Symbolism of training

I first encountered(meaning the first time I really stopped and thought about the real meaning of the word) symbolism during my basic training in hypnosis.



Experts like Milton Erickson, known as the father of modern day hypnotic psychotherapy, discovered the ability of the mind to grasp the additional meanings/message of activities, words, pictures(material or mental), etc.



For example, M. Erickson used to send patients of his without prior psychotherapy (performed by him, since most of his patients had an extensive record of psychiatric or psychological therapy) to a mountain with the assignement to hike up the mountain, get back down and meet with him the day after.

Quite a lot of people were done with their problems after the trip, altough they had suffered from them for several years in most cases.





One wonders how such things are possible...





One model we can use to explain those wonderful events is found by analyzing symbolism, which describes additional meanings of (living) things, persons, actions, etc.
For example:
- A dove is a bird and often a symbol of peace.



Lets look at the hike again:

The mere fact the therapist did not react the way you expected him to do(starting talking with you about your problems, inducing hypnosis, etc.) "throughs you off" your current model of the world and induces a search (subconciously) for an alternative meaning.

Arrived at the mountain you move yourself up- and forward, you yourself(!!) take single steps to reach a destination given to you by a psychotherapist to whom you travelled in expectation of being helped with a certain problem.



The deeper meaning can, e.g., be you making an effort to reach your goal, not giving up even when facing difficulties (steep inclines, rocks,...), finding your own walking pace, planing steps ahead, reaching the goal and by doing that gaining a different point of view on the world around you.


A simple act like hiking can be much more than reaching a point higher than the one where you started at.


Such symbolism can be sen in many things in our every- day- life.



For myself, my life changed when I started working out.
Of course this is no new experience.
Almost everybody starting with physical activity notices changes, both on the mirror and in ones head. Although the last ones are often less obvious.
For ages it has been known that a strong man has a strong character.
Modern psychosomatic medicine had to work hard to make people remember that! ;-)


It took me some time to notice I had become a diferent person since I started training. I think I evolved, hopefully into someone more positive. ;-)
I am quite happy with whom I have become because most of the problems in my young life I made disappear.
Notice I did not say "most of the problems disappeared"... I MADE THEM DISAPPEAR!!
That is part of the mindset gained from training.


I am a human being and I am a doctor-/psychiatrist- to- be.
Therefore two aspects are most important to me: physical and mental health.

With such a base I´m analyzing my whole training, always looking for clues what part helped which transformation best.



In the next few weeks, I´ll try to explain some of my findings to give you a general idea how you can develop yourself in- and out-side your head.


Train hard and enjoy life!
All the best,
Harry