Next week heralds a couple of big moments for me. Firstly, I’ll be back running after my injury. Woo-hoo! Secondly, I’ll be back running with the guys and gals at my running club. Woo-hoo again, but scared about how far back I’ll be for a few weeks! Thirdly, I’ll make the finishing touches to my marathon schedule as I prepare for Bournemouth’s inaugural marathon in October – with the Purbeck marathon as a training run 3 weeks prior to it.
So my head is back in the game as far as my running is concerned, and my body is soon to follow. I could have got back running this week after the fracture of my medial meta-tarsal in my left foot, however, after I had a couple of light forays out on it, I decided I needed another week to be absolutely sure.
A number of my friends ran PBs at London marathon, and my brother is currently getting a weekly PB at his local ParkRun, so it has been hard not to resist getting out there and running when I have wanted to so very much.
n.b. Bournemouth is getting it’s own ParkRun very soon, which I am delighted about, can’t wait for it. I am sure I’ll still find my way to Poole from time to time though.
Before I start charting my training plan and getting back into the swing of things here, I thought I’d offer up the other techniques and strategies I have been using for enhancing my recovery. In the next week or so, I’ll add the techniques I used to help with the initial pain I had in my foot, which can be applied to all kinds of injuries, but today I thought I’d share the use of ‘the healing force.’
I know, I know…. Sounds a bit ‘wooo’ which I hope that you know is quite unlike me, however, the process has some sound principles and is wonderful in it’s simplicity which means it is easy to apply, even if you are not totally motivated to engage in psychological processes whilst injured.
The use of the term ‘healing force’ does have a bit of ambiguity within it, and it is also a little bit tongue in cheek… I mean, how many times do I get to incorporate a Star Wars-ish type of phrase into my work, eh? When I say ambiguity, it is actually something that you get to interpret in a way that suits you best rather than being utterly spoonfed by my own preferences.
The process is based on a process I read that Donald Liggett (2000) trialed with a group of 10 athletes who were injured and used this type of technique when hypnotised and compared their recovery to 20 other athletes, and although the study was not able to be published, it is encouraging none the less. The recovery rate of the hypnotised group was quicker than the control group who tended to recover at the same rate as the estimated timeframe given by the professionals they were dealing with.
Ok, onto it then…. Prior to starting with the session, think of a positive, healing cognition (an affirmation or phrase) that you can use later in the upcoming session. A good example might be “I am healing faster” or “I feel more comfort” – just make it present tense (i.e. it is happening now) and use the kind of language and phrase that suits you best.
6 Steps For Using Self-Hypnosis and The Healing Force:
Ensure that you are in a comfortable position, ideally seated, but if you have an injury, just get in whatever position you can to experience the most comfort. You’ll want to ensure your arms and legs are uncrossed and that you are going to be undisturbed for the duration of this exercise. Then follow the steps.
Step One: Induce hypnosis.
You can do so by any means you desire or know of. You can use the process in my self-hypnosis book, use the free audio at this website to practice or have a look at the following articles as and when you need them; they are basic processes to help you simply open the door of your mind:
Heavy Arm Self-Hypnosis Induction Method.
Using Eye Fixation for Self-Hypnosis.
The Betty Erickson Self-Hypnosis Method Video Clip.
Hand to Face Self-Hypnosis Induction.
Using Magnetic Hands for Self-Hypnosis.
The Coin Drop Self-Hypnosis Induction.
Once you have induced hypnosis, move on to step two.
Step Two: Take a few deeper breaths, and then allow your breathing to continue to be gently deeper. Imagine that you go deeper into hypnosis with each deeper breath. Tell yourself as much too. That is, use your cognitions and tell yourself with belief that you are going deeper into hypnosis. Notice the sensation that you get as you breathe deeper. For some it is like an energised feeling.
Become aware of an uplifting, energised sensation as you breathe deeply and gently, enjoy the sensation and once you have noticed it for a couple of breaths, move on to the next step.
Step Three: As you inhale, imagine that you are breathing in an energised, healing force. Imagine a spark of healthy, well-being somewhere inside you. Notice a small sign of the good feeling, like it is a spark of light of some kind. Then start to imagine that each breath starts to make that feeling bigger.
With each breath inwards, imagine that you are building up a ball of concentrated energised healing force, whatever that means to you, however you interpret it, just imagine that in your own way. Let is get bigger and more concentrated and more more powerful. Notice the qualities of it – the colour, the movement, the sound of it, and how it feels to have this powerful, concentrated ball of healing well-being there in that place within you.
I imagine it being like a shimmering, golden globe, but I think that is because I am inspired by a particular sci-fi film I love…. I digress…
When the ball is at a good size, then move on to the next step.
Step Four: Now send this mobilised, concentrated ball of healing force to the area of the injury… Take some time to imagine it arriving there and dominating that area with it’s colour and sound (ideally they are healing sounds and colours).
Then start to imagine the ball just melting into the area in and around the injury. Imagine that the area becomes free of pain and discomfort. You might notice a slight sensation of some kind as it melts into the area, especially if you expect it… Some people imagine that curative fluids are being transported to the area of the injury and start to enhance and speed up the natural healing process. Some people imagine it is like an ointment or cream has been applied and is soaking into the area, having a fabulous effect. Use your imagination and do what is best for you.
Once you have moved the ball to the are and it is melting in and being absorbed by the injured area, move on to the next step.
Step Five: While the healing force continues to get to work, start to repeat your progressive cognition to yourself. That you chose prior to starting this process.
Say it in a way that is convincing and that you believe. Say it like you absolutely mean it and repeat it over and over with a gentle reassured sense. All the time imagine the effects of the healing force getting more profound and beneficial.
Then move on to the final step.
Step Six: Take a couple more deeper breaths, then wiggle your fingers and toes and open your eyes to bring this session to an end.
With my own use of this process, I’d use this 3-4 times in a day and I think you’ll notice the difference (in a beneficial sense) when it is repeated often.
Ok, so the blog is on the marks, getting set and will be “GO” again as of the next couple of weeks…. Yay!
