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 As I have said on numerous occasions already in Adam Up this month, sometimes we don't need to use self-hypnosis just for a deep, lengthy therapeutic procedure. 

Sometimes we just want to give ourselves a lift, especially if we have been in a bad mood for a while, or maybe been subjected to a number of problems in our life that have made it seem difficult to snap into a great mood, or perhaps we've been ignoring good stuff or felt that there has not been a lot to get excited about... Well todays process is absolutely for just getting high on life. 

We are going to focus today's session on using giggles, laughter, smirks, guffaws and chuckles to get our weekly hypnotic high. I often talk about and have written about before, when I was called into the headmaster's office at school... He was talking loudly and sternly at me, and all I could do was keep thinking about stuff in class which had made me laugh, and the more I attempted to button up my laughter, the more serious the headmaster got, the more he threatened me with further troublesome consequences, the more I wanted to burst with a fit of giggles... It was agonising! 

It was also glorious. I love that sensation whereby it feels as if tantalising joy and hilarity just wants to burst through every pore of your skin! 

I can remember being at an NLP training watching Richard Bandler on stage presenting and he suggested that we all force a smile on our faces three times in succession and to observe closely what happened within us. Many found it difficult to get past the initial inhibition of actually smiling on purpose in front of other people. All those of us that did it felt better, laughed about it and got a shot of well-being, though it varied in intensity. It was a great way to alter mood. It actually started me off with a fit of giggles at the time and just thinking about that experience continues to make me smile. 

Likewise, when I think of Frank Spencer or Tommy Cooper and their hilarious facial expressions in their comedy routines and old TV shows, I get a shot of humour and joy in my head that advances my mood for sure... I am also one of those people who laughs at comedy shows where there is some misfortune experienced, so I laugh at facial expressions of disgust or failure (or even pain!) sometimes too. 

Just recently, my two-year-old son got in a mood when I cleared the avocado from the dining table - he was complaining and insisted he wanted some, so I should not clear it up just yet. Therefore, I took the serving spoon filled with avacado (which he actually does not like - he is a shining example of the terrible twos!)  and spooned it into his mouth... Watching his face grimace as he pretended to like it was without a doubt one of the most hilarious things I have seen... Though my wife thought me cruel! 

Then there are funny sounds. I think most boys find whoopie cushions hilarious and therefore farting sounds make them laugh, but there are many things that are considered hilarious by us all when we hear them or imagine hearing them. The classic circus clowns music or the Benny Hill theme tune also seem to be the kinds of sounds that are impossible to maintain feelings of misery when they are playing and make me smile. Please don't take my word for it, play one of those pieces of music as vividly as you can in your mind, focus on it exclusively and feel what happens, even if it is minor, you'll notice it. 

So if all that stuff can help you feel better, and offer up a joyful natural high, then why not combine it all?  

That is similar to what Assen Alladin offers up to help deal with initial symptoms of depression, as demonstrated in the Handbook of Cognitive Hypnotherapy For Depression.  Of course, if you have depression, then you'll need to see a qualified professional and get tailored solutions and not rely on snippets and techniques offered up in ezine articles. I can't claim that these processes are anywhere near as effective as proper therapeutic solutions offered up by a therapist who tailors things for your specific requirements and needs. 

I have compiled a number of those processes and combined them with self-hypnosis as a means of generating a fun-filled, natural hypnotic high. Simply follow these steps...

Prior to starting this process, make sure you are in a place where you'll be undisturbed for the period of time and be in a seated position, not a lying position. Let your arms and legs be uncrossed and not touching each other. Take a couple of really good deep breaths and as you exhale, consider having a good 'sigh' or even letting out a groan as you get plenty of air in your lungs, which is going to help build a foundation of building some joy and help you get into a natural hypnotic high. 

While taking your deep breaths, think about a word which you associate with fun, or a word that you associate with laughter, or that is silly and funny in some shape or form. Something that you do not have to share with anyone, that is personally funny or fills you with cheer or that you consider to be quirky or even absurd. It is going to be a word that is used in this session today and thereafter to rekindle the giggly feelings and use it to generate good feelings. Get that nicely lodged in your mind as you continue with your breaths. 

As you get comfortable in your seated position, adjust yourself so that you adopt a strong and purposeful posture whereby the crown of your head is pointed straight up at the ceiling and your shoulders are broad but not raised or hunched up, almost as if you are a guard on sentry duty. You want to adopt a good strong positive posture so that your body, the vehicle for this mood enhancement is in a different place than it was previously and is ready to help advance the mood. 

So with your posture strong and positive, you begin with the process of inducing hypnosis. 

Induce hypnosis. You can do so by any means you desire or know of. You can use the process in my science of 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 establish the hypnotic mindset:

Heavy Arm Self-Hypnosis Induction Method:  

Using eye fixation for self-hypnosis:

The Betty Erickson Self-Hypnosis Method video clip:

Using Magnetic Hands for Self-Hypnosis:

Hand to Face Self-Hypnosis Induction:

The Coin Drop Self-Hypnosis Induction: 

Once you have induced hypnosis, move on to step two.

With the lightness sensations in place, maintaining your positive strong posture, you now force a smile on your face three times. 

Even if it feels false or forced, just smile widely and broadly, as if posing for a photograph. Then when you have relaxed the muscles after the smile, repeat it another two times. If you really want to go for broke, do it a couple more times too! 

If it feels absurd, laugh at yourself, find your own inhibition humorous. The only person who can see you is you; so smile like no-one is watching! 

Imagine seeing your face smiling, imagine watching your lips curling in a big smile and think about smiles in general as you force the smiles onto your face one at a time, three times in succession. Notice how it makes you feel, even the tiniest of sensations. 

Be thorough with this and notice how it makes you feel. Notice the sensations somewhere within you. Once you have noticed them, then move on to the next step. 

Now think of and imagine a funny face. This could be someone you saw or knew in real-life, or someone you have seen on the television or in a film, or even something you just imagined and created in your own mind. Maybe it is someone who made you laugh for any reason whatsoever. Choose someone that makes you smile when you think about them. 

Imagine that face in as much detail as possible; the expression, the colours and even think of any sounds as you remember how much it made you smile or laugh when you saw it, maybe they spoke in a funny manner. 

Think about what it is you find so funny and amusing about that face and really imagine it there in front of you. Once you have that vivid in your mind, notice how it makes you feel to see it and watch it again and when you notice those feelings, move on to the next step. 

Continue to enjoy the feelings of smiling, of that funny face and then that occasion of laughter and as you notice the feelings you are enjoying, think of your happy or funny (or silly) word that you chose prior to starting step one. See the word in a bright colour in your mind, imagine saying it and even imagine funny music playing as you look at it - or even a funny sound. Play the word loudly, brightly and in a funny manner to yourself in your mind and associate this word with all these good giggly feelings you have created. 

Once you have spent enough time on this step and you feel that the word is associated with those great feelings, tell yourself that when you repeat this word it starts to remind you of these great feelings and rekindles them. Then move on to the final step.

If you want to train to be a hypnotherapist, there has never been a better time, we are thriving in this economic climate! 

If you'd like to train, check out here for a course prospectus, dates and application form for this year's diploma, fully approved and accredited in several countries... 

The spaces are going at some pace right now though... 

My training school is one of a few in the UK to currently offer the externally verified HPD (Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma) which matches government occupational standards and is the equivalent of National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 4

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I'll be back next week, enjoy your giggly hypnotic high this week ... I thank you for reading...  Goodbye for now.

Bulooo!

Adam.