Clients come to me from all walks of life and all ages for hypnosis.  Their reasons mostly boils down to changes in behavior.  Some want to lose weight, others want to stop tobacco use, others want to deal with emotional distress.

My favorite induction to use with my clients once they are in a deep trace is “The Fork in the Road”.  One path leads upward and is a bit of a challenge, but the rewards are huge!  The other path leads downward doing the same thing and has no resistance.

The Path Known

It’s interesting that we say we want change, but in reality we want to stay on the same path that we are currently on.

“So, how’s that working for you?”  I worked the mental health unit at one of the VA outpatient clinics and occasionally the inpatient unit.  This question was most often used by the staff when a patient rejected any suggestions for self improvement.

What’s the definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.  The subconscious mind will resist change.  It’s the gatekeeper and will do just about anything to stay on the path known.  I have to be sneaky to get around the gatekeeper.  Fortunately I know how to do that.

Staying on the known path takes no effort.  I take my clients on a journey while they are in a trance.  One year down this path of non-resistance, there is a reflecting pond on the side of the path.  Take a look at your reflection in the pool.  What do you see after one year of continuing the same behavior?  As the walk is resumed and five years down this path, we come to a crystal clear lake.  Take a good look and what do you see after five years of doing the same things over and over?  What do you see after ten years of the same behavior?

It is rather depressing staying on the known path.

Travel the Unknown Path to Change

Once I have taken my client down the path of least resistance, I return them to the fork in the road.  This path leads up and is a challenge to climb.  However, the rewards are gratifying and satisfying.

I guide my client up the path for change to one year of experiencing this positive change.  Once again I have the individual stop by a reflecting pool and look at the results of having changed their approach to their issue.  It feels so good to see the positive results.  Five years out and the results are even more apparent.  The client is feeling so good about themself.  Ten years out, oh my goodness!  Change is wonderful!  The client is freed from the stress and destruction of the behavior that was needing change.

Why do we resist change?

Recently I was walking the trails at Garvan Woodland Gardens close to my house.  I often feel the need to be in nature so I can recharge my batteries so to speak.  On this particular walk, I saw a path that I had not noticed in the past.  Being the curious or nosy individual that I am, I quickly took this new path.  It was a challenging path.  Uphill and very few markers on the path to let me know I was going in the right direction.  At one point, I began to wonder if I had gotten off the path.  But, being more curious than cautious, I treaded forward and upward.

As I was walking on this path, I found myself walking next to the lake.  This particular lake I am really comfortable with because I grew up water skiing and swimming on it.  But, I had not seen this part of the lake before.  It was wild and untouched by mankind’s invasions.  This bay was calm, nurturing and tranquil.  I felt the tension inside of me relaxing.  As I began to open myself to new possibilities, I began to experience excitement welling up within me.  An excitement I had not felt for sometime.

Suddenly, the path turned into a tree lined dirt road shaded by the branches of the trees reaching out over the road.  I soon learned that this road led to the proposed homesite of the Garvan family who had donated the land for development of the gardens.  This dream of theirs was never realized.

I stopped for a moment and looked at my surroundings.  I saw all the new possibilities.  Beauty and positive growth stretched out before me.  All I had to do was continue on this unknown path.

I began to reflect on my own resistance to changes in my life.  Why am I resisting change?  I know the changes are changes for growth and in my highest good.  It was on this walk, on this unknown trail, that I decided to walk the unknown paths in life.  I want to see what life has to offer me.  I know walking the unknown path can be a bit of a challenge at times, but oh my, the rewards are boundless!