Meditation is for busy minds like mine. Actually this past week or so trying out meditation wasn't so hard. I've just sat alone, sitting straight up with good posture, resting my hands on my knees, and simply tyring to let thoughts come and go without attention to them. This, of course, takes practice, and I'm getting the hang of it and realizing the vale of meditation. Plus my posture has improved all through the day. Interesting.
This next week I want to focus thoughts on my health; physical and mental well-being.
p.s I was focusing on improving my blood test outcomes by listening to my hypnosis CD's but I got my blood tests back from during that time and nothing had improved, some worse. So I'm not sure about hypnosis CD's working for much more than just relaxation.
Showing posts with label psychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psychology. Show all posts
Monday, September 13, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
First Transition
It's the end of my Hypnosis journey for now. Perhaps I'll use it in the future when I've tested the other self-help techniques on my 1 year quest for self-help HELP.
I was expecting more dramatic results using hypnosis because studying psychology, I know what the mind is capable of and I really wanted more physical healing benefits from it. However, during my last week with it, I skipped listening to it for two days and woke up with stiff, swollen, painful joints- a bad day for a Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer. Then last night I resumed listening to it intently with renewed enthusiasm and I woke up with one of my best days in a long time.
I think it will be easier to determine if hypnosis was helpful once I have other methods to compare it to later on in this process. This will be my first transition from one self-help method to another. Going from hypnosis to meditation seems like an easy and likely transition too. I need something easy in my life. I already feel good about it.
I'm a little off schedule. Originally I wanted to post every Friday, but weekends are too hectic so I think I will shoot for Mondays or Tuesdays. I will listen to my hypnosis CD one last night tonight then I will be starting MEDITATION. I'm excited about this because I've never meditated- oh yes, one time I tried, but it was more stressful trying to get into a comfortable position, then figure out what to think about or not think about.
Just for review, I am trying 6 different self-help techniques- one every two months for an entire year. It's hard to call this an "experiment" because it's hardly scientific, very subjective as well. So here's what I do. At the end of each day I record how I am feeling, mentally and physically, on a scale of 1-10. I try various products for each method and by doing this I hope to not only help myself, but others who have ever wondered whether any products or self-help techniques readily available to them would actually work.
I was expecting more dramatic results using hypnosis because studying psychology, I know what the mind is capable of and I really wanted more physical healing benefits from it. However, during my last week with it, I skipped listening to it for two days and woke up with stiff, swollen, painful joints- a bad day for a Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer. Then last night I resumed listening to it intently with renewed enthusiasm and I woke up with one of my best days in a long time.
I think it will be easier to determine if hypnosis was helpful once I have other methods to compare it to later on in this process. This will be my first transition from one self-help method to another. Going from hypnosis to meditation seems like an easy and likely transition too. I need something easy in my life. I already feel good about it.
I'm a little off schedule. Originally I wanted to post every Friday, but weekends are too hectic so I think I will shoot for Mondays or Tuesdays. I will listen to my hypnosis CD one last night tonight then I will be starting MEDITATION. I'm excited about this because I've never meditated- oh yes, one time I tried, but it was more stressful trying to get into a comfortable position, then figure out what to think about or not think about.
Just for review, I am trying 6 different self-help techniques- one every two months for an entire year. It's hard to call this an "experiment" because it's hardly scientific, very subjective as well. So here's what I do. At the end of each day I record how I am feeling, mentally and physically, on a scale of 1-10. I try various products for each method and by doing this I hope to not only help myself, but others who have ever wondered whether any products or self-help techniques readily available to them would actually work.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Short and Sweet
This is going to be a short post because I am tired, but good news is I am getting more sleep- did I just contradict myself in the same sentence? Like I said, I'm tired.
The hypnosis CD I'm using is putting me to sleep like a baby- every night. My arthritis is better in the morning too. I'm still puzzled why this CD was making lose sleep when I originally used it and after switching to another CD and going back to it, I am sleeping better. Incredibly, in fact.
Another thing I have to look up is if hypnosis is still beneficial if you fall asleep to it a few minutes in. Technically, I am not hearing or consciously aware of what's being said so am I still being hypnotized or just simply falling asleep.
The hypnosis CD I'm using is putting me to sleep like a baby- every night. My arthritis is better in the morning too. I'm still puzzled why this CD was making lose sleep when I originally used it and after switching to another CD and going back to it, I am sleeping better. Incredibly, in fact.
Another thing I have to look up is if hypnosis is still beneficial if you fall asleep to it a few minutes in. Technically, I am not hearing or consciously aware of what's being said so am I still being hypnotized or just simply falling asleep.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Mind Control Never Felt So Good
This week, being my 5th with 3 more to go for the hypnosis segment of my experiment then moving onto meditation, I've suddenly noticed a remarkable difference since using hypnosis tapes. I sleep better, have more energy, and most of all I am able to control my stress level in the middle of something stressful. Whether I'm in an argument with my husband or worrying about my health problems, I've been able to pause and automatically take a time out to go to my happy place and speak calming words to myself. I immediately feel tension slip away from my body and my nerves begin to calm.
A particularly cool line mentioned in my hypnosis tapes was "you are doing something by doing nothing, giving yourself permission to do nothing". How great is that? People aim to be or would claim to accidentally be way to busy all the time. I personally think we don't know how to do nothing anymore. Who sits down and does nothing- nobody. People will turn on the TV, eat a snack, call or text a friend, get on the laptop, but do nothing? Nope, their always doing something. We even jam pack our vacation schedules- so when does anyone do nothing? Going back to the aforementioned hypnosis line, it gives someone a new perspective- we are doing something by doing nothing. Too philosophical for you, maybe you're not ready to do nothing, but I guarantee it feels so good.
Those are my tips and my "findings" for this week. Maybe just try to do nothing some time this week. It sounds silly, but it might take some practice.
Next week I will post links, etc to all the helpful products (hypnosis tapes) I've used and aything else I found to be helpful concerning hypnosis.
A particularly cool line mentioned in my hypnosis tapes was "you are doing something by doing nothing, giving yourself permission to do nothing". How great is that? People aim to be or would claim to accidentally be way to busy all the time. I personally think we don't know how to do nothing anymore. Who sits down and does nothing- nobody. People will turn on the TV, eat a snack, call or text a friend, get on the laptop, but do nothing? Nope, their always doing something. We even jam pack our vacation schedules- so when does anyone do nothing? Going back to the aforementioned hypnosis line, it gives someone a new perspective- we are doing something by doing nothing. Too philosophical for you, maybe you're not ready to do nothing, but I guarantee it feels so good.
Those are my tips and my "findings" for this week. Maybe just try to do nothing some time this week. It sounds silly, but it might take some practice.
Next week I will post links, etc to all the helpful products (hypnosis tapes) I've used and aything else I found to be helpful concerning hypnosis.
Monday, July 5, 2010
What is The Self-Help Project?
"Freakishly Resilient" describes the self-help industry (Forbes.com, 1-15-09). What industry has not been effected by slumps in the economy? As if you couldn't guess by now- of course! The self-help industry. So how does someone help themselves? I don't know, but I'm going to find out.
If anyone needs help, it's me. I've been in transition the last few years: from single to married, from not mother to new mother, from career woman to stay-at-home mom, from "normal" to dealing with a recent chronic illness diagnosis (Rheumatoid Arthritis). Needing to redefine who I am would be an understatement. At this point, if I were to write a self-help book, it would be titled "What Not to Do; and Other Stupid Stuff."
Even though I consider laughter a cure-all, I am searching for something more- plus Adam Sandler hasn't delivered in his last few movies. I am willing to venture far outside my logical boundaries (and comfort zone) and what I was taught during my academic days of strict research psychology. I will look no further than the self-help industry for a me make-over.
I am enlisting the help of an industry that requires no evidence, no research to support their claims, and no quality control- even you can write a self-help book. In fact, I haven't seen much of my Chihuahua lately so I think he's been writing one entitled "Own You Owner; Take Back the Leash and Be Your Own Boss".
On a side note: I do find it humorous that if you look up "Self-help" on Wikipedia.com, a comment box at the top of the page states "This article has multiple issues". Seriously? Too funny!
This is my quest to test various self-help strategies, techniques, and advice. I will be testing a new self-help technique every 2 months and giving weekly updates on my blog, beginning with:
~ Self-hypnosis CDs. Actually, I was trained in hypnosis 13 yrs ago but never pursued it. I believe it is beneficial with follow-through and that's what I plan on doing. Average results seen in 30 days and I am trying it for 60.
~Dr. Andrew Weil; 8 Weeks to Optimal Health. I want to revive my eating regimen and Dr. Weil gets a lot of credit in his area of expertise.
~Spiritual or Religious program
~ Meditation. I would self-diagnose me as borderline ADD and I have a 2 year old so I may need some medication before my meditation.
~ Daily self-affirmations and nightly gratitude journal. This should be an interesting one for me since I would otherwise label self-affirmations as fluff talk or conversations Martha Stewart has with herself while watching re-runs of her own show.
more to come....suggestions welcome....
If anyone needs help, it's me. I've been in transition the last few years: from single to married, from not mother to new mother, from career woman to stay-at-home mom, from "normal" to dealing with a recent chronic illness diagnosis (Rheumatoid Arthritis). Needing to redefine who I am would be an understatement. At this point, if I were to write a self-help book, it would be titled "What Not to Do; and Other Stupid Stuff."
Even though I consider laughter a cure-all, I am searching for something more- plus Adam Sandler hasn't delivered in his last few movies. I am willing to venture far outside my logical boundaries (and comfort zone) and what I was taught during my academic days of strict research psychology. I will look no further than the self-help industry for a me make-over.
I am enlisting the help of an industry that requires no evidence, no research to support their claims, and no quality control- even you can write a self-help book. In fact, I haven't seen much of my Chihuahua lately so I think he's been writing one entitled "Own You Owner; Take Back the Leash and Be Your Own Boss".
On a side note: I do find it humorous that if you look up "Self-help" on Wikipedia.com, a comment box at the top of the page states "This article has multiple issues". Seriously? Too funny!
This is my quest to test various self-help strategies, techniques, and advice. I will be testing a new self-help technique every 2 months and giving weekly updates on my blog, beginning with:
~ Self-hypnosis CDs. Actually, I was trained in hypnosis 13 yrs ago but never pursued it. I believe it is beneficial with follow-through and that's what I plan on doing. Average results seen in 30 days and I am trying it for 60.
~Dr. Andrew Weil; 8 Weeks to Optimal Health. I want to revive my eating regimen and Dr. Weil gets a lot of credit in his area of expertise.
~Spiritual or Religious program
~ Meditation. I would self-diagnose me as borderline ADD and I have a 2 year old so I may need some medication before my meditation.
~ Daily self-affirmations and nightly gratitude journal. This should be an interesting one for me since I would otherwise label self-affirmations as fluff talk or conversations Martha Stewart has with herself while watching re-runs of her own show.
more to come....suggestions welcome....
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