Are there things about your attitudes or behaviors that you would change if you could? Are you sick and tired of dealing with a problem and looking unsuccessfully for solutions from others? Are there physical or emotional things that are unwanted, unhealthy, annoying or out of control? The truth is that each of us has the power within to take control and make changes, rather simply.
We begin this life on a long path of learning. We store information in our mind as we go. We experience the hot stove burner through burned fingers in early years. That information is stored in our subconscious as a folder with an image and emotional tag. Next time we see the stove the conscious mind recognizes the image, recalls the bad experience and makes the decision not to touch. This lesson is stored as part of us, part of our automatic behavior files. Then, as adults, we automatically know not to touch the red, hot burner. We avoid the behavior.
Some of us store files that say it’s OK to smoke, to eat unlimited amounts of food, to always be late. Other files could leave the person fearful of things, anxious over challenges or always expecting the worst. Some people’s files tell them they will never be successful or as good as others. And some files convince people to accept hot flashes, pain or high blood pressure. Our minds store millions of things, some good, some bad, some no longer useful. The good news is we can change any file, any attitude or behavior. We simply go to the storage location by using a natural state of mind, a shift in consciousness known as hypnosis. You can undo or change things just as easily as you created them. The phrases and terms we use – “I changed my mind;” “I used to think that . . . but now I think;” “Mind over matter;” “Automatic pilot” – are actually verbal explanations of the process that occurs in our mind.
Hypnosis is widely misunderstood, even by some professionals. The biggest obstacle in choosing to use hypnosis and hypnotherapy is a lack of understanding, which creates fear and doubt. Many people think it is some odd state of mind produced by a stage performer who gets control of our minds. Not true (sorry entertainers). Hypnosis is not brainwashing. In hypnosis, no one controls your mind or makes you do things. You are always in control.
Hypnosis is simply a state of relaxation and concentration, a shift in consciousness. It’s not sleep. You experience this shift in consciousness naturally, every day. We fail to recognize a hypnotic state because we think hypnosis is something else. Some of the confusion is related to the fact that you are aware of things going on around you while in this state. Day-dreaming is one example of this hypnotic state. Sometimes you shift into it while watching TV or a movie or while driving. Have you ever driven somewhere and all of a sudden you arrive realizing you do not seem to remember the trip? You had shifted into a state of hypnosis.
Now that you understand hypnosis, you are free to “change your mind” about it. You can think of making the changes you wanted to make (you can use hypnosis to make physical changes in the body); once and for all, safely and successfully, using hypnosis and a hypnotherapist as your guide.
Lynn Ralston, R.N., CHt, a certified hypnotherapist and registered nurse, provides hypnotherapy services through Changes Hypnotherapy in New Cumberland, Harrisburg and other locations, 814-422-8783.
