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Podcast Interview – Hypnotizing Your Mindset to Achieve Your Goals

Podcast Interview – Hypnotizing Your Mindset to Achieve Your Goals

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Lois Sonstegard, Ph.D., ACC and I were introduced through a mutual acquaitance, and Lois invited me to be interviewed on her podcast, Building My Legacy. The podcast encourages, stimulates, challenges and motivates you as a leader to answer , “What’s next in my life?” She thought I had a unique perspective that her listeners would appreciate.

Because of my background as a hypnotherapist, we started out talking a bit about hypnosis.  As most people are, Lois was curious about the process. She was slightly surprised to hear that hypnosis is simply an intensely focused state of attention. We discussed how my hypnotherapy practice and what I learned from it has inspired my work as a coach for women small business owners.

We talked about our how, because we live in such a technologically driven world, and it’s easy to get distracted. Distraction from what’s important will undermine you personally and professionally.  Being distracted causes stress, and prevents you from thinking clearly or creatively. When you’re stressed, you react to the immediate problem without thinking the issues through. During our exchange, I described a simple technique you can use to calm your mind down and think more clearly.

Unfortunately, distraction can become a habit. The more you get distracted, the more you train yourself to be distracted. The good news is that if you can train yourself to be distracted, you can train yourself to be focused. I explained the process I use with my clients, to help them gain clarity, get focused and stay on course. Most people know what they don’t want, but have a hard time figuring out what they do want. At Lois’ request, I shared a technique I teach my clients to gain clarity. 

We had a delightful conversation. I love offering tips and explanations that empower people to have more satisfying and fulfilled lives. For more of Lois’ podcasts on becoming a better leader in your personal and professional life, listen to Building My Legacy on Spreaker or any of the major podcast channels.

Listen to Hypnotizing Your Mindset to Achieve Your Goals.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Podcast Interview – Thrive Through Greater Self-Worth

Podcast Interview – Thrive Through Greater Self-Worth

Emmalou Penrod M.A., of Healing Your Families, and I were introduced by a mutual acquaintance. In our initial conversation, we realized we had something in common. We both had been trained to use hypnosis to improve people’s lives! She’s a retired schoolteacher, and now coaches families to have more peaceful homes. She’s a parenting and family strengthening expert, and brings her knowledge of counseling to help heal families.

As we talked, we had such a connection that she invited me to be interviewed on her podcast at WinWinWomen.tv. Although family issues aren’t my professional area of expertise, one topic that affects everyone is self-worth. My specialties as a hypnotherapist were stress management, success programming and self-esteem/self-worth issues. Since Emmalou and I agreed that having better self-worth made better parents, we decided that would be a great topic to cover.

In the interview, we began by talking about how I became a focus coach for women small business owners. I explained that women tend to be scattered because of all their responsibilities. It’s difficult for them to focus for any length of time on any one thing. But focus is necessary to accomplish anything.

Then Emmalou asked about the opposite of focus, “What do you think of multitasking?”

“Multitasking” is a myth,” I answered, and explained why. She said she’d heard it described as “a lie,” which is also true. Multitasking keeps your brain fractured between all the different tasks. It breaks your train of thought, so you can’t build up momentum on any project or task.

This led into discussing the difference between self-esteem and self-worth. Self-esteem can be impacted by outside variables and self-worth is more internal and fundamental. And both are impacted by having a strong inner critic. Emmalou liked my perspective on the inner critic not being a bad guy, but fulfilling a role that a person has outgrown.

Emmalou asked how a person could improve their self-worth. I answered that being kinder to oneself and being mindful helped to support and build self-worth. At the end of the conversation, I shared three simple steps on how to be kinder to yourself.

Because of Emmalou’s background, expertise and knowledge, I loved talking with her about this subject. I could have gone on for hours, but we had to fit into the podcast’s time frame. But I have articles on this topic here and on my website to help you reclaim your worth. And Emmalou has articles on her blog to help you become a better person, and thus, a better parent.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Special or Safe Place Imagery

Special or Safe Place Imagery

Sparks of Insight

Question: Does the “special, safe or happy place” in self-hypnosis or guided imagery have to be from a childhood place?

Answer: The peaceful, special, safe or happy place doesn’t have to be from childhood. When I’m leading a client into it, I tell them to imagine a vacation spot or someplace completely imaginary, where no one can bother them and they feel completely safe. It could be on a cloud, above the cares of the world, or on a deserted beach.

Only a few people have had a hard time with that, and usually it’s because they can’t remember ever feeling safe. In that case, I recommend that they think of a time when they felt a little safe, maybe with a trusted friend. I then tell them to continue practicing with it, because each time they’ll get a little closer to the feeling of safety.

Not only is a feeling of safety important for stress reduction, but also for any improvements in your life. If you don’t feel safe, the subconscious won’t to create anything new. It will still be in “survival mode” and consider that any change is threatening to your current tenuous sense of security.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Will hypnosis be dangerous if I misuse it?

Will hypnosis be dangerous if I misuse it?

Question about affirmations

Question: Will hypnosis be dangerous if I misuse it?

Answer: I get this question a lot. It’s based on a misunderstanding and misconception about hypnosis. If misused, anything in life is dangerous. Electricity powers our computers, lights, appliances, but if you put your finger in the electric socket, you run the danger of being killed.

In the case of hypnosis, it’s a normal state of mind that you’re in and out of everyday. Whenever you focus on anything, you’re in a state of hypnosis. The only way to misuse hypnosis is to give yourself negative suggestions that would decrease the quality of your life. But you do that whenever you make any kind of negative statement about yourself, put yourself down or say “I can’t.”

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Deal with thoughts during meditation?

Deal with thoughts during meditation?

Question about affirmations

Question: How do I deal with overwhelming thoughts when I’m trying to meditate?

Answer: It’s normal to have problems with thoughts distracting you during meditation. It happens to those first starting meditation as well as seasoned meditators. It’s one reason why there are so many meditation techniques that use some sort of focus, like a mantra or staring at a candle.

When I use self-hypnosis at the beginning of a meditation, I go deeper than with any other technique. And because you’re focusing on relaxing your body, counting down and then imagining a special place, it helps to calm down the errant thoughts. However, it is a constant practice to keep them calm and not let them distract you.

Whenever you have a thought try to get your attention, bring your focus back to your special place, affirmation or any visualization you’re using. You’re in the process of training your mind. Letting it know that you’re going to take charge. Once you’ve practiced enough to get the thoughts quieter, the next step is to be able to simply observe them and let them go.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

Why willpower is overrated

Self-control, and all the benefits from it, may not be related to inhibiting impulses at all. People who exhibit more self-control may be structuring their environment so that there are fewer temptations. They also reframe temptations so they’re easier to dismiss. Learn more about how to train yourself to have more self-control, achieve your goals and have a better life.

11 Warning Signs of Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic used to gain power over other people. And it works all too well. It’s done slowly, over time, so that the victim doesn’t recognize that they’re being brainwashed. They begin to question their own reality. This article details how gaslighters use various techniques so that you can identify them and not fall into the gaslighters trap.

How to Use Positive Affirmations for Stress Relief

Positive affirmations are an effective way to reprogram your subconscious mind and align your beliefs with what you want in life. Affirmations can relieve stress, improve your self-image, increase motivation and keep you on course to your goals. This article highlights guidelines to creating and using your own positive self-talk statements to create the life you want.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

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Trending Articles of the Week

If You’re Just Not a Morning Person, Science Says You May Never Be

I admit, I am not now, nor I have ever been, a morning person. My brain just doesn’t work well in the early part of the morning. I can function, but that’s about it. Now this article explains why that is. Morning people and night owls are born that way. It’s time we accepted that.

How to Get Motivated Every Day When You Wake Up

There are two types of people. There are those who are stuck or satisfied with the status quo, and don’t do anything about it. And then there are those who set goals and take action to achieve more in their life. The difference between them comes down to motivation. To get into a motivation flow to improve your life, use the 3 parts of it described in this article.

5 Neuroscience Based Ways to Clear Your Mind

Everyone deals with negative thoughts, anxiety, or worry at some point. It’s only a problem when they stick around. But there are tactics you can use to take back control and overcome those wayward thoughts. Neuroscientists have identified some very effective ways to forget unwanted thoughts and get back on track.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Podcast Interview-Mind Money Motion

Podcast Interview-Mind Money Motion

Marie Burns Mind Money Motion

Recently, Marie Burns of Mind, Money, Motion interviewed me on her podcast, which focuses on helping listeners worry less about money by keeping their mind and body healthy.  We first met at a meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the National Speakers Association. But the idea of being interviewed on her podcast didn’t arise until the COVID-19 shut-down pushed all meetings online.

Marie and I were in a virtual Zoom meeting together, when she messaged me to ask if I’d be interested in being on her podcast. I was delighted! I felt the interview would be fun as I’d get to know her better and be able to share my ideas with her audience.

In the interview, we discussed my hypnotherapy background and I explained a little bit about what hypnosis is and isn’t. Most people have misconceptions about hypnosis, and I take every opportunity to clear those away. In this instance, it led into how I realized why having a vision was so important to achieving your goals.

She asked great questions and led me deeper into explaining about mindset and focus, my specialties. Mindset is so much more than just positive thinking. And focus is necessary if you’re going to avoid distractions and stay on course. Mindset, vision and focus are all essential to success in personal and professional life, in normal and uncertain times.

Time got away from us, and the interview ended all too soon. That’s what happens when you’re having fun, isn’t it? I would have loved to have spent more time with her and gone even deeper into my topics.

The 26-minute interview, Clarifying your vision and building a strategy to achieve your goals, can be found at Mind, Money, Motion, as well as on Itunes and Csuite Network. Those links are on the same page as the interview.

I hope you check out her other podcasts, as they provide fascinating information to help you in your life. Marie wants you to enjoy less worry and more life. She’s a Certified Financial Planner, speaker, author, and hosts the podcast to provide actionable ideas for women. I was honored to have been invited into her world and hope her audience enjoys the interview.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Trending Articles of the Week

Trending Articles of the Week

10 Excuses the Mind Will Tell You Before You Take the Next Step

The mind is an excuse-making machine that frequently tries to convince us not to take actions we know are good for us. The mind wants to stay in the familiar or a comfort zone. When you overcome its excuses, you’re empowered to make the changes you want in your life.

How To Meditate: A Beginner’s Guide To Meditation Practice

Meditation is one of the most valuable practices that someone interested in personal development can utilize. But as with so many things, meditation is very easy to learn, but difficult to master. This article will explain the many benefits of meditation, answer some common objections to it, teach some meditative techniques, and how to make meditation a part of your life.

How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips

Some days the to-do list seems bottomless. Just looking at it is exhausting. We all want to know how to stop being lazy and get more done. This article addresses some of the misconceptions about how you can be more productive and gives specific strategies to help you get more done.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

How can I concentrate better?

How can I concentrate better?

Question: How can I learn to concentrate better, so that my mind doesn’t wander?

Question about affirmations

Answer: Do you have a lot of pressure on you? Have you had a lot of stress? These would cause your mind to wander as a way of escaping and having a mental vacation. Have you been doing any meditation, exercise, or any sort of stress reduction techniques? That would be my first recommendation to you.

Secondly, sometimes, the mind gets tired of focusing, and needs some time away from it. Concentrating on one thing for a long period is exhausting, so if you’ve been doing that, start breaking the periods up.

This sounds odd, but simply doing meditation or self-hypnosis each day will give your mind a rest, while at the same time, they help to train your mind to concentrate better.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart