Mindful Meditation Hypnosis
What is Mindful Meditation Hypnosis?
A better question might be “What’s not meditation?”
Meditation is not finding a bearded guru and heading off to India to sit on a lonely mountaintop. It’s not paying $1000 for a mantra. And it’s not clearing your mind until it’s empty. (That, by the way, is impossible.)
Meditation is simply going inside yourself. Paying attention to what’s going on with you. Observing what’s going on in there.
Following your own breathing is a time-honored, simple technique that works just fine. Meditation is “focused concentration,” much like hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis is a form of meditation.
No one, not even brain scientists, could tell you exactly where mediation leaves off and hypnosis begins. They are almost one in the same – focused concentration.
All of my work with clients involves learning to meditate. That is learning techniques that help calm down the obsessive, racing thoughts that might be caused by trauma or OCD. Buddhists call these thoughts the “Monkey Mind,” but I feel that’s not a compassionate way of thinking about yourself.
Meditation isn’t thinking about anything. That’s absolutely impossible. Meditation means allowing yourself to focus on “what your brain” is thinking, just calmly watching your own process: Observing your own thoughts like a kind, compassionate listener. No judgment.
Mediation helps you to understand that you are not your thoughts. Your thoughts become like clouds floating in the sky. You simply watch. Clouds are “of” the sky, but not the sky. Your thoughts are “of you,” but your thoughts are not you.
Observing thoughts without judgment might seem like an easy thing to do, but it’s not. That’s why there’s so much misunderstanding about “mediation.”
In 1968, when I was an undergrad at Berkeley, I remember when the Maharishi came to town. He filled a huge auditorium with adoring disciples and gave out mantras to recite – in Sanskrit. From then on, hordes of young girls in flimsy, flowing dresses glided through the streets with a copy of “The Prophet” pressed to their chests, and spiritually superior smiles on their faces.
That became a booming business: Transcendental Meditation was born. Now, many years later, it costs almost $1000 to learn to go within and get your mantra.
You don’t need a mantra. You just need to take the time to sit and listen to your own thoughts. You can meditate while you walk. You can meditate while you do dishes. Most people seek me out because they want to find purpose and passion in their lives. So if you really want to change the world and make a difference in the quality of day-to-day life here in LA?
Meditate while you drive. Just focus on how amazing it is that cars exist. Then bless all the other stressed out drivers, the sentient beings behind those steering wheels. Especially the ones who really piss you off. Those are the people who give you an opportunity to behave like your own higher self. Bless them, meditate, and refuse to let anyone ruin your wonderful day.
** Disclaimer – Individual Results May Vary. Hypnotherapy treatments are not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment, and no medical claims are made regarding these treatments. People with serious conditions should consult their doctor.