Adolescence and early adulthood involve huge changes in the brain. The objective is for us to take control over who we are. This video considers two technologies for accomplishing that goal: the Scout Law – and hypnotherapy.

The heart of Boy Scouts – the Scout Law – is pure genius. The Law reads: “A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”

Being a list of corny ideals, it is kind of a sleeper. But have a Troop recite that before each weekly meeting and after a few years it is bound to sink in: Being a Scout is not only about what you do. It is about who you are.

“What kind of a person am I?” is not a question that we are ready to answer until we are ten or so. That answer is sorted out by the medial prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain behind our forehead, which is not fully active in childhood. Instead, our mind is focused on finding resources (the right side of the brain) and figuring out what to do with them (the left side of the brain). Usually we lean one way or the other, depending upon how our parents inspire us to deal with challenges.

But then we become adolescents, driven by our hormones into relationships with people that do not act like our parents. The easy way out is to reject all those childhood experiences and start over from scratch. Teen rebellion, anyone?

What the Scout Law does instead is focus energy for figuring out who we are. As we explore the possibilities, we learn that we can choose who we want to be.

“Growing up” should be a creative process. If you are a teen or young adult frustrated by the sense that you are not in control of your choices, hypnotherapy is a powerful method for building a balanced mind. Sessions can be held privately or in small groups. Reach out!