You can't teach an old dog new tricks - or can you?
If you thought Lesserian™ Curative Hypnotherapy was exclusively for people who wished to be treated for mental, emotional or physical issues, conditions or symptoms, then you are in for a pleasant surprise.
Our creative birthright
We are born with an innate curiosity and desire to explore, create and express ourselves via arts and crafts, poetry, story, song, dance, music and other creative outlets. We could call this our ‘creative birthright’. Yet, by the time we reach a ‘certain age’, most of us have developed fixed opinions about what we are good or not so good at and what we can and can’t do.
Self-fulfilling prophecies
These opinions are often backed up with confirming self-talk. Over time, they can develop into what are commonly referred to as ‘self-fulfilling prophecies’ which become so deeply and powerfully embedded that they are incredibly difficult to challenge or change.
Here are some examples. How many of these do you recognise and are there any with which you strongly identify?
- I’m scared I’ll break it (the computer, sewing machine, etc.).
- I can’t draw to save my life!
- Me - dance? No way - I have two left feet!
- I have no sense of rhythm.
- I’m tone deaf!
- I’d love to learn a new language, but I just don’t have that kind of brain.
- My woodwork teacher didn’t like me (so I never learnt the basics).
- I can’t read music!
- I’m a slow learner.
- I’ve never been any good at that kind of thing.
- You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!
There are lots more examples, but I am sure you are already beginning to create your own list.
Benefits of learning
It is a well-known and widely accepted fact that learning something connected to a personal interest, either as a hobby or with a view to eventually making a living out of it, can have hugely positive effects on our emotional, mental and physical health and well-being.
There are social benefits too. When we learn within a group setting, we are given the opportunity to connect with others. This helps us to develop a sense of belonging and community; something so many of us lack in our busy, modern lives.
Regrets - We have a few!
It is a sobering fact, but many people on reaching the ‘autumn phase’ of their lives when asked about their biggest regrets, tend to mention the things they never tried, rather than what they actually did.
With that in mind, why is it that so many of us whimsically speak of how we would love to try something, yet never quite get round to taking the necessary steps in order that we fulfil our desires? What stops us, for example, from booking that photography, cookery or tap dancing course, or arranging that series of piano lessons? And why, for those who actually manage to take those initial, tentative steps and actually begin something new, does motivation suddenly or gradually wane after a while?
Why do many of us end up with a pile of rarely or unused specialist or hobby equipment and clothing in our cupboards and attic spaces?
The answer to these questions often lies in the subconscious mind of each individual.
The subconscious mind
The subconscious is the hidden part of our mind. It works around the clock to keep us safe, well and happy. Part of its role is to store all kinds of information accumulated from our life experiences – to help it fulfil its role.
This information is routinely updated whenever we allow ourselves the space and time to relax to a sufficient level in order for this to occur. This process helps to ensure our subconscious and conscious minds work in harmony and thus achieve a unified approach to life. So, should we consciously desire to learn a new skill, the subconscious mind is ready and willing to play its part in the process and learning should be relatively easy and enjoyable.
Problems occur when conflict arises between old and new information or thoughts, creating a ‘loop’ of contradictions as opposing perspectives clash and ‘dance’ with each other. This can slow down or completely prevent routine updating; which illustrates how the self-fulfilling prophecies mentioned earlier can be created and maintained.
In an heroic attempt to resolve the internal discord, the subconscious works incredibly hard, expending enormous amounts of energy as it attempts to make sense of the conflicting information, but this effort is often thwarted by the sheer volume of what it has to sift through and the fatigue this brings.
It is perhaps not surprising then, that when this happens there is little room for creative growth and learning. Perhaps this is why the familiar ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ has remained such a well-known phrase for generations.
Lesserian™ Curative Hypnotherapy (LCH)
In recent years, our growing knowledge and understanding of the way the mind works has helped us to make great advances when treating not only symptoms, issues and conditions with LC Hypnotherapy, but also in helping those who wish to grow and develop creatively too.
LC Hypnotherapy makes it possible to move beyond the ‘loopy’ constraints of our minds towards resolution and into a more creative and fulfilling future.
Move over, Lassie! It’s our turn now!