The Truth and Hype of Hypnosis

They say that the subconscious mind is a state of mind, that when harnessed, can create a significant influence in your life. It has a limitless source of powerful kept information, creativity, inspiration and untapped potential. Once you tap the wonders of this state, it greatly heightens your sense of awareness, increase your empathy for others and immensely enhances your clarity of thought. Not only that, the subconscious allows you to tap into your history and understand the root of your fears and phobias.

There have been quite a number of methods that help you access the potentials of the subconscious mind. You have meditation, Yoga exercises and reprogramming techniques, like Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). But there is one method that has been synonymous whenever the subconscious state of mind is mentioned. And that is hypnosis.

More than just a show

If you were to describe hypnosis, I bet that you would immediately think of the typical scenario that you see in stage magic shows, television and movies. You know the scene – a hypnotist whips out an antique pocket, induces a trance-like state to a person and commands acts of suggestions. This imagination relegates hypnosis as a form of mind of control. But this notion is the stuff made for entertainment.

In a more concrete definition, the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis defines hypnosis as “a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention.” Essentially, it alters your conscious state of mind and allows you to get in touch with your unconscious and subconscious and sort the mediums of your mind to access untapped resources to achieve a desired outcome. This concept impresses the fact that hypnosis is not merely an act for show, but a conduit for therapeutic purposes in a form of hypnosis called hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy has been utilized to encourage the use of mental imagery and access other states of mind for exploration. It helps for a person’s intention for change to take effect. But more than that, it has been used to treat conditions, like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, destructive cognitive and behavioral disorders, stress, unhealthy lifestyle habits and, yes, even weight management.

Dispelling the hypnosis myths

But, one thing with hypnosis is that it is surrounded with a lot of myths that has distorted the true essence of its value and benefits it can offer for an individual.

• You can be hypnotized against your will.  This could not be more far from the truth. In fact, hypnosis involves voluntary participation. The individual is actually the one who sets the intention to achieve an outcome and not the hypnotist, who only acts to help the individual to enter a trance to better develop a communication system with the subconscious mind.
• You will be in someone else’s control. The above-mentioned then leads us to this yet another myth. It is, in fact, the individual and not the hypnotist who is in the driver’s seat, so to speak. This is because the outcome is actually influenced by the person’s will or desired goal.
• You will not remember anything during your trance. Again, this is one of the biggest myths in hypnosis. You will actually be completely aware during your session. You will remember whatever you said or happened the entire time.
• Hypnosis is a magical one-pill wonder. Far from true, once again. Problems, issues and achievement of goals do not take just a snap of the finger to happen. Changes from hypnosis happen with a process, as you step-by-step gain access to your subconsciousness.
• Only the weak and helpless can be hypnotized. Hypnosis involves a high level of self-control and concentration. So, the more mentally empowered you are, the better you are for hypnosis.

Hypnosis and NLP

Hypnosis is one of those methods that is often identified with and, to some extend, even confused with NLP. Both fields of study are, after all, have something to do with how the mind – the subconscious mind, works.

To put it in a better perspective, NLP and hypnotherapy are two distinct and different modalities. But NLP, when combined with hypnotherapy, makes for a very powerful tool for self-transformation. Remember, NLP is more commonly described as the art and science of human excellence. This is achieved by reprogramming thought and behavioral patterns through the process of modeling. It focuses on using human communication elements to reach a state of excellence, success, happiness and peace of mind.

And how does NLP do this? That is by analyzing the unconscious linguistic techniques and behavioral patterns of a success model and subconsciously inculcating them into your system to consciously learn them to apply to your own. And this is where hypnosis comes into the picture because it allows to induce and open up a more receptive state of mind.

A hypnosis process used in NLP called Deep Trance Identification allows you to enter an altered state of mind to arrange your subconscious mind to model patterns displayed by a model. This allows the thought processes to work towards changing a formerly negative thought or behavioral pattern and make room for more positive development. Essentially, hypnosis serves a method of communication for you to get in touch and make suggestions to your subconscious frame of mind.

One of the key concepts of NLP is that you have all the resources that you need. It is only a matter of gaining access to it at the appropriate times. And harnessing your subconscious mind to consciously do this can be achieved through the used of hypnotherapy.

So, the next time you hear about hypnosis, do not think of it as an entertainment spectacle. Hypnosis can be a key towards a profound impact in your life. And complemented with the many techniques in NLP, the changes and opportunities for success and excellence become more apparent.

To learn more about the relation between hypnosis and NLP, join us in a 2-hour NLP Sharing Session. I will show you how you can access your inner state of mind to unlock the hidden potentials within you and harness your capability for self-hypnosis. Call +65 9822 7132 to book the seat reserved just for you!