A Self-Hypnosis How-to

We have been given a lot of information lately about manifesting and the Law of Attraction. We have learned that our thoughts coupled with our emotions create our reality. We’re all trying to be positive and imagine what we want and not what we don’t want.

However in my work with many clients I find that they are not completely clear on how to manifest and all that the process entails. From my experience I have found that the information “out there” is lacking important details. I don’t think that it’s intentional but more that these details are so subtle that they can easily be missed.

In the interest of giving you what I am always wanting, a detailed and well thought out process that I can follow every day to allow for the transformations that I desire, I have decided to write a series of articles covering the process of manifestation including the nuances that have been overlooked.

A nuance is defined as a very slight difference in meaning, feeling, tone, or color. I have found that tiny differences in habits and/or thoughts and processes can make a huge difference in how we experience our world.

In most teachings about manifesting I find that what is missing is the power of the subconscious mind and how to access it for change. I address it first because it’s information that is most important in manifesting change.

We have learned that we must visualize and use affirmations in order to change our mind. This is true, but the nuance that is missing is the importance of accessing the alpha state of mind to create change more rapidly.

The subconscious mind is the part of the mind that holds our programming. Programming being what I call the “stories” we tell ourselves or others have told us. When I say “it’s just a story” I’m talking about your subconscious programming.

Programming or stories may include:

I have to earn my money.
I shouldn’t have more money than other people.
Every year I get three colds.
I never win.
If it looks too good to be true it’s probably too good to be true.

These are programs that we have decided are true. But they are just other people’s stories that have been passed on to us. Most of our programming came from childhood, from parents, teachers and other “authority figures” we were exposed to. But even in adulthood we continue to take on other peoples stories that we consider “authority” or a “good source”.

It’s also important to understand that our subconscious mind wants to protect us at all costs, which is why it takes on programming.

For instance it is possible to become afraid of ALL dogs after being attacked once by a dog. Logically it doesn’t make sense to be afraid of all dogs but your subconscious mind wants you to be safe, therefore it has decided that ALL dogs are dangerous.

Another more subtle form of subconscious protection may manifest this way; suppose that when you were a very young child your father left for war and was killed. You never saw him again. You may not even have any conscious memories of being with your father or of him not coming home. But every time you get into a serious relationship you get scared and end it.

Although there are many reasons we do things, in this example I’m trying to illustrate that your subconscious mind is protecting you from feeling abandoned again. So acting on “auto-pilot” you end the relationship before he or she can abandon you. Your subconscious mind is protecting you from that pain even though you don’t consciously remember the pain.

It can be a pattern that plays out over and over and you may never see it. This type of programming can and will prevent you from creating or manifesting what you most desire.

We will go more into releasing the programming in another article but for now I wanted to illustrate the importance of the subconscious mind. In the interest of allowing transformation or creating change quickly we must access our subconscious. We do this by going into the alpha state of mind or simply by inducing a state of hypnosis.

Going into the alpha state actually opens the “door” between the subconscious and the conscious mind allowing for reprogramming to take place much more quickly than in the beta (fully awake) state.

Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation you may have experienced while meditating. The only difference is that we are going to use this state of relaxation to reprogram your subconscious mind.

When I guide my clients into hypnosis I use progressive relaxation. I tell them to relax their scalp then their forehead and their cheeks and so on moving down their body. You can do the same; just mentally talk your self down your body consciously relaxing every part of your body. Then I will deepen the relaxation by counting down from 10 to 1 and on each count saying something similar to “you are feeling more and more relaxed,” “you’re sinking deep and deeper into this beautiful state of deep relaxation and transformation.

If you have been in hypnosis before you know how you feel when you are very relaxed. You may feel as though you are floating above your chair, or sinking deeper into your chair, your arms or legs may feel very heavy as though you can’t move them, or you may feel numbness in your arms or legs.

Process for achieving self-hypnosis

Begin by sitting up so that you don’t fall asleep. I allow myself 20 minutes at the minimum. Not because I need more time but because I so enjoy being deeply relaxed that I prefer more time. You may want to set a timer to bring you out in the allotted time. Of course turn off the phone and make sure you will not be interrupted.

Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Take some deep breaths in and imagine your muscles relaxing. And begin silently focusing on each part of your body and allowing it to relax from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes.

Then imagine yourself on a flight of stairs or in an elevator going down and count down from 10 to 1 talking yourself into deeper relaxation with each count. You can start at a higher number of you need more time to relax.

Once you have done that you are probably very relaxed and your subconscious mind is more accessible to you and your new programming. At this point you can begin to visualize your desired outcome and repeating your affirmations. I recommend that the first suggestion you give your subconscious mind is that you are safe and secure and that change is safe. Remember your subconscious mind is protecting you, so let it know that it is OK to change.

Each time you practice it will become easier and easier. You will go into your “state” faster and your “state” will be deeper.

I use self-hypnosis every day and I know that I’m in the state when I can no longer feel my hands touching each other (they are clasped together in my lap). I reach the alpha state very quickly now. I don’t need to do the entire progressive relaxation anymore. I sit and imagine myself relaxed then I count down from 10 to 1. I don’t always wait to feel the numbness in my hands to begin my visualization or my affirmations, but as I do them I feel myself going deeper and deeper into my “state”

Next time I’ll share the nuances about visualization.