The powers of hypnotism, an altered state of consciousness, have fascinated humans since the beginning of time, and were recognized by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and by native tribes in all parts of the world.
by Jo Johnston, Ph.D. —
The powers of hypnotism, an altered state of consciousness, have fascinated humans since the beginning of time, and were recognized by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and by native tribes in all parts of the world.
The phenomenon we know as hypnosis has been, and still is, called by many names, such as visualization, the Lamaze childbirth method, relaxation, meditation and biofeedback. Virtually everyone floats in and out of various levels of hypnosis every day. Even daydreaming is an altered state of consciousness. Have you ever been driving and abruptly arrived at your destination without remembering how you got there? This is hypnosis — at a deeper state even than the usual experience in a clinical situation.
Theoretically, each of us is a hypnotist. Interestingly, fear and intimidation are two of the strongest natural forms of hypnosis.
Within a controlled environment and with the help of a professional clinical hypnotherapist, hypnosis can produce positive, permanent results in removing undesirable habits, beliefs, fears, phobias, etc.
The mind has two main parts, the conscious and subconscious. The subconscious is the largest and most dominant aspect of the mind. Although the conscious, decision-making mind may seem to call the shots, it really is ruled by the desires of the subconscious mind. Only when you learn to understand and use your subconscious mind can you begin to understand yourself. Many people spend thousands of dollars and years of their lives trying to “find themselves,” while the secret is already within each of us.
Our subconscious mind acts the way it has been programmed to act, similar to the way a computer works. Most programming occurs before we are able to discriminate and understand whether the ideas being input are helpful or detrimental to our welfare. This ability for discriminating thinking occurs by the age of 12; before then, though, the subconscious mind accepts what it is told because it does not know the difference between right and wrong — that is the conscious mind’s job.
Hypnosis works in all areas of life — including past lives. Returning to the past and discovering the reasons for certain pains, fears, actions, beliefs, child abuse and sexual dysfunction allows an individual to free him or herself from past traumas.
A child who was told by a parent, “You never do anything right,” or “What’s the matter with you, are you stupid or something?” or “Can’t you do anything right?” is likely to be a failure as an adult. His conscious mind is not developed fully enough to censor these negative ideas, so his subconscious mind accepts them and establishes the belief that he cannot do anything right.
The subconscious mind was designed to fulfill orders given to it by the conscious mind. Since it was designed like a servant, it makes a very poor, but powerful master — yet people allow it to control their lives. If your subconscious mind has not pushed you toward success, health and happiness, it is time your conscious mind starts giving the orders. Hypnosis allows you to be your own boss by controlling the marvelous giant within you and letting its power work for you.
In the hands of a professional clinical hypnotherapist, you can penetrate the blockade that separates you from your painful past experiences. The proper guidance to conscious awareness of traumatic incidents and thoughts from the past can utterly disintegrate a neurosis. It also can block pain, including the serious pain of surgery. Hypnosis is a direct route to the subconscious mind, and it can reach deep to dissolve the nightmare of jumbled fears. It can provide the key to the causes of damaging emotions and can cure in a shorter time.
Hypnosis is taking its place as an invaluable tool in both medicine and psychotherapy.
Jo Johnson, M.A., Ph.D. in education, is the founder and owner of New Identity Inc. in Sun City. She has over 35 years of experience, training and teaching in various areas such as NLP, Gestalt therapy, Spirit Response Therapy (SRT), clinical hypnotherapy, nutrition (dietitian), marriage counseling and Dark Field Microscope screening. 623-972-0605.
Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 25, Number 3, June/July 2006.
January 14, 2013
Fear, Hypnosis, Meditation, Pain, Self-improvement, Stress