Something that has been gaining popularity over many years is self hypnosis. Through a combined matter of concentration, relaxation, and meditation; many have found a new level of enlightenment and perspective. Today more than ever, you can find information and resources that will assist and improve your own experiences with self hypnosis.
Once upon a time in countryside not that far away; hypnosis was looked upon as something practiced by traveling road shows. Sometimes they came in the form of a small wagon with many mystical claims to see the past, future, and bring good luck to those that asked. Other times it was be a sideshow at the circus back then. Many would see those bringing it as gypsies even.
Time has brought a lot out in the sciences as well as self awareness finding knowledge is at an all time high. This is an area of society that has grown in acceptance and interest for a long time, and where once was an occasional book on the bookshelf at the supermarket, or advertised on the sidelines in magazines; today there are many choices for those seeking self hypnosis.
With the changing of times; it’s progressed to the level where rather than having to take chances with those unknown, today many people are already practicing self-hypnosis with varying results to work on all areas of their lives. Today it’s more categorized as well. Whether you want to feel better, take better care of yourself, or dig deep into the depths of your own mind; there are specialized means of self hypnosis to choose from.
Some simple techniques include lying down relaxed and simply thinking a vision of a wonderful scene. With that, concentrated breathing patterns and maybe counting are involved as well. Many have read about these methods in the past, and of those, many have revised self hypnosis to even new levels of self awareness.
Today you can purchase visual materials as well as audio soundscapes that can further assist you in your desires of self hypnosis. Whether you are looking to impact a habit in your life, learn more of yourself, or nearly any other need, there are a many choices in the area of self hypnosis that you will find.
You will undoubtedly find further information on self hypnosis where you now see this. If you take your time here, you will find many ways to better understand how-to, and much background information on self hypnosis.
With the great selection of self hypnosis resources available today, you will find many that are specialized in areas ranging to feeling more energetic, being more successful, weight loss, and on dropping bad habits.
You will also find self-hypnosis training too. With this you will probably find those claiming many different certifying agencies. Keep in mind some of these probably aren’t any more than a marketing script made up, while others will be legitimate schools on some specialty. Take your time, and consider the prices. Those choices for self hypnosis training that are higher than a bookshelf book, should be researched on their claims. This is the case on any sizeable purchase.
In the end, you can find much more on self hypnosis and what it can do for you. You are likely to find many choices out there of which hopefully some suit you perfectly. It may take time too, though if you are looking for more knowledge on self hypnosis; you will find it!
Posts Tagged ‘Self Help’
How To Use Self Hypnosis
December 24th, 2009Self Hypnosis:
December 20th, 2009As a professional hypnotherapist with a strong interest in personal development it always amazes me when I suggest self-hypnosis techniques to a client and they respond with “what, you mean I could hypnotise myself?”
There is a truism in hypnosis circles… all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. By this we mean that the hypnotist simply acts as a guide, leading the client into trance by going first and assisting the client by directing the client’s attention in specific ways.
Hypnosis is many things… in many ways it similar to the photon in quantum physics… what it is and how it behaves depends on how one views it and the preconceptions one brings to it.
Hypnosis is communication… all communication directs attention in one way or another. With language and non-verbal communication we shape events in another human being’s mind. We cannot NOT communicate. Self-hypnosis is a process of communicating with oneself, directing one’s own attention in specific ways in order to produce states that are commonly recognised as trance states.
Trance states are nothing special, we go in and out of these states all the time. There is a mystique built up around this term trance, but a trance state can be characterised by the direction of attention being inwardly focussed. This focus can be very intense, as in deep meditation, or broad and unspecified as in daydreaming states. If you have ever driven a car and realised that you have no recollection of the last three miles, or if you have ever been so absorbed in a book or a film that you’ve failed to hear someone calling your name, then you have been in a trance state.
In hypnosis we use those trance states to positive effect, through a combination of any or all of techniques such as suggestion, mental rehearsal, guided imagery/visualisation and more. In self-hypnosis you can do exactly the same.
I am going to share a very simply yet profoundly effective method of inducing such a trance state with you right now. Although it can help to speak out loud while learning the technique, once you are comfortable with this approach you can practice in silence, which makes it ideal for all sorts of circumstances.
This technique is a variation of that developed by Elizabeth (Betty) Erickson, wife of the late Milton Erickson. Dr Erickson is recognised by many as one of the greatest clinical hypnotherapists of the 20th century and founded an approach to therapy that bears his name, Ericksonian Hypnosis. However, his wife Betty was no mean hypnotist herself and had a deep understanding of the relationship between perception and mental state, as experience with this technique will show.
There are a number of ways in which you can use this technique… you could use it to enter into a state in which you then carry out a guided visualisation using symbols or visual metaphors or a mental rehearsal of yourself performing with excellence in some future activity. You could give yourself positive suggestions prior to the induction, saying something like “and as I enter a state of deep relaxation, I become increasingly (positive quality one wishes to acquire)…” The possibilities are limited only by your imagination, and will be explored in a future article.
Now to the technique, the Betty Erickson Self Hypnotic Induction. First, ensure you are sat somewhere comfortable. Somewhere with some external activity is useful but not too stimulating, and that has some visual variation (you will understand why in a moment). Take a few deep, slow breaths (always a good precursor to relaxation, and with practice will give you a head start in entering that trance state).
So, now you are sat comfortably, notice, and make comment about, something you see (e.g. I see the shadows formed by irregularities on the wall). Do this three times with three different observations. Do this slowly and give yourself plenty of time.
Notice, and make comment about, something you hear (e.g. I hear the sound of my own breathing). Do this three times with three different observations.
Notice, and make comment about, something you feel (e.g. I feel the temperature of the air on my skin). Do this three times with three different observations.
Repeat the cycle (I see… I hear… I feel…) twice for each sense (sight, sound and sensation) with two different observations, and then again once for each sense.
You may wish at this point to close your eyes if you haven’t done so already, and repeat the whole process from within an imagined scene, or using internal images and external sounds and sensation. The trick with this technique is not to be too rigid, but to go with what works for you. After some practice I find myself in trance quite rapidly and usually close my eyes around the point at which I repeat the visual observation twice. If your mind wanders, that’s OK, just relax into the state. This is a method of entering deep states of relaxation, not a competitive sport!
That really is it. As I said, a profoundly simple yet effective technique. Use it to relax, use it to install positive suggestion or use it to simply enter a calm still space within. With practice you can enter deeply relaxing trance states very quickly, in all sorts of situations, at work, travelling, at home, and use this states to boost productivity, explore your own personal/spiritual development and step up to excellence in all aspects of performance. Enjoy!
Self-Confidence,Self Hypnosis & Effortless Goal Achievement
December 14th, 2009I am sure you understand that all success begins in the mind. In order to be successful you must first think successfully. Unfortuantely this is often easier said than done!
Even people who have been students of sel improvement for decades find it hard to step out of their past experiences, beliefs, thoughts and emotions and into a better life filled with the things that they want. This is due to subconscious programming – something that is often hard to remove or overcome.
If you have ever tried to achieve anything or have dreamed of a better life but stayed stuck then perhaps its time to give self hypnosis a try!
Creating self confidence is a lot like trying to create faith. In order to believe you can do something that you have never attempted before you must create some faith in yourself and your abilities. This can be tougher than you may expect. The majority of people who enter the personal development arena for the first time begin their life-transformation by using auto-suggestion in the form of affirmations. They try to use affirmation sto create the feeling of faith and belief in themselves. However, this approach is seriously flawed and extremely outdated. If you have tried this approach and failed then self hypnosis may well be the answer.
Self hypnosis, like all forms of auto-suggestions, is designed to infiltrate the subconscious mind where you hold all your current views of the world and beliefs about it and your place in it.
To use auto-suggestion correctly it is necessary to gain access to the subconscious mind and embed emotionalised suggestions into it. With most forms of auto-suggestions this can be extremely difficult as the conscious mind constantly interferes and refers back to previous subconscious programming.
If you want an example of how this works just make up an affirmation now that refolects something you really want. Phrase the affirmation in a way that states you already have it. A good example of this is the statement, “My bank account is over-flowing with money” – which is most likely untrue at the moment.
What happens when you speak this statement?
I bet you immediately think of all the reasons why this statement is not true! Thus reinforcing the belief that you do not have it and forcing you to focus on the lack of it!
You can liken your mind to a complex computer system. Because the conscious mind is still very much active when you speak affirmations it draws on the subconscious resources that hold your beliefs and past experience when it is presented with any kind of statement to ascertain whether it is true or false. This is why auto-suggestion techniques like affirmations very rarely work. The conscious mind uses your current subconscious programming to dispute and totally disregard the new statement thus not allowing it access to the subconscious mind! The easiest way to avoid this problem is through the use of self hypnosis.
The best way to program the subconscious mind is by bypassing the conscious mind and the best way to do this is through self hypnosis!
During self hypnosis you completely bypass the conscious mind and gain direct access to the subconscious. Once you have entered a state of self hypnosis it is very easy to remove your current beliefs and replace them with whatever beliefs you choose. Then when you think of the statement again and the conscious mind accesses the subconscious resources it is given the new programming i.e. the beliefs, thoughts and emotions that you programmed into it!
Through self hypnosis you can change yourself from the inside-out. To use self hypnosis you really do not need to do a lot. If you use a pre-recorded self hypnosis session all you have to do is listen and relax. Self hypnosis can be used for almost anything. Truthfully, through the use of self hypnosis it is possible to program your mind to achieve any goal you can imagine. A new level of self confidence and faith in yourself is just a self hypnosis trance session away.
Self hypnosis and wight loss â?? fact or fiction
December 14th, 2009Self hypnosis is a state in which mind is in a very relaxed and absorbing state. In this absorbing state the mind is open to new ideas. These ideas can bring change in your thought process and change your habits also.
Some people have a wrong assumption that during hypnosis they will come under the influence of hypnotist and do whatever he wants you to do. This is absolutely incorrect. These assumptions are based on things that we see in television or in the movies.
Self hypnosis is not magic
You must not think of hypnosis as some kind of magic. Hypnosis is not directly responsible for burning your fat. Self hypnosis just changes your thinking regarding your health and you donâ??t have to go war with yourself, self hypnosis makes it easier for you. After each self hypnosis session you will feel that you are eager to do the things like workout and dieting. The lack of interest that you experience before is gone. While your mind will start thinking in a new way very quickly, you body may not react so fast because of obvious reasons. Note the fact that self hypnosis can only help you if you are willing to help yourself.
Cost is also a major advantage of self hypnosis. In the long term also cost of self hypnosis is less, when compared to other methods of weight loss which may involve medication and machines for workout. In some extreme cases it may involve surgery also.
Hypnosis works in a very smart way to make you happier and healthier than ever before and that too in a very short span of time.
Choose carefully
Natural Therapy
Most drugs available today in the market for weight loss have some kind of side effects like loss of appetite and high blood pressure. No medication or drug is used in hypnosis to aid the process, so there is no possibility of side effects due to drugs.
Permanence of effects of self hypnosis varies from individual to individual since it depends on the absorbing power of the individual brain. Going through more number of self hypnosis sessions can make the changes permanent.
Importance of self hypnosis in weight loss
December 10th, 2009Self hypnosis for weight loss works by curbing your desire of consuming lot of food. Many people who are over weight, often says that when ever they try to eat less, the mind actually reverse the process and they end up eating more. The truth is that you can force your body to do something but you can’t force your mind to do something only through sheer will power. You have to make your way slowly to control your mind and after that your mental and physical health will be within your grasp and you can lose weight fast.
Being over weight not only causes physical problems but also causes mental problems also like reduced sex drive and depression. By relaxing your mind and body, self hypnosis reduces stress levels and you can have a good night sleep every night.
Some times when a person is in the state of mental turmoil, he or she eats more food which results in gaining weight. Through self hypnosis you will be able to differentiate between true hunger and hunger due to psychological causes. This will reduce your food intake and you will lose weight fast.
The other very simple cause of over eating is, when ever you have nothing to do, you start eating more food than your normal diet. You may also eat junk food and we all know that it is a major cause of gaining weight. Self hypnosis makes you feel relaxed and content, so when ever you are free, your desire to eat unnecessary food will fade away.
It is not that you have to be over weight to go for self hypnosis. You may have some amount of extra fat and you want get rid of it, to attain perfect physique. Self hypnosis can help you achieve perfect physique. Self hypnosis not only changes the way you look but also changes the way you behave and feel by giving you high self esteem and confidence.
Exploring Self Hypnosis
December 4th, 2009Self Hypnosis has quickly become one of the most popular self help tools available for people who want to help themselves with all kinds of challenges and issues. Indeed, it is an effective way to tap into the unconscious resources that we all have available to us. But how do you know if you are doing it right or going deep enough or even if it’s working?
Here are some secrets that will help you get the most out of your trance.
1) Choose a location where you can get really comfortable and won’t be disturbed for the duration of the trance.
2) The setup is as important as the trance itself. Before you begin relaxing state out loud the purpose of going into the trance (ie: I want to learn new ways to be more motivated) and the length of time you want it to last. This sends a clear message to your unconscious regarding what you want to work on and how long the trance should last.
3) Trust the unconscious to do the work, don’t try to consciously control or judge the trance experience, this can actually lighten the level of trance and/or bring you out of the trance earlier than you desire.
4) You’ll be surprised at how accurate your internal body clock is for timing the length of your trance. However, if you have a hard time trusting that you will awaken from the trance at the time you instructed, then set a backup alarm on your cell phone or watch. This will avoid you consciously guessing how long you have been in the trance state during the trance.
5) Enjoy the experience, after all it’s one of the most personal experiences you can have! A time when there is nowhere else to be and nothing else to do, it’s time to just simply be.
There are many different techniques and methods for accessing the state of self hypnosis. One of the best ways is to download a recording that provides a trance experience or teaches you how to access the trance state. The more you experience trance the more trance you’ll experience, meaning that you will learn to go into trance states deeper and faster each time you experience it.
How Does Self Hypnosis Work?
November 30th, 2009There’s an old Chinese proverb that states: “One picture is worth a thousand words.” In conveying suggestions to the subconscious, we have found that picture images are more effective than the words that are implanted. For example, it isn’t sufficient to say, “I will be confident.” The words must be augmented by a picture of yourself as the confident person you want to be. If you say, “I can’t visualize myself as a confident person because I have never been that way,” you can “borrow” those personality traits that you want for yourself. Imagine yourself endowed with the characteristics of some confident person that you know. The qualities that you seek may even be borrowed from a famous person. If this isn’t possible, make up a personality which is a composite of all the things you want to be. See yourself walking, talking and carrying on activities. Keep fortifying this image with the mental suggestions that are needed. It won’t be long before these mental impressions give rise to the confident feelings that you seek. As you keep implanting these images, they will become a natural part of your conscious personality.
Many people expect immediate results when they begin to use self-hypnosis. If they don’t get the results they anticipated immediately, they want to know “what’s wrong?” My answer is usually that “nothing is wrong” and that they need only keep at it. Certainly, you don’t become a proficient musician, actor or athlete because you have mastered the basic techniques. It takes time to acquire proficiency and results.
Let me assure you that anyone using and applying this technique can benefit from it. One of the troubles in dealing with any problem is getting past resistance. You can incorporate posthypnotic corrective measures in the suggestions that you give yourself. However, I believe that they must be dealt with on a conscious level as well. You must believe that you can conquer your difficulties no matter how long you have had them. If you are prepared to work with self-hypnosis in a consistent manner, you will achieve the self-help that you seek. Now and then, you can anticipate a setback in your progress, but this should not discourage you from your overall task. Resistance is an indication that you are growing and reaching outside your comfort zone. Recognize this and you will begin to greet resistance positively, as an indication that your therapy is working. Then you can simply release it with love and continue on your progress. Recognize and be grateful for the progress you have already made. If you have a “let-down” because you expected quicker and more dramatic results, remember that this is a common feeling. Remember, also, how long you have had the problem.
No doubt, you have tried other methods and became discouraged because you weren’t making the progress you had anticipated. You dropped the idea and landed back where you started. Make up your mind, consciously, that you will work with untiring sincerity and perseverance. I know of no therapy that leads straight to positive results without obstacles and intermittent setbacks. Success comes in spite of intervening failures because the ultimate direction has been clearly thought out and charted. Self-hypnosis will finally work because you are constantly conditioning your subconscious to react in a positive, constructive manner. The program must, of necessity, become automatic in nature. When it does, you will suddenly find yourself feeling the way you wanted to and doing the things that you set out to do with the aid of self-hypnosis. You actually cultivate those feelings that you want.
Self-hypnosis works because we are able to condition ourselves to various stimuli. We condition ourselves consciously and unconsciously to many activities. When we experience anxiety, it stems from a conditioning process which could have been conscious or unconscious. In self-hypnosis, the individual consciously works toward implementing and strengthening his own inherent strength and resources. These objectives, when attained, result in feelings of confidence, relaxation, self-mastery and well-being.
Furthermore, hypnosis utilizes a natural mental process. We all know that placebos work very well in numerous cases. The dictionary defines the word placebo as, “an inactive substance or preparation, administered to please or gratify a patient, also used in controlled studies to determine the efficiency of medicinal substances.” Many controlled experiments have shown that people achieve similar results whether they take a placebo (which they think is the real medication) or real medication that was prescribed. Many such tests have been carried out with antihistamines to prevent colds. The results were always the same.
We are interested in what makes the placebo act as effectively as the true medication. It stands to reason that a chain reaction is set up, actually causing a physiological result from a psychological reaction. The unsuspecting patient declares, “I’ve never felt so good in my life.” Yet, this would never have happened if he didn’t think he was taking the marvelous new medicine. A recent scientific study by one of the leading pharmaceutical houses concluded that one third of the effectiveness of any medication depends upon the faith and trust that the patient has in the prescribing physician.
I am sure that the placebo results and the patient’s faith in the physician as contributing factors to the effectiveness of medications do not come as a revelation. We are all aware of such information. Our problem is how to harness this unconscious process for constructive goals. The answer is through self-hypnosis.
Self Hypnosis – Power of the Subconscious Mind
November 28th, 2009Self Hypnosis is a subject which evokes a million responses from a million different people. Some feel overawed by it, yet others are plain scared of it; some others seem skeptical about it, and yet others are what we know as believers? Have you ever found yourself wondering what Self Hypnosis is all about? Have you been intrigued by the success stories you have heard, but never thought you could benefit from it?
Various people may have various reactions to self-hypnosis, however the fact remains that it is fast emerging as a field of science which can prove beneficial in successfully addressing a myriad problems in anyone’s life. Contrary to popular belief it is not about “seeing a magician” or “getting help”, it’s about being self empowered. Self hypnosis is about taking the responsibility of bringing about changes in your life, in your own hands. It is meant for anyone who wants to work at changing aspects of their personality, or habits that they have formed.
At my practice in Oxfordshire I am often asked to describe what self-hypnosis is. I often find myself telling my clients that it is nothing but the awakening and strengthening of our subconscious mind. Our subconscious mind is more powerful than we can ever imagine, and it’s high time we gave it, its due. Self-hypnosis is all about connecting our conscious mind, with the subconscious mind. It’s like making two long lost friends meet each other. Or better still, it’s like helping two spouses who often miss connecting with each other on a busy day, reconnect with each other. In order to master the art of awakening our subconscious mind, it is necessary that we take out time from our hectic schedules to talk to it, to coax it to blossom into its full glory.
I often equate the process of self-hypnosis as something that is as similar to driving a car. When we first learn to drive it, we are careful about all the maneuvers that we need to make to have a smooth ride…push the accelerator, release the clutch, steady the wheel. When we first begin, it seems like we would be reduced to nothing but nervous wrecks while driving; however, as time passed and driving became a routine, most of us did not pay even the slightest attention to the strategies required to drive a car. Because we function on something called auto-pilot. The act of driving, and all the maneuvers associated with it are so well imprinted in our minds, that we do not need to put in a conscious effort. It has by default become a part of the subconscious mind. Self-hypnosis too, is related to the subconscious and it requires practice. There is a certain amount of discipline required to awaken our sleeping subconscious.
Self Hypnosis is basically a means of letting your subconscious mind communicate with your conscious mind. We can only establish contact with our subconscious minds, when we relax and let our conscious mind take a back seat. Our subconscious mind has immense powers, and it can be mastered with routine practice. Once the programming has been done, our little computer functions automatically on the responses it has stored in early practice sessions.
With the help of self-hypnosis, you can successfully alter habits such as smoking, nervousness, drug or alcohol addiction. Similarly when it comes to personality development, use of self hypnosis can make you a more confident and assertive person, it can instill a positive self image, become a performance booster and even help make your life a better place to be in.
Research suggests that we only use about 10% of our subconscious’s total potential. So just imagine if we could put into the use rest 90% how different life could be!
Self Hypnosis is Outdated
November 24th, 2009How we act, react and interact in the world determines what we give to the world and ultimately what we receive from the world. The actions we take, whether they are with other people, or situations in general, make a huge impact on where we now find ourselves in life. Small actions taken now make huge differences in the future. You are where you are now because of the actions you have taken in the past. Take the correct small steps now and you will see huge differences in your future.
Unfortunately, most of your actions are driven by your unconscious beliefs, feelings and thoughts. These unconscious behavioural patterns often go unmissed or unnoticed until the physical manifestation of them becomes apparent. Good examples of this would be emotional over-eating, spending more money than you earn, failure to identify why you constantly enter negative relationships etc.
Through the use of self hypnosis it is possible to identify and remove these negative unconscious behaviours and then replace them with positive habits. Self hypnosis is no longer seen just as relaxation technique or something that people who are dedicated to personal development dabble in.
All forms of hypnotherapy, including self hypnosis, have been found to help reduce stress, treat psychological conditions, reduce pain and even remove certain physical symptoms. Through the use of self hypnosis you can re-program the unconscious, or subconscious, part of your mind for success, health, wealth and even happiness.
How you perceive yourself, your place on the world and your abilities, along with how much you feel you deserve, how much you believe you are entitled to have or capable of achieving, determine what you now have in life! You can utilize the power of self hypnosis to completely change such belief systems and thoughts. You can even use the latest self hypnosis techniques to instantly create new ones.
Traditional therapeutic self hypnosis, although still effective, is outdated. With the work taken by NLP practitioners, like Richard Bandler, and hypnosis techniques improved, by hypnotherapists like Paul McKenna, self hypnosis has entered the 21st Century. Improvements in self hypnosis induction techniques mean you can enter trance almost instantly. Other self hypnosis improvements have been made that mean you can now successful treat a phobia in one session and eliminate a negative belief within minutes!
With the dawn of quantum physics and improvements being made in scientific fields we now know the importance that energy fields play in the universe. Everything is composed of energy including you and your thoughts. These energies are constantly in a state of action and interaction, vibrating at different frequencies. Energy pockets that vibrate at a harmonious frequncies attract each other like magnets. Now this may sound like a lot of scientific mumbo-jumbo but when we apply these principles to our lives they become very real and easily workable especially if we employ self hypnosis.
If everything is energy, including your thoughts and even your emotions, and harmonious energies attract each other then what energies do you think you are currently attracting?
If you are holding thoughts and feelings that are negative you will tend to attract negative life experiences. This is true on a quantum level – the level of energy! However, even if you do not understand this or refuse to believe it you can at least entertain the possibility that these thoughts and feelings affect your actions and reactions!
If your actions and reactions are being driven by negative thoughts and feelings then you will take negative actions and get negative results. If these thoughts and feelings are of an unconscious nature then we need an unconscious solution. Self hypnosis gives you instant access to the unconscious part of the mind!
Through modern, improved self hypnosis techniques it is possible to reprogram your mind so that your natural, unconscious and automatic actions become more positive and more in alignment with your dreams, aspirations and goals!
Although there are many new devices and electronic gadgets that can help with self improvement or personal development, self hypnosis remains a tried and tested method for self change and life-improvement!
