In this deeply personal session, Martin explores how to maintain "unshakable peace" when life puts us in the waiting room—whether for medical news, big appointments, or personal change. Drawing from his own recent experience with deteriorating vision and upcoming surgery, Martin shares the 333 Method to anchor yourself to the present and provide "surgical level focus" when thoughts begin to close in.
The script
Transcribed from the audio, so the odd word may be off. Tap any line while it plays to keep the words in step with Martin's voice.
Welcome to calming anxiety. Today, finding your focus in the unknown, to my friends who are going through health problems, to all of you in uncertain times. We spend so much of our lives waiting, waiting for news, waiting for appointments, waiting for things to change. But when we wait with a racing heart, we lose the beauty of the present moment. Today, let's learn how to sit in the waiting room of life with a sense of total unshakable peace. I'm Martin, I'm a clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic. This is your moment of calm. If you're looking to dive deeper into your recovery, head over to calminganxiety.fm. Now, find your quiet place today. Somewhere comfy to sit or lie down where you won't be disturbed for a while, where you can close your eyes and be at peace. When you feel the walls of a waiting room or your own thoughts closing in, we use the 333 method to anchor back to the physical world. It's a simple, discreet and incredibly effective for the surgical level focus. So one, acknowledge three things that you can see. The texture of a chair, the light through a window, the colour of a floor time. Two, acknowledge three things that you can hear, the hum of a fridge, a distant car or the sound of your own breath. Three, move three parts of your body. Wiggle your toes, rotate your ankles and gently roll your shoulders. Feel the weight of your body in the chair. You are here, you are safe, you are simply waiting and within this moment of being here in the present, extend your awareness and connect now with the rhythm of your breathing to focus on the rise, the pause and fall of each and every breath. To quash the nerves, that knot in your stomach breath deeply into your belly now, fully expanding your chest, your diaphragm, inflate your lungs with positivity and hope. And then as you exhale, truly, mindfully, unwind and relax, the all attention just melts away. Again with the in breath, breathe deeply into your belly, pushing away any sense of fear or doubt. And then as you breathe out, allow yourself to melt into the surface beneath your body, relax and calm, deeply and safely. Imagine with every exhalation, drifting even deeper into the surface below, allow yourself this moment of time to find your grounding within this meditation, further and further, out breath of the out breath, learn to love who you are, facing the uncertain future with openness, with clarity, with acceptance. And within this moment, within this space and time inside the sanctuary of your consciousness.
Imagine maybe your mind is like the lens or camera, sometimes the world gets blurry, distorted by fear or a physical element. Now imagine turning the dial with every breath, the edges of your life become sharper. You aren't focusing on the what-ifs, but on the what is. And within this moment of focus, visualize these beautiful words, repeat them, see them, feel them on your tongue and then once spoken. See them drifting down into your subconscious within your heart space to become part of all that you are. I trust the process of my healing. My vision for my future is clear and bright. I am calm, I am capable and I am in good hands. And then as you unwind, as you find your moment of daily balance, once more within the beauty of your mind's eye, I trust the process of my healing. My vision for my future is clear and bright. I am calm, I am capable and I am in good hands.
And now drift even deeper, feel the out breath, relax, release, unwind and simply be. And to keep these thoughts, this idea, here are three daily caring tips. One, the pre-appointment ritual, before any big meeting or medical check, drink a full glass of water, dehydration mimics the physical symptoms of anxiety. Two, externalise your stress. If you are worried about tomorrow write the worry down on a physical piece of paper and leave it in a drawer. You do not need to carry it into the clinic with you. And three, the micro rest. Give your eyes and mind a 60 second break every hour today. Just close them and breathe. Now relax.
Have all that you are. And time to bring your awareness back into the room around you. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Now take that deep breath in and then as you exhale stretch out the arms overhead and now open your eyes. Thank you for listening today. I'll open up this morning. I had an eye appointment. My vision over the last three months has deteriorated and now I have only 12 weeks to wait for surgery. The vision in one eye is down to 14%, not so good and the other eye is not much better either. So to me Martin, this session is for you.
And that's how we cope my friends. I am fortunate and blessed. I will get the surgery. There's a good success rate. But I have me inside now and I love all that I am. So what ever you're going through. Refrain it. Life does throw these curve balls. Maybe we've been through worse before and we'll bounce back again. But whatever happens we adapt. We improve. So have a lovely day my friend. I'm looking forward to later this year being able to see again. Until then I'm here daily. Thank you. Have a lovely day yourself. My love them positive thoughts and to everything be kind.