Mini-Me Team Play By Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD - International Hypnosis Federation President, Author, Artist and More
(Includes excerpts From “Denial Is Not a River In Egypt: Overcome Addiction, Compulsion & Fear With Dr Stockwell’s Self-Hypnosis System”)
In the words of George Carlin, “If one sub-personality threatens to kill themselves, is it considered a hostage situation?”
If differing opinions duke it out inside of you, it can be downright debilitating. I asked a client: “Do you have trouble making up your mind?” after pause she answered, “Well, yes and no…”
So, how do you help conflicting voices be one with duality? Reflection and introspection makes it easy to notice the words you use and if you like, the whys beyond the words you choose that awakens new and wonderful possibilities and accesses your full potentials. You then cocreate with your higher wise mind best possible outcomes.
Here’s one simple way I teach clients to resolve conflicting mind chatter and integrate inner viewpoints to work as a team:
1. Locate and listen to your limiting mini-me. For example; it’s a voice that says “have a cupcake (or a drink!)” when you really want to release unwanted weight (or be sober.)
2. Place one hand on your shoulder to represent the limiting inner voice and describe it carefully to yourself. Now, close your eyes and give it a feeling, a sound, and/or an image… Then remove your hand.
3. Now, place the other hand on tyour other shoulder to represent tho voice of your highest good mind and describe it to yourself. Now, close your eyes and give it a feeling, a sound, and/or an image… Then remove your hand.
4. Now that both sides have communicated their viewpoint, reverse the hands and place one hand on each shoulder, close your eyes and take a deep breath and let them discover any points they agree upon and AFFIRM: “Congratulations, we now cross wire the brain so you easily resolve differences and make the best choice to benefit you in every way. You now work as a team for your highest good!”
5. Smile on yourself and enjoy your life!
In the 1940’s Frederick (Fritz) and Laura Perls coined the word “gestalt,” to mean “configuration of the whole.” Their intention is to bring a person’s “awareness to now, and distinguish between “perceptive reality” and “mental fantasy” and to integrate any conflicting viewpoints”.
MEET YOURSELF AND ALL YOUR VOICES
Gestalt hypnosis allows clients to dialog with their body, attitudes, the past and here-and-now reality. Each distinct viewpoint acts as sub-self or mini-me. The Hypnotherapists goal is to get them to work as a team.
The client acts out scenes from a dream or life and takes on the roles of each human, inanimate object and sub-personality. Body language enhances the process. Let’s say that during your session the person’s finger twitches you would say “What is it your finger would like to say?’ And then continue to dialog until resolution. Let’s say they wring their hands, ask, “What would one hand like to say to the other?” Or, if they say for example, “My mother wouldn’t like this…” You’d say, “Be your mother and tell me what you’d like to say about this.” And when they are complete, “And what would you like to say to your mother?” If the dialogue comes to a standstill as them to assume the role of a third party observer who acts as an “arbitrator and helps the dissenting parts come to a peaceful resolution in the here and now.”
Local Personality, Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD is a hypnotherapist, mindfulness and NLP trainer, artist and the author of 25 books. She certifies practitioners through the International Hypnosis Federation. You can call her at 310 541-4844.
