179: 4 Steps To Personal Change and Peak Performance

on cranial sacral therapy. We're going to dig into that today and 14 years as a certified hypnotherapist she launched Rise Hypnotic Meditation, to teach others how to bring meaningful and positive changes to their lives. She hails and joins us today from Louisville, Kentucky. Mary, welcome to the show.

excited for. But before we jump into all of that, why don't you introduce yourself to the audience? Tell us a little about Mary?

physically. And as our clients teach us, they started to come to me with issues and problems that I felt that hypnotherapy would be more beneficial and would get to target the problem more quickly. So they were coming to me with things like fears, and habits that they wanted to overcome and that they wanted to shift. So I became certified in hypnotherapy, and started joining that with the physical practice of cranial

sacral therapy. So I would do the body work for a half an hour and then spend the last 20 minutes talking them through hypnosis and through the shift that they wanted to make. And they were coming back to me later as I was doing this for a while with them and saying, Okay, well, my sleep is better. But now I'm starting to use it to address issues with my family or boundary issues, or patients or something else that they

wanted to do in their lives. So I was realizing how adaptable the practice was and how people could use it in many different ways. And the timing was kind of perfect with the pandemic, as I was ruminating over this, the pandemic happened and my office closed, everybody scattered all the one on one and in the body work stopped. And so I really sat and contemplated this work that I've been doing with my

clients. And as I did really the acronym of Rise came to me and it so beautifully not only is an acronym for the four steps of hypnotic meditation, but it also what it means, you know, to rise to rise out of to be bigger than, you know, to really shine. So I have been traveling and teaching it and teaching it virtually as well and presenting it at conferences for the last

year and a half. And I've been very excited at the results that people are getting, and that people are picking it up as a practice and it is a practice. So the way you do it is you get the benefits of meditation you sit quietly as you do in meditation. I encourage people to do it ritualistically as you do meditation, but then also give your mind something thing to do and direct it towards the shifts that you want in your life. So for some people, and for myself, I found meditation,

I also do yoga. So that was my introduction to meditation. I found it difficult to do. But when I married self hypnosis with it and gave my mind a job, in the moment of that meditation, it really opened up the door. It really started to allow things to change for me, and it kind of solidified the practice. So it's been really fun to get to share.

person. And after several years of that, and it growing and growing, I literally had a come to Jesus moment and went to my knees crying and sobbing, and asked the universe, I know I have a purpose. I'm really lost, you're gonna have to show me and I will be open, please show me. And after that day, things shifted really quickly. I had been a pastry chef. So I started working for an alternative

health clinic that had a b&b. So people were coming from around the world and staying for weeks at a time, and I was feeding them breakfast. So I took a Reiki class, the physician who led the alternative clinic taught cranial sacral therapy. So I asked him, if he would get on the table for me and let me practice. He said, I've got 15 minutes, he stayed an hour, and said, I need you to start seeing

my clients. And so people were seeing in me, what I didn't see in myself, and they started validating me and I really again, as the universe, I was touching people and energies moving and I'm healing them like what, you know, universe, you gotta show me you got to validate this for me, you got to make it real for me. And then people started really validating me and telling me what they were feeling, emotion was coming up, they were feeling lighter and cleansed, and things were

moving. And so that gave me the really the confidence in the validation that this is the realm that I'm supposed to be in. And this is who I am.

myself? Can you tell me just briefly, what is cranial sacral therapy for those that don't know,

and it ebbed and it flowed. And then he did an experiment where he would put radio frequencies on paired bones, so on two thighs, or two shoulders, or two jaw bones, and he noticed that there was that movement, an ebb and a flow in the movement of these paired bones. So if we have an injury or accident, or we fall down the stairs, or we have something where there's an energy force in the body, it causes a disruption in that

movement and flow. So what cranial sacral therapy helps to do is it will put your body into a Stillpoint, which quiets that ebb and flow. And when it comes back on, it comes on more boisterous and louder. So I compare it to when your computer's acting weird and doing all these odd things. You shut it down, let it quiet for a few minutes, and then you turn it back on and it comes back online. And that's what our

bodies need. Our nervous systems are so overwrought and overstimulated, that they need still points. We need these moments of quiet where everything can just settle in our bodies and our minds and our spirits, honestly. And then when that comes back online, all those little quirks kind of go away.

hypnotherapy. And then also for meditation even for the basics that for those that, you know, from your perspective, what are the definitions of those two topics hypnotherapy and meditation just to lay the groundwork for those listening so we can pull them forward into this magical process that you've created.

And actually you are more aware, and you are more awake, per se, when you are under hypnosis, because you are really living your your life, you're really in it visualizing what's going on. And it kind of takes the layers of the world off of us, you know, and it kind of gets us deep into who we are, what we've come here to do, what our purpose is, and why we have the habits and the imprints that we do. You know, a lot of these things helped us in the past, they were for our safety, and we

needed these habits. But then as we grow older, and our lives change, we still go back into the subconscious programming, and act out of that, and that we are in our subconscious 95% of the time. So most of the time, we are reacting, not acting, and the subconscious holds all of our beliefs and our values, and our imprints and our fears, and all of that programming and all of the history of our life lives

in the subconscious. So until we kind of shift out of what we've been doing habitually, it's, it's really hard to, to change. And so that's what I'm saying about hypnosis, but meditation to me is is going in and it is quieting the mind. So we are doing that we are quieting the mind, but at the same time, we are directing it with a visualization. So we're asking our mind to visualize a change in our life. And when you visualize that change, especially when you visualize it

is a story of some kind. That's how the brain learns and how the mind learns. So really creating a story around what you're trying to shift really helps.

interest in. And as we get into this conversation, and we go back to something you said earlier, which is this giving the brain something to do in this hypnotic meditative state, I often refer to sometimes my best meditation, mornings, mostly mornings, as active meditation, my own word active, and that is that I don't necessarily have to be sitting still. Although that there's there's a time when I'm just sitting still at peace, quieting my mind wanting to just tune

into a sound. But then there's other times where I'll just take a drive, first thing in the morning, take a 10. Speaking of pandemics, having adjusted to a home office full time, although I've always worked from home part time, adjusting full time was just interesting. So my gym is just across the street. That makes for a very short reason to leave the house. So I purposefully take the 15 minute

journey. And I'll be listening to you and I'll be listening to some of my meditation tracks, which I've got all kinds of stuff queued up on Spotify. And I always think of it as an active because obviously, I'm driving a car. So you know, I've got to be doing that. But of course, been driving a car for a long time. So there's a lot of what subconscious programming that helps me drive the car, right?

Podcast is about. We're here with entrepreneurs, mostly leaders, people that are trying to make change in their lives as either as a parent but What we're really talking about here is moving to a peak state of performance. Because I'm assuming Mary, that as you come across the people that are stuck, and they're dealing with things, these are people that are often high achievers, they're probably, and high achievement means many things to

many people. But even if you're a parent and you're struggling with a child, you're trying to move from that place of that modality or area, but go back to subconscious programs for just a moment. And you said, a lot of the example is the computer, right, that starts having a little bit of friction, and it's running slow, and it seems lethargic, and sometimes shutting it down and actually unplugging it from the actual electrical source is just enough

to reset it. What factors lead to our subconscious programming, and gets us further down this path where we might be stuck, or in a state where we might need a system like Rise.

defenses up. And it kind of sneaks in and gets launched there gets gets planted there. I have a funny story about imprints and about what we're talking about. It's called the Ham Story. And a woman one night is making a ham. And she cuts the two ends off of the ham and wraps it in foil and puts it in the oven. And her husband says well, why did you do that? Why did you cut the ends off of it before you put it in the oven. She said I don't know. That's

how my mother always did it. So she goes back to her mother and says, Mom, why do you get the two ends off of the ham and wrap it in foil before you put it in the oven? And she said I don't know. That's how my mother always did it. So she goes back to her granny and says Granny, why do you cut the two ends off of the ham and wrap it in foil before you put it in the oven? And the granny says Well, that's the size of my oven. So granny did it purposely for a reason.

But then we just carry on and carry on and do it like that's how we're supposed to do it. And don't even really question that we're doing it.

many, many years ago. And it was taught to me when I grew up and heard it all over the place that if your body is cold, you're likely to catch a cold, or we catch colds in the winter, because it's cold outside. And I'm like at some point, I was like who made that up? Like, I didn't go back five generations to figure out where it came from. So I used of course, the great philosopher, Google. And I Googled it. Like, why did you get sick in the winter, and it has nothing to do with the

temperature. It has nothing to do with the temperature, I won't get into it because I can't remember exactly the pathway. But it had something to do with the fact that when we're cold, in colder seasons, we're less we're outside less. Typically we're taking in less vitamin D from the sun. And that seems to lower each other's germs. Yeah. So it was interesting. But I love what you're saying here.

Because I think those of us who are achievers and even those of us that hit points of stuckness, where we need to shift and we talked about that in my show podcast. And I know that's been the journey of my life. It takes an awareness to realize, like you said, Why do we always do it that way for us to begin the

process of a shift? And that's if it's more inquisitive shifts like that's, that's not trauma that's not coming from a point of pain, or point of frustration or point of disappointment, because that's a whole different section of life, which I think is where a lot of our negative subconscious programming is

rooted. But I love this, this idea that here's the question I want to ask, what is the number one reason in your mind that we stay and choose to stay stuck in old ways of thinking, which I believe we would call it a program and why is it so hard to shift out of it once we want to?

done. And once you set that intention of I am done, and I want something better. Your body, your mind, and your spirit wants that for you. It's going to send you there, it's going to make it happen. But it's really setting that intention. And we get very caught up in well, what if I change? It's kind of what you know, is easier than what you don't know. You know, I know my habits, and I know my quirks and I know my failings. And what if I get rid of them? Then I'm going to open myself up to

something else. And it's like, Oh, and if you are used to me always saying yes, I'll cook you a birthday cake? or Yes, I'll do I'll put on the party or yes, I'll you know, when you start saying no. And you start setting limits for yourself and making boundaries for yourself to be more authentically you. People are like, what, what do you do, and you've always done this, what's wrong with you? Yeah, but when you make that shift, you also shine more of a light of yourself because you're being

more authentic. And when you do that, people are attracted to it. And they want it, they see you happier, they see you more settled in your body. They see you being less chaotic and more peaceful. And then they're jealous of it is like, Well, how

did you get there. But at first, with any change we make, we're going to be questioned about it, we're going to be tested, you know, when we say okay, I'm gonna give up chocolate, I've chocolate as bad I eat too much of it, I've got to give up chocolate, you're gonna see chocolate all over the place, it's gonna start popping up all over tempting you to eat chocolate.

effort. Yeah. And I think that's where, where we're, we're, I think we're getting to that place where we really want that self improvement. We really want to spend that time on ourselves. But our culture hasn't really helped us with that in the past.

recording this. I mean, it's like we just go through the same motions. Let me ask this about the types of clients that you work with as they come and approach you. And then let's go ahead and get into the Rise process and break that down for our listening audience. But what is it that you find that your audience, your clients are saying to you, that lets you know that they are ready for Rise,

And then when they start peeling away the layers of the codependency, or the victimization, or whatever their issue happens to be when they kind of free themselves of that. And by freeing themselves, I really mean by they see it and they accept it and say okay, I have been doing that. But I don't want to do that anymore. Then again it really the shift happens pretty quickly. But those those it's usually when people are up against a wall.

factual. But then the second step, which is what you're alluding to, which I love so beautifully is that you just have to make a decision, you have to decide that enough is enough, I've got to decide that I'm drawing a line in the sand. And it's okay to admit I don't know what to do next. But we're not going past this, in this current state of thinking, this current state of being this current state of emotion, and

it's okay, right? I think what you're saying it's okay to take some time and honor yourself. And take yourself through a healing process and take yourself through a process where you can love on yourself and create space for yourself. And I think that for achievers, specifically, and a lot of people listening to show entrepreneurs, leaders, parents, sometimes we feel like we always

have to be in giving mode. And you alluded to it earlier saying yes to everything, while I always cook the cake, well, this year, I'm not gonna cook the cake, but, but it's like, we're worried that we're going to lose whatever that that relational equity or whatever that might be. And so I've learned, it's that one of the most powerful words in my art in my vocabulary is no, not because I don't want to do it, but because I want to be 100% yes to the things that I'm committed to.

already committed to. And so when you put it in that perspective, it's out of honoring your ability to show up at your highest and best self for the things you already committed to, versus a watered down version, because you're trying to appease everyone,

after those two hours. Right?

programming is inside of us. So I encourage people to listen to all the noises around them, and then shut them off and move inward. And even if they're just think about their core, or their spine to really move their energy and their attention and their thought process inward. And that's a really important step, because I've noticed that when people do that they can drop into a relaxed state really quickly. But I encourage that and then to take three deep breaths at some point along the

way. And I talk them through a progressive body relaxation. So if they have bad knees, or they're having gut issues, or they get headaches, when we get to that part of their body, I have them breathe into that part of the body and relax it even more. So really, by relaxing the body deeply. It takes the wall down between the conscious and the subconscious mind. So when you are very deeply relaxed, it's much easier to step into the beliefs and the stories that we have in the subconscious.

so I love that. But that step can't be avoided, like you just can't shut off what was going on with work, you can't shut off the kids, they gotta be soccer, you can't shut off the fact that payroll is you can't just shut it off just because you sat down to meditate. So I love the relaxation piece, what's the I in Rise?

senses to life. Because it's through our senses that we learn and we change. So by relaxing your body and going to this beautiful magical place where ever you want to create. And as I've guided people through this, it surprised me sometimes they show up in a bedroom they had as a child, or their grandmother's attic, or somewhere that they have felt safe before in the

past. So I really encourage them or or to create their own, you know, a room that has the walls and the furniture that they love and that they feel comfortable in. So this is where you really want to bring your senses alive. I encourage people to examine which what I have a little questionnaire in my workbook when I teach that has people so they can recognize whether they're visual learners, or auditory learners are

kinesthetic learners. And then they can really blow that up, you know, if they're touch people, then it's really the sand what kind of sand you know, how gritty Is it the shells are you You know how your feet on the sand. So bringing all that to life is what I is about.

a red hot ball of flame. And really blow it up and think about the things that anger them and the things when they've gotten triggered before. And then have them walk over to that ocean water and put that red ball of flame into the water and watch it turn blue. And watch the steam come up from the water and watch nature take it and transform it. So these kinds of stories that we create is how the brain can process and it really understands these stories

really quickly. There's also anchoring, which is when you think about a time, for example, if you're really struggling with self acceptance and self love, think of times where you were really competent. And we were You were really confident we were really strong, and then anchor it with a physical sign like I do the thumb and the forefinger together. But there's

a lot of ways to do it. And it teaches the nervous system that when you go do this in another state or when you're out in the world, it'll drop your nervous system back down into a relaxed state, because you're setting up an anchor, they call it an anchor. Yeah. So there's a few other ways to do it that we talked about it in the book. And what I encourage people to do is try several different ways and see which works best for them.

And then stick with that. And then the last piece is E for empower, and Harvard and Columbia both have done studies that when you stand in a superhero pose, or a pose of power, that you increase your testosterone by 8%, the power hormone and you decrease your cortisol by 25%, which is the stress hormone. So if you're having problem with stress and weight, just standing for two minutes, or 120 seconds in this pose really shifts you

physically and chemically. So I have people using your imagination, you're standing on that beach, look out over the water, thank it for taking your anger, and for transforming that, and then stand in that superhero pose and think about how your life is going to be different. The next time you get triggered, how are you going to react differently? You know, what's going to be different about you? How are people going to be surprised when you are

contained? And you know, just think of the ramifications and empower yourself for showing up and doing the process.

used to the process. And then it does not take long, I have been triggered before in restaurants and gone to the bathroom and done Rise, to really kind of reground myself, the restaurant didn't need to hear what I was triggered about or why I was upset. It was for later. And I've also was in a car accident one day and used it then because the gentleman who hit me came at me pretty angrily. And I just locked the doors, rolled up the Windows called the police and

sat there and did my Rise. Yeah, I also use it every day, at the end of the day is how I've gotten it, the practice of it, yours is at the beginning of the day mine's at the end. Because I really want to clear the slate of the day, I think too many times we let things accumulate. And we kind of mound up on ourselves. And so I kind of congratulate myself for the things that went well and where I was proud of what I did that

day. And then when I put my foot in my mouth or I hurt someone's feelings or things didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I have forgiveness for myself, and I do the best I can and try to resolve that energy so that I'm not carrying it on.

but beautiful process. And I know that there's a lot more to unpack, we certainly can't do justice to a proven methodology in 30-35 minutes, but you've also written a book, tell everyone about the book and how to find the book.

can address with it. And in the back, there's 25 or 30 different suggestions. So there's Rise for peace, Rise for childbirth, Rise for sleep, Rise for surgery, Rise for again, 25 or 30 different and they're meant to be springboard so that people can get an idea of how to set this up for themselves so that they have this tool for themselves.

free and at the website. And then also the events are listed there. I teach in different places I love to travel and teach if anyone is interested in this is a class that I'm also teaching a virtual teacher training in January. So if you have any meditators out there are practitioners that would like to add this to their toolbox. I'll be teaching this for two hours over three Sundays for a certification.

own practice. It's just such a beautiful thing to offer it to the rest of the world and have different modalities, right you're you're able to teach teachers how to certify and do this, you're able to put it in the book, you travel and teach all the things that you love to do course pandemic had some, some stumbling blocks in that process. So you became creative and intentional of saying no, no, no, this message has to get out. So I love the idea that you wrote the book. I have enjoyed

this tremendously. I appreciate both ideas and practices. The formula is straightforward and simple. And as you mentioned before, it just comes down to being intentional and then putting into practice we call it here doing the reps at MindShift. So Mary, it's been an absolute pleasure having you here today on the show. And if for whatever reason today happened to be your last day on this planet, what would you want the world to remember you for?

know me. And that made me so proud that if they could know me for anything or my generations beyond if it's Rise, that would they be very happy? Ah,

honey, right? For as long as the hosting bills get paid. Then you got that book. That's such a beautiful, beautiful thing for us leaders to do. And really, for anyone listening, there is no barrier now to leave a legacy. And legacy doesn't have to be a billion dollars. It's just the words of wisdom that you gained through your years here. So Mary is such a beautiful way to end the show today. Thank you again, so much for sharing the Rise Hypnotic Meditation Method. Thank you for sharing your

wisdom. Thank you for your journey, as an entrepreneur, as a coach, as a leader, as a thinker, and someone who just wants to see people move to that next level in their lives. Been a pleasure having you.