| Saturday, June 14, 2008 |
| 4 Steps to Changing Your Life With Hypnosis |
Many of us have things we want to change about ourselves. But for some reason, it's no so easy! What many don't realize is mind is like an iceberg: we try to change the 10% we see, but do nothing with the 90% hidden away.
Your habits and underlying beliefs are a product of that part of the mind that many find to be mysterious: the subconscious. The subconscious contains programmed behaviors it learned from the decisions you made as you grew up. It is the reason why change can be very hard. Your conscious mind, that 10% tip of the iceberg, is trying to push against the subconscious, that 90% hidden resource we have trouble communicating with.
Through hypnosis, that communication is possible. Once that communication door is opened, amazing changes can occur.
The funny thing about the subconscious is this: it does not know the difference between what you see from what you imagine you see. The subconscious mind learns from actions, not wants or words. Therefore, in order to make changes you must SHOW the subconscious what you want to change. We can use this odd quirk of the subconscious to make lasting changes using three simple steps.
Step 1. Prepare for self-hypnosis by finding a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for a few minutes. Then close your eyes. In his book, Hypnosis: Medicine of the Mind, Dr. Michael Preston says closing the eyes reduces mental activity by 1/8th. This helps to quiet you and relax you for the next step.
Step 2. Visualize or imagine exactly what you want. Put yourself there and use all five senses in the imaginary scene. Really concentrate on this image to add as many details as you can using all your senses. Seeing yourself in the scene is an important part of the communication to the subconscious.
Let us pretend you want to quit smoking. You should SEE yourself not smoking. Not only not smoking, but turning down cigarettes offered by others, or throwing away the ones you have in your pocket. Perhaps even imagine smashing the pack under your heel into the dirt. HEAR yourself telling your family and friends that you don't smoke anymore that you hate smoking. HEAR their reactions and the conversation that comes from it. FEEL how much clearer the air is when you don't smoke. Breathe it in. TASTE the difference in food when you don't smoke. Notice how good your clothes SMELL when you don't smoke.
Step 3. Add emotion to the scene. Having an emotional reaction is like ringing the bell at the customer service desk to get some attention. An emotional reaction jolts the subconscious into action. Emotions tell the subconscious that what it sees is not a normal event, but something it must pay attention to.
In your imaginary scene, feel the joy of being a nonsmoker. Imagine the cigarettes in the trash and feel disgusted with them. See others smoking and feel the disappointment. See those who are sick or have died from cigarettes and imagine the sense of loss and grief. Make the emotion as real as possible. Don't be afraid to really feel the emotion, even if it makes you start crying.
Imagine this scene for about five minutes. If you go longer you may lose focus and your mind will wander. If you go shorter, you may not form the vision strong enough to make a difference.
This technique can be very powerful. Although it may seem like daydreaming, it is direct communication with the subconscious mind. Because it is so easy, you can use it against yourself too. Feeling sorry for yourself and imagining the worst in a situation can make that situation come true. You must always be positive when using this technique. The old adage, "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it" is very appropriate when dealing with the subconscious mind.
Step 4. Take action. Now that you have told your subconscious you want to quit smoking (or any other habit you want to break), you must try to resist the urge to smoke. Hold out as long as you can. Let the subconscious mind know you are fighting the urge to smoke. The subconscious learns from actions. Let it learn that you don't want to smoke.
Practice this technique two to three times per day and you'll be surprised to find what it can do for you by the end of the month. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 10:09 AM |
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