What is Hypnosis?
Without stating the obvious, people are different and therefore have different ways of both learning and understanding. There are therefore several different explanations about what exactly Hypnosis is. Understanding this rudimentary principal is of vital importance because in order for a person to adequately define Hypnosis for someone else, they have to be able to convey the message in a way that is understood in the recipients’ own language. That said, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite ways of explaining what Hypnosis is. These next answers are amid those that you should be well acquainted with, and quite frankly may want to learn verbatim. So without further ado, let’s get started with what I like to call, “The Two-Mind Explanation”
You have essentially, two minds; two ways of thinking. You have both a conscious mind and a subconscious mind. Your conscious mind is the mind that you are using right now to determine whether or not the information I am giving to you is correct or not. It passes immediate judgment. Your subconscious mind on the other hand, is merely a computer. It is non-critical and does not pass judgment. It’s the part of your mind that tells your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, what actions you take on a natural and regular basis, and about whom you are and are not. Learning to set aside the critical factor of the conscious mind so you can now non-critically accept information into your subconscious mind is fundamentally Hypnosis!
The next explanation I call, “The Garden Path Explanation.” Hypnosis can be likened simply unto walking down a garden path. There are a variety of ways in which you are able to get from Point A to Point B on this unmapped path. You can walk it yourself and along the way, discover which way/s to go. If on your journey you find that you’ve perhaps been down any of these trodden paths before, it may be a little easier this time around. If however, this is all uncharted territory, you might find yourself doing a bit of twisting and turning. This is merely a learning curve about how to get through the garden path and to your destination. Self-discovery is really Self-Hypnosis. The other alternative to reaching your destination would be to have someone tie you up, gag you, and drag you down this garden path from Point A to Point B. Does that work? Well yes, you did get from Point A to Point B, but learned absolutely nothing along the way! I would be so bold as to label this as brainwashing because you arrived by pure force, and not on your own accord. It involved no freedom of choice or self-will.
This type of ‘brainwashing’ does not work! Why you ask? Because once you release this person from their bounds and gags they will likely not stay very long, if at all! It is a very short term resolution. Even though they were taken to where they perhaps wanted to be, it was by force. They gained nothing. That old adage, “Life is about the journey, and not the destination,” has more depth to it that we at first glance imagined. On the very unfortunate flipside, it also has the potential to work on a long-term basis! If a person was forced from Point A to Point B (and didn’t necessarily want to be there), but believed that Point B was the only place to go, and that they no longer had any other options, they would more than likely stay. Yet, the moment they learn there is in fact another choice, and that they do indeed have options, they will almost instantly run away.
Now that we’ve examined the somewhat liberal garden path, let’s see what the Hypnotist does
A Hypnotist has gone through the garden path, and is very familiar with the twists, turns, and suitable stepping stones. They know which flowers to smell and which ones have thorns! If the subject decides that they’d like to go down a certain path that they have not yet been down, the Hypnotist will accompany them. They will guide their steps, direct their actions, assist them in relaxing by helping the subject control his/her breathing and just give them the overall assurance that all is well. The Hypnotist is simply holding out their hand, offering the guidance for this person to walk the garden path by themselves ultimately. By definition of this explanation, all Hypnosis is Self-Hypnosis. The subject is really walking down this ‘garden path’ called Hypnosis on their own. I cannot stress enough that a Hypnotist is a guide, and for all intensive purposes, a teacher.
Next, I’d like to talk about what I have coined, “The Elvis Explanation.” If I was to go to a street Downtown, and just randomly pull a stranger out of the crowd and say, “Hey, do an Elvis impersonation”, what are the chances of that individual fulfilling my request? I’d say slim to none!! Wouldn’t you agree? Yet, what if I was to completely alter my approach? If I chose to perhaps go to a park, examine the beauty of the alluring water fountain, and sit next to somebody and say, “Wow, isn’t it a beautiful day in the park?” If this person responds, and we begin to engage in a conversation, I immediately start to build rapport! I could find out why they are here. Chances are they are here for many of the same reasons I am, to relax and to have some well-deserved fun! I can them engage them further by letting them know that I have a lot fun here at the park and can show them how to do the same. Again, I’m continuing to build and gain rapport. Through conversation I will gain a clearer and more detailed understanding of what is that they were hoping to get out of their visit at the park. Once I know this, I will be able to guide them accordingly.
So, back to The King of Rock….. Once I’ve built rapport, the next step is to start to show them how to move their bodies like Elvis, or perhaps teach them the lyrics to Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog or Heartbreak Hotel! Take your pick! I also teach them to say things like, “Thank you very much”. Now that this person has the body movements, the lyrics, and the words, they have the intonations. They know how to sing the songs. What are the chances of this individual doing the Elvis impersonation then? Far, far more! Why? Because I took them through a process of first finding out what they wanted and then by letting them know I could give it to them. Showing and guiding them through a step-by-step process and then watching as they did it themselves.
For a more practical example, it would be much like telling someone how to become a nonsmoker. I find out what they want. Do they want to quit smoking? If so, what are their reasons in doing so? Once I’ve gained a clear perspective on their desired outcome, I would tell them that I can help the, and that I’ve helped many people just like them. I can give them what they want! The very first thing that they will need to do is think differently. They need to think about the things that a nonsmoker thinks of. They need to learn the ‘moves’ that are nonsmoker moves. They need to be able to walk the walk and talk the talk of a nonsmoker. Now that I’ve successfully taught them these new habits, they will feel compelled to practice and incorporate them. Their chances of becoming a non-smoker increase dramatically. And then when we do it at a subconscious level, it becomes just who they are.
The last explanation is, “The Teacher/Student Analogy.” Since Hypnosis is a learning process, everyone can learn the art of Hypnosis. Instead of the word Hypnotist, replace this word with one that you have become quite familiar within the preceding pages – teacher!! Instead of the word subject, replace this with the word student. Thus the Hypnotist is the Teacher, and the Subject the Student!