It’s over… and I’m officially in recovery.
After nearly ten days of cramming the contents of several textbooks into my brain, followed by five full-on days of teaching over forty students, I’ve entered full shut-down, maintenance mode. The lights are still on, but I’m definitely not answering the door.
What a week it’s been.
The Architecture of Hypnosis is our live training in Toronto, and it draws students from all over the world. This time, along with the usual Canadians and Americans, we were joined by attendees from Dubai, Ireland, the Isle of Man, England, Australia, and Germany. A true global gathering of minds and intentions.
When you add the necessary prep time to the five-day intensive, it always becomes the most exhausting couple of weeks in my entire calendar. I feel like I’ve just passed Special Forces training, at the age of seventy-two, and somehow still lived to tell the tale.
Thankfully, I went into this particular round in the best physical shape of my life, which made a significant difference. Being strong enough to support the mental workload is crucial, and this time it gave me a real edge.
Even so, I’m still utterly fried. Mentally, I feel like a sponge that’s been wrung out, dried, and tossed behind the sink. When I’m in this state - overloaded and cognitively spent - I retreat into solitude for at least three days. No talking, no commitments, and no National Ballet of Canada this afternoon, despite having the tickets in hand.
It’s cocoon mode now. Zero-effort, background-noise brainless television becomes the dominant force in the room. Could I relax by reading? Possibly. But it would need to be something at a sixth-grade level, with short chapters and big fonts. I’m not joking. If the characters have more than two syllables in their names, I’m out.
Part of the near-burnout comes from the cognitive function enhancers I take during prep and teaching. These include ginkgo biloba and a selection of Ayurvedic herbs that boost oxygen and glucose uptake in the brain. They’re amazing during the performance phase, but once I stop pushing so hard, there’s always a crash. It lasts for about three days, and there’s no avoiding it.
It’s a bit like redlining a Formula One car all week, holding it at 7,000 rpm, and then letting it drop into idle. The engine is still running, but it’s no longer fit for racing. That’s where I am now. Idling. Fortunately, I’ve got just enough brainpower left to write this Sunday email. Barely.
And that brings me to the point of this message.
Preparation really is everything.
Whenever we’re facing a high-stakes, high-energy challenge, taking the time to prepare properly is what separates a successful outcome from a disaster. I’ve never seen it fail. The effort you put in ahead of time pays off when the pressure is on.
And what a success this training turned out to be.
In a room filled with therapists, doctors, EMS professionals, and complete beginners, we witnessed long-standing phobias vanish, mental clarity return, allergies disappear, and new powerful resources anchored for good. It was remarkable, as always.
Six of the students were part of my Master Hypnotist program, and all of them elevated their already strong skills to a whole new level. We’re talking near-stratospheric improvements. It was inspiring to watch.
We capped it all off with an after-party at the nearby English pub. There were pints, laughter, food, and loud conversations bouncing off the walls. As the night wore on, I quietly slipped away to a more secluded table, since my social battery had officially died.
And yes, I’ve developed a bit of a cough and feel a touch worse for wear. But it was all worth it. It was an incredible week, and I’ll be back to full capacity soon. Meanwhile, these amazing men and women are already heading back to their corners of the world, bringing the Hypnotic Storm with them. I can’t wait to hear how they use these near-magical tools to help others and change lives.
The stories always come back, often when I least expect them, and they never fail to inspire me.
So… what about you?
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to spend a week becoming a hypnotic rockstar, now’s the time to find out. Our next training begins in May, and it’s already filling up…
I’d love to see you there.
- Mike Mandel
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