Stories and Metaphors in Hypnotherapy
Stories play an important part in hypnotherapy, especially in the Ericksonian approach. Stories can be uplifting, inspiring and hopeful, perhaps offering a possibility of improvement. If there is a parallel to be found to our situation, a metaphor will also not be lost on us either.
It is now known that imagining ourselves doing some physical activity activates the same neural pathways as actually doing the activity. This has been known in sports psychology for some time. Many athletes know that imagining themselves doing their sport, as well as actually practicing it, helps to improve performance more effectively.
The following personal story may resonate with people who are undergoing rehabilitation following physical trauma. It is about using our imagination to complement rehabilitation therapies.
Some years ago I experienced a serious health event that left me unable to walk.In the rehabilitation centre my days were filled with physiotherapy, in which I was taught to balance and walk again, from scratch. I was reminded of how Dr. Milton Erickson the world famous psychiatrist and hypnotherapist, disabled by polio, had watched how his baby sister had learned how to walk, and he realised that he must have learned like that too, and should be able to do so again. I realised that having to concentrate on every movement was very like the walking meditation I had learned years and years before from my favourite Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh. I got my daughter to bring his book on walking meditation from home for me. Between physiotherapy sessions I would practice walking meditation in my imagination. I will always remember the moment that I started walking unaided again. I could feel my legs and it felt so good, my whole being was filled with joy. Thich Nhat hanh has said that "It might be a miracle to walk on water, but the real miracle is that we can walk on the Earth." In that moment I knew it was true, and I have not forgotten it. I will not take walking for granted again. I had discovered I had this other resource, that I'd forgotten about and didn't realise could be helpful in this situation. When I was learning walking meditation, I didn't realise that one day it would help me to regain my body, my life.
I wonder what you already know that you don't realise can help you now? I can teach you to find your own inner resources too and use your imagination for good and there is a possibility that it may be helpful.
Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us "No Mud No Lotus”. It’s a metaphor for transforming suffering into joy and happiness. I have found out that it is a possibility. Perhaps you can too.