The Best Way to Start and End Your Day Free of Stress & Anxiety

Do you start and end your day immediately thinking about your “To Do” list or your “To Avoid” list or a mix of both?

If so, you may have gotten used to a constant level of stress or anxiety and a speedy thinking mind, jumping form one line of thought to another: “I absolutely have to finish that report today” . . . “I have to get these lunches ready in 15 minutes before we head out the door” . . . “Where did I put the good spreading knife?” . . . “I probably won’t get home in time to eat dinner with the kids . . . .”

We usually think the stress or anxiety is caused by our To Do lists and the demands on our time. But if we think our circumstances are the cause of our stress, we will inevitably think of ourselves as victims. In that frame of mind, stress and anxiety will seem reasonable reactions—because it’s quite true that we are not in control of certain circumstances.

But what would happen to our stress or anxiety level if we could change the way we think about circumstances and our To Do lists? What if we recognized that we are in control of feeling out of control? What if we could slow down our speedy mind?

Initially we may think, “It can’t be done,” or “Not much would change!” We will be stuck if we have a “Yeah, but. . .” response to these ideas. We may accept them, then object to them, and then notice that we don’t feel different right away if we try acting on them. In that case we risk dismissing the whole idea, without really making a substantial effort. And then? We’re highly likely to jump right back into our habit of speedy, anxious thinking.

The most important insight here is, “I am in control of feeling out of control right now.” This critical insight won’t matter unless we go beyond just “considering” it.

We must make a commitment to effectively act on it.

So how do we get beyond, “Good idea, but . . .” and make this shift from stressed-out, ineffective speedy reaction to calm, effective action? Try these tips:

Two Hypnosis Tips to Help You Get Inspired and Stay Inspired

Two powerful innate capacities are on our side, empowering us to make the shift from speedy stress to ease, if we engage them: the hypnotic power of our mind and the habit-forming power of our mind.

1) Notice Hypnotic Moments: Waking Up and Falling Asleep. “Hypnotic” simply means “open to suggestion and change.” Every day we typically overlook two naturally-occurring hypnotic moments of opportunity.

Practice noticing these hypnotic moments and use them to install powerful positive suggestions in our mind. We are in the hypnopompic state which arises immediately before your thinking mind wakes up, and the hypnagogic state which arises immediately after your thinking mind falls asleep.

In both of these hypnotic moments, the same amazing thing happens. Upon waking in the morning, before the speedy thinking mind grabs all your attention, you will be in the hypnopompic state. This is a moment of quiet calm awareness, in which you can experience a taste of the sweetness of simply being alive.

In a similar way, as you are just starting to fall asleep, make the effort to stay awake and watch the moment when the thinking mind begins to fall away, you will be in the hypnogogic state. Again you will be able to experience the calm sweetness of being alive.

So how does this help you transform your stress into peaceful ease?

When you catch each of these hypnotic moments, you are going to be highly receptive to suggestions and positive change. These are moments of potential transformation.

Here is a good classic hypnotic suggestion: “I am getting better and better every day in every way.”

Just easily repeat this or any positive suggestion, over and over, 21 times.

You can do this first thing in the morning, when you are in the hypnopompic state, or as you are falling asleep at night, while you are in the hypnogogic state.

You don’t have to worry about catching these hypnotic moments perfectly. Just practice noticing the first moment of waking and the last moment of wakefulness before you go to sleep, and then repeat a positive affirmation during these times.

2) Use Hypnotic Repetition –– the Habit Forming Power. It is encouraging to remember that we have a built-in habit forming capacity. If we act repeatedly in a positive way, we will develop a positive habit . . . guaranteed! After only a short period of time –– 27 days or less –– your new positive action will become effortless. Especially if you practice in the general atmosphere of the hypnopompic and hypnagogic states.

Practicing with these two tips, you can free yourself from discouraging thoughts about “how hard it is to change.” That kind of thinking just stops us from repeating the positive action enough times to make it an effortless positive habit.

For the next week, just try making the easy effort to notice these moments of awareness:

just before the thinking mind arises as you wake up, and
just after the thinking mind drops away as you’re going to sleep.

At first, you don’t even need to worry about repeating the positive suggestion. Just enjoy the sweet moment of awareness before and after the thinking mind grabs your attention.

Resting in this awareness is the very source of empowerment for your positive suggestions.

Remember: you create and guarantee positive results with repeated practice. As long as you keep going!

In the next article, I will show you 5 ways to enhance these practices even further. Good luck!