Hypnosis Can Help You Achieve Your 12-Month Goals

I doubted it too, but it seems to be working

A few minutes passed.

Imagine a colour and then… And then… F*ck, my fridge is loud. How have I not noticed that before?

My first solo practice could have gone better.

I wanted to stick with it, though. Shonda — my coach — was in her late 30s and planning to die alone. (Her words, I hasten to add!) She found hypnosis and attracted Brian into her life. They’re now married.

After working with Shonda, I’ve been dating a writer and have made five figures online. These were once far-off dreams. In just 12 months, they’ve become a reality.

I can’t give the credit to hypnosis alone. Google University and 6-month plans have also helped. However, having spoken to entrepreneurs for my podcast, I’ve noticed a theme.

Mindset is 80% of the game. Execution is the remaining twenty.

Here’s what Shonda taught me.

The Practice — 9 Simple Steps

The fundamental aim of hypnosis is to shift your beliefs. According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, the hypnotic “state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness” may help us use our minds more powerfully.

One belief I’ve latched onto is feeling I’m not enough — that I’m not worthy of love. It’s held me back in relationships and I feared I couldn’t settle down with someone special.

This was the belief we tackled first.

Before jumping into the practice, we worked together to come up with a mantra.

A mantra is a sentence you repeat to yourself during the hypnosis practice. It has to be meaningful to you. This is important because you won’t be able to shift your beliefs unless you believe in what you’re saying.

Here are a couple of pointers:

• The mantra should be truthful. It’s okay to be aspirational, but repeating “I’m a millionaire” when you’re not is unlikely to work.
• The mantra should use your own language. It should feel like you’re talking to yourself. You’re the only person who can shift your beliefs.

The mantra we crafted for me is, “I’m willing to believe the woman of my dreams is out there looking for me.”

At the time, I didn’t believe this to be the case, hence I’m willing. The main part of the sentence turns scarcity into abundance. It doesn’t matter if a date doesn’t work out. The woman of my dreams is out there looking for me.

Once we had a mantra, Shonda guided me through the practice. Our first session was over Zoom:

1. Choose a limiting belief you want to challenge. In my case, not feeling worthy of love.
2. Craft your mantra. A coach can help with this.
3. Make yourself comfortable. Find somewhere you can practise in peace.
4. Before beginning, note your stress level between one and ten. How are you feeling? This gives a benchmark.
5. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths — in and out.
6. Choose your favourite colour and imagine it filling you up. Picture the colour in liquid form, washing away negativity. Start from your head and work your way down.
7. Say out loud, “I’m going deeper”. Repeat this ten times.
8. Bring to mind something you truly believe in. For me, it’s the love and support of my family.
9. Finally, repeat your mantra out loud between 8–30 times. When you’re done, slowly open your eyes.

It’s Okay to Have Doubts

The first time I practised, I felt silly.

It was alien to me and seemed woo-woo. I know this to be true because of my journal entries. Nonetheless, I told Shonda I’d give it a go. Meditation was already part of my routine, so I knew I could switch to hypnosis.

During the first week, nothing happened. I channelled my energy but my beliefs didn’t shift.

By week two, I’d settled into the practice. It felt more comfortable. I also thought about my mantra during the day. I’d be at work when I’m willing to believe… popped into my head.

By week three, I was starting to believe what I was saying. It was also around this time a writer appeared on my radar. She wrote a piece about a cricket box that hooked me from the start.

Three months later, after continuing with the practice, I went on a date with this writer.

Nine months later, we met in person.

Things to Consider

• Try meditation first — If you’re not sure how to meditate, check out 1 Giant Mind. It’s a free app I’ve been using for three years that teaches you transcendental meditation (TM). Conveniently, TM uses a mantra, making the jump to hypnosis less scary.
• Same time, same place, same practice — You may want to mix things up, particularly if nothing happens. But don’t. Lean into the discomfort. Practising for twenty minutes a day is golden.
• Practise somewhere private — This’ll help you commit to the practice. I’ve found practising in my room is best.
• Truly believe the thing you know to be true — Hold onto this feeling when you repeat your mantra. For me, this is the most powerful part of the process.

Takeaways

I know how woo-woo this feels.

I’ve never read The Secret. I haven’t studied horoscopes. Energy patterns seem far-fetched to me and I studied economics at university (aka the dismal science).

I was skeptical about hypnosis.

However, after practising for a year, I think there might be something to it. This isn’t to say I’m a believer, and it might not work for you. I just wouldn’t rule it out.

Believing I’m not worthy isn’t the only limiting belief I’ve worked on. Another mantra I use is I’m willing to believe I’ll be financially sound because I can make money online. At the time, I’d made a few bucks. 12 months later, I’ve made five figures through writing and online courses.

Don’t let this fool you. Hypnosis doesn’t replace hard work. However, shifting limiting beliefs is an important cog.

Mindset is 80% of the game — if not more.

Looking to increase your confidence and meet your dream partner? Check out Intentional Dating — a course I’ve teamed on with the wonderful May Pang! :)