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Hypnoblog: A Daily Journal by Sean Wheeler, CHT
-The purpose of this journal- From time to time, I plan to share my thoughts, as well as stories and experiences from my life and private hypnotherapy practice. Since client sessions are confidential, I will never reveal names or specific details about a client. I will, however, share anecdotes which may shed some light on the nature of hypnosis and therapy. My goal is to help demystify the practice of hypnotherapy and put some of the false misconceptions about hypnosis to rest. ---------------------------------------------------- January 4 , 2006 Quote of the Day "Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account." -Oscar Wilde, Irish dramatist, novelist, & poet (1854 - 1900) ----------------------------------------------- World Hypnotism Day Happy New Year! Visit the official site - www.worldhypnotismday.com - for information and free hypnosis audio clips as well. Of course, this is the time of year for resolutions... so if you'd like to ensure that you stick with yours longer than the kids stick with their new toys, hypnosis may be just what you're looking for. Give us a call and set up your free consultation today. You've got nothing to lose... except your resolve. Many blessings for the new year. Sincerely, Sean ----------------------------------------------- November 21 , 2005 Quote of the Day "Thanksgiving is a typically American holiday... The lavish meal is a symbol of the fact that abundant consumption is the result and reward of production." -Ayn Rand, US (Russian-born) novelist (1905 - 1982) ----------------------------------------------- Happy Thanksgiving Okay, so it's a few days early for this. Unless, of course, you work in a grocery store or a department store at the mall. If that's where you work, it's been Thanksgiving since November 1st (or as soon as they removed the Halloween decorations).
Not to put a damper on your Thanksgiving Day feast and celebrations, but it's a good opportunity to point out how we can associate good times with family and friends with - yes, food! Keep in mind when you sit down to the table on Thursday that there is a difference between sharing time with loved ones and eating until you feel sick.
So eat! Don't count calories, carbs or fat grams... instead focus your attention on all the good things happening in your life. Focus on the people still around for you to laugh with... play with... or even argue with, and the memories you have of those who are no longer around. Enjoy your time away from work. Work will be there when you get back to it. And one more thing... before you feel like you have to unbutton your pants in order to become a member of the "Clean Plate Club," go ahead and push yourself away from the table. There'll be plenty for leftovers on Friday. Try this and I promise... you'll be thankful. Many blessings. Have a wonderful week. Sean ----------------------------------------------- November 7 , 2005 Quote of the Day "Middle age is when your broad mind and narrow waist begin to change places." -E. Joseph Crossman ----------------------------------------------- Official Press Release: Second Annual World Hypnotism Day
(Atlanta, GA) – January 4th, 2006, the second annual World Hypnotism Day will take place. And with New Year resolutions facing us, the timing is perfect for World Hypnotism Day. Learn how to beat the Resolution Blues and succeed at your goals. The first World Hypnotism Day proved to be one of the most impressive displays of professionalism and sharing of knowledge and skills by hypnotists around the world. Talks, interviews, workshops and articles were available around the world, all clearing the air and removing the myths and misconceptions of hypnotism while explaining the many benefits it brings. Free resources for the public can be found at www.worldhypnotismday.com. The popularity and benefits of hypnotism increases daily as we have read and heard the headlines in Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Canadian Living, Shape, O magazine and on popular syndicated television shows. Now it’s time to come out and learn more about how hypnotism can help you, especially for your New Years resolutions. More information will follow about events in the Atlanta area on this page as the date approaches. Be sure to check here frequently. ----------------------------------------------- October 23, 2005 Quote of the Day "There is only one thing that can kill the Movies, and that is education." -Will Rogers, US humorist & showman (1879 - 1935) ----------------------------------------------- Hypnosis in the Movies One of the first things I do with nearly every client I meet is to debunk all the misinformation about hypnosis that has permeated our society thanks to some creative, yet naive writers in Hollywood. Now, I must confess that I love movies... even a few that portray hypnosis inaccurately. So here I'll discuss a few of the more recent and/or well-known movies that have used hypnosis, let you know where they went wrong, and whether they're worth seeing as well. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
While the 2004 remake with Denzel Washington attempted to update the story, the original was far more controversial. In fact, after the assassination of JFK, the film was withdrawn from movie theaters throughout the United States. It was banned in Eastern bloc countries until the fall of communism in 1993. The plot involves a military officer who is captured by communists and brainwashed through the use of hypnosis. Once he is released, the officer responds obediently to every post-hypnotic command he is given by his captors, usually over the phone. They tell him to play a game of solitaire, and when he views a particular card, he becomes a mindless pawn who blindly follows their every command, including cold-blooded murder.
This is a very entertaining and creepy movie that I would strongly recommend. However, as a hypnotherapist, I must point out that hypnosis is a voluntary process that requires the cooperation of the subject. No one can be forced to do something against their will, either during or following a trance. In this film, the hypnotist is all-powerful and the subject is completely powerless. Bottom line: you always have a choice of whether to respond or not, and will never do anything against your morals or values.
This is one of my all-time favorite comedies. Anyone who has ever worked in an office environment will appreciate the humor here. The main character, Peter Gibbons, is so frustrated and unhappy with his job as a drone worker at a software company that he seeks the help of a hypnotherapist.
A few moments after the hypnotherapist begins the hypnotic induction, Peter is relaxing comfortably in a trance, "without a care in the world." Just then, the hypnotherapist keels over and dies on the spot. Since Peter is never officially "roused" from the trance, the plot dictates that he continues to feel wonderful for days and days... skipping out on work, asking Jennifer Aniston's character out on a date, eventually getting a promotion because he's so smooth and comfortable during an interview with some annoying consultants. It's a great concept, and many hypnotherapists probably wish they were so powerful. I am thrilled to have this movie in my library, since what follows is hilarious stuff. However, if a hypnotherapist was unfortunate enough to pass away in the middle of a client's trance, the suggestions given wouldn't be any stronger than if the session were completed as normal. Somehow, I take comfort knowing that I'm more powerful alive than dead!!
Not a bad thriller. This one features Kevin Bacon as a blue-collar guy who doesn't believe in hypnosis, but allows his sister-in-law to hypnotize him at a party. He goes into a deep trance, and the next thing he knows he's awake and sweating profusely, with no memory of what has happened. Everyone is laughing and telling him what he said and did, but he looks and feels stressed out and afraid.
Later that night, he begins to see horrifying images of violence and of a dead woman or ghost. Basically, hypnosis is used as a gateway to supernatural mental abilities (a common use of hypnosis in movies, including "Donnie Darko" and "Close Your Eyes"). This is a handy tool for a Hollywood screenwriter, but there's not a lot of fact behind this fiction. Amnesia is possible following hypnosis, but it is very rare for anyone to have absolutely no memory of what happened. I have also never seen or heard of anyone drenched in sweat and panicked upon awakening. Hypnosis is a very relaxing and comfortable experience. If at any point a person imagines or experiences something frightening or traumatic, they can easily open their eyes and return to a state of normal conscious awareness. And no, hypnosis is not, nor has it ever been, a gateway to supernatural or psychic abilities. Bummer, huh? Other Movies Featuring Hypnosis
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fall is here! Time for change...
October 15, 2005 Quote of the Day "All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income." -Samuel Butler, English composer, novelist, & satiric author (1835 - 1902) ------------------------------------------------ Updates and Improvements Since the only constant in life is change, and change is what most of my clients are seeking, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I am making some changes myself. The first change will bring immediate benefits to my clients... at least those who are seeking assistance getting into shape. I am always seeking ways to improve upon what is already working well, and that is what I have done. After learning the proven weight loss program from Massachussetts hypnotherapist Tom Nicoli, who became famous for his client's success shedding pounds on Dateline NBC back in 2002, I have recently implemented his teachings into my own program. The early results are inspiring, and my clients are already enjoying the benefits. Please call or email for more information about this recent improvement and what it could mean for you. On the "Good news and also Bad News" front, due to the continued growth of Pure Hypnosis and the subsequent amount of time I'm committing to my clients, I will be taking a temporary leave from Whole World Theatre - the best improv comedy theatre in Atlanta (and the world, as far as I'm concerned). My final performances will take place this coming weekend of October 20th-22nd. My sincere hope is to return to my "home away from home" as soon as time permits. Perhaps now I'll be able to update this page more often as well! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 28, 2005 Quote of the Day "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." -Dale Carnegie ------------------------------------------------ Open up and say "Hello" In an effort to stay active and healthy, within the past year or so I started going to the gym twice a week and playing basketball with a group of guys. Roughly the same group of men get together at the same time of day for some good old fashioned exercise and competition as a welcome break from the workday. I played basketball from the time I was ten years old right on up through college, but being the shy kid I was at the time, never would have thought to start up a conversation with someone I didn't know outside of the gym. Recently while I was playing, just before a game began, I noticed one of the guys on my team was wearing a Detroit Lions t-shirt. Being a long-suffering Lions fan from Michigan myself (and guessing that no one outside of Michigan would wear a Lions shirt), I asked him if he was from Detroit. He said yes. I told him the city where I grew up. Then he mentioned that he played basketball at Catholic Central High School. Well, guess what? That's my high school! Small world! I found out that he graduated a couple years before my brother, and I told him that I'd probably seen him play while he was there. We talked about the teachers we knew and threw names back and forth, and then we went out and won five games in a row as teammates before calling it a day. This fellow is, by the way, probably the best player at our gym on any given day. I have played against him many times, but never spoke to him off the court. Who knew? Just last week I struck up a conversation with another player who mentioned that he spent a significant number of years in the military, most of that time involved in combat situations in countries including Somalia and Cambodia. I had an endless fountain of questions for him and I learned a lot about war, politics, the media... and human beings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 24, 2005 Quote of the Day
"To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else." -His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist religious leader (1935 - ) ---------------------------- September 19, 2005 Quote of the Day
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." -Mahatma Gandhi, Indian ascetic & nationalist leader (1869 - 1948) ---------------------------- September 13, 2005 Quote of the Day
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." -Albert Einstein, US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955) ------------------------------------------------ Question Your Reality Remember that your beliefs and convictions are the result of your own individual life experiences. Your limitations grow from those experiences, and are reinforced each time you identify something that fits in with your belief system. Anytime you catch yourself saying "I could never do that," take the time to consider why that's the case. Is it really true, or does that belief simply ring true given your past experiences? Can other people do it? If so, how are those people different from you? Recognize the difference between the words can't and won't. Ask yourself the question: Are you are really incapable, or just unwilling? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 9, 2005 Quote of the Day
"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom." -Bob Dylan, US singer & songwriter (1941 - ) ------------------------------------------------ New Orleans Survival Story This message came to me from a friend, and I wanted to pass it along... ********************************** "I would like to thank all of you that offered your prayers and support for my family during the recent hurricane and the aftermath. I am from California but the roots of my father's side of our family are in New Orleans and Louisiana. My grandmother moved to the Bay Area in California from New Orleans during World War II to help build battleships and ended up settling there. She was one of 12 children and some of her immediate family members left Louisiana. Of course, some stayed in Louisiana and raised families. One of my best friends from childhood is a lawyer in New Orleans, has lived there for 12 years and has a family. So I have many friends and family who live in the region. For those of you who didn't know the situation or who don't know me very well, I have 6 relatives who were among the thousands of people who couldn't or didn't leave New Orleans for various reasons. They were stuck in the city at a hotel and then forced to live on the I-10 overpass (that many of us saw on TV) for 4 days. I discovered on Sunday that some members of my family had been flown from New Orleans to San Antonio. I immediately flew to San Antonio with my cousin and picked them up from Kelly Air Force Base. We drove back from San Antonio Monday evening and arrived here in Atlanta late Tuesday morning. Three of them are here and doing as well as they can be considering their experiences. There are 3 of my family members who we have not spoken to because they were separated at different points during the ordeal. But we have some information on where they are. We are hoping to track them down and find out about their conditions soon. I ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I am also writing to implore all of you, regardless of your race, political affiliation, income status- any factor that usually divides us in this country, to volunteer in some capacity for the relief effort. Do anything you possibly can. I sat with my family for a while after we had picked them up and they told me about the horrific experiences they and others had endured. The filthy water was chest high in the streets as they struggle to get to dry ground. People were being assaulted, raped and killed. My uncle, in his 80s, spoke of seeing dead infants floating in the water on the streets. My 87-year old aunt, who cannot get around without a walker, told me of how she could hear shooters' bullets flying past as she was being lifted into a Coast Guard helicopter. They also spoke of valiant and courageous people of all colors who helped them to survive. There were so-called "looters" who brought my family food and water for days before supplies were being delivered, when there was no food or water. Young black men who made shading out of plastic to help the elderly survive the suffocating heat in the daytime. Men who made rafts out of doors, floating infants to safety. Men who physically carried my aunt down 6 flights of stairs and placed on her on a raft to help her get to the I-10 overpass. I am not here to criticize law enforcement, the government, or any other body. But many more people would have died, maybe even members of my family, if it weren't for the efforts of ordinary people who cared enough to help save lives when the police and the government could not or did not help. These people need help of any kind. They need clothing and support. Many of these people, including the members of my family, have lost their homes and all their belongings. They've lost loved ones and they've essentially lost a city that they may never be able to go back to. There are many displaced people, like my uncle, who have fought in wars to defend this country. It's now our time and our duty to help these people rebuild their lives. Giving money to the Red Cross is a good option. You can contact the Red Cross to find out about volunteering if you have the time. You can donate clothes you don't wear anymore or clothes that you still wear to shelters set up in town. You can simply offer to visit and help out shelters, talk to people, let people know that you care as a human being. It doesn't have to be money, although the money does help. Nothing is too little or too much. So I also write to say thank you in advance for the help you will give." -Maceo Grant Atlanta, GA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 8, 2005 Quote of the Day
"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on." -Bob Newhart, US comedian & television actor (1929 - ) ------------------------------- Laughter Therapy I'm proud to report that my theatre company (Whole World Theatre) raised over $1800 last weekend for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Laughter is good for the soul. It's something I incorporate into most of the work I do with clients. I have found that if you can laugh at your problems, they're not as imposing. If you discover that you're not laughing enough in your day-to-day life, by all means, do something about it! If you are not happy, the responsibility is your own to make the necessary changes in your life. Of course, a talented hypnotherapist can help you make those changes happen, but you must take the initiative. Discover what makes you laugh... what brings a smile to your face... and GO FOR IT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 7, 2005 Quote of the Day
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of US (1809 - 1865) --------------------- Helping Out I hope you had a pleasant Labor Day weekend. I'd like to join the masses in linking to the American Red Cross website. Please click the link to make a donation to the relief efforts on the Gulf Coast, or to discover other ways in which you may be able to help those in need.
Also, there are many organizations in the Atlanta area that are accepting donations of clothing, shoes, blankets and various items. Whole World Theatre is collecting these items through Friday of this week. Call the box office at 404-817-0880 for information about when and where to make the donations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 2, 2005 Quotes of the Day "Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind." -Leonardo Da Vinci, Italian engineer, painter, & sculptor (1452 - 1519) "Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it's cowardice." -George Jackson (1941 - 1971) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 1, 2005 Quote of the Day "First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." -Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd president of US (1882 - 1945) ------------------------------- Atlanta Gas Panic In response to all the long lines and panic at gas stations around Atlanta on Wednesday, here's a quote from Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue that echoes President Roosevelt's famous statement: "There is no reason to panic. There is plenty of gas on the way. The only way we would have problems is if people rush out and try to horde and try to accumulate gasoline they won't need for a while." Another quote, this from Jim Tudor, president of the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores: "Atlanta's not out of gas," Tudor said. He said there may be outages at some gas stations, "but it wasn't because there wasn't gas available. It was because there was a run on these stores." Calm down, everyone. The only reason there were lines and shortages on Wednesday is that people became afraid of lines and shortages and rushed to the pump when they didn't really need to. Even in the most prosperous times, no station has enough gas to fill everone's tank at the same time. Prices may rise... and that may very well affect how we live. But the world is not going to end. Let's all keep a clear head and remain focused on providing help to those who need it most. None of us has any cause to abandon reason.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 31, 2005 Quote of the Day "The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people." -Claiborne Pell, US Democratic politician (1918 - ) ------------------------------- Hurricane Katrina After watching many hours of coverage of the devastating effects of this hurricane, the first thing that occurred to me was how lucky I am to have missed its wrath. It's remarkable how something like this can so quickly put things in perspective. One can feel rather silly for spending so much time worrying about the trivial problems of everyday life when basics like food, water, shelter and electricity are suddenly made unavailable to so many people. Imagine how many people who have lost their homes, their jobs and perhaps even loved ones this week wish only for things to be as they were a few days ago. No matter what challenges the coming months bring to the lives of those like myself who are unaffected by this tragedy, they will no doubt pale in comparision to what the countless people of these areas will face in just one week. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 30, 2005 Quote of the Day "In the province of the mind, what one believes to be true either is true or becomes true." -John Lilly, English dramatist and prose writer (1553–1606) ------------------------------------ A Story About Belief A number of years ago I began taking acting classes as a hobby. Before I had discovered hypnosis, I needed a creative outet to go along with my 9-to-5 job. The classes were for improvisational comedy at Whole World Theatre in Atlanta. After a while, I was in an "advanced" class with a number of other students. Some had previous experience acting. Others, like me, had no previous experience. I viewed the veteran actors -- those who performed in front of sold-out crowds every week -- as being completely different creatures from myself. They were "actors." I was a student. When this advanced class concluded, some of the students were chosen to form a new group. Others, like me, were asked to continue taking classes. I instead took a break and stuck around to help out behind the scenes. Many months later, a fellow student of mine (who also had no previous acting experience) from that group had his first opportunity to perform in the "big show" on a Saturday night. It was a big deal at the time. Before the show, I sat down next to him and asked an honest question with a slight sense of wonder: "Did you ever think you'd make it this far?" His reply: "Yes." I didn't realize it until much later, but the truth was that I had never believed I'd make it that far. I didn't believe myself to be an actor. "They" were actors. I was a just a journalist. Simple as that. What's notable is that both my friend and I took our beliefs and made them our reality. We each became what we believed we would become. Years later, I returned to acting with that knowledge and thus, a new attitude. With some hard work and a little patience, I fully expected to make my way to the stage. I now perform in front of live crowds every week. And yes, I'm an actor. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 29, 2005 Quote of the Day "But what is the difference between literature and journalism? Journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. That is all." -Oscar Wilde, Irish dramatist, novelist, & poet (1854 - 1900) -------------------------------------- Hypnosis in the News This past Friday, a crew from Fox 5 News Atlanta paid a visit to my office. Partly due to the recent passing of Peter Jennings, the longtime anchor of ABC "World News Tonight" who was diagnosed with lung cancer, Fox 5 is following several people who are attempting to quit smoking. One person will be quitting "cold turkey," others may be using the nicotine patch, gum, Wellbutrin or other methods. One person, a new client of mine, will be using hypnosis. Friday's session went extremely well, and I expect this client to have great success. I like for my clients to enjoy themselves during their sessions, and this client was laughing so hard during the post-hypnosis interview that she had to stop and collect herself... the mere idea of smoking caused her to laugh herself to tears. As with all my stop smoking clients, she received a CD for reinforcement and self-hypnosis training, and was instructed to listen to the CD at least once a day. She will also return for a follow-up session within the next two weeks. Fox 5 is going to wait a couple months before airing the segment, so they can track each person's progress in hopes of discovering which method is most effective. I will update this page as to when the feature will air, which will likely be sometime in November. I will soon be making updates to other areas of the site, and I'm currently developing some CD's and mp3 downloads that will be available for purchase directly through the site in the months ahead. Feel free to bookmark this page and check for updates on a daily basis. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you in the future. If you have questions about this page or anything else, please feel free to contact me. I make an effort to respond to all questions and messages personally. Thanks for your time and have a great day.
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