The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners.

by Michael Watson

In Generative Trance, I begin with an assumption.  It’s a principle of evolution. Potential seeks expression. I believe that there is greatness at the center of each of us … and it’s trying to find its way out into the world.  There are limitless evolutionary possibilities available to each of us.

The greatness of Helen Keller was inherent.   As a child, she was trapped in her predicament and so desperately wanted out.   Anne Sullivan looked at young Helen as if to say, “I know you’re in there, little girl.  And I’m going to bring you out!”

As hypnotherapists, councilors, coaches …. Whatever kind of people helping we are called upon to sponsor that evolving, emerging self and to facilitate its successful transition out into the world.

A young silicon valley computer programmer named David came to see me because he didn’t seem to be making any advancement in his career.   He was lacking in self-confidence, shy, and had a low profile and it was holding him back.

David had been in and out of treatment and on and off of medication for depression since adolescence (he was now 30). When I asked him what he wanted to achieve, he told me that he was a good worker, and that hoped to be paid more and recognized for his skill and ability.  He wanted to become a supervisor someday.  His evolutionary impulses had been challenged and I knew that something big was happening.

David had a few friends that he would go out with regularly to the dance clubs, and while they were all having a great time, he held up the wall and watched.  I wondered why he went week after week.  “Because I really like it!” was his reply.  “I like the music and I LOVE to dance.  I just don’t do it there.  When I get home, I turn up the stereo and dance my a** off.”

The image of all of that dancing at home in his room was such a great metaphor that I couldn’t ignore.

We used a process that I share in my classes and that’s modeled from something I once saw Stephen Gilligan do.   In trance, I invited him to find a series of images from various points in his history and organized them in an unfolding progression through time.  It was like a gallery diagraming his evolutionary history and intent.  The earliest images were of school bullies and of emotionally distant parents. Subsequent images included starting his career and living on his own.  And when we got to the present, then there was a picture of him in his cubicle, slaving away at a job that didn’t challenge him; and that other image of him dancing in his bedroom in his underwear … as joyful as Snoopy at suppertime.

Now just beyond the present, I like to invite the unconscious mind to leave some space for a few surprises in the very near future, because we don’t know exactly how things are going to develop between now and the goal … we want to evoke the wisdom of the unconscious to work out its purpose in its own way … and so we leave a couple of blank frames, or unfocused images in the sequence.

Finally we focused on a future image in which he’d achieved his goal.  In this case, David saw himself happier at work, interacting more easily with his co-workers, more animated and outspoken in a supervisory position.  He created that image just as he wanted it until he was completely satisfied with it.  And even though he didn’t know just how he was going to get there, I encouraged him to step into that future where he enjoyed the feelings of confidence and success that it implied.

Of course this is an oversimplification of all that happened in that session, but enough to highlight some of the more significant elements. David scheduled a return appointment and left the office.

When he came back two weeks later, it was all he could do contain his laughter. “I don’t know what came over me” he said, “but when I went out to the club last Friday night, the music started pumping and I became a dancing fool.  My friends were just blown away.” He told me he’d gone back to the club three times since – “just to make sure.”

But that was only the beginning. David’s self-confidence began to soar.  He interacted more openly at work, discovering a new sociability and a sense of humor that he didn’t realize he’d had.  It was as if he’d awakened, and he was happier than he had ever been.  He started being noticed by the by his supervisors and appreciated for his abilities.   It took a few months for him to get the promotion he’d wanted, but when it came around he was given a training position where he gave regular programs to groups of employees – something he couldn’t have even imagined before – and received rave reviews for his lively presentations.

The beauty of this work is that it comes from the client’s evolutionary impulse and changes are inevitable.  The symptoms, complaints, longings that our clients bring to us are evidence of the fact that the process has begun.  I like to think that we are midwives of these new lives as we support their arrival and help them find expression.

Using and sharing these ideas and processes is a rich and joyful experience for me.  Kinda makes me want to pump up the music and dance.

Michael Watson is a trainer and teacher of NLP and hypnosis, training extensively in the US and UK. He brings thirty years of experience to his cutting edge work with Generative Trance. Known for his lighthearted and caring spirit his programs are as delightful as they are useful.