Biker Living Article

At a networking event this past year I met a wonderful woman named Christina.  She was passionate, a creator, inspiring, and beautiful.  She started a local magazine for bikers in the Austin area called Biker Living.

Christina really intrigued me with all her passion for motorcycling and the community that goes with it.  I wanted to know what was in her head, so I asked lots of questions.  I love to know what people think and feel that inspires them to create. When Christiana would speak of her long journeys on her motorcycle she would unknowingly smile, and an extra spark of life would come to her eyes. Christina spoke of this wonderful loving community that would reach out and help each other at a moment's notice.  She talked about a community that was more like a family with an extra bond beyond a blood tie. I understand that part - we all love to feel that community, and when our foundation is built of a hundred people looking out for our best interests we are stronger than when it's just a handful.

I did not understand the motorcycle part, so I asked her, "Why motorcycles?"  To me they seemed dangerous, uncomfortable, and a little scary!  I didn't understand long trips on a motorcycle, because if I go some where I like comfort.  I want a radio, temperature control, and a cup holder!  When she started telling me about the feeling she gets when she rides her face really lit up. I could actually see the love for her craft all over her face.  As she was describing the feeling of just letting go and being in the moment, of being in the air and in nature, the excitement coming out with her words suddenly reminded me of a feeling that I am very familiar with - a feeling very close to the one I get with hypnosis. 

I relate everything to emotions, thoughts, and hypnosis because everything can relate. We talked about the relationship between hypnosis and the feelings from riding, and a friendship was born. We connected, I got it, and I finally understood what the draw was.  Christina asked me to write what I just said to her in a short article for her magazine, here it is.



Have you ever heard the old saying, "You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a therapist office"? It could be true, but do you know why this lifestyle is so therapeutic?
You know that feeling you get when your mind wanders off and you become silent - it's just you and the road.  You may even “zone out” after many miles, and when your conscious mind comes back you wonder where you have been. That feeling is a lot like the one so many people spend many hours, and lots of dollars, trying to perfect. That silence is like relaxation therapy, meditation, and even hypnosis!  Your conscious mind is slowing down and your creative mind, your subconscious, is coming through. This is part of the draw to riding I am sure, because in this state you naturally release endorphins (a feel good chemical in the brain). Your stress levels go down, your immune system functions better, and you feel fantastic!
What else can this state accomplish? Why are so many people trying to achieve this state? It is this state of mind when your conscious thoughts drift away and your creative mind is activated that gives your mind more power. Your conscious mind can process about 40 bits of information per second, but your subconscious can process 40 million bits per second!  The ability to use their subconscious when they want to is a powerful tool that many artists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and other creative individuals strive for.  Think of your subconscious mind as Google, and your conscious mind is an old hardcover dictionary.  Which one would you choose for the best answers to your questions?  Which one is faster?  Which one has the most information to arrive at the best answer?  The great minds of the world are constantly striving to let the stronger part of their brain answer the tough questions and come up with better answers.
How do you put this “trance state” to work for you? First, start with setting a goal.  What do you want to get out of your ride?  Perhaps you want clarity on a struggle that is going on in your life, or the answer to a question that you've been considering.  You can have a goal that needs to be focused on, or even just a feeling you would like to have. Think about what your goal is before you go on your ride, and think about what you want to get out of the ride a few times before you even get on your bike.  You could even write it down and stick it in your pocket.  Always think in positive terms.  Always think of what you DO want.  What you focus on will grow. Also, think about being safe and aware of the road, your riding ability, and the people around you.  In this way your subconscious can even help you become safer.  You need to focus on your goal before you go on your ride, because you are almost asking your subconscious a question.  Your subconscious mind will then go into auto pilot mode and process your request, and before you know it the answer, clarity, or feeling will just pop right into your mind.  You can utilize the best part of your brain doing the things that you love so much, by just asking for it!  It's as simple as that.  As Napoleon Hill puts it, “The possibilities of creative effort connected with the subconscious mind are stupendous and imponderable. They inspire one with awe.”

So, set your goal and get on your motorcycle, and let your subconscious mind work for you. It is truly amazing the power that each and every one of us has in our own minds.  It's just a matter of using what has already been placed there. So start using your hobby to your full advantage, and start using your brain to its full capacity. Be safe. Have fun. Enjoy life!

If you are in the Austin area and see a copy of Biker Living, pick it up, its FREE. 

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