How Hypnosis Works The hypnotic state is an optimum state for making changes in your life. During hypnosis you can set aside limiting beliefs that may have been preventing you from moving toward a more healthy, and happier you. In order for you to understand how hypnosis works, it is very important for you to understand the relationship between your conscious mind and your subconscious mind. The Conscious Mind The conscious mind, which accounts for 10% of our mind, is working right now as you are reading this. It is that part of you that is aware of what is going on right now. Choices and decisions are made by the conscious mind. The conscious mind is logical and analytical and it is where we spend most of our time. It basically performs four functions. The conscious mind analyzes and it a problem-solver by evaluating whatever concern, situation or issue has its attention The conscious mind makes decisions that we often think are automatic, but in reality, engage a part of our conscious mind. The conscious mind exercises what we call will power. Will Power seldom lasts, does it? You mean well, but conscious intent fails and the old behavior reoccurs. The conscious mind also is the place of working memory. It is the memory we use every day to function. Where we all live, however, is in the level below this level of awareness, the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind accounts for the other 90%. Conscious decisions are influenced by the data stored in our subconscious mind. The Subconscious Mind The subconscious mind, which accounts for 90% of our mind, can be compared to a computer in that it stores the data for all the experiences we have ever had. One of the most important functions of the subconscious mind is that it automatically controls our bodily functions; breathing, heart beating, eyes blinking, the immune system and organs, muscles, bones and tissues from the cellular level to its inter-relatedness as a whole body functioning. The subconscious mind is creative, intuitive, irrational, and emotional. Being irrational can work for you or against you. Because it's illogical it can make you into anything you want to be, i.e., rich, famous, slender, happy. It can also keep you stuck in negative behavior. It contains your values, your core beliefs about your self, every thought you have ever had, every word that has ever been said to you, every experience you have ever had. Just like a computer operates only on it's programming, so does your subconscious mind. Also like a computer, your subconscious mind can be reprogrammed. We are constantly reprogramming our subconscious mind through our experiences and self-talk. If our internal dialogue is saying we are fat, a smoker, a success, a failure; then that is what we become. This programming has been placed in there from many sources and it must operate on this programming. How do we get suggestions into the subconscious mind? Bypassing the "Critical Factor" There is a part of the Conscious Mind called the critical factor. It's kind of like a guard at the gate between the Conscious Mind and the Subconscious Mind. It has the power to accept or reject suggestions from entering the Subconscious Mind. It has very good intentions. It's job is to protect us. Because change is viewed as a threat to our nervous system, any suggestion that does not match the existing programming automatically gets rejected. That is how it accomplishes it's goal of protecting us. The only way a real change can take place is to get the new programming into our subconscious mind. The only way to get to the subconscious mind and bypass the critical factor, is through our memories, habits, and emotions. Memories are only created through experience and you may need many positive experiences to diminish the effects the negative experience. This could take a long time to create. Habits require willpower and time in order to become habits. Emotions either happen randomly or require changing the way you think about a situation and that can be enormously difficult to do and also takes time. There is another, much easier way bypass the critical factor, and that is through hypnosis. Through the induction of relaxation, the critical factor goes to sleep for awhile. The Conscious Mind stays awake, and can still make decisions. But now you're in control while your subconscious is receptive to any suggestion that your conscious mind wants to let in. How does Hypnosis feel? Since everyone has experienced light levels of hypnosis at different times, don't be surprised if you don't feel hypnotized. All that is required to be hypnotized is a motivation to be hypnotized, concentration, imagination, relaxation, and the willingness to respond to suggestion. There are ways to check for the depth level of hypnosis, usually in a one-on-one session. During hypnosis, you will remain conscious of your surroundings. Some of the sensations you may experience are: Tingling in your fingertips or limbs A sense of numbness or limb distortion A sense of being light and floating away from your body A heavy feeling like you are sinking A sense of energy moving through your body Feelings of emotions Fluttering eyelids An increase or decrease in salivation. When you notice that you are noticing these sensations, do not become alarmed or you may shock yourself right out of your trance. Just expect the trance to occur gradually and it will. Suggestions stay with some individuals indefinitely, others need reinforcement. The effects of hypnosis are cumulative: The more the techniques are practiced and posthypnotic suggestions are brought into play, the more permanent the results become.