What do you think about hypnosis?
Does it work? Is it just a party trick? Is it safe? Is it good or evil? What should I use it for?
These are questions some of my subscribers have put to me when I have mentioned hypnosis.
There are, of course, many forms of hypnosis. Some techniques you can use to hypnotize yourself. Others are to hypnotize others. Many can be used both on yourself and on others. The answers to most of those questions depends on which forms of hypnosis you are using and particularly how you are using them.
Does it work?
"Does it work" is perhaps the easiest to answer. In a word, YES!
The sub question "will it work for me?" is also quite easy to answer. Yes, it will, as long as it is done properly.
Of course, whether it will achieve the results you intend is yet another question. There is absolutely no doubt that hypnosis works. But if you go into hypnosis in the expectation there will be instant dramatic results you may be disappointed. There are certainly many documented cases of instant dramatic results, but you cannot rely on this being the case. It is better to view hypnosis as a tool you can use in order to improve your own personal development, or that of others. A tool you should use regularly, and which will gradually bring you closer to your objective. If you DO get an immediate, dramatic result then that is a bonus.
Is it just a party trick?
A party trick? Yes, some people use hypnosis that way. Personally I do not like this use of what should be a very effective improvement technique. But yes, there are some people who use it to manipulate other people on stage, getting them to do silly things, getting them to forget immediately something that has just been said to them, etc. But this is not the form of hypnosis I am talking about here.
Is it safe?
Is hypnosis safe? To be honest, that depends.
As I have already said many times, hypnosis is a tool. A very useful and powerful tool. Are tools safe? If they are properly made and then used properly, yes they are. But if you have a faulty tool, or use it inappropriately it can cause a lot of damage.
Before undergoing any form of hypnosis, whether it is self-hypnosis or conducted by a qualified hypnotherapist, you should be fully aware of the end goal and ideally should also be aware of the steps that will be used to reach that goal. You should also be able to trust the person who is going to use it on you, or the person who has taught you to use it on yourself. Follow these rules and hypnosis is safe.
Is it good or evil?
Is hypnosis good or evil? Let me be clear about something right away. Hypnosis is not a dark art practised by devil worshippers or some other evil cult. Or perhaps I should rephrase that - it doesn't have to be a dark art. As I said previously, it is simply a tool. A tool is not, of itself, good or evil. What is good or evil is the way in which it is used.
If you are particularly religious you should not worry about the practice of hypnosis in some way conflicting with or being against the precepts of your religion. Does your religion tell you that it is evil to use a screwdriver? I hope not! But it probably does tell you that you should not use it to poke someone's eyes out! Likewise, there is no reason why it should tell you that using hypnosis is wrong per se. What is really key here is HOW you use it, what you are using it FOR.
How should hypnosis be used?
Which brings us to the final question. What SHOULD you use hypnosis for?
Hypnosis can be used for many good purposes. You can cure many different maladies with it, especially but not exclusively those that are concerned with your mental state. For example many people use hypnosis to remove irrational phobias. You can use it to strengthen positive aspects of your personality. You can use it to remove mental and emotional blocks which are preventing you achieve what you want to achieve in life - and all of us have such blocks, so hypnosis can be useful for all of us!
The number 1 rule is that the purpose itself should be the right purpose. Never, under any circumstances or for any reason, use hypnosis to make someone do something they do not want to do. This applies whether or not you believe that purpose is a good purpose. For example, if your partner smokes and you want them to stop smoking because it is bad for their health, do not start using hypnotic techniques to wean them off their cigarettes without their knowledge and permission. To do so would be an evil act even if it is done with a good motive. The same applies when using hypnosis on yourself. Do not try to use hypnosis to achieve a certain result unless you are sure that is a result you really want to achieve. I believe before you use self hypnosis you should meditate, focussing on whatever it is you want to achieve with the hypnotic techniques. Use your intuition to determine whether or not this is the right thing for you. Only proceed if it really is.
Hopefully I have put your mind at ease if you had any doubts about the value or morality of hypnosis, but also given you pointers to avoid using it in the wrong way. Add hypnosis to your toolkit for self-improvement and I believe you will be amazed by the progress you can make.
