Self-Hypnosis and Relaxation

Most people have a couple of negative associations with hypnosis, despite the fact most people have never actually been hypnotized before in their life. Usually when you think hypnosis, one of two images comes to mind. Either you’re thinking about some mad villain in a bad thriller hypnotizing the femme fatale, complete with spinning circles and a dissolving background, or you’ve sat in on a hypnosis stage show and watched as the stage performer apparently made the audience act like the biggest of fools.

Real hypnotists laugh at those images and representations, as hypnosis is actually a pretty mundane thing. In fact, hypnotists will often argue that we’re technically in some sort of hypnotic state every hour of our lives. We’re always taking in suggestions and environmental cues, and we’re always operating with plenty of unconscious imprints helping to direct our thoughts and actions. The difference between a general walking around state of being and a therapeutic hypnotic state is generally just a matter of degree. When we go into a proper, deep trance state we are that much more susceptible to outside influence and suggestion.

Now, before you venture into the world of hypnosis and self hypnosis there are a few things you need to understand. First of all, being in a hypnotic state does not mean that you will be asleep, and you will also not be unconscious in any way. You won’t lose complete control of yourself if someone hypnotizes you, and a hypnotist can’t make you do anything that you don’t really want to do.

When it comes down to it, hypnosis is nothing more than a state of deep focus, a flowing state in which you are more open to and aware of the suggestions being presented to you. When in a hypnotic state, you aren’t just more aware of these suggestions, but you are also more receptive to them as well. Some people do fall into hypnotic states easier than other people, and this largely has to do with your overall demeanor and the manner in which you approach being hypnotized. If you approach the process critically and skeptically, you shouldn’t be surprised if you have a hard time slipping into the correct state, if you make it there at all. But if you keep an open mind and allow yourself to fall into the hypnotic state, you should do just fine.

And for those hyper-rational, control-freak individuals who say that there’s no way they could ever be put into a trance state, you need to refer back to what I said before. You are already in a very light hypnotic state as you read this, and you have slipped into deeper hypnotic trances many times before. Whenever you enter into a work flow, an athletic peak or simply get completely engrossed by a book, movie or other piece of media, you have entered into a pretty powerful hypnotic state. Even just being lost in thought and losing touch with your immediate surroundings for a little bit is evidence that you feel into a trance state. So relax, have some trust, and allow yourself to voluntarily fall into hypnosis as easily as you unconsciously did the last time you went to the movie theaters.

Sam has been writing articles for over 4 years. Come read some of his most recent articles, including one on slim jewel cases and another about plastic CD cases.

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