your way back into life and work routine. With patience and practice, you will notice that your calmer, more peaceful mindset will become predominant over time. Eventually, even the people, places, and things that used to make you mad will not bother you much at all.
Choose your thoughts and words wisely. Prayer, gratitude, unconditional love, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, and repentance are the most potent and transformative thoughts we can share.
There you have it; simple, not easy in a society driven to distraction.
Note: Always consult a professional before embarking on self-hypnosis, especially if you have underlying mental health issues. This article is intended for educational purposes only.
Mindfulness Works, Too
Becoming more mindful aligns well with self-hypnosis. Mindfulness, as a concept, has transcended its religious origins. It has been incorporated into mainstream psychology due to its mental health benefits.
The roots originate from ancient Buddhist meditation practices and are most often associated with a meditation called 'Vipassana,” which translates to 'insight' or 'clear-seeing.”
In essence, mindfulness is a psychological process involving non-judgmentally bringing one's attention to the present moment. It consists in becoming aware of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment and accepting them without trying to change or judge them.
If you love the wisdom of the Bible and ageless wisdom, it’s easy to see that mindfulness is a universal path for transcending the suck of life. Life gets great when we accept the love of the sucky parts.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:2 NIV
That takes lots of practice!
Simple Steps for Being Mindful
Becoming more mindful begins with a burning desire to improve your mind, open your heart, and change the world by changing yourself.
If you’re not willing and committed to the transformation process, you’ll feel frustration, which keeps you stuck in the suck.
Here are simple steps you can follow to become more mindful:
Set aside some time. You don’t need a meditation cushion, bench, or special equipment to access your mindfulness skills, but you must set aside time and space. (You have the time to be mindful of waiting in line, sitting on a bus, watching the webinar from hell, and so on.)
Observe the present moment (yourself) as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not to quiet the mind or attempt to achieve a state of eternal calm. The goal is simple: we aim to pay attention to the present moment without judgment.
Let your judgments roll by. When we notice judgments arise during practice, we can mentally note them and let them pass.
Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment.
Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself for whatever thoughts crop up. Just practice recognizing when your mind has wandered off and gently bring it back.
See the similarities?
The Science of Being Mindful; Awakening
Let’s end the article by reviewing the science that validates the power within us all. A wealth of research has shown the efficacy of mindfulness. A 2011 journal "Psychiatry Research" study demonstrated that mindfulness meditation could change the brain's structure, enhancing memory and emotion regulation regions.
Self-hypnosis and mindfulness share similarities in their goal to achieve a state of focused attention, and both can be effective in managing stress, reducing anxiety, and improving overall mental health.
The main difference between the two is the degree of suggestibility - hypnosis, especially when guided by a professional, often involves more direct suggestions for behavioral or emotional change.
(Source: Zeidan, F., et al. (2011). Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental training. Consciousness and Cognition, 19(2), 597-605.)
Remember, awakening, the pursuit of wisdom, is a process, not an event.
Do not put excessive pressure on yourself to find a burning bush in the wilderness. Slow down, observe yourself and all there is, and learn to love it even if you don’t like a person, place, or thing.
“Earth is the ultimate training ground for consciousness.” - Yours Truly
In conclusion, I invite you to embrace mindfulness, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis as potent tools in your journey toward self-improvement. See the similarities between training your mind to relax, your body to be still, and using your God-given intellect to lift your consciousness to the next level.
Practicing mindfulness, like self-hypnosis, should be done under guidance if you're a beginner or have underlying mental health issues. Always consult with a professional before embarking on these practices.