I enjoyed this video from hypnotherapist Marisa Peers so much that I took notes and then came up with my own examples to really drive home her lessons…
Shifting negativity to heal yourself
When symptoms flare up for you or life becomes very stressful (which can then lead to a flare-up), it is helpful to have some mind and body strategies to shift negativity and heal yourself. If you can change your perspective, your body experience, and your tendency to focus on negative events, your mind can direct your body in a different direction. And you can then manifest a different reality.
Of course, sometimes the healing journey is multi-layered and complex, and the body cannot let go of the symptoms until you receive the message(s). That’s okay. This is still part of going down this path. Remember that true healing is holistic – you rarely do just one thing and everything will be fine!
I am a big fan of hypnotherapy. I had many sessions and so did my children. Along with EFT, it is one of the best mind-body therapies for deep, long-term healing. Marisa Peer (in this video) is extremely expensive ($3,000 per session), but my own hypnotherapist, Jen Snow, is pretty damn good and is actually affordable!
You can either watch the video first (these concepts will probably stick better), or just skip to my takeaways below.
1. Find the GOOD part of the task that you hate and focus on it. Say that again. Confirm that again.
The shitty aspects are still there – no one disputes that. But you don’t think about, focus on, or cultivate the negative aspects.
Tell your mind what you WANT.
Associate joy with what you do, not pain.
I want that.
I like that.
I chose this – always emphasize that you can do whatever you want, but you choose X.
When you talk about, think about, and focus on the negative aspects, you are asking your brain to find ways to stop you from doing so. They activate resistance.
Example – training
Do NOT say/think/repeat, “Aaargh, I hate getting up so early to exercise. I wish I could sleep another hour. I dread exercising, it’s so hard.”
Say/think/repeat: “I choose to exercise because it makes me really strong and healthy. It makes me feel much better for the rest of my day.”
SAME reality but completely different focus and perspective. Whatever you focus on, it grows!
The mind’s drive is to move toward pleasure and away from pain.
If you associate pain with something, your mind will very quickly make you give it up.
My example – winter barn work
NOT: “OMG I hate winter, the rain is so heavy and makes everything dirty and smelly. And the horses get upset and the fields are destroyed. And there are mountains of wet, heavy manure to shovel.”
DO: “I choose to keep my horses with me in this climate: we will meditate a lot when the rain comes. And the herd dynamics become even more interesting. And I don’t get sick or depressed in the winter because my love for the horses forces me to go outside at least 2-3 hours a day or every other day. And then I feel SO much better, and once I’m outside the rain doesn’t bother me at all. That’s what I do.” I’m so glad I have the horses near me in the winter.
NOT: “How many things will go wrong?? I can’t handle it. Things always go wrong and then I end up having to come to the rescue and exhaust myself.”
DO: “I choose to have faith in myself. I have amazing coping skills. I have strong people I can ask for help. I’m creative and good at coming up with ideas for systems and hacks that make things easier. I’m strong and I have that. I trust the universe.”
2. EVERYTHING depends on the words you say to yourself and the PICTURES YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEAD.
If you do the pictures well and the words well, it changes your life.
3. The brain loves the familiar (security).
So you have to make sure that the things you desire are familiar, routine, expected and repeated. And make a habit of praising yourself.
***
Here’s another important point: Marisa really promotes the concept that the mind is in charge and the body simply does what the brain tells it. However, those of us who have healed from serious or chronic illness know that the body has its own wisdom. And there is intelligence in every cell of the body.
I have also given many teleseminars and written articles and books about the importance of recognizing the “advantages” or positive benefits of illness. Because until we realize this:
a) There is a reason why my body exhibits this particular disease or symptom
b) I experience some benefit from this illness/symptom
We cannot experience long-term, complete healing. We can move past the drug/surgery cycle and manage our symptoms and flare-ups using only natural methods, but to achieve total, vibrant health and flourishing, the emotional and spiritual aspects of our illness must also be healed.
Maybe I’m using my body to speak for myself because I’m unwilling to say no, set boundaries, risk rejection, or disappoint a loved one? Or maybe this illness gives me peace, compassion, or I don’t have to work so hard (doing what I hate). As a highly successful hypnotherapist, I was surprised that Marisa Peer did not address this aspect of healing. Until I found this interview with the lovely Lewis Howes.
In this interview, Marisa gives an example of a client who developed terrible migraine headaches. Under hypnosis (meditative state), Marisa asked her, “What role does migraine play? What purpose does it serve?” And the client talked about her high-achieving father, who had invested a lot of money in her education and had high expectations for her performance and career. So the migraine gave her a legitimate reason (one that satisfied her father) why she wasn’t living up to his expectations. Marisa says: “If the symptom has a role, function, purpose, or intention, it goes nowhere“So when you look at a physical symptom, you have to ask yourself (and your conscious mind doesn’t always know this): “What’s the benefit?” How much is the payout?”
As a good example, she asked a five-year-old, “If the headache was your friend, what would he do?” The little girl replied, “Well, when mommy and daddy fight and I have a headache, they stop fighting. They turn off all the lights and we lie in the dark until it goes away.”
Bingo! There’s the missing piece I’ve been looking for. And with any chronic illness, you can be sure that there will be at least one or two major benefits or benefits in addition to the trauma and injury stored in the affected organs or tissues. Marisa quotes: “The feeling that cannot find expression in tears can make other organs weep.”
Note: I believe the source of this quote is:
“The sorrow that finds no expression in tears can cause other organs to weep.” –Henry Maudsley
Of the 20 or so Marisa Peer videos I watched during this binge, here is one of my favorite videos:
PS: I have also created my own course where I teach you an equally effective technique for healing the mind, body and spirit: acupressure. I encourage you to attend a Free Lazer Tapping session to experience firsthand the changes that are possible when we interact with the subconscious and the body’s own wisdom.
I created this course to teach YOU to be your own healer – so you don’t have to pay a therapist for a session every time something comes up that needs to be healed. When I learned to tap, I tapped continuously for two years, and 15 years later it is still a cornerstone therapy for my excellent health and performance. Save the pros for the big stuff and learn how to heal your own pain, fears, worries, etc. as they arise. Have a free session with me and see what you think!
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
