“Sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can never hurt you”

Sound familiar?  As children this was generally the counsel we received from well meaning adults when we came home crying after being teased or snubbed.   But, if that were true we’d all be healed by now from the scrapes and bumps we received as children.  Could it be that the lasting wounds and pain so many of us carry around as adults really were caused by just words?

Hurtful words and name calling are so much a part of life that most of us don’t even notice them.  They’ve become almost as invisible as bacteria and viruses…perhaps the very first germ warfare.

To understand the effect of words on children, it’s important to realize that kids hear language differently than adults.  They take things much more literally.  And when the grownup in their life says something such as “you are stupid” they believe it without question.  Children are not able to discriminate between what is true and what is not.

Children form a picture of who they are and how life is by listening and watching.  They weave what they hear from adults, and other kids, into the fabric of their self image.  Cute, ugly, lazy, honest, liar.  Too fat, thin, tall or short…. all get woven, without question, into their self tapestry. 

If children are a part of your life in any way, you can do much to help them put together a unique and wonderful picture of who they are.  Just keep in mind that the old cliché should sound like this:

 

“Sticks and stones can break your bones and names can break your spirit.” 

Be careful what you say to children.  Take seriously what others say to children.

If there is a child in your life who has already painted limiting beliefs and inaccurate images into his or her self picture,  just know  that there are self-help techniques that are:

♥ Fun and easy for children to learn

♥ Safe and natural…with no unknown or harmful side effects

♥ As useful to carry through life as knowing how to change a tire.

When shown how to use these techniques children can correct the distorted portions of their self image and finish up with a unique and accurate portrait of who they really are.

 

The use of hypnosis for children began when the first mother kissed her child’s scraped knee, made the pain go away and the crying miraculously stopped.   Since then, mothers have instinctively and successfully used hypnotic techniques such as rocking a baby, singing a lullaby or talking softly to soothe a fretting child. 

 

What Is Hypnosis?  Is It Safe?

Hypnosis is simply:   
(1) Finding a way to bypass the barrier between the conscious and subconscious mind and
(2) implanting new ideas or beliefs that you desire.  

 

Each person must bypass his own barrier and each person must implant his own new beliefs, as all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis.  A hypnotherapist merely assists and talks you through the process.

 

Hypnosis works for children as well as adults.  In fact, it is even easier for children because the barrier between the conscious and subconscious mind is not firmly formed, as it is in adults. 

 

The barrier, also known as the ‘critical factor’ is really a filter that stops new ideas or beliefs just like a border patrol.   New ideas or beliefs are halted while the filter makes a quick comparison between the new idea and those that have already been accepted and stored in the programming center of our subconscious mind.   If the new belief matches what is in our programming center, the filter allows it in.  If it does not, the new belief is rejected…..even if we want  to change an old belief! 

This happens because the beliefs in our subconscious programming center are far stronger than any new thought.  Our mind firmly believes that what is in the programming center is true.  Those beliefs will continue to rule our actions (protected by the border patrol) until we find a way to get around the filter, access the programming center and delete or update them. 

It might seem that this is not a bad system until we consider that we began entering beliefs into our programming center when we were very, very young.  Beliefs such as “Am I smart or stupid, lazy or hardworking, pretty or ugly, a good person or bad person?”    Imagine living by the conclusions we came to when we were 2, 4 or 8 yrs old!   

 

One of the easiest ways to access the subconscious programming center is through hypnosis.   Children easily bypass their immature filter and access the programming center where a habit or fear has settled. Then they use their imagination to uproot it and implant new ideas and beliefs.   A child’s natural tendency to pretend and make believe enhances the use of hypnosis with children.

 

 Children make good use of their imagination every day.  They spend lots of time using their imagination in play, problem-solving and day-dreaming.  They are usually excited to learn that their imagination can be used for more than just play.

 

Why not have children use their powerful imagination to create beliefs about success and happiness rather than failure and fear?  As soon as a child uses his imagination to get past the filter and his new belief is accepted, the child will respond like a computer to the updated, accurate information that has been programmed. 

 

How Hypnosis Can Help

 

Modern day life is becoming more and more complex for everyone and that includes our children.    Hypnotherapy makes use of the creative and limitless abilities of child's mind.

 

Children can easily use their excellent imagination to change habits such as bed wetting, nail biting or thumb sucking.  They can dispel many fears.  A few examples are fear of the dark, fear of going to sleep because of nightmares, fear of medical or dental procedures, performance anxiety and even stuttering.

 

School life can bring its own difficulties. With more and more testing and exams, children can easily feel overwhelmed.   A child can simply feel they don't fit in, have few friends, feel that school work has little to offer them, or be subject to bullying.    Children must find a way to learn in school, even if they have problems that prevent them from sitting still or concentrating.  In addition there is always the pressure to keep up with peers.   Hypnosis can be a child’s ally. 

 

If there is a divorce or a single parent appears overwhelmed, children can often feel that they are in some way responsible. If they have to share a parent’s time because of a new baby or the blending of two families, children generally add some incorrect ideas to their programming center.

 

Scientific studies have shown that children who are taught self-hypnosis and stress reduction techniques have fewer colds, fewer flu symptoms and fewer upper respiratory infections.  These techniques make a measurable physiological change by boosting the level of one of the immune system’s disease-fighting components called IgA..   Hypnotic techniques make children (as well as adults) less vulnerable to disease.

 

The children do this to themselves, by themselves. Children can enhance their own healing!   It is clear that children can be taught to influence the complex interaction of mind and body.

 

Teaching children self-hypnosis and stress reduction techniques is a way for children to safely use their own imagination to make the changes in their life that they desire… without the worry of adverse medication side-effects.  Because of a natural ability to access their imagination, children are the best hypnotherapists in the world!   Children respond easily to stories that create images of the desired result.   It is an enjoyable experience for them, the results can come surprisingly quickly and be very impressive.

 

 

How to Explain Hypnosis to Your Kids:

   The Wizard of Oz

 

The story of Dorothy, her dog Toto and their perilous journey along the Yellow Brick Road explains hypnosis in a way that is both easy to understand and accurate.  

Along the way Dorothy meets up with a group of friends who felt they were lacking something very important.  The little group went through many exciting adventures and frightening experiences in order to reach the Land of Oz where the Wizard lived because they believed that he….and only he….could grant their wishes.  Dorothy wanted desperately to get home.  The Scarecrow wanted a brain. He believed he was stupid.  The Lion wanted courage.  He believed he was a coward.  The Tin Woodsman wanted a heart.  He believed he was unlovable. 

Of course the Scarecrow already had a brain, the Tin Man already had a heart and the Lion was already courageous.  Dorothy always had the ability to get back home.  They just didn’t believe it.  Their programming center told them otherwise and no matter what they tried, their belief did not change.  They were convinced that only the Wizzard could give them what they needed.

  Their problem was they did not realize their abilities until the Wizard helped them discover their capabilities.

  After stuffing the Scarecrow's head with a combination of things the Wizard of Oz declared, "I have given you brains. Hereafter you will be a great man." The Scarecrow believed the Wizard and he felt wise indeed.

  The Wizard took a silk heart filled with sawdust and placed it in the Tin Woodsman's breast. The Wizard said, "Now, you have a heart any man would be proud of." The Tin Woodsman believed the Wizard and felt tender and loving. 

The Lion drank a special potion which, according to the Wizard was courage. "Drink this," said the Wizard, "And you will be filled with courage." Believing the Wizard, the Lion drank the potion and feared nothing.

Each of the characters in this wonderful story believed they had a serious limitation.  The solution to the problem was something that each already had within themselves, because there never was a limitation….only a limiting belief.  In the end, it turned out that the magical wizard was nothing more than an ordinary man. But he changed lives and created magic, simply by changing the characters beliefs about themselves. 

If you know of a child that believes he needs a brain, or a child that believes he is unlovable; or if you know of a child who doesn’t believe he has the courage to face school each day, please consider helping them to find the solution that lies within…..just as it was for the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin man.  That’s hypnosis.