What Is Self Help Hypnosis
And How To Use It?

What Is Hypnosis

Popular media have depicted hypnosis in so many distorted ways that it's no wonder we rarely have a grounded idea of what hypnosis really is. This is unfortunate since people who could really benefit from self help hypnosis are dissuaded from ever looking into it.

The truth about hypnosis is more mundane and far-reaching than the popular media has ever led us to believe. Rather than an esoteric mind control technique that takes years to master, hypnosis is actually a phenomena that takes place naturally. This is one of five hypnosis facts and fictions to be aware of.

Hypnosis is natures' way of enabling our subconscious mind to absorb new input. It is the doorway to subconscious learning also known as conditioning. As such, hypnosis is the key to creating change at a root level. Hypnosis brings a real choice for change into our lives.

A Key To The Subconscious

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

~Albert Einstein

Self help hypnosis is a tool that increases our freedom of choice. Rather than be stuck with unhealthy patterns of behavior, hypnosis gives us a new found flexibility to make the changes we want. Hypnosis helps us harness our capacity for conscious change.

So much of our lives are lived on autopilot. Much of our behavior and experience has become automated. We tend to be reactive in so many ways. How can we become more proactive vs. reactive in our lives? How can we introduce change into what can feel like an impenetrable cycle of habitual repetition? This is the challenge of conscious change.

Hypnosis helps us break into this seemingly impenetrable cycle. It isn't magic. When a key fits a lock, the door opens. It's that simple. Hypnosis is the key to the door of the subconscious mind - the place where our habitual patterns and instinctive reactions reside. It is a tool we can use to tap into the power of the subconscious mind.

Mesmerized By Negativity

If you have ever worked yourself up into a frenzy - a frenzy of worry, anxiety, fear, anger, or any other emotion for that matter - you have mesmerized yourself into a negative emotional state. This hypnotic process has also been called negative self hypnosis.

Once a subconscious negative pattern has been established - a single thought can be enough to trigger a negative emotional state - which then takes hold of us.

We know how painful it can be to be caught by a subconscious current of negativity that we simply don't know how to stop. We feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of emotional patterns that seem to be out of our immediate control.

We may feel the pain of not living up to our values, for example, made worse by the fact that we don't know what we can do to change. Without an avenue of hope we easily succumb to self-blame. 'Why can't I do this?' 'Why am I letting this stop me from living my life?' 'Why can't I just get my act together and push through this?'

Nothing Personal

These well meaning, albeit misguided questions, stem from a deep misunderstanding. We aren't the problem and therefore shouldn't be turned to for redress. When we find ourselves unable to live as authentically as we like, it is a pattern of negative conditioning that is usually to blame. This is where our focus should be directed. Our true inner self is as good as ever. It is the pattern of negative self hypnosis that needs to go.

Self help hypnosis is an intervention that disrupts and eliminates negative subconscious patterns. Hypnosis gives us a real way to proactively work with conditioning. It increases our capacity to make a real choice vis-a-vis our habitual patterns. Targeting specific negative patterns with relevant self hypnosis downloads can help rid us of automatic negative responses that we may have been living with for years.

Beyond Resistance

Understanding the reasons behind the effectiveness of hypnosis can be enlightening. How is it that a few weeks or months of self help hypnosis can be enough to reverse negative patterns that have been taking root for years?

The 'secret' to the potency of self help hypnosis is in its ability to move us beyond resistance. It helps us in overcoming resistance to change. Once we learn to bypass resistance, and to let ourselves in through the back gate, then the real work of self-change begins. Self help self hypnosis then acts as a bridge to authenticity - connecting us with hidden or forgotten aspects of who we are and bringing that to the fore.

It is important to remember that negative thought or behavioral patterns, as familiar and ingrained as they may have become, are learned. Since they are acquired, they can therefore be changed - we can 'unlearn what we have learned'. The power of self help hypnosis comes from our real identity - this is what we want to uncover. No amount of conditioning in the world is a match for our authentic self.

Relaxation and Self-Change

The conscious application of self hypnosis is best regarded as a mind-body discipline. It isn't just a mental exercise. If we aim to achieve a depth of self-change or personal transformation - our whole being must be involved. This means engaging both body and mind.

We are psycho-physical beings. When our body is tense and guarded our mind will be tense and guarded. When our mind is open and relaxed our body too will open-up and relax. The body can be used to work with the mind; as the mind can be used to work with the body. Body and mind are truly one. This self hypnosis guide to relaxation has more on the subject.

'One-Two' For Change

Self change begins with conscious intent. We need to be intent on the changes we want. This is where we start.

Successful self-change or transformation itself is the next step. This happens at a deeper level. To really form new actions or habitual ways of relating to ourselves and others, we need to reach deep into our subconscious mind so that our intentions for change can stick. This is where desired change can be established.

For out-of-the-mind self improvement and motivation articles related to self help hypnosis, visit:

How to do self hypnosis

Free Online Self Hypnosis

The Power of Intention

How To Break Bad Habits

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