Wash Away Stress

As you begin to really enjoy this wonderful, relaxing feeling - I wonder if you'd like to discover a way of washing away all the stress and tension that you've been experiencing over the last few weeks and months?

I want you to imagine yourself on a lovely secluded beach - and it's a warm summer day - the sun is shining down on you and it makes you feel good - it helps you to feel even more relaxed - and you can hear the sound of the waves and perhaps the call of a seabird far away.

And as you visualize this scene - perhaps you can find a particular memory that springs to mind - from your childhood days of a trip or a holiday to the seaside?

Did you ever build sandcastles as a child?  If so, perhaps you can remember sitting down on the soft warm sand with a bucket and spade, filling the bucket with golden sand and patting it down when the sand piled over the top?  Then turning it upside down and hitting the underside of the bucket with your spade to release the mould of sand.

You could build castle after castle - and when you were finished - scrape a moat in the sand around the castles and fill it with sea water - brought from the sea in your bucket - and perhaps even a makeshift flag to decorate your castle.

Well, we're going to do this now - so I want you to imagine yourself with a bucket and spade on this lovely beach - make this image real - be aware of the smell of the fresh salt sea air - the warmth of the sun on your skin - the feel of the soft golden sand beneath your bare feet - the sound of the waves as they gently splash - and perhaps even a gentle breeze on your skin and your hair.

Notice the sunlight glistening here and there on the sea - like millions of diamonds sparkling alluringly - palm trees with single, un-branching trunks topped with a tuft of fan-like or feather-like leaves - and whatever else comes into your mind - right now.

And all those stresses and worries and cares can go into the bucket - with the sand - just pile it all in - maybe there are problems at work/school?  Put those problems into the bucket - you really don't need them here.

Or maybe you have worries about a particular relationship in your life?  If so - Put those worries into the bucket - and know that whatever will be - will be.  And when one door closes another one invariably opens.

Perhaps you've been concerned about money or other material issues?  In this peaceful place that you have created - materialistic issues just aren't important to you so pile them all into the bucket.

And when the bucket is full - turn it over and make your first sandcastle - here in hypnosis - hitting all your cares and worries and problems - together with the sand - to make your first mound.

When the bucket is empty you can consider any other problems that you may have in your life.  If there are problems with family, other relatives, friends or anyone else that you know - put those problems into the bucket.  You really don't need to be stressed any more.

I'm going to be quiet for a few moments and I want you to go through any negative influences in your life and spade them all - every one of them - into the bucket - and when the bucket is full - make another mound to become part of your sandcastle.

(Pause)

And when you're finished - I want you to stand up and take a really good look at what you have created.  All these problems seem so insignificant compared to the vast beach and sea and the sky.  You really don't need to feel stressed any more - in any way.

Now - imagine yourself as a bird - flying up in the sky - looking down on the sandcastles that you've built and noticing how much smaller they now are. 

As you look down at this birds eye view - a huge wave suddenly washes over the sand - and your sandcastle is gone - taking away all your worries and cares - and the sea becomes calm once again.  Hear the sound of those now gentle waves - splashing easily and lazily - back and forth - to and fro - so soothing - so calming - so relaxing - and you take into yourself this soothing - calming - relaxing feeling.

An amazing thing happens to you - you find all those problems that were once on your mind are no longer there.  They seem smaller - less significant - less bothersome - and suddenly you begin to see this in proportion - as they really are.

Experience this feeling of calmness now - enjoy it - memorize it - and in a moment or two when I count you up out of hypnosis - you can bring back with you those wonderful feelings and keep them with you - remembering them whenever you need to - whenever you want to.

(Pause)

I'm going to count up from one to five and at the count of five you will be fully alert and refreshed - you will have wonderful feelings flowing through your body - calm and peaceful thoughts flowing through your mind - and these lovely calm and peaceful thoughts and feelings are going to remain and stay with  you.

So - when you're ready - one - two - three - coming slowly back - four - eyelids beginning to flutter and five - eyes open - wide awake - refreshed and alert - mind and body returning to normality.