A Little Presence is a Powerful Medicine

On Friday afternoon, I received an alarming text message from my mom.

Over the past few years, she has experienced various health issues from prediabetes to neuropathy to turmeric overdose and painful, sweating feet.

After seeing several doctors who have run tests and ruled most of these cases as ideopathic, she continued to experience symptoms in her body.

As a hypnotist, I offered to help her. Not by treating the issue, but supporting her by helping her manage stress and anxiety.

In one session, we dealt directly with job stress. According to her partner, this session improved Mom’s state for at least three days.

Later, I recorded a special hypnosis audio track called Inner Healing, which I prepared for both Mom and my mother-in-law. Both women said the audio helped them. Mom’s partner praised the audio for its ability to help Mom for at least a month.

Hypnosis works. Why it lasts for some and not others is a mystery to me. I personally overcame seasonal allergies through self-hypnosis. And that has been long lasting for three years now. Though, last year and this year, symptoms did try to come back. When they did, I ran another session to remind myself that I am allergy free.

This week, Mom reported her circulation is bad. She catastrophized saying, “If you’re going to miss me, come up and see me.”

When I shared that with my wife, she said she got a “check” in her spirit, as though it was urgent to see her. I checked with Mom’s partner. She said, “That’s normal. She has cycles and will be back to happier spirits in about three days.” She did not think it urgent to warrant a trip.

And a road trip from Kentucky to Michigan isn’t an easy feat. Sure, it’s about a six hour drive. We didn’t have anything going on this weekend, so my wife and I decided to make a trip with our youngest sons Paxton and Owen. Josiah stayed home because of prior commitments to church, and to look after the guinea pigs.

We arrived in Michigan on Saturday afternoon, and we showered Mom with our presence. She treated us to ice cream. We sat and talked with her, or more aptly, we let her talk and we just listened.

Later, we played Yahtzee! and Euchre. I strategically chose these games because when I was a child, I watched Mom play Yahtzee! with Grandma and her friends countless times. And Euchre is a midwest game I used to watch her and Dad play against my paternal grandparents.

Mom remarked how she had not played Euchre in years. We were partners, and together, we defeated Owen and my wife. It was great fun.

Where was the hypnosis? There was no trance induction, no formal work of any sort. The only thing we offered was our love and our presence.

When we got home, she said the short visit really helped. She enjoyed the time and especially getting the chance to play cards again after so many years.

Here’s my challenge to you:

Is there someone in your life who could benefit from your presence? Make an effort to show up for them this week.