Many of you have requested that I update this blog. It’s been a long time and I have no excuses. While I’ve had plenty to share, business and personal commitments took more time than expected. I do promise to update more.

I also promise to get my website up and running very soon. Many of you have asked me to make my hypnotherapy and life coaching skills services available. While my time is full raising a teenager and running a small but rewarding business, Twitter opened a new world of friends who’ve gently nudged me to expand my reach.

I got started in this career by using these same techniques to help myself. What worked for me, I know can work for many of you.

Since we all share the same dreams and challenges, the solutions are also universal-to a point. There are a few of you that need more than I can offer.  I will never take on a client that I cannot help. I will refer you to the right resources though.

Many of my Twitter friends have asked me to sum up my personal philosophy. It is very simple.

” All of us can change. Change takes courage. All of us have enough courage.”

That’s it. Nothing new or special, but within that philosophy is a whole universe of wonderful possibilities.

Oh, and my most important values are: Kindness, compassion, courage, empathy, gratitude and generosity.

I’ll be adding more Posts in the coming weeks. If you have any issues you’d like me to discuss. Feel free to let me know.

Butch

We’ve all said “so and so” is crazy, when in reality they are just phobic or neurotic about something.  It could be fear of driving, open spaces or speaking in public. Or it could be constant hand washing, nail biting or stuttering. These are the kind of conditions  that hypnosis is perfect for treating.

So with that disclaimer out of the way, can hypnosis cure crazy? The answer is, yes it can!  And as you’ve probably figured out, all of these conditions are habits and learned behaviors. And there is overwhelming evidence  that even the hard wiring of the brain isn’t all that hard after all. For example, stroke victims that regain use of limbs, speech and other functions are clearly benefiting from the spontaneous rewiring of the brain.

All learned behaviors are the manifestation the brain re-wiring itself, creating new neural connections. What this means for personality disorders, destructive habits and dangerous behaviors is amazing.  Through the power of the mind, we can rewire the brain to create positive behaviors.

It would be nice to help children with hypnosis rather than feed them powerful psychotropic drugs, which in many cases creates conditions far worse than what they were originally treated for. How many so called ADHD kids really need all those dangerous drugs?

The list of conditions successfully treated with hypnosis is huge and it’s getting bigger every year as we learn more and more about the incredible resilience and power of the mind.  Hypnotherapy vs Prozac-which would you rather be addicted to?

For now if you’re suffering from the kind of crazy that afflicts all of us from time to time, try hypnosis. You will be amazed. But don’t overlook the power of hypnosis to help even deeper problems. Since I am not an MD, I can’t and won’t say more. Just do the research for yourself.

If you want to learn more or need  help feel free to contact me.

I’ll be honest, after more than 20 years of helping others overcome  stress and adversity, I found myself occasionally forgetting my own advice. But I got back on track. So if you feel overwhelmed right now, there is help.

Taking care of our aging parents is one of the most challenging and stressful events in life. It is gut wrenching to see your parents become frail and helpless. They took care of us. We depended on them for everything and now the roles are reversed.  I am going through it as I write this. For the last 12 months both of my in-laws have been in and out of emergency rooms and now both need 24 hour care.

You may now find yourself dealing with multiple doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, medicare, powers of attorney, home nursing, medications, learning new medical terminology etc.  On top of helping your parents, you have to take care of yourself and your immediate family. Your children also worry about their grandparents and you struggle with what and how much to tell them. For all of you going through this, I am with you.

Since every situation is unique, I cannot cover all of them. The type of illness, where your parents live, the financial situation and whether you have siblings will all play a role in how you will take care of your parents. Even your culture and background will influence your choices. For example, some cultures and families disapprove of nursing homes. While others believe nursing homes are the best option. Whatever decision you make it will be difficult, both have their own challenges. I’ll write more in another article about nursing homes vs staying at home. There is too much too cover here.

In an earlier article I wrote about my father’s aggressive form of Alzheimer’s which stuck him last year. He is now in a special care home. After months of trying to keep him at home, we could no longer provide him the help he needed.

Your parents may be suffering from terminal illness or just gradually losing their health and independence. Some of you may be preparing for the inevitable end. And some of you may be alone and have to take care of your parents by yourself.

For those of you who had a difficult relationship with your parents, this is especially a hard time for you.  Do you feel guilty over not caring enough? Do you feel compelled to make amends before it’s too late? Or perhaps  life was so tough with your parents that your love is deeply buried or gone, but you are the only able to take care of them. All of these scenarios are more common than you probably realize. You are not alone

And all of these situations are emotionally and physically wrenching. But there are steps you can take to minimize the stress and get help. But I won’t fool you. Nothing will or should completely eliminate the pain you are going through. Some emotional pain and stress is normal and you can’t cure normal.

I want to share with you the hard earned techniques I used. These are simple techniques. So simple and obvious that we frequently forget them as I did. Please use them. I cannot stress enough how important they are.

1) Take time for yourself and your immediate family. Exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep.  You won’t be helpful to your parents or own family if your own health suffers. It’s not necessary to spend every moment with your parents, but it is vital that you set aside at least one hour per day for yourself. Use it to rest, catch up with your kids and spouse. It is also vital that you make a schedule to help your parents. Unless there is an emergency, stick to it and don’t feel guilty if you’re not with them all the time.

2) Seek help from friends, family and professional resources. It’s likely some of your friends have gone through the same thing. Ask them how they coped and what they did to help their parents. I did and learned valuable information on such things as nursing homes, medicare, how to deal with insurance companies, doctors and hospitals.  They also know you feel and what you’re going through. This itself is a huge help.

Ask your family for help and cooperation. Not all of you have this advantage, but for those of you with siblings and close relatives, this step is very important. Put aside any differences and focus on the common goal of getting your parents the best help available. Make a list of tasks, resources and available time and divide the work.  I worked closely with my sister, and while we didn’t always agree, together we got things done. We also had each other for emotional support. It was a blessing.

Most hospitals, insurance companies and local communities offer support programs for people just like you.  Many of these services are free-use them. You can talk to trained counselors and obtain free legal and medical advice. If you belong to a church, ask them about any services they offer. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed.  What you’re going through is a normal part of life. Be strong and seek help. Trust me on this, doing everything on your own is very, very tough.  It was a profound lesson to be reminded that most people are compassionate and helpful and that all of us need help from time to time.

3) Find God, meditate, become spiritual. This is the most important step. If you’re not religious or spiritual, then please learn and practice meditation and/or hypnosis. You must forgive yourself and your parents. Let go of the past and take care of today-now.

I haven’t discussed medications because I am not an MD, but if you feel you need medical help, then by all means seek out a trained specialist. In my case, I relied on God, meditation and self hypnosis to keep my emotions and stress under control. However, I would consider medication if I was unable to control my mental and emotional state. Even so, I would always practice hypnosis and prayer as well. Whatever means you use, you must take care of this part of your life.

My main point is that you must tend to your body, mind and soul and you should never hesitate to seek help from a variety of sources.

I utilized all these steps, except for medication. If you need any advice or help, please feel free to contact me or comment. I am trained hypnotherapist and have spent the last 20 years helping others live a worthwhile life.

Kind regards,

Butch

Teenagers, especially those in high school, live in a pressure cooked world these days.  Temptations are endless.  Not so long ago going outside to hang out with friends was their main form of entertainment. Now they have a zillion TV channels, the Internet, computer and video games, chat rooms, cell phones, social networking sites, texting, MP3 player and on and on. It’s amazing any of them can think straight.  

Distractions are ubiquitous. And with so many single parents and dual working parents out there, normal discipline and monitoring is a luxury now rather than the norm. Life is just so different now and we seem to see more and more behavior problems these days.

Meds and expensive counseling are routinely prescribed for problems once solved with a stern lecture and loss of privileges.  There are other ways to help teenagers than  medicating them, expelling them from school or shipping them off to endless counseling. sessions.  Don’t get me wrong here,  if you have a teenager with a medical or psychological condition, seek qualified help. But for many problems there are other options that have been shown to be extremely effective. 

Hypnosis is one those options for your teenager. The list of things for which is hypnosis is effective is impressive. If they need help with test taking, addictions, sports improvement, anxiety, public speaking, self esteem, weight loss and many others areas,  I urge you to consider hypnotherapy.

I use hypnotherapy with our own high school teenager. He is a gifted student, musician and athlete-and he’s just a good kid too. While much of his success is due to hard work, a great mother and perhaps genes, we’ve seen amazing results with hypnotherapy in his exam results, music and sports. In the course of working with him in these areas, I’ve developed  specialized scripts that specifically address teenagers. 

Let me share a personal example of how hypnosis helped him with dramatic results.  Several years ago a well known coach in our local little league benched my son for most of the season.  He came to me for help.  He wanted to prove to himself, and to this coach,  that he was a good baseball player and deserved to play. I love sports, but try not to get involved in little league politics. Some of you know what I am talking about.  Instead of complaining about how unfair this coach was, my son decided to make himself so good no one could bench him again. As long as this goal did not interfere with school or his chores, we let him go for it.

I wrote a set of  hypnotherapy scripts for hitting, pitching , fielding and confidence.  In addition to hypnosis we practiced together and I taught him visualization techniques.  The result was that the next year he was selected to be on the Little League Majors All Star team after completely dominating the league with his pitching and hitting.  His team also beat that other coach’s  to win the league championship. He’s now considered one of the top athletes and baseball players in the area.  He’s a talented pitcher, hitter and center fielder and just made the High School team. But back to the All Stars.  The story gets better. It’s almost Hollywood movie better.

The All Star team advanced to the district play offs.  These teams had some of the best young baseball players in Los Angeles. After a good start, they lost a game and were now playing an elimination game. It was night game under the lights in a beautiful field in Manhattan Beach, California. And they were losing 6-2 with 2 outs and 2 strikes on our weakest hitter. One more strike and the game and tournament were over. 

 Most of  the parents, coaches and players were packing up to leave. The opposing team and our boys “knew” the game was lost. All except one person.  And that was our son.  All of us in the stands overheard him in the dugout encouraging his team mates, that the game wasn’t over yet and that all they needed was one hit to start a rally. He was also shouting encouragement to the boy at the plate. My wife and I were very proud of him. Even if they had lost, I was moved by his spirit. Wouldn’t you know it, the next thing we heard was the crack of an aluminum bat for a hit. Our number 9 hitter with 2 strikes and no hits in the tournament  so far, belted a double. But it was barely a double. He missed being thrown out by inches. Drama!

My son was up next as the lead off  hitter and blasted a 2 run home run. The score is now 6-4.  The next player, with 2 strikes on him,  hit a monster  home run to make it 6-5.  And the next boy, again with 2 strikes, hit a bomb into the street and we were tied, 6-6. Then, ironically,  our best hitter came up to the plate and grounded out. The game went into extra innings. None of us;  the league officials, coaches, parents or the press had seen anything like this before!  Needless to say, we had a new ballgame.

My son went into to pitch  for the first time during the game against the top of their order. The team he was pitching to were the favorites to win the tournament. He stuck out all three batters on 11 pitches!  Then our first batter came up and hit a walk off homer to win the game.

Everyone was estatic or stunned, depending on which team you were on.  My son later told me he just knew they would win and that he would make it happen.  One writer commented you could watch baseball for 50 years and never see another game like this. And he was right. They had just come back from a 4 run deficit with 2 outs and 2 strikes on them to tie it with 3 straight  home runs and then to win with a walk off homerun in extra innings!

Our boys went on to win the district championship for the first time in the  fifty year history of our league. Later that year, the team was invited to be part of a parade. Some of the boys were interviewed by the press and local cable channels. Even though our league does not have MVP’s, my son was universally accorded that unofficial honor for leading our league to it’s first championship. And he’s still modest and down to earth.

Yes, there was some luck and talent involved and those other boys came through with magnificent hits, but without the confidence and belief my son instilled in his team mates,  everyone agreed we probably would  have been eliminated.  That game  has become part of family lore for us lucky enough to have been part of  it. Many of those kids will be telling their grandchildren one day about it. It was a miracle and I know that the  hypnosis and positive reinforcement I used with our son played a huge role in his attitude and performance that day. It was about much more than a baseball game. For any baseball fans reading this, you know what I am talking about.

The point is this: the mind can do seemingly amazing and even miraculous things. Hypnosis taps into this power. I hope this inspires you to explore this incredible tool. It’s been around so long that maybe we just overlook it.

I should mention that that coach who benched my son the previous season, later courted him to play for his highly ranked club team. My son politely declined.  Ironically, his own son who was also on the All Star team, missed that miracle game because his father took him to the MLB All Star game in San Francisco.   What a shame, because the boy is a talented ball player and missed something far more special.  The boy later told my son he would have rather been with his team. The reason the dad boycotted that game is a story for another time.

All in all, it was an amazing experience. A lot of life long friendships and memories were forged on that day-including that coach.  Since then I am also frequently asked to help other young athletes.

If you need help locating a reputable and trained hypnotherapist in your area contact me. If you’re in LA, I am here to help.

Kind regards

Butch

Humans have used drugs and alcohol throughout recorded history. It seems we  have always sought ways to alter our mind.  Archaeologist have discovered that the Oracles at ancient Delphi used mood altering drugs during their rituals.   The architecture of Gothic cathedrals and Gregorian chants are mood altering. It is not by chance that churches, temples and shrines are designed the way they are. It’s calculated to make an impact on your psyche.

Historically, meditation was first  practiced by Eastern religions as a way to know God or the ultimate truth.  The proper use of meditation leads to trance states very similar to the Alpha, Theta and Delta states measured in brain wave activity. Certain brain wave activity corresponds to altered states of awareness. In other words, our mental state can be measured by brain wave activity.  Some  substances have this same effect. Many cultures and religions use them to  alter their psychic state.

Why do we seek this altered state of mind?  No doubt the practice goes back into misty pre-history, probably around the time someone asked,  ”Why am I’m here and what happens when I die?”  There is one thing all mind altering substances and meditative practices have in common-they ease pain. Whether it’s physical, mental, emotional or even spiritual pain, we have learned that certain practices assuage our angst.  

The hypnotic state or trance is similar to that of the  meditative and some drug induced states, but with a difference.  Hypnotherapy is the application of tested techniques which uses the hypnotic state to ease pain and improve performance. For example, we wouldn’t  practice Zen meditation for the express purpose of quitting cigarettes or improving a golf swing. Nor would you go to a Hypnotherapist to find God in your life. But in both cases, both outcomes are possible. Albeit in a roundabout way.

The point is that the state of mind achieved by meditation, hypnosis and some chemicals are virtually the same when using brain wave activity as the measuring stick.  Don’t get me wrong here, I am not questioning the validity of the religious experience whether obtained by meditation or by an act of faith. We’re discussing something different here.

Hypnosis as practiced by a certified hypnotherapists is aimed at  tapping into the subconscious to fix the problems of everyday life. To this purpose our field has developed a special language and methods proven to have specific beneficial effects. The words, tone and construction of a hypnotherapist induction are not random. Those methods have been tested and proved effective at putting a client into controlled trance states very similar to meditation. The difference between a Hypnotherapist and a Zen practitioner is what we do with that state once we get our client into it.

We have developed special scripts using precise language and word patterns that impact the subconscious in specific ways. We have learned for example that the subconcious does not respond to negative constructions. Instead it recognizes positive affirmations. This fact is central to our field.  The difference between, “You won’t smoke another cigarette” and ” You are a non smoker” may seem minor, but to the subconscious it is night and day. One is rejected and the other works.

Personally, I find this fact intriguing. I coach little league baseball and soccer and have noticed the profound beneficial effect of positive reinforcement and statements over negative ones. But that is another story.

If you’re seeking truth, spiritual enlightenment and closeness to God, then by all means meditate, go to church, synagogue or your mosque or to travel to Mexico for peyote.  I believe they are all paths to same destination. While I do acknowledge that most religions claim they possess the exclusive route to God, we cannot ignore the manifold ways to get there. I’ll leave the religious debate to others.

If on the other hand, you want to quit smoking, overcome fear of flying, public speaking or improve your golf swing, then call a certified hypnotherapist. They may not save your soul, but they can certainly help you improve your daily life or survive another day watching the Dow Jones.

Please feel free to contact me for a free consultation. I’ve been helping folks for many years through hypnotherapy and general life coaching.

Regards

Butch

Are we living in an era of extremes?  Does it seem that history used to evolve  in a predictable and uneventful line? Of course there were the occasional bumps in the road, such as a little inflation, a minor recession or the overthrow of a petty island despot?

We landed on the moon, defeated communism, doors were unlocked, kids played outside, priests were priests and High School kids smoked a little pot, but didn’t slaughter one another.  Folks worked until retirement at the same company, no one thought about health costs and milk was delivered to your door. Life was different then. Or was it?

 My 14 year old son has lived through 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan,  beheadings broadcast on the Internet, the Internet, the worst economy since the depression, Katrina, the 2004 Tsunami, Columbine, Driveby shootings, global warming, GM failing, China ascending, ad infinitum.

Does it seem to you that world history is quickening?  That events are approaching the apocalyptic. The heroic outcome of Apollo 13 is now replaced with 2 Space shuttles exploding in the air.  Babe Ruth is succeeded by Barry Bonds. Washington and Lincoln versus Nixon and Clinton .  Are we the Mayans witnessing the end or Romans watching the Visigoths sack the eternal city?  It seems we  now accept things once thought unthinkable as normal.

But is this true? How do we compare the human nightmare of the Holocaust to 9/11? On a purely mathematical comparison of loss of life, WWII is the ultimate horror show. Can we compare the absolute poverty of the great depression to today? I suppose when we see Wall Street tycoons selling apples and cities filled with homeless mothers begging for food  then we can compare eras. The human tragedy train is always in motion. Sometimes the train chugs headlong into a random confluence of circumstances causing unimaginable tragedy. Other times the train takes a small detour causing inconvenience. It all seems so fickle and unpredictable.  Some ascribe it to cycles, fate, destiny, blind chance and butterfly wings fluttering in the wind. Things could be worse and or better.  The universe inexorably grinds on.

When I think about it, during my life I’ve witnessed the assassinations of Kennedy, King and Lennon, the Cuban Missile crises, Vietnam, Watergate, Pol Pot, Manson and Jonestown. Previous generations experienced Slavery, The Black Death, The Inquisition, Antietam, The Somme, Auschwitz and Hiroshima. Are things so different now?  I don’t think so. Rather,  it is our perception and relatively short life span that  tricks us into thinking history is unique and new to each generation. 

We humans measure life in mere decades. A generation is about 25 years. Our collective memories are individual memories writ large. This myopic perspective applies to society at large.  Reading  history can only cast a faint shadow of actually experiencing an event.  To put it simply, most of us only feel what happens personally to us. We intellectually empathise with others, but it’s what happens to you that has a visceral impact. The rest is news and words.  We’re probably hard wired this way.  Otherwise we’d be a collective basket case. 

We think we worry and fret about the world at large when actually we’re afraid of the personal impact of events.  Mass layoffs, foreclosures, crippingly debt and illness are important when they touch you . We need to put it all into perspective.  If a 4,000 year old Bristle cone Pine tree could talk, I suspect it would shrug at recent events as just another unfortunate train wreck. Or a 65 million old rock would laugh at recent human calamities as trifles compared to the asteroid or comet that wiped out the dinosaurs.

So what does all this mean to your personal life? Simply put, nothing is as bad or as good as it seems. How we perceive and react to events is what makes them horrific or bearable.

Humanity has used many ways to alleviate emotional pain;  meditation, drugs, alcohol, sex and spirituality to name a few. Hypnosis is another. I personally believe that  hypnotherapy is a scientific application of the meditative state. We have discovered that the use of specific words and sentences applied during the hypnotic state is extremely effective at reducing stress, worry and crippingly anxiety. I use it daily to cope with life’s ups and downs. It works. I can teach you how to use it.

So if life, the economy or the prospect of another asteroid hitting earth worries you, contact me. But in the meantime, I suggest you forget the Dow Jones and the nightly news and spend more time enjoying your health, family and friends.

Yours

Butch

What to do if stress is overwhelming you? Hypnosis is one of the easiest methods to get relief from the grind of daily stress and anxiety.  For years I’ve practiced self hypnosis as a quick and effective way  to find peace of mind. I’ve created a shortcut of sorts, which has worked well for me.  Just follow these simple steps:

1) Find a quiet place to lie down for at least 30 minutes. I find it works much better to close your eyes and play soft music. If the music distracts you, turn it off. Make yourself comfortable and warm. Wear loose fitting clothes and take off your shoes.

2) Take 3 deep breaths and slowly exhale. Using  your mind’s gentle inner voice begin telling yourself to relax.The subconscious will listen and actually start relaxing you. Start with your head and work downwards. Tell yourself that the muscles around your eyes and mouth are relaxing…. Work down to your neck, shoulders, arms, fingers, chest, groin, buttocks, legs and finally your toes.  This should take around 5 minutes. Trust yourself, it works. You’ll begin to notice that you feel better.

3) In your mind’s eye imagine a staircase, elevator or escalator. Choose one that you like. If you can’t actually see them, don’t worry. Your subconscious will know. Imagine yourself at the top and slowly count down from 10 to 1, descending with each count. Take several seconds between counts. Tell yourself that for each count you will feel progressively more and more relaxed. Do this until you reach the bottom. If you feel like it, go down another level. I generally use 3 levels until I reach the bottom.  The inner dialoge could sound something like this:

“As I go down, I feel more and more relaxed. I feel calmer. I am going deeper and deeper with each count.” 

My personal method is to arrive at my own secret place. It’s a balcony overlooking the Pacific ocean. I can see a lighthouse and it’s peaceful and calm and the weather is perfect. There is a comfy chair in which I sit and just relax.  Your secret place could be anything or anywhere. It can be a cloud gently floating in the sky. Or your backyard as you enjoy swaying in your hammock. Whatever image, place or circumstance feels calming to you, use it. Be creative. And don’t worry if you actually can’t see it in your mind’s eye.  Simply thinking of it will work.

As you relax in your special place, you can tell yourself that you are calm. Always use positive statements such as “I am relaxed.” Don’t use negative sentences, such as “I won’t be stressed out anymore”. The subconscious does not respond to negative statements 

Take a little time and let your mind wander. You can imagine yourself walking along the shore and feel the warm sand between your toes. Or see yourself in a hammock on a calm summer day. It’s up to you. Stay there for awhile and let the peaceful feelings flow over you. When you’re ready to come back, tell yourself that you will slowly count backward from 5 and with each count you will feel refreshed, calm and alert. At the count of 1 you will awake feeling wonderful. Now try it!

Don’t fret if you don’t think it’s working, or if you don’t feel you’re going under. If you believe and trust the process to work, it will. It may take several tries, but soon you will begin to notice a pattern and a special feeling come over you during the procedure. Your body and mind will feel the tension ease and you will know that you are relaxing. As you become better, you can even create shortcuts and cues that will send you under almost immediately.

To get maximum benefit, however, I highly recommend you find a trained and reputable hypnotherapist.  Deep hypnosis under the guidance of a professional can be a profound and life changing  experience. 

Contact me if you’d like to learn more. I’m here to help.

Regards

No one can guarantee job security, but I can share with you the secrets I learned to maximize your chances of hanging on to your job.

1) Project optimism and confidence, even if you have to fake it. If you’re worried that a layoff is imminent, then by all means start looking for another job, but in the meantime, put on a confident and optimistic face. Show up to work everyday with a smile and positive outlook.

2) Work harder and longer than your colleagues.  Sounds simple doesn’t it? You’d be surprised how many people subconsciously give up and broadcast these feelings to management. I’ve been on both sides of this equation and know how this works. When planning layoffs, management considers many factors. Some of them are out of your control, but all else being equal those who demonstrate a willingness to work harder and longer stand a better chance of being retained. Common sense, but again I was amazed how many people overlooked this basic tenet of job security.

3) Network, network…An overused term, but still vital. Make yourself available and known to key players at your company.  Get to know the well liked old timers. Many of them are a valuable source of  company secrets, such as what management values. Volunteer for the crap assignment nobody else wants. You’ll know what these are at your company.

4) Compliment your boss and colleagues.  Genuine compliments are always welcome. Most bosses love praise and recognition. Your colleagues love it too. Despite what you think, sincere compliments have always worked. You’ll be amazed at the effect this has on people.  Just don’t be too obvious or engage in transparent flattery or you’ll make enemies among your peers. There is a trick to this, that I can show you.

5) Stay focused on your job, but take on more. Make it known you welcome extra work. Learn new skills, attend seminars, join trade associations. In other words, make yourself known as a go to person.

6) Don’t gossip, but discretely listen to it. Even the rumor mongers sometimes possess valuable information that can help you.  Become known as a trusted colleague who can keep secrets.

7) Be enthusiastic. Promote the company any chance you get. Let it be known how much you love to work for your company and how much you love your job-even if you don’t. Again, fake it if you have to.  Just don’t go overboard with this or you’ll be branded a phony. I can also teach you how to do this, if it seems too difficult.

Bonus: Learn how to project confidence, calmness and competence even when you don’t feel like it. Learn how to minimize anxiety and crippling stress through hypnosis. I used these techniques in my career and would love to show you how to use them too.

Does all of this sound simple and even simplistic? Maybe so, but I learned from the masters-The Japanese. I worked for the best and brightest in Japan and learned their most coveted management secrets. The stuff they don’t want the West to know about.  I rose from a local sales rep to an executive VP with a large mulitnational corporation by applying these principles; plus a few more.

If you want to know more, contact me. I’d love to help. We’re in this together.

Regards

Butch

But then Alzheimers creeped into his life. After surviving all of these odds and working until the very end, this pernicious disease robbed him of his home, job and memory. What are we without our memories? Yet, he is fighting it.

One day your father is working, traveling, driving, and living a productive and vital life, and then he can’t. He can’t remember to pay his bills, what bank he uses, whether it’s a Sunday or a workday, how to drive etc… Of all the diseases we battle this is one of the worst.

His life changed and our lives changed. He lost his job and health insurance. He could no longer remember the basics such as when he ate or last  took his meds. He could no longer take care of himself.

The family rallied to get him help. It wasn’t easy. So many things turned upside down. But we got him the help he needed.  We argued and cried, but in the end he’s getting the best care available.

It so happened that during this same period both of my in-laws suffered from delibitating strokes that robbed them of their independence. My wife had her hands full too.

During this time, there were moments when I felt overwhelmed, but through meditation and carefully scripted hypnosis, I was able to stay positive, focused and most of all-helpful.  I am now using hypnosis to help my father with his memory and we are seeing amazing results.

If you feel life is getting you down, contact me. I can help.

Yours

Butch

The house itself was a part of my uncle. It was an artistic extension of him.  When they bought it, it was an abandoned warehouse on the waterfront in College Point New York. The city wanted to condemn it but Uncle John spent almost 2 years transforming the derelict building into a home and art studio. The home itself was his museum of art. At 71,  John must start over and he will. He’s an amazing man and will overcome this tragedy.

In moments, a lifetime of memories and precious creations were gone.  A space heater gone bad. The banality of tragedy strikes again. A cheap piece of plastic and metal destroys a home.  I’ve witnessed many tragedies  and most of them share one thing-the seemingly unreal and banal process that transforms a normal day into a nightmare. I’ll delve deeper into another time.

2008 was tough. It was difficult for just about everyone I know. In my own world, both in-laws fell ill. They are  now helpless and need 24 hour care.  My grandmother died suddenly and unexpectedly. .  My father contracted Alzheimer’s and suddenly went from a vital, self sufficient man to a living in a nursing home far away. My 13 year old son lost his grandfather, great grandmother, and watched the ravages of strokes take away his other 2 grandparents. I injured my back and knee in an accident. My best friend lost his business and life savings. Oh there was more, but it doesn’t matter, 2008 was a mess. 

So you can see why I wanted 2009 to be different, but it isn’t.  I just reaffirmed what I have always really known deep down. That life goes on and one. Tragedy, triumph, health and disease, death and birth are natural events in the cycle of  life. Whether we believe in destiny or blind chance, life is absolutely merciless in it’s march through time. Every possible thing that can happen, probably will.  All we can hold onto are our faith and attitude. Someone once said “Nothing is as good or bad as it seems”…So true. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, especially while bad things are happening. But I found the secret to coping.

I know I’m not a special victim of bad times. There are folks out there who have suffered far more than me. Compared to the loss of a child or a terminal illness striking in the prime of life, my problems are moderate. Folks are losing their life savings and homes. Times are tough. Tougher than I can recall in my 50+ years on earth. But I am pushing forward and making things happen. I don’t waste any time feeling sorry for myself or others. Instead I get up everyday ready to take on any challenge with a smile on my face. You can too.

 It is normal to feel terrible during terrible times. It would be strange not to feel pain when painful things happen to us. But to let the pain linger and cripple us is not good. And I can show you a way to deal effectively with life’s detours and ambushes. I can’t help with normal pain, but if you are stuck and feel as if you can’t get out, I can help. I can show you how to live free of crippling worry and stress and to set goals and achieve your dreams no matter what obstacles you face.

I am a hypnotherapist and specialize in helping folks live fully and overcome obstacles.  My speciality is focusing on helping people with the same problems that I’ve overcome.  I work from the conviction and  experience that if I can do it, so can you. I’ve been through it and know what works and what doesn’t.  Ultimately, we are far more alike than we are different.

If things are rough and you want help, please contact me for a free consultation.

Yours