The 4 components of hypnosis (3 & 4 of 4)

 4 components of hypnosis (#3 & #4) Following up from the previous entry.

3. Mind-Body connection (Body is robotic)

The body is robotic refers to the idea that the body responds to whatever the mind thinks. Our thoughts, though usually treated as if they are “not real” because they are not visible and cannot be held or touched (i.e., physical/material), are actually “real” in that it produces a bodily (physical) response. Most people have been conditioned to consider only the materialistic (something that can be perceived by our senses (especially sight and sound) to be “real.” However, a different perspective would suggest (even if we do not enter the realm of spirituality or metaphysics) that our thoughts (and feelings) are also real even though they are non-material/physical.

One of the ways of explaining this is in the example of watching a movie. While it is all acting and images projected on a screen, our thoughts or perception of what’s happening (be it action, horror, romance, or comedy) – lead to us experiencing feelings which in turn result in physiological changes (e.g., sweating in our palms, racing heart beat, pupil dilation, and so on). In that respect, our thoughts cause our body to respond to the stimuli as if it is actually happening or “real.”

“The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they are deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay; at the command of glad tidings it becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty.”
(From James Allen’s As A Man Thinketh)

#4 Imagination: Visualization (imagery) & Feeling

The fourth component deals with imagination which is derived from the Latin word imaginary – literally meaning “to form a picture.”

Hypnosis is all about giving (and receiving) suggestions. The suggestion leads to imagination (creating imagery) in the client’s mind. However, over the years I have come to realize that imagery here does not necessarily mean a visual representation or a picture. Some people are more prone to forming pictures or images in their mind while others do not readily form pictures. It would be counterproductive for us, as therapists, to force our clients to create visuals or images.

Here, when we refer to imagination, visualization, and imageries – we ought to be more concern with whether our clients understand our suggestions. The suggestions will lead to their thoughts rising in their mind. These thoughts may lead to pictures or images. What is most important is that the thoughts lead to an “experience” or feelings.

So while we did say earlier our thoughts lead to the physiological changes in our body (or thoughts create our reality), perhaps a more accurate depiction of the process is that thoughts lead to feelings which then lead to physiological changes. That ultimately manifests into physical reality.

How does it work?

Hypnosis works by “switching off” (“turning down”) the Critical Mind – the left brain and allowing the right brain to “take over.” This can be done by leading the brain to focus on something mundane and monotonous such as a swinging pendulum. Once the left brain realizes there is nothing interesting for it to analyze, it “shuts down” and passes control to the right brain. The process of hypnosis requires the utilization of the right brain because it requires imagination and the ability to “dream.” By “suspending” the critical mind, we are more likely to be able to engage our ability to visualize images which will than impact how our physical body responds. As we already touched on earlier, when you convince your mind of something (that merely exists in the mind), the body responds to these visualizations and thoughts as if they are “real.” And in fact, it is arguable that they are in fact “real.”

 

The above is taken from the book Self Hypnosis: A New Opportunity for Wellness. If you have not read it, I would strongly suggest you read this book. There is no better time than to do it NOW.

Note:
Remember whether you describe it as left/right brain – we are essentially referring to the functions of the brain to either be "critical" or be “imaginative.”

(If you would like to learn more about hypnosis/hypnotherapy, do contact us at hypnonow@now4life.com)