Hypnosis

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The word hypnosis comes from the name of the Greek God of Sleep. This often leads to confusion about what to expect from hypnosis. People think that it means that they are asleep, that they should be unaware of what is happening around them. For many, this means that they feel unsafe- as though they are relinquishing control to the hypnotist. This couldn't be further from the truth. The state of hypnosis is one of heightened awareness. You remain fully aware of your surroundings. The difference is that it's your conscious mind is invited to sit back, take a break and allow a direct line of communication with the subconscious mind to be created. This is what makes it so effective. A bridge has been created between the conscious and subconscious mind.

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Working With The Imagination

Some people believe that they can't be put into a trance. This is because they are under the impression that a trance means that they are unaware of what is happening. Actually what is needed is imagination. This is the tool that enables us to communicated with our subconscious mind. Think of your dreams. When you are asleep, your conscious mind is taking a break. This means that your subconscious mind is free to communicate, using the imagination, letting you know what it really feels about experiences that you are having. If you ignore your feelings when you're awake, your subconscious mind will shout at you when you are sleeping. These are your recurring dreams, your nightmares, or simply surreal dreams.

Dream language is symbolic language and it draws on imagination and memory to convey meaning. In Hypnosis, you are not asleep and you will not be dreaming. However, this extreme state of relaxation invites your conscious mind to step aside so that you can freely communicate with your subconscious mind. You can now use the language it understands drawing on your imagination.

Everyone has imagination. Without it you couldn't plan your route home, or plan your day. Imagination does not mean that you are making things up. In fact, it relies on your memory and memory of experiences to imagine possible events and outcomes. We all do this, all the time.

Very often when people say they don't have an imagination. They mean that they find it difficult or impossible to visualise. This is not uncommon and it is no impediment to hypnosis. One of the first things that I do when working with a client, is determine how visual they are and what they are most likely to respond to. If you can't visualise, you can remember and drawing on positive memories to evoke good feelings is a good alternative. This means that everyone can be hypnotised and everyone can benefit from hypnosis.

Improving The Imagination

Some people are better at imagining positive outcomes than others. Some see the glass half full while for others, it's half empty. If you believe that you are good with people and are invited to a party, you will be confident and you are more likely to meet new people. You will have a great time and your belief that you are good with people will be reinforced.

If on the other hand, you hold the belief that you are likely to be rejected or disliked, your body language will let others know that you are reluctant to speak to them. You will meet less people and your belief that you are not good with people will be reinforced.

It sounds simple, so why is it that negative beliefs are so persistent. These are usually developed early on in our childhoods. This is a time when we are very impressionable, and believe whatever we are told. Negative messages from adults around us, are hardwired into our subconscious minds. Experiences are often misinterpreted by children, adding to the negative and confused messages embedded in the subconscious. We then act according to a set of beliefs which may or may not be correct and are likely to be inappropriate as adults.

A fresh perspective is needed, but as we're dealing with the subconscious mind, we need to communicate directly with it. For profound change in patterns of thinking, hypnosis is the key as it connects the conscious to the subconscious.