Having spent some time and lots of miles running out and around the countryside and the coastline recently, I am often led to feel that the time and tranquility I find when running is me accessing parts of me that do not get touched upon so greatly in my day-to-day existence.
Here today, I have adapted a therapeutic process slightly to show how anyone can access more resources, just by following these simple self-hypnosis steps and using it to help your running.
This kind of a process can be done in conjunction with all kinds of other things and you can use your imagination in a way that enables you to run through this process from a special place in your mind, you get artistic license to adapt and make this process appeal to you in the way you choose.
One of my favourite therapeutic interventions in my own hypnotherapy consulting rooms that I use with clients is that of imaginative and mental rehearsal of successful outcomes and so I have combined this idea of accessing a ‘higher self’ with mental rehearsal and I know many hypnotherapists choose to use the idea of accessing a higher self with a wide range of other therapeutic interventions to advance their efficacy and effectiveness.
Please note, I would not want you to rely exclusively on any so called ‘higher self’ for advice or as the ultimate source of truth and resource and would not suggest that it is all-knowing – people who know me and my work know that I am not for that idea at all. I just think it is often incredibly useful to feel like we are tapping right into some additional depth and resource that we have to enable ourselves to think of ourselves as more capable than we sometimes believe or realise. Especially when it comes to running.
5 Steps To Use Self-Hypnosis To Access More Of YOur Running Resources:
Step One: Hypnotise yourself. 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:
Using eye fixation for self-hypnosis.
The Betty Erickson Self-Hypnosis Method video clip.
Using Magnetic Hands for Self-Hypnosis.
Then imagine yourself in a special place, a favourite place, somewhere you have been to before or somewhere you create in your mind. Ideally a place where you run or even where you fantasize about running. Spend some time seeing the sights, colours and hearing the sounds, feeling the sensations of peace, tranquillity and safety here in this place. once you have really established that in your mind move on to step two.
Step Two: You can make a strong connection with the resources and inner strength as well as the wisdom that you have built up throughout your lifetime of experience while you are here in this special place of your own creation.
Start to get a sense of what I hope we can agree to call your ‘higher self’ throughout the remainder of this process. If you are uncomfortable with such an esoteric notion, you can simply think of it as your inner strength or potential resources if you prefer. Take all the time necessary to tune in and feel a connection with this aspect of yourself .. . Your higher self with all its wisdom, belief in your ability to run faster and longer and all it’s resources.
Understand that this higher self holds the key to accessing power to find extra strength, speed, motivation and determination. Get a sense of connecting to that higher aspect of yourself, your potential then move on to the next step.
Step Three: Start to imagine that you can get closer and closer and go deeper and deeper inside yourself and imagine you are moving toward the discovery of this higher self. This will require some of your own interpretation, I don’t want to prescribe my own way of imagining this.
Imagine that soon you are going to discover that you can get closer your higher self, more connected with it, and it can become more vivid and real and its resources well within your reach, for you to access and use in your life.
Let yourself just count from one to five. Then with each number that you count, imagine that you are taking a step deeper inside your mind, taking a step closer to your higher self of wisdom, strength, and where you make good decisions and have all those resources that are not always used in the way you’d like perhaps.
As you count each number, as you imagine going deeper inside your own mind, just exhale smoothly and let your breath enhance your sensations and peace of mind as you do this.
Then with each breath start to imagine moving closer to your higher self. Tuning into your abilities and resources at this deeper level. A place where you find deep inner strengths, think with more belief about how able you are, use the full scope of your runners resources – imagine this place encompassing these things and so much more.
Step Four: Now you start to count those numbers and move in that direction. I am going to give an outline of each number, but again, I want to emphasise the importance of developing each step for yourself and making it your own experience.
“One.” Take the first step closer. Start to focus more on your higher self.
Imagine a sense of inner peace and mental calmness spreading and developing within. Enjoy it and imagine you are smiling at the same time. Let your mind become clearer and your thoughts resonate with reasoning and intelligence as you continue to relax more and be more focused.
“Two.” Now take a second step closer. Imagine yourself so deeply still and relaxed that your body almost feels as if it is asleep while your mind remains beautifully alert and lucid.
Imagine that this step has taken you closer and deeper towards your higher aspect of self. All the time continue to let your breathing relax you and soothe your thoughts and body. Then when you are ready to move closer and go deeper, move on to…
“Three.” Take that third step. make sure you take as much time as you can with these steps as you imagine being drawn closer and gravitating nearer to your higher self.
Tell yourself that you wish to learn more about your higher self, and that you wish to discover and sense more aspects of it. Then start to imagine approaching the space closest to your higher self.
Start to imagine that your higher self is your ability to reason, to think with clarity and access your abilities, overcome issues and let go of what is no longer needed. When you are really getting a sense of that, a tangible sense, move on.
“Four.” Take the fourth step deeper and closer. Ok, so you are nearly there now.
Imagine that you are very close and almost within actual touching distance of that higher part of you. that is, imagine that you are almost connected with it, tuned into it, almost at one with it.
Continue to breathe smoothly and deeply, enhancing your relaxation. Imagine being focused, let yourself focus and have that advanced clarity of thought and once you are sure you have it, move on to…
“Five.” Finally, take the fifth step to get in touch with your higher self.
Start to imagine the sheer depth of experience on many levels that you have had throughout your lifetime, how much you have learned and imagine the mass of resource you have accumulated throughout those years of your life.
Now imagine being in touch with that depth of strength and motivation and determination… Most importantly, let this higher part of you mean you access more strength, speed, determination, belief in yourself and anything else you deem to be important to advance your running.
All the time in touch with your calmness, clarity of thought, relaxed and now deeply focused.
Stay focused on your desired running outcome, stay focused on what you want as far as your running is concerned. As you think about the desired outcome you have for yourself and your running, while connected with your higher self now, start to imagine that you access this higher level of strength and belief in more of your runs from now on – that it is more accessible in real-life during the runs that it is most needed.
Tell yourself that you now start to you develop new levels of strength, speed and determination when running and that you notice as many of the possibilities as you can when out running.
Spend as much time on this now as you feel you need to gather up the resource you need. Spend some time mentally rehearsing how your next run is going to be when you access your higher self.
Step Five: Exit hypnosis and go about your day, remembering to take this notion with you on your next training run or race.
Enjoy this process, it is a lovely thing to do and we can all benefit from it greatly. I think the way running mkaes me feel sometimes, it is natural to use (even if you think it is just a metaphor) this kind of process to access some more resource during your running experience.
This Sunday I have my final 20 mile preparation race before my first of five consecutive marathons in just over a months time, so I’ll report back on Monday or Tuesday, have a great weekend and enjoy any running you do.
