|
Before I get into the specifics of improving your performance, I'd like to explain hypnosis: its history, what it is, how it works, and why you need it.
Hypnosis can help you understand yourself better; it can help you change your bad habits into good ones, and it can transform your negative feelings into positive ones. And it can make these changes occur so easily that it sometimes seems more like magic than a scientific tool. If you want to know how and why, read on...
That might work on the big screen, but the reality of hypnosis when it is used for therapeutic purposes (as opposed to a stage show) is that you are always in control. If you are seeking hypnotherapy as a way to improve your performance-and your life-your hypnosis session will no doubt be a lot less dramatic than anything Hollywood has every concocted. Contrary to popular belief, the hypnotist has no magical power and cannot control you or make you do things you don't want to do. Hypnosis is a completely voluntary act wherein you always remain conscious; you're always aware and able to hear, to talk, and to make decisions.
So you can't turn me into my mother-in-law?
No. But I can help you transform yourself into someone who is more intuitive, more effective, and more successful.
How do I know it'll work for me?
Anyone of normal intelligence can be hypnotized and you can only be hypnotized if you want to be and you willingly follow the hypnotist's instructions. There are definitely people who are more or less hypnotizable than others, and also more or less willing than others. But most people fall right in the middle once they understand what it's about and realize that it's safe and it's going to help them. They comfortably go into a state of relaxation and hypnosis and are receptive to the suggestions of the hypnotist.
Think of your hypnotist as a guide. If you choose to follow your hypnotist's instructions, you will be guided into a wonderful, relaxed state of focus and awareness. And afterwards, you will remember everything that happened.
Do you really wave a pocket watch in front of my face?
Actually, the pocket watch is used by many hypnotherapists, but I choose to use a crystal because I've yet to see someone turn away from it. The facets themselves are mesmerizing, and my clients quickly become deeply hypnotized.
How do I know I've really been hypnotized?
Actually, at the time you probably won't think you were hypnotized at all. Most people realize that they were indeed hypnotized after they've seen the desired changes in their behavior.
What will I feel like when I'm being hypnotized?
I can't say for sure, as everyone is different. Some people tell me they don't feel any different. Others tell me that they feel very relaxed and heavy, like a lead weight. And then there are the lucky ones who feel like they are floating on a cloud and they feel better than ever before.
How is hypnosis different from meditation?
The goal of hypnosis is to change behavior through direct suggestion. Though there are myriad different types of meditation, the goal is usually the quieting of the mind, a concentration on a specific state (e.g., compassion, forgiveness, love, death), or relaxation of the entire being. Though a change in your mental (or even physical) state is involved, the goal, per se, is not to alter your behavior.
How is hypnosis different from therapy?
Assuming there is no hypnosis involved, therapy appeals only to the conscious mind. It enlists the help of the intellect to solve problems and relieve stress. When you appeal to the conscious mind you can undoubtedly gain a lot of knowledge. But the more reasoning and intellectualizing you engage in, the greater the tendency to rationalize, to develop alibis, and to protect the subconscious from changing your behavior.
What if I get stuck in hypnosis and can't get out?
You can never get stuck in hypnosis because you have the power to emerge yourself at any time. All you have to do is tell yourself that you are emerging.
Why do I need hypnosis?
When you're in a hypnotic state you can easily make positive changes because your self-conscious mind is more open to suggestions for change. To really understand why and how that is so, it's important to understand some things about how your mind works.
"Since our stop smoking session, I've managed to lose 3 pounds and the best part is that I've realized that I am actually happier because I'm not upset with myself about gaining weight I usually do when I quit." K.R. - NYC
| 
