by Mark Stein
Hypnosis for a New Life
“Magic” can be defined as the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc. The word “Magik” has been used in this article as the author does not intend to write about producing illusions for other people’s entertainment but rather for oneself. This will make a lot of sense as you continue to read on.
The field of Neuro Linguistic Programing (NLP) has been simply defined as the study of subjective experience. Why exactly is understanding the human condition as one of “subjective experience” important? We are born into this world without meaning and create our own unique meaning or reality through our own individual experiences. It has been well documented that five people can look at, hear, and feel the same exact event at the exact same time and on a consistent basis all see, hear, and feel an experience that is something completely different. These studies exemplify what is meant by NLP’s study of the condition of human subjective experience. Another way to understand this is that while one person can get excited at the prospect of public speaking due to their reality of experiencing excitement for the perceived opportunity another person can get anxious due to their reality of experiencing anticipatory apprehension over the outcome of the event.
It is the author’s opinion that at some time in an individual’s lifetime they will become stuck due to their buildup of their past experiences. Whether this condition of being stuck revolves around an inability to lose weight, quit smoking, get into a healthy relationship, etc., this general human condition of being or becoming stuck is a shared human experience. It is the opinion of the author that there is such an abundance of mediocrity in this world because people routinely make the wrong choice amongst their only two choices: 1) settle and accept their current condition as their current and ongoing reality or 2) make a change.
The Challenge of Homeostasis
As hypnotists, we know well that homeostasis or the subconscious mind’s resistance to change and ferocious commitment to remain the same is the most difficult force for human beings to overcome. We further know that due to 90% of behavior residing within the subconscious mind for change to occur and be lasting the subconscious mind must be worked on and focused upon through subconscious modalities such as hypnosis and NLP.
Just as NLP is the study of subjective experience it is also the study of modeling excellence and creating change. Through our understanding of the fight vs. flight model, we know that the average human being will naturally take on flight or the resistance of pain through avoidance of change and conscious reluctant acceptance of one’s current situation and thus subject oneself to a lifetime of a job or relationship that is not and never will be fulfilling.
How we as human beings break free from this inborn debilitating human process is what the author refers to as “creating magik”. Through creating magik we create new realities and possibilities of choice and that is really what change work is all about. Let’s be honest and accept the fact that life is uncomfortable. It hurts human beings to think so they generally don’t make the effort and rather live their lives in a robot-like trance just muddling through in the most minimum level of effort exerted never stepping out of their comfort zones. Most humans need absolute guarantees to take any chances. While this is off topic, we are reminded of the movie The Matrix when understanding this fact of the human condition.
The River Metaphor
The metaphor of the river can be used to understand the human condition. While it is safe on both sides of the river whether one chooses to remain stuck or seek and realize change, one drowns in the middle. The purpose of this article is not to go into the many ways that people drown in the middle such as using imprisoning language such as words like “try” and “I always this or that”; however it is important to understand the power of this metaphor for change. Simply put either the client is or becomes committed to change or no change work is done. This concept of client commitment is most commonly understood within the context of helping those that want and are committed to stopping smoking for themselves and not for someone else.
Where does change begin? It has been said that insight is 10% of change. The commonly used metaphor of hypnosis is that of the iceberg in as much as if you are only addressing the tip, true change on the whole is impossible. We know that with hypnosis and NLP true change is possible. The purpose of this article again is to highlight the need to explain to our clients that commitment for change is absolute and there is no middle ground. The client must be absolutely committed to change or not even bother making any effort. This need to commit to change or accept remaining the same is really the essence of the dichotomy of living life in the 21st century as a human being. Helping create magik is an empowering concept for our clients that I urge more hypnotists to use.
It is fear of the unknown that keeps people paralyzed in this condition of being stuck. There are countless studies of suicide wherein the findings were that people literally have opted to end their own lives than face the uncertainty of life whether better or worse without their former significant other who recently left them. Sir Isaac Newton’s theory was simply that items in rest tend to remain in rest. It is this place of stagnation that gives life to this pattern and is the true bane of human existence. Laziness and lack of effort of putting work into change further keeps people glued stuck in this state. As hypnotists our challenge is that of taking on the role of a coach to get our clients to see that their future reality lies in the relentless faith, effort, and determination to become absolutely congruent with what they want and help them see the need for this commitment with our help and direction to get there. This process of helping create a new reality and bringing it into being for another human is the true essence of the structure of magik and the meaning of being a great hypnotist.
