I have found Hypnotism to be useful in areas big and small. Because I know the power of the subconscious mind, I’m aware of the multitude of issues for which I could hypnotize myself and honestly, there seems to be no end to the applications. I tend to prioritize urgent matters but I also try to regularly chip away at the older, bigger issues.

Small Issues

These are the small areas to which I’ve applied hypnosis to evoke change in my life. It only took me one session to experience dramatic results, but that’s because I was able to stay completely focused on addressing the issue at hand rather than trying to solve everything at once.

• Managing nerves during important meetings
• Deepening memory (learning process and recall)
• Overcoming procrastination for a deadline

Big Issues

These are some of the larger issues for which I’ve been practicing self-hypnosis. The gains are obvious, but the issues themselves run so deeply (and I’m working on myself) so I have to take things one step at a time.

• Reducing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Reducing Temporo-Mandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
• Improving posture
• Improving eating habits
• Investing in physical fitness
• Stress management
• Living in the moment/mindfulness

I have found Eckart Tolle’s Power of Now to be insightful on why we should let go of the past and stop worrying about the future. Another book that really helped me to resolve spiritual uncertainty was Neale Donald Walsh’s Conversations with God, which is not religious or prescriptive in anyway, but rather more of a philosophical approach.

Boaz Freeman (taliboaz@interlog.com, 416-929-9225) coached me for over a year about how to use the Alexander Technique to modify my posture. I continually deepen his teachings with my own self hypnosis for posture. I highly recommend his approach of doing less work to free the body of its struggle with gravity. Boaz offers a free lesson to all who are interested.

After my father died, I benefitted from the bereavement counselling and spiritual knowledge of therapist Victoria Stoett (victoriastoett@yahoo.ca, 416-831-6800). Her broad and profound knowledge of psychology operates only in the background to support her many other areas of expertise such as intimacy, relationships, and grieving. She always kept pace with me to ensure that I was ready for my own next steps.

My favourite Yoga classes EVER are with PK at the West-end Y (I believe he also teaches at the Y on Wellesley) and Dee Dussault at Follow Your Bliss. PK knows many postures and allows lots of time for holding. Dee is a very eloquent and insightful teacher of yoga as well as having incredible aptitude for guiding the meditative component of yoga. In my opinion, she’s a hypnotist!

I used to stress about the state of the planet, government, air quality, water, etc. Then I discovered www.streetsareforpeople.org. This gang puts their opinions and knowledge into all kinds of thought-provoking action. The results are powerful, fun, and inspiring. Kensington Pedestrian Sundays are just one of the many events they produce. They post the dates of upcoming events on their website and I post some of them here because I offer free hypnosis sessions and consultations at some of their events. Follow this link for an in-depth Torontoist interview with Shamez Amlani about the founding of Streets are for People! what Pedestrian Sundays are all about, and reclaiming our city form cars: http://torontoist.com/2008/05/tall_poppy_inte_56.php.