Mark Stephens - Mind Free: Say Goodbye to Negative Thoughts, Stress, Insomnia, Weight Issues and More

Published in 2022 by Murdoch Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin

Copyright Mark Stephens 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to the Copyright Agency (Australia) under the Act.

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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9 781 92261 611 1

eISBN 9 781 761061 385 5

Cover and text design by Northwood Green

Illustrations by Mark Stephens

Typeset by Midland Typesetters

DISCLAIMER: The content presented in this book is meant for informational and inspirational purposes only. The purchaser of this book understands that the information contained within this book is general in nature and not intended to replace specific medical advice or to be relied upon to treat, cure or prevent any disease, illness or medical condition. The author and publisher claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application or interpretation of the material in this book.

Twenty years ago, I was sent by my boss at Channel Nine to interview Mark Stephens who was conducting a free seminar to entice people to drink more water. My reaction was a lukewarm okay, but when I was told he would use meditation and hypnotherapy on the group I may have rolled my eyes.

Journalists, we are told, are a cynical bunch and thats a healthy thing in my trade. To question whats being said or done, not just blindly accept it, enables us to present an honest and unbiased story to the public.

I sat, watched and listened on that day, and I spoke to all involved, finding many at that meeting just as cynical as me. Yet, after two hours something remarkable happened: people were drinking water, even those who had told me they never touched the stuff, and others who had gone there as a joke because it was a free session. Mark relaxed the crowd, meditated with them and led a group hypnosis. He even taught them how to self-hypnotise, to replenish their skill and maintain their newfound love of water. Every person who left that day said they felt switched on to water. I wasnt so cynical anymore.

Mark contacted me again to tell me he could stop people from smoking. We filmed chain-smoker Merv, who had been puffing for 60 years and couldnt stop. After a session with Mark, he quit, just like that. From time to time I would ring Merv and find that, yes, he was still off the fags. Coca-Cola addicts were Marks next challenge, including a woman whose backyard was stacked with tens of thousands of Coke bottles and cans, decades worth. Mark got her off the fizzy drink.

After our initial stories aired, A Current Affair started sending viewers to Mark with their array of sometimes bizarre problems, including the lady who was addicted to chewy snake lollies, consuming a dozen bags a day. A little Mark magic and she wanted nothing to do with those slippery snakes again. Viewers who had needle phobias were soon getting vaccinated. There were others: the life-threateningly obese; the sufferers of mental and physical injuries; and those living with chronic pain, made worse because their subconscious minds wouldnt allow them to escape their fears. Every single time, Mark transformed their lives, simply by relaxation and hypnotherapy. I would always ring these people, often years later, and ask if they had slipped back into their old ways. The answer was never.

Where Mark Stephenss skill is concerned, this once-cynical reporter is cynical no more. Over decades, I have seen him transform peoples lives. The tears of thanks are often all he received and all he wanted. He has a good heart; he cares about people and helps people live better lives. I can honestly say he has saved peoples lives. And the culmination of his lifetimes work is now in this book to help all.

Brady Halls

Reporter, A Current Affair

Welcome to a journey of transformation to set your mind free. Within these pages you will learn how to overcome your biggest challenges and achieve lasting peace, health and happiness. The power of what you tell yourself your story cannot be underestimated. You now have in your hands the techniques and methods used by thousands of people who have changed their lives for the better. Mind Free is a stepby-step way to help you change your story and reshape every part of your life.

Imagine if school had one more topic: Mind and Emotions 101. Unfortunately, we never learn how to run our mind and emotions. We gain new knowledge on important subjects, but, really, what is more important than our own mental and emotional health? Mind Free provides you with techniques that will give you immediate results.

In 1998 when I first started writing this book, I never imagined it would take more than two decades to complete. My wish from day one was to provide a straightforward mind manual that would help people overcome some of lifes biggest challenges. This book has grown from that initial desire to help, and encompasses all that I have learned and developed as a hypnotherapist and meditation teacher. The techniques, meditations, affirmations and self-hypnosis scripts have been created and gathered over the past five decades of my learning and teaching journey. Drawing from my own mindful self-hypnosis seminars and retreats and from my keynote speeches and private breakthrough sessions, I have done my best to translate within these pages what I do in person and what I know works. I have also taken some of the best sessions from the Mind Free app and transcribed them for this book. Youll find a number of case studies included to inspire you and show you that transformation really is possible. (In some of the case studies I have changed the names for reasons of confidentiality.)

Whenever we attempt to overcome challenges, break old patterns, or reach goals using outdated thinking and obsolete strategies, we are destined to fail time and again. Our mind and, more specifically, our beliefs, values, habits and emotions have been formed through the power of repetition, be that positive or negative.

What you have experienced and been told throughout your life has shaped your very existence and led you to where you are right now. Through the power of positive repetition this book will empower you to change for the better.

Rather than a book to simply read once, Mind Free is intended to be read, reread and workshopped. If you were with me at a live event or in a private session, I would give you time to actively participate in the workshop segments. When you get to these parts of the book, do your best to join in as if you and I were face to face. Some scripts and techniques will have a deeper impact on you than others. There is no right or wrong. Simply take on board what feels right to you.