by Jerry Valley
Recently, I had the pleasure of working with a famous actress who was referred to me by her physician. Over the past 35 years, I have also assisted a number of athletes to perform better in their field. Two were professional hockey players, two were professional boxers and one was a semi-pro football player looking to make the big leagues and another was a minor-league baseball player striving to make the majors. In addition, I have hypnotized a number of Miss America contestants all of which made the level of the 10 finalists. As a matter of privacy, their names will not be revealed.
Also, it is common knowledge that the average person uses less than 20% of their subconscious powers. Ok……….but actors and athletes are usually above average and are probably using much more than 20%. Let’s assume that they use 40% or 50%. Your job, as the hypnotist, is to release that power within them to the maximum, perhaps 80% or 90% or more.
A good example of the “hidden” power that we all possess, is the well-known story of the young mother who finds her child pinned underneath a car and proceeds to actually lift that car and free the child! Where does this fantastic power come from? WE ALL HAVE IT BUT ARE RARELY CALLED UPON TO USE IT! However, it has been shown that this extra level of strength, or performance, has actually been enhanced by the power of suggestion.
Let me give you an example of how negativity blocks performance. Let’s take the mindset of a golfer. This is what happens to most golfers struggling to downsize their handicap. When golfers take practice swings, most of the time, they are just absolutely perfect. But, as soon as the golfer addresses the ball for the actual hit, he/she starts to have doubts, or negative thoughts about hitting a good shot and, as a result, they build up the EXPECTATION OF FAILURE and actually cause themselves to hit a bad shot.
The question arises as such: “What could you possibly teach an actress about acting, or hockey, football players and boxers about their sports?” The answer is absolutely NOTHING! Very often, I will say to an athlete “I cannot teach you anything about your sport, because you know more about it than I do. BUT I CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO USE MUCH MORE OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND POWER TO ENHANCE YOUR FOCUS AND ELIMINATE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS! THROUGH THE USE
OF YOUR IMAGINATION AND VISUAL IMAGERY, YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH GOALS BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS.”
Tony Robbins, the great motivational speaker, was once contracted to teach a police unit to shoot better whether in competition or on the streets. When he was asked if he had ever fired a handgun, he said that he had not done so. They was some giggling arising from the group as he was asked that famous question, “How can you ever teach us anything about shooting when you have never fired a gun?” I believe his reply was (paraphrased)
” I not going to teach you how to shoot but how to focus, relax and have a steadier hand thereby increasing you effectiveness as a sharpshooter.” And he did just that!
I recall a young man who had come to me for this type of assistance whereby he was entering a major shooting tournament for the very first time. There were 2500 participants and while my client did not win the tournament, he actually came in at the 50th position! He was thrilled that he had done so well. I showed him how to use super focus, and to relax with the expectation of winning.
As Tiger woods once said “I don’t hit every fairway, I don’t make every putt and I don’t win every tournament…BUT I EXPECT TO! And, as a result he wins more than his share of events.
THE POWER OF EXPECTATION IS ENORMOUS!
My common statement is “I don’t have to be a drug addict in order to help a drug addict.”
The same premise applies to any category that you might work with. You don’t have to be a professional actor or athlete in order to help them improve. You don’t have to have had the fear of flying in order to help someone overcome that problem. I had the fear of flying in 1958 and that gives me an edge in working with clients that have that problem but any good hypnotist can also accomplish that goal by researching the statistics of flying and “walking” the client through an imaginary flight. It really works.
Now I will show you the methods and suggestions that I utilize to create a successful arena for people in the arts or sports or any type of competition. Also, remember that people in the Arts or in any facet of performing (athletes also perform before thousands of fans), usually have vivid imaginations and are highly impressionable. Of course, you have exceptions, but many of them qualify very nicely for hypnosis sessions.
When I worked with this particular actress, she responded well to the Eye-Roll, Arms Rising and Falling, and the Falling Back tests. During the session, I utilized an induction involving a beautiful lake scene to which quickly put her into a deeper level of hypnosis.
When she locked her eyelids (an excellent deepening and convincing challenge), she then bypassed her critical level and entered the literal level of acceptance.
Now, as a hypnotist, my feeling is that when you make clients feel good about themselves, it gives them the realization that they can accomplish any goal that is humanly possible. Therefore, I proceeded to implant images and verbal suggestions about her rising above any accomplishments that she already had attained and that she would
“ACT, WALK, TALK, THINK, LOOK AND FEEL LIKE THE PERSON YOU REALLY WANT TO BE. Nothing can deter you from attaining your goal and beyond.
I release within you the power to be greater than you have been in the past as you improve in your talents every day.” This is called a “Mental Rehearsal” which all actors and many athletes actually use before any performance or event.
With athletes, you must inform them of the premise that there is a reservoir of power that they can release with your assistance.
Again, after you have tested them and they have attained a good hypnotic level, walk them through an imaginary athletic event and give them suggestions of a “Super Focus” and the elimination of any negative thoughts. For example, if I were working with a defensive end in this imaginary game, I would say: “YOU WILL BE SUPER FOCUSED ON THE FOOTBALL AND INSTANTLY YOU WILL SEE THE BALL CARRIER. IF THE BALL CARRIER IS ANYWHERE WITHIN YOUR REACH, YOU WILL MAKE THE TACKLE! YOU WILL HAVE SUPERIOR SPEED AND THE STRENGTH OF A LION .” (Assuming he likes a lion as my client did).
If you, as the hypnotist, understand the extreme power of EXPECTATION, then create those IMAGES and FEELINGS within the client so that he/she is bursting with a newfound energy level. When I worked with the New England Featherweight Boxing Champion, he (on the very first session) literally JUMPED OUT OF THE CHAIR yelling YES! YES! YES! I actually had to grab him and put him back in the chair.
I am now currently working with a new 19-year-old boxer who just turned pro with a promising career.
Now, in light of the fact that you can actually “Catapult these clients into orbit,” DO NOT GET DRUNK WITH POWER.”
Simply show them how to reach their goals by eliminating negative thoughts, by utilizing the power of visual imagery, and by the acceptance of properly worded suggestion.
I always say: “SEE IT IN YOUR MIND, BELIEVE IT YOUR HEART, AND WATCH IT HAPPEN!
Jerry Valley
NGH-Research Award
NGH-President’s Award
NGH-Rexford L. North Award
