October 30, 2022 • 14 mins
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(00:00):
Chapter four. How does self hypnosiswork? There's an old Chinese proverb that
states one picture is worth a thousandwords in conveying suggestions to the subconscious.
We have found that picture images aremore effective than words that are implanted.
For example, it isn't sufficient tosay I will be confident. The words
(00:25):
must be augmented by a picture ofyourself as the confident person you want to
be. If you say, Ican't visualize myself as a confident person because
I have never been that way,you can borrow those personality traits that you
want for yourself. Imagine yourself endowedwith the characteristics of some confident person that
(00:46):
you know. The qualities that youseek may even be borrowed from a famous
person. If this isn't possible,make up a personality which is a composite
of all the things you want tobe. See yourself walking, talking,
and carrying on activities. Keep fortifyingthis image with the mental suggestions that are
(01:07):
needed. It won't be long beforethese mental impressions give rise to the confident
feelings that you seek. As youkeep in planning these images, they will
become a natural part of your consciouspersonality. Doctor S. J. Van
Pelt, president of the British Societyof Medical Hypnotists an editor of the British
Journal of Medical Hypnotism, writes aboutthis technique in his book Secrets of Hypnotism.
(01:34):
He calls it three D technique inmedical hypnotherapy. As you read the
following paragraph, it would be wellto remember that it contains the essence of
making the self hypnosis technique work onceyou have achieved the hypnotic state per se.
Incidentally, the same procedure can beused in attaining the hypnotic state itself.
(01:55):
You see yourself entering the state ofhypnosis in your initial attempts. This
in turn sets up a conditioned responseand a favorable emotional reaction, which is
necessary. The writer has found visualizationof the greatest value in the re education
of the patient, which is anessential part of hypnotherapy. In this method,
(02:17):
after the cause of the trouble hasbeen discovered and as a part of
his re education, the patient isinstructed, while under only light hypnosis,
to form a picture in his mind. He is asked to imagine a movie
screen and to see himself just likean actor on this screen, playing a
(02:37):
part. He is told that thepicture looks very real three D in fact,
and that he can see himself actingin looking the way he wants to
look and act. Various scenes aresuggested, such as the patient will have
to face in real life. Ineach he is instructed to see himself as
(02:57):
in real life always succeed. Forinstance, the stammerer might be asked to
picture himself speaking easily to people andfeeling perfectly at ease. The patient is
also instructed how to form these successpictures for himself, and it is stressed
that he will only be able tosee himself as he wants to be successful
(03:21):
since the picture gives rise to theappropriate feelings. It is not long before
the patient begins to show the benefitof his private three D film shows.
After explaining this technique to students,many have inquired, is that all there
is to it? It seems sosimple. Of course, there is more
to it in that the individual mustfollow through with the instruction. This is
(03:45):
one of the difficult aspects of thistype of program. Let me enumerate some
of the problems I have encountered inteaching self hypnosis. As mentioned, one
of the difficulties is that the techniquesseem too simple students become skeptical. They
feel it should be more complicated andinvolved in order to get results. I
(04:06):
suppose people better appreciate something that comesonly after a hard struggle. This procedure
is devoid of this. Of course, I am not saying that once a
person begins to use this technique,his problems will automatically vanish and his life
will be cheery forever after. Wehave been conditioned to think that success in
(04:28):
anything can only come after a long, hard struggle. This is the basic
theme of the American way of life. We have been accustomed to believe that
conflict and struggle are a part oflife, and large doses of it are
necessary before we achieve success in anyfield. I can only reiterate that the
information contained in this book is allyou need to get results. It is
(04:53):
necessary that you follow through and notgive up after you have tried the program
for a short while and have aain't no appreciable results. This brings us
to another point. Many persons expectimmediate results when they begin to use self
hypnosis. If they don't get theresults they anticipated immediately, they want to
(05:14):
know what's wrong. My answer isusually that nothing is wrong and that they
need only keep steadily applying the instructions. Certainly, one doesn't become a proficient
typist, musician, actor, orsportsman because he has mastered the basic techniques.
It takes time to acquire proficiency.Let me assure you that anyone using
(05:36):
and applying this technique can benefit fromit. One of the troubles in dealing
with any problem is routing defeatism andhopelessness. You can incorporate post hypnotic corrective
measures in the suggestions that you giveyourself. However, I believe that they
must be dealt with on a consciouslevel as well. You must believe that
(05:59):
you can conquer or your difficulties,no matter how long you have had them.
If you are prepared to work withself hypnosis in an unremitting manner,
you will achieve the self help thatyou seek now and then you can anticipate
a setback in your progress, butthis needn't discourage you from your overall task.
Recount the progress already made. Ifyou have a let down because you
(06:24):
expected quicker and more dramatic results,remember that this is a common feeling shared
by many with emotional problems. Rememberalso how long you have had the problem.
No doubt, you have tried othermethods and became discouraged because you weren't
making the progress you had anticipated.You drop the idea and landed back where
(06:45):
you started. Make up your mindconsciously that you will work with untiring sincerity
and a perseverance that will not falterbecause your chosen goal is not achieved immediately.
I know of no therapy that leadsstraight to positive results without obstacles and
intermittent failure. Success comes in spiteof intervening failures because the ultimate direction has
(07:09):
been clearly thought out and charted.Self hypnosis will finally work because you are
constantly conditioning your subconscious to react ina positive, constructive manner. The program
must, of necessity, become automaticin nature. When it does, you
will suddenly find yourself feeling the wayyou wanted to and doing the things that
(07:31):
you've set out to do. Withthe aid of self hypnosis, you actually
cultivate those feelings that you want.Hypnosis will not work with skeptics. Every
so often a person comes to myoffice seeking help. He tells me that
his family physician or his spouse feelsthat he should take my course and self
(07:51):
hypnosis. I inquire if he feelshe might benefit from the course. If
his answer is not positive, ifafter talking to him at length about the
benefits of hypnosis, I still feelhe is not ready for the course,
I suggest another mode of treatment forhim. The reason for this is that
unless the person is optimistic and enthusiasticabout self hypnosis, it just isn't going
(08:16):
to work as effectively as it wouldotherwise. The very nature of a skeptical
attitude limits the constructive forces that wewish to harness. Occasionally, individuals want
indisputable proof that hypnosis is going tohelp them. It is impossible to give
them the proof an unqualified reassurance thatthey seek. Yet these same people do
(08:39):
not require proof from their physicians.No one can guarantee success. However,
I do point out that the continuedand intelligent use of self hypnosis can be
instrumental in directing the healing, curative, constructive forces of nature. Many times
a metaphysical rather than a scientific approachis required. It's a matter of trying
(09:01):
to satisfy the patient's needs. Attimes, it is helpful to allow the
patient to attend a class and selfhypnosis. Being able to communicate and identify
with other individuals seeking self hypnosis oftenis enough to change his attitude. This
is especially true when one or moreof the students relates dramatic changes. Self
(09:26):
hypnosis works because we are able tocondition ourselves to various stimuli. We condition
ourselves consciously and unconsciously to many activities. When we experience anxiety, it stems
from a conditioned process which could nothave been conscious or unconscious. In self
hypnosis, the individual consciously works towardimplementing and strengthening his own inherent strength and
(09:50):
resources. These objectives, when attained, result in feelings of confidence, relaxation,
self master and well being. Furthermore, hypnosis utilizes a natural mental process.
We all know that placebos work admirablyin numerous cases. The Dictionary defines
(10:11):
the word placebo as an inactive substanceor preparation administered to please or gratify a
patient, also used in controlled studiesto determine the efficiency of medical substances.
Many controlled experiments have shown that peopleachieve similar results whether they take a placebo
(10:33):
which they think is the real medicationor real medication that was prescribed several years
ago. Many tests were carried outwith anahistamines to prevent colds. The results
were always the same. We areinterested in what makes the placebo act as
efficiently as the true medication. Itstands to reason that a chain reaction is
(10:54):
set up actually causing a physiological resultfrom a psychological situation. The unsuspecting patient
declares, I've never felt so goodin my life. Yet this would have
never happened if he didn't think hewas taking the marvelous new medicine. A
recent scientific study by one of theleading pharmaceutical houses concluded that one third of
(11:18):
the effectiveness of any medication depends uponthe faith and trust that the patient has
in the prescribing physician. I amsure that the placebo results and the patient's
faith in the physician as contributing factorsto the effectiveness of medications do not come
as a revelation. We are allaware of such information. Our problem is
(11:41):
how to harness this unconscious process forconstructive goals. The answer is through self
hypnosis. Self hypnosis, as wehave explained, it uses a technique called
visual imagery. This has been referredto by many different names, but for
our purposes we'll call it visual imagery. Within this technique, lies one of
(12:03):
the keys for achieving the goals thatyou want. There have been many famous
books written incorporating this technique as abasis for achievement. Perhaps the most famous
of all is called Think and GrowRich by Napoleon Hill. In recent years,
the Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol and the Power of Positive
(12:24):
Thinking already mentioned have become well known. The book which gives direction to most
of the books in this field iscalled Self Mastery through Conscious Auto Suggestion by
doctor Emil Kuay. I am surethe older readers of this book have heard
the famous saying, which I willrepeat here for emphasis. Day by day,
(12:46):
in every way, I am gettingbetter and better invariably. In all
these books there is reference to thebiblical quotation as a man thinketh in his
heart, so is he. Asthe reader can deduce, we are not
theorizing at a startling new discovery.The technique is ancient, as man himself
(13:07):
and his dream of a better tomorrow. All books using the visual imagery technique
will tell you to paint a vividmental picture of the material things you wish
to acquire. If it is acase of material wealth for personal improvement,
they tell you to paint a vividpicture of the individual you want to be.
(13:28):
In most cases, you are toldto do this in a relaxed or
meditative state with as few distractions aspossible. The next two requirements are constant
repetition conditioning and a burning desire motivationto achieve what you set out to do.
Aren't these books really talking about selfhypnosis? Aren't they describing precisely the
(13:52):
techniques of self hypnosis. The terminologyis different, but the approach is the
same. With these techniques, thereis an aim to direct thinking, picturization,
positive thinking, suggestions, and constructivethoughts or images to the inner self
or real self. Aren't they onceagain really talking about the subconscious mind.
(14:15):
I have no argument with any workableapproach to emotional maturity, but in many
cases we are actually becoming involved withthe meaning of words semantics. The quickest
way to the subconscious is through selfhypnosis. In this self hypnotic state,
you are able to consciously direct suggestionsto your subconscious mind. End of chapter four
Chapter four. How does self hypnosiswork? There's an old Chinese proverb that
states one picture is worth a thousandwords in conveying suggestions to the subconscious.
We have found that picture images aremore effective than words that are implanted.
For example, it isn't sufficient tosay I will be confident. The words
(00:25):
must be augmented by a picture ofyourself as the confident person you want to
be. If you say, Ican't visualize myself as a confident person because
I have never been that way,you can borrow those personality traits that you
want for yourself. Imagine yourself endowedwith the characteristics of some confident person that
(00:46):
you know. The qualities that youseek may even be borrowed from a famous
person. If this isn't possible,make up a personality which is a composite
of all the things you want tobe. See yourself walking, talking,
and carrying on activities. Keep fortifyingthis image with the mental suggestions that are
(01:07):
needed. It won't be long beforethese mental impressions give rise to the confident
feelings that you seek. As youkeep in planning these images, they will
become a natural part of your consciouspersonality. Doctor S. J. Van
Pelt, president of the British Societyof Medical Hypnotists an editor of the British
Journal of Medical Hypnotism, writes aboutthis technique in his book Secrets of Hypnotism.
(01:34):
He calls it three D technique inmedical hypnotherapy. As you read the
following paragraph, it would be wellto remember that it contains the essence of
making the self hypnosis technique work onceyou have achieved the hypnotic state per se.
Incidentally, the same procedure can beused in attaining the hypnotic state itself.
(01:55):
You see yourself entering the state ofhypnosis in your initial attempts. This
in turn sets up a conditioned responseand a favorable emotional reaction, which is
necessary. The writer has found visualizationof the greatest value in the re education
of the patient, which is anessential part of hypnotherapy. In this method,
(02:17):
after the cause of the trouble hasbeen discovered and as a part of
his re education, the patient isinstructed, while under only light hypnosis,
to form a picture in his mind. He is asked to imagine a movie
screen and to see himself just likean actor on this screen, playing a
(02:37):
part. He is told that thepicture looks very real three D in fact,
and that he can see himself actingin looking the way he wants to
look and act. Various scenes aresuggested, such as the patient will have
to face in real life. Ineach he is instructed to see himself as
(02:57):
in real life always succeed. Forinstance, the stammerer might be asked to
picture himself speaking easily to people andfeeling perfectly at ease. The patient is
also instructed how to form these successpictures for himself, and it is stressed
that he will only be able tosee himself as he wants to be successful
(03:21):
since the picture gives rise to theappropriate feelings. It is not long before
the patient begins to show the benefitof his private three D film shows.
After explaining this technique to students,many have inquired, is that all there
is to it? It seems sosimple. Of course, there is more
to it in that the individual mustfollow through with the instruction. This is
(03:45):
one of the difficult aspects of thistype of program. Let me enumerate some
of the problems I have encountered inteaching self hypnosis. As mentioned, one
of the difficulties is that the techniquesseem too simple students become skeptical. They
feel it should be more complicated andinvolved in order to get results. I
(04:06):
suppose people better appreciate something that comesonly after a hard struggle. This procedure
is devoid of this. Of course, I am not saying that once a
person begins to use this technique,his problems will automatically vanish and his life
will be cheery forever after. Wehave been conditioned to think that success in
(04:28):
anything can only come after a long, hard struggle. This is the basic
theme of the American way of life. We have been accustomed to believe that
conflict and struggle are a part oflife, and large doses of it are
necessary before we achieve success in anyfield. I can only reiterate that the
information contained in this book is allyou need to get results. It is
(04:53):
necessary that you follow through and notgive up after you have tried the program
for a short while and have aain't no appreciable results. This brings us
to another point. Many persons expectimmediate results when they begin to use self
hypnosis. If they don't get theresults they anticipated immediately, they want to
(05:14):
know what's wrong. My answer isusually that nothing is wrong and that they
need only keep steadily applying the instructions. Certainly, one doesn't become a proficient
typist, musician, actor, orsportsman because he has mastered the basic techniques.
It takes time to acquire proficiency.Let me assure you that anyone using
(05:36):
and applying this technique can benefit fromit. One of the troubles in dealing
with any problem is routing defeatism andhopelessness. You can incorporate post hypnotic corrective
measures in the suggestions that you giveyourself. However, I believe that they
must be dealt with on a consciouslevel as well. You must believe that
(05:59):
you can conquer or your difficulties,no matter how long you have had them.
If you are prepared to work withself hypnosis in an unremitting manner,
you will achieve the self help thatyou seek now and then you can anticipate
a setback in your progress, butthis needn't discourage you from your overall task.
Recount the progress already made. Ifyou have a let down because you
(06:24):
expected quicker and more dramatic results,remember that this is a common feeling shared
by many with emotional problems. Rememberalso how long you have had the problem.
No doubt, you have tried othermethods and became discouraged because you weren't
making the progress you had anticipated.You drop the idea and landed back where
(06:45):
you started. Make up your mindconsciously that you will work with untiring sincerity
and a perseverance that will not falterbecause your chosen goal is not achieved immediately.
I know of no therapy that leadsstraight to positive results without obstacles and
intermittent failure. Success comes in spiteof intervening failures because the ultimate direction has
(07:09):
been clearly thought out and charted.Self hypnosis will finally work because you are
constantly conditioning your subconscious to react ina positive, constructive manner. The program
must, of necessity, become automaticin nature. When it does, you
will suddenly find yourself feeling the wayyou wanted to and doing the things that
(07:31):
you've set out to do. Withthe aid of self hypnosis, you actually
cultivate those feelings that you want.Hypnosis will not work with skeptics. Every
so often a person comes to myoffice seeking help. He tells me that
his family physician or his spouse feelsthat he should take my course and self
(07:51):
hypnosis. I inquire if he feelshe might benefit from the course. If
his answer is not positive, ifafter talking to him at length about the
benefits of hypnosis, I still feelhe is not ready for the course,
I suggest another mode of treatment forhim. The reason for this is that
unless the person is optimistic and enthusiasticabout self hypnosis, it just isn't going
(08:16):
to work as effectively as it wouldotherwise. The very nature of a skeptical
attitude limits the constructive forces that wewish to harness. Occasionally, individuals want
indisputable proof that hypnosis is going tohelp them. It is impossible to give
them the proof an unqualified reassurance thatthey seek. Yet these same people do
(08:39):
not require proof from their physicians.No one can guarantee success. However,
I do point out that the continuedand intelligent use of self hypnosis can be
instrumental in directing the healing, curative, constructive forces of nature. Many times
a metaphysical rather than a scientific approachis required. It's a matter of trying
(09:01):
to satisfy the patient's needs. Attimes, it is helpful to allow the
patient to attend a class and selfhypnosis. Being able to communicate and identify
with other individuals seeking self hypnosis oftenis enough to change his attitude. This
is especially true when one or moreof the students relates dramatic changes. Self
(09:26):
hypnosis works because we are able tocondition ourselves to various stimuli. We condition
ourselves consciously and unconsciously to many activities. When we experience anxiety, it stems
from a conditioned process which could nothave been conscious or unconscious. In self
hypnosis, the individual consciously works towardimplementing and strengthening his own inherent strength and
(09:50):
resources. These objectives, when attained, result in feelings of confidence, relaxation,
self master and well being. Furthermore, hypnosis utilizes a natural mental process.
We all know that placebos work admirablyin numerous cases. The Dictionary defines
(10:11):
the word placebo as an inactive substanceor preparation administered to please or gratify a
patient, also used in controlled studiesto determine the efficiency of medical substances.
Many controlled experiments have shown that peopleachieve similar results whether they take a placebo
(10:33):
which they think is the real medicationor real medication that was prescribed several years
ago. Many tests were carried outwith anahistamines to prevent colds. The results
were always the same. We areinterested in what makes the placebo act as
efficiently as the true medication. Itstands to reason that a chain reaction is
(10:54):
set up actually causing a physiological resultfrom a psychological situation. The unsuspecting patient
declares, I've never felt so goodin my life. Yet this would have
never happened if he didn't think hewas taking the marvelous new medicine. A
recent scientific study by one of theleading pharmaceutical houses concluded that one third of
(11:18):
the effectiveness of any medication depends uponthe faith and trust that the patient has
in the prescribing physician. I amsure that the placebo results and the patient's
faith in the physician as contributing factorsto the effectiveness of medications do not come
as a revelation. We are allaware of such information. Our problem is
(11:41):
how to harness this unconscious process forconstructive goals. The answer is through self
hypnosis. Self hypnosis, as wehave explained, it uses a technique called
visual imagery. This has been referredto by many different names, but for
our purposes we'll call it visual imagery. Within this technique, lies one of
(12:03):
the keys for achieving the goals thatyou want. There have been many famous
books written incorporating this technique as abasis for achievement. Perhaps the most famous
of all is called Think and GrowRich by Napoleon Hill. In recent years,
the Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol and the Power of Positive
(12:24):
Thinking already mentioned have become well known. The book which gives direction to most
of the books in this field iscalled Self Mastery through Conscious Auto Suggestion by
doctor Emil Kuay. I am surethe older readers of this book have heard
the famous saying, which I willrepeat here for emphasis. Day by day,
(12:46):
in every way, I am gettingbetter and better invariably. In all
these books there is reference to thebiblical quotation as a man thinketh in his
heart, so is he. Asthe reader can deduce, we are not
theorizing at a startling new discovery.The technique is ancient, as man himself
(13:07):
and his dream of a better tomorrow. All books using the visual imagery technique
will tell you to paint a vividmental picture of the material things you wish
to acquire. If it is acase of material wealth for personal improvement,
they tell you to paint a vividpicture of the individual you want to be.
(13:28):
In most cases, you are toldto do this in a relaxed or
meditative state with as few distractions aspossible. The next two requirements are constant
repetition conditioning and a burning desire motivationto achieve what you set out to do.
Aren't these books really talking about selfhypnosis? Aren't they describing precisely the
(13:52):
techniques of self hypnosis. The terminologyis different, but the approach is the
same. With these techniques, thereis an aim to direct thinking, picturization,
positive thinking, suggestions, and constructivethoughts or images to the inner self
or real self. Aren't they onceagain really talking about the subconscious mind.
(14:15):
I have no argument with any workableapproach to emotional maturity, but in many
cases we are actually becoming involved withthe meaning of words semantics. The quickest
way to the subconscious is through selfhypnosis. In this self hypnotic state,
you are able to consciously direct suggestionsto your subconscious mind. End of chapter four
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