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Self-hypnosis for Personal Creativity
A good hypnotherapist should teach self-hypnosis to clients as part of their sessions;, always ask about this before booking. In fact, one of the great tools that you can take away from a course in hypnotherapy is the ability to use self-hypnosis. Nearly everyone can learn how to use self-hypnosis to make specific changes in areas of their life such as:
Stop unwanted habits such as smoking Manage stress
Increase concentration
Improve athletic performance Improve self-confidence Improve sleeping
Achieve goals, such as weight loss or exam success
Self-hypnosis is a perfectly safe, pleasant, non-toxic and often more effective alternative to tranquillisers or painkillers. Self-hypnosis allows you to rejuvenate your body and mind, leading to a greater sense of well-being.
Foreword
Although we may not realise it, we all carry around within us the necessary resources for personal evolution and success. Self-hypnosis can be a very effective tool for utilising those resources to make changes in our lives.
The following self-hypnosis techniques can all be used to create the hypnotic state for yourself. They are simple but powerful tools, that will not only help you to relax very deeply and cope with stress more easily, but can also help you to solve problems and overcome personal challenges.
Inevitably, some of these will feel more comfortable than others, so it is just a matter of trying them all out and finding one that suits you best. Make self-hypnosis something you do every day, even if it is only for a few minutes. You do not have to spend hours in deep, monastic meditation in order to feel the benefits. You can do it at set times or whenever the opportunity arises, according to your preference and lifestyle.
At first, use these self-hypnosis techniques to relax and de-stress. This is a significant investment in your wellbeing, and will in itself begin to help you to solve problems, since you will have more energy and be able to think more
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clearly. As you become more familiar with the different self-hypnosis techniques, you can use them in a more creative way, to mentally rehearse a preferred future – perhaps one in which an unwanted habit no longer plays a part, or perhaps imagining yourself performing well at a forthcoming event, such as a job interview or exam.
The only requirement for self-hypnosis is comfort and a degree of privacy, so find somewhere where you can sit down and remain undisturbed for a while. Some people like to lie down whilst practising self-hypnosis. This is fine too, but be aware that you might simply fall asleep. A power nap can be very beneficial, but it is not self-hypnosis. Some people also like to set an alarm clock or timer to keep their self-hypnosis sessions within defined limits. Again, this is a matter of personal preference, although it is worth remembering that we have remarkably efficient body clocks. If you tell yourself that you will enjoy self-hypnosis for ten minutes, chances are that you will find yourself naturally opening your eyes exactly ten minutes later.
Our subconscious mind never stops looking out for us, even when we are asleep, so if something happens that requires your immediate attention you’ll be instantly alert and ready to deal with it. You are very unlikely to be so far gone in hypnosis that you don’t notice the smoke alarm going off. Nevertheless, be sensible – don’t put your deep fat fryer on before settling down and using self-hypnosis!
The Subconscious Mind
We have two parts to our brain – the conscious part and what we call the “subconscious.” These two parts have very different roles. When you cut your finger, for instance, you can consciously decide to clean the wound and apply a plaster. But all the work that actually heals the wound is controlled by the subconscious. The creation of an inflamed area protects the rest of the body from infection, the engagement of the immune system kills off the bacteria, and the body creates new skin to replace what has been lost – and all of this happens without any conscious input!
We frequently mention the subconscious mind when we talk about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. There is no doubting the power of this “invisible” part of our mind. The subconscious governs our every waking moment, determining the people we like, the way we react to others, our behaviour patterns in specific situations, the things we “cannot stand at any price”, the sort of entertainment we enjoy, our sexual attitudes… everything we do is at least coloured, if not controlled, by our subconscious processes.
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The subconscious mind does not actually think
The subconscious is totally without reason or logic, without judgement or criticism, without qualification or allowance. In the subconscious everything is either black or white, it either is or is not. It is, in effect, nothing more than a reactive emotional centre where our instinctive resources reside, both those we were born with and those we have acquired through the process of living.
It is an evaluation system that constantly weighs up every single input through our senses for every split second of our lives. The subconscious only communicates with the conscious mind via feelings – and it uses that communication to seek to keep us safe. It appears to be able to evaluate every new input from our five senses against everything we have experienced so far in our life. If the new input matches something already experienced, then the reaction we notice will depend on the result, be it a good reaction, which might be pleasure, or a bad reaction, which might be fear.
The workings of the subconscious are completely invisible
The subconscious is completely invisible to consciousness. Absolutely nobody can feel his or her subconscious at work, so we have no way of knowing what the new input is actually being compared with, which accounts for why we might take a sudden dislike to a particular individual or maybe experience a surge of fear over some relatively minor event. Of course, it can just as easily work in reverse; have you ever had that situation where you like something so much it confuses even you? And you end up saying something like: “Goodness knows why I’m so hooked on…” whatever it is. It can be a singularly unsuitable partner or maybe an item of clothing or almost anything.
The subconscious is unbelievably fast in its processing ability
Now this is a little complicated to take on board, but it is a fact that by the time you are consciously aware of a stimulus, an input from any of your senses, including your own thought processes, by the time you are consciously aware of that stimulus, the subconscious has sensed it, tested it several thousand times, and already attempted to instigate an action based upon it. Then your conscious mind gets in the way… and that, in a nutshell, is the origin of conflict. Your subconscious mind urging you to perform some action or other that is different from that which you consciously wish to do.
The subconscious mind often gets things wrong
It is an important fact that, although one of the primary objectives of the subconscious mind is survival of the organism, it makes mistakes about what is
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actually a threat to survival. Or seems to. These mistakes often show up as… symptoms.
A symptom, in the context of the psychological workings of our mind, is nothing more than a behaviour pattern which is inappropriate to the situation in which we find ourselves. The phobic response is a good example – there is usually no valid rationale, yet the fear it can generate is immense. Sometimes, these symptoms, whatever they might be, are nothing more than an acquired habit, a conditioned response. But even that has its roots in subconscious processes, otherwise we would simply stop doing whatever it is. Or start doing whatever it is we believe we cannot.
The subconscious does not listen to conscious reasoning
The thing about the subconscious is that it does not give us a chance to consciously reason our way through what it does, because it only communicates with us via feelings which govern our reactions. If we try to overcome those feelings and reactions with conscious reasoning, then the subconscious redoubles its efforts!
Have you ever tried to reason away fear when the conscious mind cannot recognise why the fear is actually there in the first place? Public speaking is a good example of this sort of thing. Many people have an irrational fear of public speaking – irrational, because, after all what can actually happen? OK, you might make a mistake and possibly forget what you were going to say… but the dry mouth, leg-quaking, stomach-churning, heart-pumping feeling of real fear that can often result at merely the thought of it is a bit ‘over the top’, if viewed rationally! But it does not go away just because you know that. The subconscious ‘learnt’ that reaction, took it on board as an instinct designed to protect you in some way, and now has no intention of letting you make any changes to it.
This process is almost certainly linked into our ancient survival mechanisms from our pre-human days, millions of years ago. It is precisely because it has been perceived by subconscious that we need that specific response for survival, that it has been consigned to a place in our mind where it does not need conscious thought to operate, and cannot be interfered with by consciousness… well, almost cannot.
Hypnosis allows us to communicate with the subconscious
It is often pointless attempting to make the change in our conscious mind, when the process resides in our subconscious. Hypnosis allows us to make beneficial changes in the very depths of that subconscious – and as such it can be a truly astounding power for good. By entering the state of hypnosis we can safely
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bypass the Conscious Critical Faculty part of the mind and ‘reprogram’ the subconscious so that it takes on board new, better ideas.
Everyone can benefit from hypnosis. If you find that you are repeatedly doing something you do not want to do, or repeatedly not doing something that you need/want to do, then you are emotionally unwell, i.e. you have a symptom. Always remember, a symptom is nothing more than the expression of an idea that has been absorbed by the subconscious but which is in conflict with conscious wishes or needs. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy enables us to find a way to override that subconscious idea or to bring it into the light and either re-evaluate its validity, or use suggestion to render it inactive.
There are so many myths and misconceptions about hypnosis, one of which is that people can be made to do or say things against their will or moral code. Therefore it is important to point out that these ideas for change, by way of hypnotic suggestion, must be desirable for you, the individual and accompanied by the presence of positive emotion. When they are, the possibilities for personal improvement are almost limitless.
What is Self-Hypnosis?
Have you ever seen old horror films and television programmes that portray hypnosis as a frightening instrument of mind control where unscrupulous villains enslave the will of helpless victims? Perhaps you have seen stage shows where a hypnotist seems to be able to use their “hypnotic powers” to make people do and say things that they would never do or say under normal
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conditions. If so, it is not surprising that hypnosis may seem just a little bit wacky, not unlike other seemingly mystical and unexplainable phenomena. This is unfortunate because hypnosis is, in fact, a serious therapeutic tool that can help people overcome many psychological, emotional and even some physical problems.
Many people have experienced a trance-like state many times in everyday life - although they may not have called it hypnosis. For example, if you've ever drifted off into a daydream, become totally engrossed in a book or project, or become absorbed in your thoughts while driving and missed a turning. The main difference between these sorts of trance and self-hypnosis are specific motivation and suggestions towards a goal. Self-hypnosis is deliberate and with a purpose.
Hypnosis can be described as a state of mind in which suggestions are acted upon much more powerfully than is possible under normal conditions. By achieving a state of heightened focus and awareness, and suppressing the critical faculty, suggestions can be passed directly to the unconscious mind.
The above remains true for self-hypnosis, but being done for yourself rather than via a third party (hypnotherapist). Many believe that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis as the subject or client always remains in control. The hypnotherapist is there only to guide the client into hypnosis, and in doing so teaches them a powerful tool they can use for themselves.
Hypnosis is not:
Mind control Brain-washing Sleep
Unconsciousness A peculiar altered state A mystical state
When in hypnosis a person is:
Aware In control
In a natural and harmless state
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The state of hypnosis can best be described as a state of highly focused attention with heightened suggestibility. Hypnosis is sometimes but not always accompanied by relaxation. When a person such as a therapist induces hypnosis in another it is called hetero hypnosis, often referred to as hypnotherapy. When hypnosis is induced it is called autohypnosis and is often referred to as self-hypnosis.
The word hypnosis comes from the Greek word “hypos” which means sleep. It is an abbreviation of the term neuro-hypnotism which means sleep of the nervous system.
This term was used by the eminent neurosurgeon James Braid (1796-1860). However, hypnosis is not a sleep state. In fact, when in hypnosis a person is awake and usually aware of everything that is said and done. Realising this, Braid later tried to change the name to mono-idealism. This means a marked preoccupation with one idea or subject. However, the term hypnosis stuck and is used right up to this day.
How can I use self-hypnosis to achieve my goals?
Self-hypnosis is often used to modify behaviour, emotions and attitudes. For instance, many people use self-hypnosis to help deal with the problems of everyday living. Self-hypnosis can boost confidence and even help people develop new skills. A great stress and anxiety reliever, it can also be used to help overcome habits such as smoking and overeating. Sports men and women can enhance their athletic performance with self-hypnosis, and people suffering from physical pain or stress-related illnesses also find it helpful (hypnosis should only be used in this way after a medical diagnosis has been made and under the guidance of a doctor or qualified therapist).
A Self-hypnosis Technique
I am going to introduce you to a simple but effective technique of self-hypnosis. This technique is called eye fixation self-hypnosis and is one of the most popular and effective forms of self-hypnosis ever developed. We will start by using it as a method to help you relax. After you have practised this a number of times we will add hypnotic suggestions and imagery. Reduce distractions by going into a room where you are unlikely to be disturbed and turning off your phone, television, computer, etc. This is your time. You are going to focus on your goal of self-hypnosis and nothing else.
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Then:
1. Sit in a comfortable chair with your legs and feet uncrossed.
Avoid eating a large meal just before so you don’t feel bloated or uncomfortable. Unless you wish to nod off, sit in a chair, as lying down on a bed will likely induce sleep. You may also wish to loosen tight clothing and take off your shoes. If you wear contact lenses, it is advisable to remove them. Keep your legs and feet uncrossed.
2. Look up at the ceiling and take in a deep breath.
Without straining your neck or tilting your head to far back pick a point on the ceiling and fix your gaze on that point. While you keep your eyes fixed on that point take in a deep breath and hold it for a moment and then breathe out. Silently repeat the suggestion “My eyes are tired and heavy and I want to SLEEP NOW”. Repeat this process to yourself another couple of times and, if your eyes have not already done so, let them close and relax in a normal closed position. It is important when saying the suggestion that you say it to yourself as if you mean it, for example in a gentle, soothing but convincing manner.
3. Let your body relax.
Allow your body to become loose and limp in the chair just like a rag doll. Then slowly and with intention count down silently from five to zero. Tell yourself that with each and every count you’re becoming more and more relaxed. Stay in this relaxed state for a number of minutes while focusing on your breathing. Notice the rising and falling of your diaphragm and chest. Be aware how relaxed your body is becoming without you even having to try and relax it. In fact, the less you try, the more relaxed you become.
4. When ready, come back to the room by counting up from one to five.
Tell yourself that you are becoming aware of your surroundings and at the count of five you will open your eyes. Count up from one to five in a lively, energetic manner. At the count of five, open your eyes and stretch your arms and legs. Repeat this technique three or four times and notice how each time you reach a deeper level of relaxation. However, if you find you do not relax as much as you would like, do not force it. There is a learning curve involved so resolve to practice self-hypnosis on a regular basis.
Sometimes people will feel a little spaced out or drowsy after they come out of the hypnosis. This is similar to awaking from an afternoon nap, is harmless and passes after a few moments. However, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake.
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Difficulties learning self-hypnosis
Have you ever experienced the frustration of having a name on the tip of your tongue? The harder you try to remember the name, the harder it is to recall. Then when you relax the name comes back to you. Sometimes, when we try too hard, we block ourselves from achieving our goals. The attitude you take towards self-hypnosis will determine how easily you learn it. Don’t try too hard or set unrealistic goals. Relax and take your time. Accept the pace at which you achieve results, however small they may at first seem. Believe in yourself and you will go on to achieve the success you desire.
Post-hypnotic suggestions and their rules
As previously mentioned, hypnosis is a state of heightened suggestibility. Giving yourself suggestions when in hypnosis will enable an action or other response to take place after the hypnotic experience has occurred. These forms of suggestion are called post-hypnotic suggestions and will help you to achieve your goals. Over the years, hypnotherapists have developed rules of suggestion. These are guidelines that will enable you to achieve maximum success with the suggestions you give yourself. What follows is a summary of these rules.
1. Say it as if you mean it.
Have you ever seen an actor mumbling his lines on stage, speaking in a quiet meek voice? The result is a performance that’s not very convincing. Unlike acting, hypnotic suggestions are repeated silently. However, you need to repeat the suggestions as though you mean what you say. Be reassuring, positive and confident.
2. Suggestions need to be phrased positively and in the present tense.
Most of us will react more favourably to a positively worded suggestion than a negative one.
Which request would you rather hear: “Do not leave that lying on the floor” or “Would you mind picking that up?”
Suggestions are far more effective when you mention what you wish to move towards, rather than what you are moving away from. For example: “I am calm” is better than “I am not anxious”. “I stop smoking with ease” is better than “I will try to stop smoking” as the word try implies difficulty and struggle.
Your suggestions are best phrased in the present tense, as though they are happening at this moment in time.
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So, “I am relaxed on the aircraft” is better than “I will be relaxed when I am on the aircraft”. Or, “I am becoming more confident” is better than “I will try to be confident”.
3. Make your suggestions specific and realistic.
Your suggestions are going to be more effective if they are specific and realistic. If you wish to improve your swimming performance, it would be unrealistic to give yourself the suggestion “I am a world-class swimmer”, unless of course you are, or are about to become, a world champion. Instead, ask yourself what specifically it is about your swimming that you wish to improve. So if you wished to improve your breaststroke, you would give yourself a realistic suggestion tailored to that specific aspect of your swimming. Structure your suggestions on changes you wish to see in yourself rather than things that are out of your control, such as external events and other people. Do not give yourself suggestions for two or three issues all at the same time. For instance, the suggestion “I am confident that I can lose weight and stop smoking” is probably not effective. Instead, work on one goal at a time, repeating suggestions associated with that goal. When you see some results, move on to your next goal.
4. Repetition of suggestions
Advertisers know the value of suggestion, which is why they repeat television and radio commercials on a regular basis. One of the most important rules when practising self-hypnosis is repetition of your suggestions. That way you drive the point home and are far more likely to affect positive change.
Imagery in Hypnosis
While giving yourself hypnotic suggestions, visualise the situation, the action and the feeling that you desire. As well as picturing a desired outcome, you can utilise your sense of touch, hearing and even smell. You can create new images as well as using images from your memories and experiences. People sometimes believe they have to see a crystal clear image of their goal, as though watching a movie. However, a positive attitude and a belief that you are “in the role” is more important than clear imagery.
The following exercise will illustrate how effective suggestion and imagery can be. Do not use it if you have an aversion to lemons.
The lemon example
Sit down in a comfortable chair and close your eyes. Picture an ordinary lemon.
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Imagine you are cutting this lemon in half.
Observe the juices running down each piece of the lemon.
Pick up a piece of the lemon. Bring it up to your mouth and bite into it. Even if your image of the lemon wasn’t clear, you might still have
grimaced, even found your mouth watering.
Adding hypnotic suggestion and visualisation to self-hypnosis
Rehearsing positive outcomes
Mandy experiences stage fright. She is due to take part in a play and is anxious that her performance will not be up to the standard of which she is capable. Mandy wants to learn self-hypnosis to help her feel more confident. I teach Mandy self-hypnosis and then teach her results imagery. In this technique, the person visualises herself performing and reacting in the way she desires while repeating post-hypnotic suggestions to help achieve a goal. After putting herself into hypnosis, Mandy pictures herself on stage performing with confidence and ease. While visualising this for 30 seconds she repeats three times the post-hypnotic suggestion “I am performing with ease and confidence”. While still in hypnosis she repeats this process two more times.
This is how the technique is done:
1. Sit in a comfortable place with legs and feet uncrossed.
2. Without tilting your head or straining your neck, pick a point on the ceiling and fix your gaze on that point. While you keep your eyes fixed on that point, take in a deep breath and hold it for as long as is comfortable. Then, as you breathe out, repeat the suggestion “My eyes are tired and heavy and I want to SLEEP NOW.” Repeat this process to yourself another couple of times and, if your eyes have not already done so, let them close and relax in a normal closed position.
3. Allow your body to become loose and limp in the chair just like a rag doll. Then, slowly and with intention, count down silently from five to zero. Tell yourself that with each and every count you’re becoming more and more relaxed.
4. Picture an image that represents a situation you wish to master and see yourself achieving your goal.
5. Repeat to yourself three times a positive suggestion such as: “I am confident, calm and relaxed.”
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Repeat this three times and between times stay in hypnosis and focus on your body’s relaxation.
6. Come back to the room by counting up from one to five and opening your eyes.
How to set your self-hypnosis goals
1. Give achieving your goals a high priority. Plan to use self-hypnosis on a daily basis and you will start to see results.
2. Write your goals down on paper. Clarify what you want to work on and be specific. Make sure you set goals that are achievable. If they are long-term goals, it may be helpful to break them down into manageable steps.
3. Formulate your hypnotic suggestions and write them down. Write out a number of suggestions for the goal you are working on. Follow the rules of post-hypnotic suggestions. You may even want to write your own script (see the example further down).
4. Decide on the imagery you plan to use. If your aim is to relax, picture a pleasant scene like a beach or a park on a warm summer’s day. You may wish to use results imagery like Mandy did.
5. If you fail to achieve a goal, do not give yourself a hard time. Remember, failing to achieve a goal does not mean you are a failure. It may be that you need to approach the goal in a different way or perhaps you need to be persistent.
A self-hypnosis script to help you relax and reduce anxiety
Below is a sample script designed to help you relax and cope with anxiety. Feel free to alter the imagery to fit your particular needs. For instance, instead of picturing yourself on a beach, you may prefer to imagine that you are in a park on a warm summer’s day. You may also wish to change the symbolism used to address an issue you wish to work on. Feel free to record the text and play it back, or have someone read it to you.
First take yourself into hypnosis as before by:
1. Sitting in a comfortable place with legs and feet uncrossed
2. Without tilting your head or straining your neck, pick a point on the ceiling and fix your gaze on that point. While you keep your eyes fixed on that point, take in a deep breath and hold it for as long as is comfortable. Then, as you breathe out, repeat the suggestion “My eyes are tired and heavy and I want to SLEEP NOW.” Repeat this process to yourself another couple of times and, if your eyes have not already done so, let them close and relax in a normal closed position.
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3. Repeat the following script to yourself silently and with conviction:
“I am now allowing my body to become loose and limp in the chair just like a rag doll. As I continue to relax I am noticing where the comfort is in my body. Perhaps I notice a warming comfortable feeling in my hands and fingers or maybe the comfort is noticeable in another part of my body. With every breath I take and every sound I hear, the comfort deepens. I now count down from five to zero. With each and every count my relaxation deepens. It may even double. Five – deeper – four – calmer – three – more relaxed – two – one – zero.”
“I now picture myself on a golden sandy beach. I can feel the warmth of the sand under my feet and the warmth of the sun on my body. I can imagine that I am alone on the beach or that others are there as my relaxation continues. I listen to the sound of the sea, the waves lapping against the shore. I feel so calm, secure and relaxed that I can stay on the beach for as long as I choose. After a while, I picture myself in a field on a warm summer’s day. There is not a cloud in the sky. In the middle of this field is a hot air balloon and attached to the balloon is a basket which is weighed down on the ground with sandbags. The hot air balloon hangs effortlessly in the sky. I now imagine that I am placing any worries, fear or anxieties into the basket. The more I offload my worries into the basket, the more relief I feel. I now feel as if a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”
“I release the sandbags and watch as the balloon, along with its basket, rises into the air. As I watch the balloon rising into the air, I feel relief. The higher the balloon rises, the more relief I feel. The more distant the balloon becomes, the more insignificant my worries appear to be. As I watch this balloon getting smaller in the distance, I repeat to myself three times:
“I am letting go of my worries, fear and anxiety.”
“When ready, I come back to the room by counting up from one to five and opening my eyes.”
When you practise self-hypnosis the imagery you use and the suggestions you give yourself are only limited by your imagination.
Main Points
Hypnosis is a serious therapeutic tool that can help people overcome many psychological, emotional and even some physical problems. It is not mind-control, brain-washing, sleep, unconsciousness or a peculiar, altered or mystical state. When in hypnosis a person is aware, in control and can come out of hypnosis when s/he wishes to. It is a natural and harmless state.
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Self-hypnosis can modify behaviour, emotions and attitudes. It can be used to increase confidence and develop new skills. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and can even help people overcome habits such as smoking and overeating. Self-hypnosis is also used by sportspeople to enhance their athletic performance. If you are experiencing any medical or psychological problems, however, it is essential to seek the advice of a doctor or competent therapist before using self-hypnosis.
Avoid eating a large meal just before practicing self-hypnosis so you don’t feel bloated or uncomfortable. Unless you wish to doze, sit in a chair, as lying down on a bed will likely induce sleep. You may also wish to loosen tight clothing and take off your shoes. If you wear contact lenses, it is advisable to remove them. Keep your legs and feet uncrossed.
Remember, failing to achieve a goal does not mean you are a failure. It may be that you need to approach the goal in a different way or perhaps you need to be persistent.
Practise self-hypnosis on a regular basis. Relax and take your time. Accept the pace at which you achieve results, however small they may seem at first. Believe in yourself and you will go on to achieve the success you desire.
Post-hypnotic suggestions
Here are some post-hypnotic suggestions you can use in your self-hypnosis. Feel free to alter them to fit your particular needs.
Each and every day I am calm, secure and relaxed.
I am becoming more assertive and confident when I speak to colleagues. Each and every day I accept myself as I am.
Each and every time I enter hypnosis I relax more deeply. I find it easy to stop smoking.
I eat three healthy meals a day.
Three other simple self-hypnosis techniques
Each one of these self-hypnosis techniques works equally well.
Technique One
Begin by focusing your attention on your breathing. Simply listen to your breathing, and notice how, after a while, it begins to slow down and deepen of
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its own accord. Notice what happens as you begin to breathe out for longer than you breathe in. Close your eyes whenever you feel ready to do so.
Each time you breathe out, say the word “calm” to yourself in your mind. After a few moments, begin to see the word “calm” in your mind’s eye as
you breathe out.
Continue seeing and hearing the word “calm” in your mind, letting it fade away naturally as you mentally rehearse your preferred future, or simply enjoy the deepening sensation of relaxation. When you are ready to return to the room, open your eyes.
Technique Two
As before, start by paying attention to your breathing, and allow your eyes to close when you are ready.
As you breathe out, imagine a sensation of pure relaxation at the top of your head.
Now as you breathe out, imagine that sensation of relaxation travelling down from the top of your head and across the muscles of your face.
Continue by imagining that sensation travelling down into every part of your body, from your neck and shoulders, down into your arms, hands and fingers, and onwards all the way down to your toes.
Repeat twice more, imagining the sensation growing a little deeper each time.
Lead into mental rehearsal or simply spend some time just enjoying the deep relaxation that you have created through the power of your imagination. Gently bring yourself to everyday awareness by counting from 1 to 5.
Technique Three
As before, start by allowing your eyes to close when they’re ready, and become aware of your breathing.
Begin to build up a mental image of a place where you feel calm, safe, in control, or otherwise positive and resourceful. This could be a real place, such as a favourite holiday destination, or it could be purely imaginary.
Start by mentally listing all the things you can see in this place.
Move on to explore all the other senses in this place – what can you hear, touch, even taste and smell there?
As in the previous techniques, enjoy this experience for the relaxation that it has to offer, or use it to lead into hypnotic rehearsal.
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The Power of Trance in Self-hypnotism
Self-hypnosis is a rewarding and effective state of mind. However, be sure to allow yourself patience and time to process your experiences. There is no right way to go about performing self-hypnosis. You may not be successful at first, but if you are consistent and if you believe in what self-hypnosis has to offer, you will be surprised with the types of results that you can achieve.
The word trance is used to describe any state where a person is not fully conscious, and unable, to a large extent, to respond to the changes happening around him. Down the ages, the general idea has been that when you are under a
hypnotic trance, you are only half conscious and completely unable to respond
to any stimuli. But nothing can be more far from the truth.
In fact, being in a hypnotic trance is almost like being super-focused on a subconscious level, where the surroundings have been tuned out to a certain extent. What this brings about is an intense feeling of relaxation, and an ability to accept what is being told to you in this state. It is however, important to note, that you still retain your logical faculties, and if your brain so desires, it can actually reject the suggestions made to it, even while it is in an induced trance! But, the question that arises is, why should you consider this? Let us try to answer that.
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How being in a trance can help?
Human beings depend to a large extent on the faculty of memory. In fact, morality, or even our principles are actually resting on prior experiences. And gleaned from these prior experiences, we arrive at what is called our individual belief systems. While this very belief system helps to keep you on track, and to take decisions, it is also one of the most limiting influences on the brain.
However, when you are under an induced hypnotic trance, your belief systems are suspended, and your brain is in a state to accept the suggestions made to it, even if they go against your belief system.
Hypnotic trance can be used therapeutically for this very ability of it to bypass your belief systems and create new beliefs. In fact, when you are in a deep hypnotic trance, suggestion and instruction can actually:
Make you do physical actions that you have no control over Change your mind set to a great extent
Alter or modify very stubborn beliefs and ideas that you have, and
Most importantly, bring about or boost physical and mental healing in cases like overeating, binge eating or smoking.
While going to a professional trance-hypnotist may be one option, trying out self-hypnosis wouldn’t be a very bad idea, either. Don’t worry – you won’t turn into a clucking duck and be stuck that way! It is quite a safe thing to practice, especially for mental and physical relaxation!
So now, let’s look at the procedure…
Self-inducing a Hypnotic Trance
You can achieve a safe and relaxing hypnotic trance by following these easy steps:
1. Firstly, you need to find some peace and quiet. Sit comfortably in a room, with the lights dimmed. Ensure you will not be disturbed.
2. Now for focus – this is important if you want to tune out everything else. Find anything – a mark on the wall, an actual physical object, or even the corner of a picture and concentrate your attention on that point or spiral.
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3. While you are focusing on one point, keep repeating these lines every 30 seconds to yourself: “My eyelids are becoming heavier and heavier” “My eyelids feel as if heavy weights are pulling them down” “Soon they will be so heavy that they will close”
4. You should start feeling the effects of the lines you chant now, and your eyes will really start feeling heavy. Do not resist this. Eventually your eyes will close on their own. Let this happen, and repeat to yourself “Relax and let go.”
5. Thereafter, take in a large deep breath and hold it for about 10 seconds. 6. Exhale through the mouth, slowly, and while making a whooshing sound.
The rest of this step isn’t easy and will take some effort to master:
7. While your jaw drops, feel a sense of warmth spread through you. Breathe deeply and repeat the word “calm” when you exhale.
This state is in itself relaxing, and can be induced if stress relief or relaxation is the goal in itself. But to get the other benefits, like healing, you will need to deepen the trance.
Deepening the Hypnotic Trance
When you’re already in a light trance, it is the right time to deepen it. Follow these steps:
1. You have to make your mind believe that you want to go deeper, so take another deep breath and exhale after holding it for 10 seconds. When exhaling, repeat the word “deeper” to yourself.
2. Believe that you are going lower, in an elevator of some sort; as in you are descending lower into the state of calm, but not consciously. Repeat “I am sinking slowly into a deeper state of relaxation.”
3. While you feel this, count down from 10 to 1 for every exhalation. 4. The deeper you can descend, the better will be the results.
But one thing to consider is that you will probably not manage it on the very first try. It takes practice and perseverance.
While the induced state will bring you peace, and you can also use suggestions to get other benefits, you cannot perpetually exist in this state – you must emerge from it after each session.
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Coming out of the Trance
Here’s a simple way in which you can emerge from the trance, but continue to feel the relaxation even beyond that.
1. Tell yourself: “When I reach one, my eyes will open and I will feel totally awake and refreshed.”
2. Then count slowly from 5 to 1.
Trance hypnosis can be a very powerful tool to overcome many of the problems in life. It can bring you relaxation and acceptance; it can also help you to deal with certain physical conditions. So try it and remember that practice will make you better.
Using hypnotic spirals – Part One
Hypnosis is a light "trance"--a state somewhere between sleeping and waking. People in a hypnotic trance are typically very focused on one stimulus to the exclusion of others. People in a hypnotic trance are also somewhat suggestible, although they are by no means unable to control themselves and continue to bear full responsibility for their actions.
There are several ways to induce a hypnotic trance. Some of the more popular ones include the hypnosis spiral, the use of an object that glitters such as a piece of jewellery or a gold watch, and progressive relaxation.
Hypnosis Spiral
As the title suggests, a hypnosis spiral is a constantly moving spiral pattern. Hypnosis spirals are available on many websites dealing with trance induction. Some of them are available for free download; others must be purchased. Once you have obtained a hypnosis spiral, induce trance by having your subject keep his or her eyes on it for several minutes. While the subject is doing this, you can deepen the trance by playing relaxing music or offering suggestions that the subject is becoming sleepy, that his or her limbs and eyelids are becoming heavy, etc.
A hypnosis spiral can also be used to test a person's ability to be hypnotized. Have your would-be subject watch the spiral for thirty seconds. After that, have your subject look at the palm of his or her hand. If the subject sees no abnormalities in the spiral or the hand, he or she will probably be quite difficult
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to hypnotize. On the other hand, the subject who sees the spiral start to change colours and sees an increase in size in his or her hand is probably quite suggestible and easy to hypnotize.
Bright Objects
Another way to induce trance is to hold a bright object, such as a sparkly piece of jewellery, just above the subject's eye level and tell the subject to keep his or her eyes on it. Eventually, the eyes will become weary and the eyelids will become heavy. The hypnotist then steps in with suggestions that the subject is feeling sleepy, cannot keep his or her eyes open, etc.
Progressive Relaxation
A final way to induce hypnotic trance, favoured in the psychotherapeutic and medical community, is progressive relaxation. Speaking in a calm, authoritative voice, the hypnotist instructs the subject to first tense, then relax, every major muscle group starting with the toes. By the time the hypnotist reaches the muscles in the neck and face, the subject will be in a deep, relaxed trance.
Putting Yourself Into a Trance
Achieving a trance state in self-hypnosis
Hypnosis can be described as a state of deep relaxation where the hypnotised subject experiences a heightened level of awareness coupled with a narrowing of their focus of attention. This hypnotic state is called trance and is a perfectly safe state which can occur naturally during everyday life. In self-hypnosis we aim to deliberately put ourselves into a hypnotic trance.
To be in a trance does not mean to be asleep, although it can sometimes look that way, but in fact the opposite is true. Studies of the brain activity of people in trance have revealed an increased level of alertness. Hypnosis is a very personal experience and it should be remembered that each individual will experience trance in his or her own way.
First find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed, and begin by getting comfortable and relaxed. Use deep breathing and progressive relaxation techniques to get as deeply relaxed as you can.
There is no fixed method for trance induction, in fact there are many hundreds of different techniques which have been used effectively. The following are
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some common and proven examples of techniques and any combination can be used to enter trance, whichever you find works best for you.
Breathing Exercises and Relaxation
Breathing and Relaxation techniques for self-hypnosis
One proven method of achieving complete relaxation is deep breathing. This is an ancient method favoured by yoga masters and is a useful and enjoyable way to begin self-hypnosis.
Our normal everyday breathing is typically rather shallow and rapid, and usually involves expanding and contracting the chest. However, deep, diaphragmatic breathing is healthier and comes from the abdomen. In diaphragmatic breathing you allow your belly to expand outwards as you inhale, pulling the diaphragmatic membrane beneath your lungs downwards and allowing your lungs to draw in air to fill the space. Inhale slowly through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth.
This kind of slow, deep, rhythmic breathing triggers a 'relaxation response' in the body, the opposite of the adrenaline-fuelled ‘fight or flight' response. Some of the beneficial changes that occur as part of this type of relaxation are reduced heart rate, increased blood flow to the extremities, and muscular relaxation.
An exercise in breathing
Begin by taking a deep diaphragmatic breath, inhaling through your nose, for a count of three. Now, having filled your lungs, hold your breath for a count of three. Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six. Wait for a count of four and repeat the breathing cycle again.
Always keep your breathing comfortable and relaxing. Don't inhale so deeply that your lungs hurt or burn. If you feel dizzy or light-headed at any time stop for a while and then continue.
This exercise in breathing can be done anywhere and anytime, and can be used to help counter tension or pressure. Take five of these slow, deep, relaxing breaths as preparation for self-hypnosis.
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Progressive Relaxation
Progressive relaxation is a system of relaxation developed by Edmund Jacobson and means focusing separately, and progressively, on each of the muscle groups in your body in turn, and allowing any tension held in those muscles to be released. Jacobson designed this technique based on the argument that "an anxious mind cannot exist within a relaxed body". Particular attention should be given to the neck, shoulders and facial muscles as these areas can hold a great deal of tension.
Active progressive relaxation involves tensing each muscle group as you inhale,
holding the tension for a few seconds, and then gradually releasing the tension completely as you slowly fully exhale. This can be done for each muscle group in turn until the whole body is relaxed. The main muscle groups which can be relaxed in this way are; legs and feet, arms and hands, back shoulders and neck, stomach and chest, buttocks, face and head.
Passive progressive relaxation is similar to the above, except that it does not
require you to actively tense your muscles at all. Instead you simply imagine the tension flowing out of your body with each breathe you exhale, working progressively around your body as before. It can help to visualise the tension as a kind of liquid which drains away out of your body as you breathe. This is a comfortable and easy method of relaxation which can be done almost anywhere. Once you are fully relaxed, remember how it feels, and create an image in your mind that describes your relaxed state. This will help you to return to this state of relaxation again more easily in future. Deep relaxation is an excellent way to prepare for self-hypnosis.
Eye Fixation
With your eyes open, focus your attention on any small spot or object in front of you and above your line of sight. Keep focussing on the spot and direct all your attention towards it, clearing your mind of all other thoughts and distractions. Continue breathing deeply and slowly, and begin suggesting to yourself how relaxed you feel, and how tired your eyes are becoming. Allow yourself to keep relaxing more and more and eventually, when your eyes become tired and heavy, you can close them.
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Utilise Tension
It is possible to enter a trance state even when you find it impossible to relax. If you are finding it impossible to let go of tension or anxiety, psychologist Michael Yapko in his book 'Trancework' (1990) describes how you can utilize your current stressed, anxious or tense state as a focus for entering trance. You simply allow and accept your present state of mind, whilst beginning to think back to a time when you were involved in an experience of calmness, comfort, or relaxation and absorption, such that you didn't pay any attention to things going on around you. In doing this you can allow your feelings and responses to move towards those remembered from this past experience.
Visualisation
Visualisation is one of the most powerful tools in self-hypnosis. Use visualisation and imagery to create images in your mind that suggest relaxation, for example, lying on a beach or walking in a forest. Allow your imagination to flow naturally and let yourself become absorbed by your mental images as you enter trance.
Stairway to relaxation
This is another example of imagery, and one that is often used to deepen the level of relaxation. Imagine yourself at the top of a beautiful staircase, there may be 10 steps to the bottom. The stairs lead to the most beautiful, wonderful and relaxing place you can imagine, which may be real or fantasised. Imagine descending the staircase, counting down the steps as you descend, and with each step suggesting to yourself an increased feeling of relaxation and a deepening of the hypnotic trance. As you reach the bottom you will be as deeply relaxed as you can be.
Physical Responses
Creating a perceived physical response to hypnosis is a way to focus your attention inwards even further. Use suggestions and imagination to create a physical feeling or sensation in your body. For example, imagine warmth, or numbness, or heaviness, or lightness in your hand. Feeling the physical response occurring will indicate achieving a level of self-hypnosis.
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Emotional Responses
Sometimes people find themselves so immersed and preoccupied with an emotional feeling that they find it difficult to use imagery. Strong emotions such as grief, anger or fear can be overwhelming, but may be utilised to help enter hypnosis. In this case, try to develop an image in the mind like a scene from a movie in which you are the main character. Focus on your current emotions and observe the movie of your current situation, allowing your character to experience all the feelings you are presently having. By becoming absorbed in the movie as an observer, and maintaining a detached awareness, you will soon discover that you have entered trance. When you are ready, you can extend your movie towards working on your goals.
Utilise Distractions
Where possible, incorporate distracting sounds in your suggestions, rather than trying to fight them. Notice any external sounds that you can hear and then allow them to be included in your suggestions for relaxation. Similarly, internal distractions such as worries, pains or self-doubt can be focussed on and used to help deepen your self-hypnosis. Of course, some distractions will require your attention immediately, such as the doorbell ringing or a child requiring attention. In these cases deal with the distraction satisfactorily and then return to your self-hypnosis.
Self-hypnosis is a very personal and individual experience and different methods will feel more comfortable for different people. Techniques such as those above can be changed and adapted to suit the individual. Self-hypnosis is a natural skill which can be developed and made easier with practice.
Imagery in Self-Hypnosis
Using guided imagery and positive visualisation in self-hypnosis
Imagery can mean visualisation - using your imagination to form pictures in your mind. However, it can also include all the senses of sight, sound, taste smell and feel. Whilst most people are predominantly visual in their use of imagery, the most powerful and effective guided visualisation will incorporate elements from all the senses.
In self-hypnosis a mental image is often worth many pages of verbal suggestions. You can use your own memories and experiences to construct your own highly personal imagery to reinforce your suggestions for change.
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The following exercises can be used to practice and develop your imagery skills; Examine an object for a few moments, then close your eyes and try and
visualise it.
Visualise a person you know (maybe yourself). Imagine their distinguishing features.
Visualise your home. Move around it from room to room and imagine what it looks, sounds, feels and smells like.
There are two principal ways of using imagery to work towards a goal;
Process Imagery is the visualisation of the process or actions of achieving the
goal you desire. For example, a golfer might imagine executing a perfect shot as he approaches the ball.
Result Imagery creates mental pictures of the goal or result as if it has already
occurred. If you are giving a talk to colleagues, you might imagine yourself confidently delivering the speech, hear the applause and imagine the positive outcome of your successful presentation.
A 1967 study by stress researcher Edmund Jacobson found that visualising an activity produces small but measurable reactions in the muscles involved in the imagined activity. Repeated mental rehearsal implants the learned memory of a successful action, and also conditions the unconscious mind with the outcome you expect to achieve.
Suppose, for example, your goal is to lose weight. You could use result imagery to imagine yourself as the size and weight you want to be. Mentally picture yourself in the mirror looking trim and as thin as you wish, fitting neatly into the dress or suit size you want to achieve. Imagine the feeling of being your ideal weight. You may also use process imagery to imagine yourself eating smaller, healthier portions of food. You might picture yourself feeling full whilst leaving food still on your plate. These images will reinforce the positive processes you will go through to achieve your desired result.
Visualisation and imagination are closely related to the unconscious mind. In fact, imagery has been described as the language of the unconscious. The key to successful use of imagery is to be as creative and imaginative as you can. Use your own memories and experiences and fill your images with colours, sounds, aromas, textures and tastes to be as real and as absorbing as they can be. Keep
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your visualisations positive and personally appealing to be a powerful tool in self-hypnosis.
Self-hypnosis Spirals (Part Two)
Spirals and concentration
To effectively self-hypnotise, your consciousness has to close out external distractions and sensory stimuli that may help to bring your focus outward onto the external world. When you're in this situation , however the mind is not entirely oblivious to the world around it- if something is there in the exterior world which may be a danger or necessitates an immediate reply, the mind's survival mechanisms will flick out of this inner, self-reflective state.
The Self-hypnosis spiral images is good at keeping this focus inward as all of the implied movement, along the spiral's arms, has a tendency to lead the eye, and the mind, back to the same point again. It's also regular, and unchanging- a feature which is basically boosted by the animating the spiral image. This dearth of modification is a handy trick which permits the brain to hop away from it- there is nothing new to take in and understand, so that the mind's focus can be elsewhere, inner. At that point, you are able to understand nothing but what you wish to visualise. You may find that having exploited the spiral as a help to get yourself to this point, you can now dispense with it, closing your eyes and focussing entirely on your inner visualization. The outer world is gone, and with it the tensions and distractions it brings. At this point, the only stimuli which work on you are those you opt to create, such as healing images, certainly pictured scenarios or scenarios, and phrases or suggestions which your intellect can then decide to adopt, and to believe in. The mind is really potent when its focus is in one place, the sector of pure thought. These affirmation, suggestion and self-imaging techniques help you to harness this power, to use it on yourself and to return back to a wakeful state, when you're prepared to do, refreshed and invigorated. When you are self-hypnotising, you are trying to deliberately block out the external world, to allow your intelligence time and a neutral space to perceive, and work on itself. Employing a Self-hypnosis- spiral images can help you do that, to put your focus on one thing and then, when the body is truly relaxed, take even that away, leaving you with nothing except yourself.
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Working with erotic hypnotic spirals
One of my passions is erotic self-hypnosis. I know this comes as no surprise to all of you, but I often feel the need to express my passion over and over again, in many different ways. I love having the ability to use my words to better someone’s life, to change their thoughts completely, to make them do things that they could not do without any guidance. I love being able to help a person explore their deepest fetishes, and make them feel as if they are a reality. I love the control, the power, the pure electric bliss that comes from being a playboy or girl who excels at the art of erotic self-hypnosis.
I already know the powerful effect that words have on minds and bodies, especially if you have been training yourself with my EBooks on the subject, or have participated in phone or text erotic hypnosis talks with me.
Your mind and your body are gradually trained, shortly after reading my EBooks and as such having listened to me, will be trained to respond to your own words in self-hypnosis. They will be trained to a imaginary commands, and hypnotic suggestions and hypnosis triggers, if for a great deal of your life having visited bight clubs and dark rooms. Even as you are reading my words, you may find that your conscious mind starts to wander, yet your subconscious mind, I can assure you, will be picking up exactly what you want to do.
There is nothing you have to do to experience this, other than just read my instructions as above in this EBook and others of mine, in a way listen to my voice, and continue to feel yourself letting go in the world you very much want to be. Understanding that there comes a time when it is just so much easier for you to go ahead in this fantastic world whether you are young or old.
Self-hypnosis and the Healing Trance State
Wonderful if you had the power to rid yourself of so much negativity as anxiety to what people would think about your way of life, and as such getting rid of bad habits and have a more positive outlook on your life as you wish it to be? Guess what? You do! By learning simple self-hypnosis techniques, you can rid yourself of everyday stressors, get rid of paranoia and mellow out after a long day of work. There’s no need to get any fancy gadgets or a pocket watch to hypnotize yourself with; all you need is yourself, a comfortable outfit and a peaceful place – whether it be your bedroom or somewhere cosy even in nature. Are you interested in learning more about healing yourself through self-hypnosis and a meditative state, delve into the powers of your subconscious mind?29
The process of self-hypnosis, we already know from this EBook that it is quite simple, but like everything it does take a bit of dedication. The hypnosis in itself is not a cure-all. It’s simply a way of accessing your inner mind, the healing
comes from within.
1. Change into your most comfortable clothing, or taking it all off if a good temperature permits. Don’t anything hinder you. You’ll have a hard time getting into a trance-like state if you’re constantly fidgeting with an itchy wool sweater or an uncomfortable waistband. Think a comfy t-shirt and sweatpants, or whatever you’d feel comfortable sleeping in. (Personally, I go for a lose T-shirt and a short.)
2. Find a place that is completely silent. You want to be far away from your roommates watching television, your significant other practicing guitar or your children whining. If you are lucky enough to be home alone, choose your favourite room of the house. If you have a house full of people it is still possible to practice self-hypnosis, yet you may want to find a peaceful place outdoors if possible. Make sure the temperature of the room is comfortable before beginning, this is very important. No hinderness.
3. Sit or lie down on a comfortable chair or couch (if you’re outdoors, find a nice patch of grass or moss). Make sure you’re not in an unusual position; if you cross your legs, you may find this uncomfortable halfway through the process. Make sure that wherever you decide to place yourself, and whatever position you decide to be in, that you can maintain this spot for at least fifteen minutes, longer if necessary.
4. Determine why it is that you are practicing self-hypnosis. Are you trying to rid yourself of an addiction, get rid of anxiety or simply relax after a long day or have some sexual fun which is your right? Before beginning your trance, repeat to yourself what you want to achieve, this is very important. If you’re trying to quit smoking, say something along the lines of “I am stronger than my addiction to nicotine. I don’t want to smoke anymore. I have the power to quit smoking.”
5. Close your eyes and begin to relax your body, starting from your neck and leading down to your toes. Rid your mind of all negative thoughts; push anxiety, fear and hesitation out of your brain as they do not belong there. Feel your muscles relaxing one by one. First your arms, then your fingers, then your thighs, etc. If you find it hard to relax your body, try to imagine
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warm water trickling over your body. As soon as water hits a certain part of your body, it relaxes.
6. Take deep breaths, slow and steady. When you inhale, imagine positivity flowing through your body. When you exhale, imagine yourself releasing all of the negativity held inside.
7. In order to reach a state of hypnotic trance, you must begin to use your imagination. Begin by visualizing something simple, such as taking a big bite out of a juicy watermelon. How does the watermelon look, taste, feel? Try to include all five senses in your visualization. Once you have successfully visualized eating something sweet and juicy, move on to something a little more complicated. Imagine yourself somewhere incredibly serene. Maybe you’re slowly descending into beautiful, clear, warm water, or maybe you’re lying in a field full of your favourite flowers. Imagine that you are weightless, carefree, without a worry in the world. Really immerse yourself in this scenario, and forget about everything else around you.
8. Once you have entered into a peaceful state of mind, don’t let this go. Begin by repeating to yourself the phrases you started out with. “I am stronger than my addiction. Peace and happiness are flowing through me. I am free of worries.” etc. etc. Whatever you’re trying to fix, stick with that particular issue. Trying to fix too many issues at once can be overwhelming.
9. Now imagine yourself truly living without that problem. Imagine a couple little boxes popping up around you. You open one box, and insert all of your problems into it. Lock it up and make it disappear. You open the next box, and take out happiness and peace and tranquillity, or whatever else you like. Let yourself truly feel these emotions.
10. Let yourself wander around this peaceful world you have created for yourself until you feel as though you are ready to exit the hypnotic state. Feel free to repeat the chosen phrases to yourself as many times as you think is necessary. If you have chosen to imagine yourself under water, imagine yourself slowly rising up out of the water. If you have chosen to imagine yourself in a field, imagine yourself slowly walking out of the field back into the real world. You may want to imagine yourself walking through a door full of light before opening your eyes, but when you feel ready, open them.
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You already know from this EBook and other writings of mine that this technique is not the only technique out there that will get you into a hypnotic trance. As I practice self-hypnotism and other skills as radiesthesia, lucid dreaming, affirmative self-talk even, new and valuable methods are introduced and experienced. Maybe you don’t want to imagine yourself submerged in water or laying in a field, and that’s alright. But, rather find yourself in a bedroom, bathroom, a darkroom of a night bar, your garden, the terrace of your penthouse, cellar or garage, anywhere appropriate for sexual fun. The point is to get yourself into a place where you feel completely free, peaceful and relaxed. If that’s on top of a mountain, so be it. If it’s laying in a room filled with clouds, that’s alright too. Use whatever visualizations necessary to get yourself where you need to be.
It’s important to continue to repeat this process until you feel yourself ridding your body and mind of its ailments whatever they are. You do want happiness. The more you practice and the more dedicated you are to self-hypnosis, the faster you will begin to see results. Remember: the path to healing and happiness is all up to you.
Trance
Trance, we know, is a state where this critical thinking is switched off (or at least its effect on the person's ability to control his/her own thoughts is lessened), where suggestions can induce a dream like state, the person accepts a suggestion as if it was his/her own idea and wants to play around with that idea. It's a dream like state because in a dream we don't question where our ideas come from, normally we believe everything what we dream, this also explains why authority/trust (as a doctor for example) is related to hypnosis/suggestions, when we are talking to an authority (or someone we trust), we suspend our critical thinking because we know that the other person wants what is best for us or for some other reason ( perhaps authority equals a learned response to a que - the authority - which says that critical thinking must be suspended) while in trance the person can explore ideas and experiences that would be impossible when not in trance because the person would not let himself/herself to be lead to those experiences - he/she would be too resistant to go there to begin with.
There is a sort of critical thinking in the brain that is goal oriented and uses logic and reasoning to filter how a conversation goes and where should be a person's attention, so this critical, goal oriented thinking is governing the persons attention and what he/she should imagine or enjoy imagining.
