
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural state. In fact, we are in hypnosis all the time, every day, many times a day. Becoming absorbed in a good book or movie, driving in autopilot, or becoming bored and allowing your mind to drift. Sound familiar? These are just a few examples of experiencing hypnosis. So, to be clear, most people can be hypnotized, as we all do it naturally every day.
Hypnosis is a state in which beneficial ideas can more quickly and easily gain access to the subconscious mind. Durning this relaxed state, the brain waves move from awake (beta brain wave state) to the desired theta brain wave state (deeply relaxed state). In theta, the subconscious can be accessed.
To explain further, we all have a conscious mind, where logical, linear, and analytical thinking takes place. We also have a subconscious mind. This is the domain of emotions, memories, perceptions, habits, beliefs and bodily functions reside. So, in order to get new, beneficial ideas to be accepted by the subconscious, we must relax the conscious mind and communicate directly with the subconscious. Once accepted by the subconscious mind, the mind behaves as if it is true. In fact, from day to day, we operate from our conscious minds only about 10% of the time, while the other 90% is spent in our subconscious minds.
Another way to look at it, and my personal favorite, is: "Hypnosis is meditation with at goal." -Grace Smith