All Hypnosis is Self-Hypnosis
Photography by gotco collective
“I can do it myself,” pouts the three-year-old to the doting parent, insistent on spoon feeding it. Sure enough, given enough patience and a little diligence (and dab from a clean washcloth), the toddler manages not only the words, but in getting the spoon into its own mouth without wearing most of the contents.
For a moment, imagine your subconscious mind as that little tike, hypnosis is the spoon, and suggestion is the substances. Yes, you can do it yourself. Just like putting that first spoonful of mashed peas into your mouth, you can feed yourself hypnotic suggestions.
The above is part of the patter I use when I begin to teach clients self-hypnosis. My other hypnotist friends maybe smiling knowingly (or have their own wonderful or similar metaphors). Many practitioners of self-hypnosis are probably also smiling in that same knowing way. For those of you not in the know (knowing now), self-hypnosis is a pretty amazing and powerful tool.
Here’s the principle behind self-hypnosis - you put yourself into a state of consciousness (call it relaxation, meditation, trance…) where conscious suggestions can be accepted by the subconscious mind.
For those who are now a bit lost in this mumbo jumbo, the idea of the self-hypnotic state is one where your mind is so relaxed or open (or occupied) that suggestions (the changes you want to make) are accepted without much censure or criticism from the part of you that is normally critical, logical or analytical.
Sounds just like regular hypnosis, doesn’t it? Or are you stuck on the idea that a hypnotist has to get you to the point of accepting the suggestions? A good hypnotist knows it is you - the client, the participant, the reader - who gets you to the point of accepting the suggestions. A good hypnotist guides in the process of getting you there and can help you work on creating suggestions that are more easily and readily accepted by the subconscious mind.
What I am getting at is the concept that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis for the very reason mentioned above. You get yourself there. You chose to go there. You allow it to work. The big difference is in how you chose to get to the point that mind will accept the hypnotic suggestion. You can go to a hypnotist (which of course I strongly suggest), you can listen to audios, or you can learn to get there yourself.
So, wondering how to get there (or what I’m about to say to do this)? Take a deep breath in gentle reader, exhale and I’ll see you tomorrow.
