Awe

Yesterday I was sitting on the sidelines while my daughter was swimming at the Boys and Girls Club, when a woman who looked familiar-ish came up to me. Turns out I had met her at a party over the summer thrown by friends of mine who had invited some kindergarten families.

Nice woman; she and her family have lived in my town about a year.

This kind of thing happens all the time to me where I live - its one of the things I like about my town- the sense of community that feels so natural, especially when you have a child in school. I like raising my daughter in that environment where people actually feel connected to each other and where they live.

Now I like it in theory, but I admit, I did internally groan at the idea of 45 minutes of small talk. But I put aside my phone and my work blackberry and chatted with her. We talked about kids and the weather and swimming and then moved on to what we did.

I said I worked in PR.

And then I realized there was a much more interesting answer to that question and told her I was getting ready to open my practice as a hypnotherapist.

She was fascinated; most people are. I realized as we began chatting that this is probably one of the key ways I will get business in the future - just by telling people what I do and sharing my experiences and answering questions. I figured, why not start this network of people who know me for what I do?

It turns out, she was so interested that she wants to try it. I was talking in general terms about how hypnosis can help with things like stress or insomnia or quitting smoking, when she told me that she had a very specific reason for asking me all these questions.

She has lupus. And she can see how hypnosis might help her manage stress, which can help her manage pain.

Of course, hypnosis can help manage stress, and it can help manage pain...but in the case of lupus there's also some evidence it can help improve the symptoms associated with the disorder itself.

I want to keep expectations in check. The truth as I see it is: hypnosis doesn't get rid of pain - but it *can* dial it back significantly and make it easier to manage. And there's no question where stress is related to physical conditions, it can help overall by dialing back the stress.

So a few revelations yesterday. First, that just by talking about what I do, people will find ways that it might be helpful.

And second, and really wonderful: I'm really going to be able to help people with this. As I begin my practice, this fact has me excited and in awe.

This is going to be one of the best things I've ever done. I feel it.