Why Building Inner Strength and Mental Toughness Is the Key to Success and Longevity for Ranchers
Recently, The Flow Center’s founder, Valerie Grimes, had the pleasure of being interviewed by Brian Alexander on his podcast, Ranching Reboot. This podcast delves into conventional thinking about ranching, explores sustainable farming, and strives to reboot our food system for a healthier planet.
It was the perfect opportunity for Valerie to discuss how mental health—especially the subconscious mind—plays a crucial role in shaping the lives of farmers and ranchers.
Ranching is not for the faint of heart.
Cultivating resilience for improved mental health is key to survive.
It’s a testament to human resilience and determination, demanding a blend of physical endurance, mental fortitude, and an unwavering connection to the land. Some of the problems ranchers face range from unpredictable weather patterns and fluctuating market prices to labor-intensive daily tasks and the constant care of livestock.
The stress brought on by these demands may be the most trying part of all. Ranchers must adapt to these changing conditions and overcome setbacks with grit and perseverance.
While the rewards of ranching—nurturing life, fostering community, and maintaining a vital part of our agricultural heritage—can make this toughest of journeys deeply fulfilling.
But these pressures and challenges can build up over time and leave farmers with mental trauma over time.
Valerie, a hypnotherapist with 20 years of experience, recounted to Brian how growing her own food and keeping chickens, has given her a profound appreciation for the agricultural lifestyle . . . as well as the adversity ranchers face on a larger scale.
Through her work, she has learned how the subconscious influences emotions and behaviors and is excited to share these insights, especially as they pertain to the unique mental health challenges faced by farmers and ranchers.
Taking the “Woo Woo” Out of Hypnosis:
When people think of hypnosis, they often picture stage performances with hypnotists making people cluck like a chicken. That hypnosis trope couldn’t be further from the truth.
During the podcast, Valerie shared with Brian how her work involves using techniques similar to traditional therapy but in a state that allows access to the subconscious mind. This state enables individuals to address deeply rooted beliefs, habits, and responses formed since birth.
In hypnotherapy, the real work is done by the individuals themselves. When the conscious mind stops overthinking and analyzing, the subconscious can open up, allowing creativity and the power to change old patterns. This shift is not just theoretical; it has practical applications that can lead to significant positive changes in one’s life.
Building Resilience: Quitting Alcohol with Strength and Clarity
Brian’s journey to sobriety was marked by immense struggle and perseverance as he battled the physical and mental challenges of quitting drinking without the support he needed. Reflecting on his experiences, he often wishes he had access to resources that could have eased the painful withdrawal symptoms he endured.
Coupled with the constant temptation to drink, like the habit of cracking a beer at 9:00 in the morning, was a relentless obstacle.
Valerie understands this struggle all too well. She also had (15 years ago) a serious drinking problem, even keeping a pint of Jack Daniels in her glove box.
Her journey to sobriety led her to write a book about her alcohol dependence called Licking Honey Off a Razor Blade. During that process, she created a hypnosis program for alcohol dependency, which helped her turn her life around.
It got her thinking . . . could she help people stop drinking through hypnosis? After all, she had already helped countless others stop smoking. It was another form of addiction with many of the same hallmarks.
When clients who are battling alcohol addiction come to Valerie, they often feel horrible because they spend their days drinking and hurting their families. They carry the constant feeling of worthlessness with them. She starts to help them by shifting their perspective and pointing out that they were just trying to soothe themselves. But together, they can find a healthier way to live.
Valerie’s goal is not to help people stop drinking directly, but to help them like themselves more.
Loving themselves might seem like a stretch right now, but they can start with liking themselves. When they start to like themselves more, they’ll naturally stop doing things that hurt them. It’s about releasing the guilt and shame and knowing they have a choice. What they’ve done in the past is over, and now they have the freedom to choose something better.
That said, if someone’s drinking is severe and would have acute withdrawal symptoms, they need to see a doctor.
But most of the people who come to Valerie recognize they’re starting to drink more than they want, like finishing a whole bottle of wine when it used to be just two glasses. She calls them “almost alcoholics.” Trying to have just one or two glasses doesn’t work—they need to stop for a while. Being a little bit of an alcoholic is like being a little bit pregnant. It’s all or nothing. So let’s start by liking themselves more and making choices that reflect that.
In Brian’s case, he was able to stop drinking with determination, showcasing his incredible strength in overcoming addiction and transforming his life for the better. It would not have been such a difficult road if he’d had someone to help him like himself more.
Understanding the Conscious and Subconscious Mind:
The farmers will love this one!
Valerie uses a simple analogy to explain to Brian the difference between the conscious and subconscious minds. Imagine the conscious mind as a cherry tomato and the subconscious mind as a giant heirloom tomato. There’s a huge difference in their roles and capacities.
The conscious mind, responsible for thinking, analyzing, and decision-making, constitutes only about 10% of our daily activities. In contrast, the subconscious mind, which carries out these decisions, governs the remaining 90%.
This explains why many people struggle with procrastination, unhealthy habits, and other self-sabotaging behaviors. It’s deeply ingrained in their psyche. When the subconscious programming does not align with conscious intentions, achieving success becomes challenging.
For example, farmers and ranchers may plan to fix equipment or plan their grazing plan or stocking ratio for the year, but their subconscious habits and responses ultimately determine their actions. They may not do either of those due to their associations with those tasks. In other words, we easily do what we like to do and don’t do what we don’t like to do.
Shifting one’s perspective and creating new positive beliefs can help them become more proactive, efficient, and ultimately prosperous in their approach to their work.
Changing Your Mindset: Stop “Stinking Thinking.”
Valerie helps people transform their mindsets by addressing the negative thought patterns and unconscious habits that keep them stuck in a loop.
This isn’t just about pausing to re-evaluate; it’s about creating new, positive thoughts, feelings, and responses that lead to true freedom—the freedom to be happy, healthy, and prosperous.
Now, this process isn’t as simple as it sounds. There has to be a genuine desire to change.
So, how does she do this?
Valerie works with people’s subconscious minds in a conscious way. Many believe they need to think through everything, figure it out, and push forward. But often, that’s like trying to push a broken-down tractor up a hill—it’s just not going to work.
By tapping into the subconscious, profound changes can be made more effortlessly. And yes, she’s from Texas, so you’ll sometimes hear her talk about “broke-down tractors,” but the point is, there is a better way to move forward without all that struggle.
Subconscious Programming for Emotional Resilience:
Let’s explore the power of a resilient mindset—a vibrant energy that fuels growth and innovation.
Think back to when you first embarked on your ranching journey, that exhilarating first year filled with boundless excitement and endless possibilities. Recently, a guest shared his journey on Ranching Reboot, talking about how he dove headfirst into ranching without a manual, embracing learning through experimentation and overcoming mistakes.
His resilience and enthusiasm propelled him forward. Yet, over time, one can slip into cynicism, doubting what once worked or constantly feeling exhausted.
The truth is resilience resides deep inside of us. By consciously shifting our focus to positivity and learning from setbacks, we can cultivate resilience as though we’re nurturing fertile soil, ensuring continuous growth and prosperity in our endeavors. And this is not limited to ranchers and farmers.
One fascinating aspect of the subconscious mind is its role in muscle memory and intuition. Tasks performed without conscious thought, often attributed to muscle memory, are actually subconscious routines. This understanding is crucial for farmers and ranchers who rely on their instincts and experience to manage their daily responsibilities.
Just as farmers can sense what needs to be done in their fields, individuals can learn to tap into their subconscious to make positive changes in their lives. This intuitive understanding of their land and crops parallels the subconscious mind’s ability to guide behavior.
How we do it:
The Flow Center’s program has been helping people for decades who want to banish their negative thoughts and habits and transform their lives:
Journey deep into your subconscious: You’ll be guided into a deeply relaxed state that lets all other thoughts fall away so your mind can focus. This allows your subconscious to be more receptive to suggestion. The hypnotist will begin to unlock issues that have prevented you from experiencing self-acceptance and bring them to the surface.
Create new lovable habits for yourself: The hypnotist will then reprogram your old internal belief system and rewire it to accept self-love. This new “coding” will allow you to transform the way you see, respond, and attach meaning to your issues. Instead of the negative emotions and patterns you once had, you’ll be able to create new and lovable habits surrounding the way you see yourself.
Develop new positive and loving beliefs: The voices in your head telling you that you’re not enough will be silenced. No more beating yourself up. Instead, you’ll have effortless kindness and respect for the amazing person you already are. You’ll be able to step confidently into new habits that celebrate all your strengths and see your old habits with more compassion as they depart from your life.
Imagine a future where it is all possible: You’ll be able to take more chances now that nothing is holding you back. Boldly embrace a new mindset where the opportunities open to you are endless. Nothing is beyond you. In fact, success is at the forefront of your mind.
Additionally, imagine a future where you break the cycle of negative thinking so your children don’t have to go through what you did.
See the benefits of self-love: The result is a gentle and effective ability to return to your natural love for yourself. It’s always been there, but it eroded over time when those negative beliefs crept in. Now that you’ve released those feelings, you have more space to allow your self-esteem to blossom.
Develop inner resilience with hypnosis:
Valerie Grimes has used her incredible career as a hypnotist to help others develop grit and fortitude, changing their lives in the process. She discovered the immense power of the subconscious mind and how it can help farmers and ranchers tackle the difficulties of their work with more confidence and ease.
Especially when it comes to building resilience for a stronger mind and spirit.
Her mission is simple: to equip you with the tools and support you need to transform your life from the inside out, building emotional resilience and well-being along the way.
Whether you’re in Dallas or on the other side of the world, Valerie is available for in-person or virtual sessions to help you live your best life.
Curious to learn more? Tune into Valerie’s interview on the Ranchers Reboot Podcast and start your journey to mental wellness today!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST on Spotify also available on Apple Podcasts.
Buy the Rancher and Farmer Hypnosis Audio – Resilience
Schedule a consultation with Valerie Grimes to understand more about how hypnosis helps with anxiety and depression. Or, send Valerie an email.