Chapter 10 - A New Approach to Self-Hypnosis When All Else Fails - A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis

View our full collection of podcasts at our website: https://www.solgoodmedia.com
or YouTube channel: https://www.solgood.org/subscribe

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Chapter ten, A new approach toself hypnosis when all else fails. Let
us assume that you have tried diligentlyto learn self hypnosis for a month or
more, but have failed. Youhave worked faithfully following the instructions outlined in
this book and other books on selfhypnosis, but somehow the state of hypnosis

(00:20):
alludes you. Should you give upin despair or is there still hope for
you? Let me assure you thatyou can still become an excellent subject.
Let us examine several areas of thisproblem and a new approach that will help
you achieve your ends. You must, first of all, ask yourself if
you are feeling better and whether youhave made strides in the direction you desire

(00:43):
while giving yourself suggestions in whatever stageof hypnosis you have achieved. If your
evaluation is affirmative to any degree,you can expect even greater results. But
you may say, how can Iexpect greater results when I haven't achieved self
hypnosis. My answer is you maybe achieving self hypnosis and not know it.

(01:03):
The change to the self hypnotic statefrom the waking state can be very
imperceivable many times prior to testing subjectsunder hypnosis, I ask them if they
think they are in the hypnotic state. The answer is invariably no. When
asking the subjects for a cogent reasonfor this answer, they usually exclaim that
they are aware of what is goingon and do not feel any different than

(01:26):
they did before I started working withthem. They are amazed to find that
various tests work so perfectly. Somesubjects do not respond to hypnotic tests no
matter how long you work with them. For these persons, I usually deemphasize
the need for passing the tests andconcentrate on the therapeutic results which are desired.

(01:48):
This approach lessens anxiety and usually resultsin a deepening of the hypnotic state.
It is my feeling that many subjectsresist any tests, as the implication
is at once the tests work,the subject is under complete control of the
hypnotist. The subject may fear thissupposed subjection on one hand, and yet
wanted on the other hand. Theseforces can work unconsciously, and thus the

(02:12):
attainment of hypnosis becomes a very intricate, perplexing and trying procedure. Even though
this may be so, I canassure you that the problem and attainment of
hypnosis can be resolved. It isonly a matter of motivation on the part
of the subject. This is themain ingredient necessary for successful hypnosis. Let

(02:34):
me now explain a technique which hasworked admirably for many who have been frustrated
because of their inability to achieve selfhypnosis. It involves pretending you are hypnotized
and going through the motions of thevarious tests as though you were a perfect
subject. You will recall that onetheory of hypnosis is that the subject behaves
in a manner that he believes isin keeping with hypnotic behavior. This role

(02:59):
playing as the basis for our uniqueapproach. As the subject continues this procedure,
he takes on the conditioned response mechanismnecessary for self hypnosis. Let us
look at the following examples of roleplaying. During the war, many soldiers
who wanted to leave the army wouldpretend something was wrong with them. They
would convince the authorities of the authenticityof their illness, and since nothing seemed

(03:23):
to make them better, they eventuallywere separated from the service because of the
incapacitating disorder. But what happened tomany of these malingerers after they were released
from the service. I'm sure youknow the rest of the story. The
constant malingering was transformed by this roleplaying into a conditioned response pattern, eventually

(03:45):
bringing about the very undesirable condition responsiblefor their leaving the service. I saw
some of these individuals, and morethan once they told me that they had
unwittingly hypnotized themselves into having the ailmentthey wanted me to dehypnotize them. They
actually turned out to be very easysubjects, as they had become highly suggestible.

(04:06):
Unfortunately, their super ego structure wasweak, they had difficulty in identifying
strongly with anyone, and the relationshipin hypnosis was superficial and without depth.
I am going to relate another example, which I hope will help you understand
the role playing technique for self hypnosis. I have had the following experience many

(04:29):
times and giving hypnotic demonstrations before variousorganizations. For some reason, even though
I carefully ask that only those whodesire to be hypnotized volunteer as subjects for
the hypnotic demonstrations, an individual whohas no intention of cooperating comes up on
the stage to poke fun at thehypnotist in giving public demonstrations. I usually

(04:51):
work with about ten subjects and simultaneouslygive them the same suggestions and post hypnotic
suggestions. Once the subjects are hypnotized, I work with them with their eyes
open. Using this technique, witheach subject carrying out a post hypnotic suggestion
intensifies the responses of other subjects.There is also competitiveness to become the best

(05:15):
subject. In the meantime, theindividual who is really not under hypnosis has
let the audience know about it bywinking or making a grimace when I was
not looking at him. Observing laughterand other audience reactions which are not in
keeping with what is happening at theprecise moment during my lecture is my cue
that I have an egocentric person onstage. You might ask yourself, can't

(05:40):
you tell when someone is faking?It is extremely difficult many times to do
so. Once you are aware ofit, however, you give certain tests
to the group. The exhibitionist doesn'tknow how to respond each time, and
you soon pick him out. Evenwhen I know specifically who it is,
I do not dismiss him. Interestingly, it is invariably a man. I

(06:03):
continue with the lecture demonstration but Ilet the audience know that I am aware
of the situation. This is theinteresting part of this example. The bumptious
subject, by giving himself autosuggestions tocomply with various post hypnotic suggestions, is
actually engaging in our technique of roleplaying. The inevitable happens he finds himself

(06:27):
hypnotized despite his obvious intention not tobe effected in any way. Any hypnotist
can recount similar incidents. What canyou learn by the example just presented?
What if you purposely set about doingthe same thing and your attempt to achieve
self hypnosis? The obvious answer isthat the technique has a good chance of

(06:47):
working and as a result, youwill achieve self hypnosis. This method has
worked with many racalcitrance subjects. Tofollow this plan, go back to chapter
six How to attain self hypnosis anduse the role playing technique. You'll be
pleasantly surprised at how this approach willact as a catalyst. Remember, once

(07:10):
you obtain the eye closure, giveyourself whatever therapeutic suggestion you desire, plus
the post hypnotic suggestion that the nexttime you will fall into a deeper and
sounder state of hypnosis at the countof three, or any other cue you
desire. I know you may protestusing the role playing technique with the question,
if I'm not under hypnosis, whygive myself therapeutic post hypnotic suggestions to

(07:35):
condition myself to go under hypnosis ata specific count. You may further protest
that you are only fooling yourself.My answer is, what if you are
what is lost by doing it?You have everything to gain in nothing to
lose? Are you not really interestedin the end result? In not?

(07:55):
The means the attainment of the selfhypnotic state is not in itself the end
result. It is a means tohelp you achieve your goal. Don't many
people carry or wear good luck charmsof a religious or non religious nature.
Don't we accept these items in oursociety? The four leaf clover in rabbit's
foot as symbols of good luck havebeen part of our culture for a long

(08:18):
time. We are all sophisticated enoughto know that they do not have an
intrinsic value, But don't they dosomething for our mental attitude? This same
problem is precisely what you are tofollow in using the role playing technique.
If you believe expect and imagine thatyou will be successful in this approach to

(08:39):
self hypnosis. I can assure youthat you will. May I urge you
not to reject this novel an unorthodoxapproach, Many have had excellent results when
other methods, even those of aprofessional hypnotist, have failed. Some of
you may recognize this approach as anothermeans of applying the visual imagery technique,

(09:01):
whatever you choose to call it.I reiterate you can't expect good results.
It is only necessary that you followthe instructions and adopt the right attitude.
By the right attitude, I meanthat you should adopt the conviction that you
are going to achieve self hypnosis,even though you might have experienced difficulty up

(09:22):
to now. Hypnosis is a convictionphenomenon. It is possible that you may
say you are not suggestible. Actually, your lack of response proves your suggestibility.
You have been influenced by negative suggestions. Every one is suggestible to some
degree. You have become extremely suggestibleto conscious or unconscious stimuli, which are

(09:46):
definitely affecting your ability to respond.You need only use this latent suggestibility and
make it work for you. Whatwould you say about the suggestibility of a
person who doesn't want to talk abouthypnosis. This person has never read a
book on hypnosis and absolutely doesn't wantyou or any one else to hypnotize him.

(10:07):
Would you believe this person is apotentially good hypnotic subject. I can
tell you by practical experience that oncethis person allows himself to be hypnotized,
he turns out to be a perfectsubject. Responding to either end of the
suggestibility scale is indicative of success withhypnosis. It becomes a matter of manipulating

(10:28):
this suggestibility skillfully in order to achieveresults. Let me give you another example
which may help. Which one ofthese two lines drawn on this page is
longer line A B or line CD? What is your answer? Did
you think both were the same?Take a ruler and actually measure them.

(10:50):
You'll find line A B longer thanC D. But you reply every other
time both lines were the same.This is a familiar optical illusion which is
used many times in basic courses.In psychology, it is known as the
mular liar illusion. My contention isthat if you said both of the same

(11:11):
size, you are potentially a goodsubject. You respond perfectly to previous conditioning.
Thus you are responding as anticipated.If, on the other hand,
you picked line A B, youare normally suggestible. If you honestly picked
line C D, you are extremelycautious and respond best. To reverse psychology.

(11:35):
Once again, you are highly suggestible, but toward one extreme. Here
is another interesting experiment. Would yousay that lines A, B and C
D were perfectly straight. I'll letyou figure out what your response means to
this test by yourself. You cantake a ruler to determine if the lines
are straight. We all respond unconsciouslyto stimuli of some sort. Word association

(12:00):
tests are based on this principle.Archer reactions automatic to the following terms Democratic
Party, Republican Party, Communist Party, mother, father, movie star.
If I mention the name of afamous person, city, or country,
the same immediate unconscious reaction takes place. Let's try it. Theodore Roosevelt,

(12:26):
Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein,
Albert Sweitzer, Eleanor Roosevelt, Boston, New York City, Hollywood,
Miami Beach, United States, England, France, Italy, Israel, Africa,

(12:56):
Russia, China, India, andSouth America. The response and image
keep changing, don't they. Iam trying to point out that this reaction
is automatic because of previous conditioning.I could mention almost anything and the same
automatic reaction would take place. Thereaction would always be the same unless something

(13:20):
had happened to change or alter yourresponse. Let us mention the word hypnosis.
Some sort of reaction must take place. This can either be positive,
negative, or neutral. For ourpurposes, you really don't have to think
about your response, as it isautomatic. The point to remember is that
a definite response has taken place,which will either help or hinder your attainment

(13:43):
of hypnosis. If the response shouldbe negative, it can be changed by
gaining knowledge and actual experience in hypnosis. It is natural to have a bit
of uneasiness when first experiencing or thinkingabout being hypnotized. After all, you
haven't been exposed to hypnosis in atherapeutic setting and couldn't have form a favorable

(14:07):
reaction. Your response is probably derivedfrom a fictionalization of hypnosis. The initial
task of the hypnotist is to create, by educating the perspective subject a favorable
attitude so that the subject allows himselfto be hypnotized. What does this mean?
Specifically to you, if you arehaving dificulty learning self hypnosis. It

(14:31):
means that through repeated exposures you willfinally respond. You will realize there is
no need for anxiety in regard toyour response. This inner feeling will in
turn have a cumulative favorable effect uponyour unconsciousness, which will result in your
finely responding to hypnosis. Suppose youstill maintain and insist that you are not

(14:56):
suggestible, and wonder if you willever respond to gnosis. Furthermore, the
assurance I have given you up tothis point doesn't seem to convince you.
If you have tried diligently to achieveself hypnosis, you cannot be blamed.
But let's try an experiment to testyour suggestibility. It is well to ponder

(15:16):
my statement that if you do notrespond, it is a sign of being
suggestible, but in a negative sense, lack of response is a manifestation of
this negative suggestibility. My contention isthat you are definitely suggestible. Let us
see what happens to you in tryingthe following classical experiment. It is called

(15:39):
Chevroul's pendulum test. Draw a circlewith about a six inch diameter and mark
it is shown in the illustration.Next, take a ring and attach a
string to it. If you havea locket, it will do as well.
The hypnotist uses a crystal ball andchain for this experiment. Hold the
end of the ring or chain andkeep the ring or whatever object you are

(16:03):
using about three inches above the centerof the circle. Now, concentrate and
fix your gaze on the ring,crystal ball, or lock it. Mentally,
suggest to yourself that the object willbegin to revolve in a circular manner
following the numbers one, two,three, and four. Picture in your

(16:25):
mind's eye that this circular motion isbecoming wider and wider. Work at this
image for several minutes. Did theobject begin turning to the right following the
numbers? Did the circle become largerand larger? If it did, you
are absolutely suggestible, are influenced byyour own suggestions, and therefore, if

(16:47):
you follow instructions, can learn selfhypnosis. You can be trained to acquire
this skill. If the experience didnot work, try it again. Concentrate
harder and try to visualize more intentlythe object revolving in a circular manner.
You are not to rotate the objectconsciously or help it in any way.

(17:10):
The action must stem from your subconsciousThe thought of the crystal ball or ring
revolving in a clockwise or counterclockwise directioninvariably causes an involuntary muscle reflex action to
take place. This phenomenon is knownas ideomotor action. Usually, as the
subject concentrates more intensely, the reflexaction becomes more profound, causing greater unconscious

(17:37):
movement of the hand, which inturn is transmitted to the object in the
form of larger circles and greater momentum. The time required for the successful accomplishment
of this test depends upon the degreeof suggestibility of the subject. An interesting
action is to see the object revolvein an opposite direction then suggested. It

(18:00):
gives a clue to the personality structureof the individual. The Ewegia board works
on the same principle as Chavoule's pendulumtest. Many times the aspirant will remark
I swear I didn't make it move. Mentalists find hidden objects in the audience
using basically the same approach, combinedwith clever techniques of distraction. The term

(18:23):
given for this is muscle reading.This is the point in question if the
crystal ball ring or lock. Itmoves without conscious direction. You have successfully
influenced your subconscious mind. Self hypnosisinvolves the same procedure. The goal is
to consciously cause a subconscious reaction.If the experiment does not work with your

(18:48):
eyes open, try it with youreyes closed for about five minutes. You
will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Should you want to prove to yourself
that you are suggested with your eyesopen, practice the technique every day for
a week or two. The ideaof the practice sessions is to reinforce and
increase the response of the unconscious movementuntil you develop proficiency. It follows the

(19:15):
laws of the conditioned reflex theory expoundedby doctor Ivan P. Pavlov, the
famous Russian psychologist. If after severalweeks you should still not be successful,
use the role playing technique consciously makethe object revolve. After a while,
it will move automatically whenever you attemptthe experiment. When this happens, you

(19:40):
will have proof of your suggestibility.It is highly improbable that you will not
be successful. It would be arare occurrence. By the same systematic efforts,
I can assure you that you canachieve self hypnosis. If you are
still not affected favorably, you mightconsider one of the psychological means of inducing

(20:00):
hypnosis. The next chapter will discussthis topic. I would recommend Pavlov's book
called Conditioned Reflexes. Pavlov's book willfurther explain and clarify the concept of the
conditioned response mechanism. It covers necessaryconditions for the development of condition responses their

(20:22):
formulation by means of conditioned and directstimuli, plus a tremendous amount of material
which will help you in your understandingof the significance of the role playing technique
in relationship to learning self hypnosis.End of chapter ten