Natural Self Hypnosis

Re-Creating Your Self by Christopher Stone

Last time, we focused on how hypnosis has been maligned and misunderstood, due largely to the untruths about this therapy promoted by motion pictures; television shows and stage acts that misrepresent the entire subject area.

Now it’s time to look at self-hypnosis as an important tool for change in the Re-Creating Your Self process.

In self hypnosis you simultaneously function as hypnotist and subject.

When I suggest that a student use this potent tool for change, I often hear responses similar to these: “I don’t think I can be hypnotized,” or, “I doubt that I could ever learn how to hypnotize myself.” In both cases, I answer confidently, “You can if you want.” That’s because virtually anyone, excepting the insane, can be taught to relax and focus, and, basically, that’s all there is to self-hypnosis.

Like meditation, self-hypnosis is something you already do naturally and spontaneously. For example, you have literally hypnotized your self into accepting your current beliefs about your self, others and the world in general. You focused your attention upon the current ideas you have accepted as true and filtered out contradictory stimuli. Then you accepted suggestions regarding those beliefs and acted upon them.

Whenever you focus upon a specific area of thought, with your attention basically unaffected by stimuli unrelated to that area of thought, you’re hypnotizing your self. You are frequently in a self-induced hypnotic state while reading a book, praying, watching a concert, movie or television show, or making love.

In truth, you give your self self hypnotic suggestions almost constantly. Prove this for your self by examining your own thoughts and inner commentaries. They reflect powerful auto-suggestions, based upon your attitudes about life, a personal focus that largely ignores stimuli unrelated to your personal belief system.

HOW TO DO IT

By following these simple guidelines you can start using natural self-hypnosis today to introduce and encourage the new beliefs you want to accept.

1. Select your topic for self-hypnosis.

2. Create one specific suggestion for your session. A hypnotic suggestion is a positive statement that is related to the topic of your session. An example: If your topic is the new belief, “I am a good person, worthy of the best of everything,” then your suggestion for that session could be, “With each passing day, I will become more and more aware of my personal goodness and value.”

Like an affirmation, a hypnotic suggestion should be brief and worded in the most positive manner. Your hypnotic suggestion should be phrased in a way that suggests a process of becoming, rather than as a change already achieved. This allows time for the suggestion to be accepted and carried out. For example, if you feel ill, then please don’t suggest, “I am healthy, right now.” Instead, suggest, “I am becoming healthier with every breath I take.”

3. Commit your hypnotic suggestion to memory.

4. Select a quiet, peaceful location for your session.

5. Assume a comfortable position, whatever that means to you.

6. Close your eyes and relax. In my next column, I will describe an easy relaxation technique that is especially effective for self-hypnosis.

7. Make your self even more deeply relaxed. Aloud, or mentally, tell your self, “With each passing moment, I am becoming more deeply relaxed. Repeat this slowly, four or five times.

8. Now that you are deeply relaxed, focus your attention upon the topic of your session. Contemplate the satisfaction you’ll feel when you achieve your goal.

9. Slowly repeat your suggestion over and over, either mentally or aloud, whichever you prefer. Don’t do this mechanically but concentrate on every word that you think or utter. Feel the meaning behind each word, as well as the significance of the entire suggestion. A few minutes of this repetition is sufficient.

10. When you’re ready to end the session, just think or say, “I am now ready to end my self-hypnosis.” Suggest to your self, “When I open my eyes, I will feel completely refreshed, wonderful and filled with relaxed energy.” Then count slowly from one to five.

11. Open your eyes. Give your self a moment to adjust to your normal focus, and then go happily back into your day.

Assisted by the guidelines in this column, and the previous two, you can successfully put meditation and self-hypnosis to work for you. Re-Creating Your Self students have asked me, “What’s the most basic difference between the two techniques?” As I see things, it is this: In meditation you focus attention upon a single subject, and then you examine your subject as creatively and completely as possible. In self-hypnosis, you focus attention upon a specific area of thought, and then you introduce positive suggestions relevant to that area of thought. After trying both methods, many people find they have a decided preference for one or the other. If this proves to be true for you, then please use the method you find most effective.

You will use either method more effectively by: 1) practicing daily, if possible, at the same time and place, 2) being patient with your self and non-judgmental about your progress, 3) working to improve your concentration in all areas of your life, and 4) developing a greater respect for the value of self-analysis.

A Re-Creating Your Self Thought: Each time you suggest that you possess something of value in self-hypnosis; you are closer to becoming the possessor of that value in fact.

Happy New Year Column: Relaxing Your Self and a Relaxing Adventure.

Have a Re-Creating Your Self comment, observation, or a question? Please send them to me at recreatingyourself@mail2teacher.com

Copyright 2009 by Christopher Stone.