When you think of a hypnotist, what you do imagine?
A tranced out, archaic shaman chanting behind a veil of smoke? A mysterious man with a long cloak and a strange array of vintage pocket watches? A proper, middle-aged woman sitting across from you in a therapist office?
… How about yourself?
These are all valid images of a hypnotist. However, by tapping into the power of self hypnosis, you can become the most ideal and self-healing hypnotist of them all.
After all, no one knows you like you do.
With self hypnosis, you can become the master gardener — planting seeds of personal transformation into your subconscious mind and watching (in awe) as you blossom into the most vibrant version of yourself possible.
Oh, and you can do this all on your own terms: whenever, wherever, and however you desire. No therapy appointments, no service bills, no external influence — just you and your ever-expanding creative freedom.
But first, let’s get a tad technical about what exactly hypnosis is and how it works. Finally, we’ll discuss how you can tap into the hypnotic magic yourself.
How Does Modern Science Define Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is by no means a recent invention.
In fact, hypnosis has been around for at least 4,000 years.
Hypnosis was commonly used by shamans and sages of antiquity to cure ailments of all kind. They believed that the hypnotic state allowed them to come in contact with gods and goddesses to receive healing wisdom.
The ancient Egyptians and Greeks even built “sleep temples” where they would induce hypnotic states in patients to cure illness. In fact, we have even derived the word “hypnosis” from the Greek god, Hypnos (God of Sleep).
For a more colorful journey through the world’s of hypnosis, read How To Define Hypnosis? Traversing The Worlds Of Hypnotherapy.
While the ancients viewed hypnosis as a way of communing with the divine, modern science views hypnosis as a way of communing with our subconscious mind. Yet, the results of both hypnotic communions are exactly the same — deeply transformative and healing.
Quite the brilliant display of our inner divinity, eh?
So, how do modern day scientists define hypnosis?
While psychologists can measure the effectiveness of hypnosis by noting changes in the mind and behavior, neuroscientists can only measure physically observable changes in the brain.
Luckily, brain imaging technology makes these physical observations possible.
Our brains are made up of a complex and interconnected network of neurons that transmit information via electrical pulses. This rhythmic pulsing creates a brainwave frequency that can be measured using an EEG (electroencephalogram) monitor.
The highest brainwave frequencies (gamma and beta) exist in highly active and alert conscious states, while the lowest brainwave frequencies (delta) are found in the unconscious states of deep sleep.
However, it is within the frequencies between waking and sleeping (alpha and theta) that hypnotic magic happens. Within these midrange brainwave states, the conscious mind and the subconscious mind seemingly vibrate as one.
Alpha and theta brainwaves are responsible for many non-waking states of consciousness; most notably, hypnosis.
Hypnosis is a trance-like state of heightened concentration. And EEG readings have shown that we can actually fall into a state of hypnosis several times throughout each day — not just right before sleeping and waking.
You know that feeling of being so into a book or movie that the rest of the world seems to disappear and you lose track of time? This is a state of hypnosis. Surely, you are familiar with this flow-type state in one way or another.
Hypnotherapy, then, is the controlled induction of this hypnotic state for therapeutic purposes. As hypnosis is a state of extreme suggestibility, the subconscious mind can be altered using intentional “suggestions.”
For a more detailed scientific explanation of how hypnosis works, check out How Does Hypnosis Work? A Scientific Understanding.
Self Hypnosis: Surfacing The Best You Possible
One of the biggest heroes in hypnotherapy today is a phenomenal woman by the name of Marisa Peer.
She is a hypnotherapy hero for two huge reasons:
- She walks the walk. Using the power of her mind, Marisa has healed herself both of infertility and of cancer.
- She talks the talk. She has taught people all around the world (from A-list celebrities and professional athletes, to parents, students, and children alike) how they can use the power of their minds to transform their realities, as well.
Marisa Peer has, time and time again, made the seemingly impossible, inspiringly possible.
Her victories have made her one of the most sought after hypnotherapists on the globe, and have had her recognized as the #1 Therapist by Tatler magazine. She is also the author of Mindvalley’s life-changing Uncompromised Life program.
One of Marisa’s biggest lessons to the world is that of the power of the mind — that our minds create our reality, and that we have the power to shape our realities based on what we choose to feed our minds.
Here’s the thing, though — throughout our lives, our minds have been fed lies. And they have believed those lies.
Those lies have developed into the fears and limiting beliefs we experience every day. These cause our minds to say and believe things like “I am not beautiful enough,” “I am not smart enough,” I am not healthy enough,” and “I am not confident enough.”
Ultimately, these fears and limiting beliefs all boil down to one, all-encompassing lie, “I am not enough.”
However, Marisa reminds us that we weren’t born with these fears and limiting beliefs. Newborn babies don’t go around thinking, “Oh, I suck at talking,” or “Oh man, I’m so bad at walking.”
This is liberating. Just as our minds have subconsciously been fed self-limiting beliefs over time, we can consciously ditch those beliefs and feed our minds new, self-serving ones.
You have so much power to keep yourself well, to heal your body. You have so much power that to live a full, happy life. You have so much power to attract love, to have loving relationships, to be successful. Don’t give your power away. How you’re going to feel in life is really all up to you.
— Marisa Peer
This is where hypnotherapy comes in.
Via hypnotherapy, you can access your subconscious mind and begin re-wiring these old beliefs and thought patterns.
You can re-wire “I’m not enough” to “I am enough; I’m so enough of enough of enough that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.”
Hypnosis is like tilling to your “Mind Garden.”
In hypnosis, you can visit your subconscious Mind Garden and pull the weeds (remove negative beliefs), plant new seeds (create new, positive beliefs), and even water the seeds that are serving you (re-affirm positive beliefs).
And with self hypnosis, you can tend to your Mind Garden whenever —and however— you’d like; no appointment necessary.
Then, anytime false and limiting beliefs begin poking their head, you can return your Mind Garden and turn that sh*t into compost.
Here’s how.
How To Hypnotize Yourself (Like A Pirate)
While there are many techniques to self-induce hypnosis, we are particularly fond of the 6-step PIRATE technique — Privacy, Intention, Relaxation, Actualization, Transformation, Exit.
For a juicier, more in-depth guide on how to hypnotize yourself (like a pirate), read our wholesome tutorial, How To Hypnotize Yourself In 6 Simple Steps.
Arrrrre you ready?
Ahoy, matey! Let’s dive in.
1. Privacy
First and foremost, make yourself as mentally and physically comfortable as possible.
- Find a place that is quiet, peaceful, and comfortable
- Prepare a comfortable seat or lay on a bed (if you can resist falling asleep)
- Clear your schedule of obligations and silence your phone
- Write down anything that is pressing on your mind (let the paper take care of it)
2. Intention
Why are you going into hypnosis?
What weeds are you pulling? What are you planting? What are you watering?
Whatever it is, define your intention clearly.
If you aren’t quite sure what to work on, you can take this 45-second quiz by Marisa Peer to help diagnose what area of your life could use some tender loving care.
It’s important to keep your intention direct (“I am…”), powerful, and radiating with positive emotion.
Since your mind thinks in images and feelings, not in words, it’s important that your intention is positively emotionally inspiring.
Here are some examples of positive affirmations:
“I am unconditionally confident.”
“I am the creator of my reality and I choose love always.”
“I am enough; I’m so enough of enough of enough that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.”
3. Relaxation
Intention set? Now, you are ready to begin self hypnosis.
Draw your focus to your breath.
Allow your breath to consume your awareness. Relax into it’s rhythmic pattern, feel the movement of your abdomen filling and emptying, and notice any tingling sensations you may be feeling.
With every breath, allow your body to become more relaxed.
As you breathe mindfully, roll your eyes upward as if you are looking at your third eye. Then, relax your eyelids ever so slightly. If you feel your eyelids fluttering, you are doing it right.
This upward eye position induces the hypnotic state.
4. Actualization
Feeling super relaxed? Good. Now, it’s time to go even deeper…
Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking down a staircase, counting down each step from 1 to 10.
With every step, double your relaxation.
By the time you reach step #10, you should be in an extremely calm, relaxed state of mind.
5. Transformation
If you’re full body is relaxed and calm, your awareness is entirely internal, and your imagination feels center-stage, congratulations! You’ve entered a state of hypnosis.
Now, for the transformative part.
Visualization is the crux of transformation in self-hypnosis.
Your brain likes and responds to images that make a picture.
— Marisa Peer
Start by simply visualizing yourself in a bright light. Then, recalling your intention, imagine yourself having already manifested it.
“I am unconditionally confident.”
Visualize being unconditionally confident. Immerse yourself.
What does unconditional confidence feel like? What does unconditional confidence look like? How does being unconditionally confident radiate onto others?
Imagine yourself with the beautiful, vibrant, radiating characteristics of being unconditionally confident. Let this feeling expand, be in this feeling for as long as you desire.
The more you reinforce a self-image, the faster it will manifest in your reality.
This is you, in your Mind Garden, planting, watering, and nurturing the seeds that will flourish into your best possible self.
6. Exit
Once you feel wholesome in your gardening, it’s time to exit self-hypnosis.
You can exit in several ways.
- Set an alarm. If you choose to set an alarm to pull you out of hypnosis, it’s important to set your alarm tone to something soothing so that you aren’t startled.
- Choosing when to exit. If you like the idea of choosing when to end your hypnosis, you can easily do that, too. You can do this by using a pre-set wake up phrase such as “I am now entering waking consciousness” or by slowly counting backward from 10 (walking back up the stairs).
- Falling into sleep. This can be a good way to directly enter the dream-state and further explore the depths of your subconscious mind. However, falling asleep can interfere with how well you consciously remember the details of your hypnosis.
Take It A Step Further With Autohypnosis Techniques
Are you wanting to take self-hypnosis a step further?
Beautiful.
After you have mastered self-hypnosis, you can build upon and deepen your experience by incorporating some autohypnosis techniques, such as anchoring and auto-suggestion. For an overview of the 3 most popular self hypnosis techniques, check out 3 Autohypnosis Techniques To Become Your Best Self.
These are techniques you can use while in the hypnotic state (generally within the “transformation” step) to enrich your experience and make your personal transformation that much more effective.
While in self hypnosis, these additional techniques work as fertilizer for your Mind Garden. And who doesn’t want the best, most beautiful garden possible?
Have you ever tried self hypnosis? Would you like to? If so, what new seeds would you plant into your subconscious mind? Share with us in a comment below!
