Our best intentions to improve ourselves each year often end in defeat and possibly causing us to feel worse for our perceived failure.
This is a self-defeating annual custom. Hypnotist, Valerie Grimes, examines why this is.
To better understand perceived failure when it comes to a Resolution it is important to understand this simple fact:
One’s actions are actually governed by unconscious urges that drive us to self-defeating behavior even if our mind is set on not doing so. No matter how much a person wants to stop a behavior it is difficult unless the subconscious and conscious parts of the mind agree.
For example, if a smoker consciously wants to quit, but the subconscious part of the mind has ties to why the person started in the first place, the person may be able to hold off the urges for a while, but something will happen triggering an old memory or belief and the person influenced by an uncontrollable force that unconsciously leads them to the behavior that they are trying to eliminate. What this means is you decide consciously to quit and this is supported by rational reasons, but the subconscious says, “no way, I need to smoke, because it helps me….”.
So, until the two parts of the mind agree, there will be difficulty sticking with resolutions to lose weight, to stop smoking, control our anger, or other self defeating behaviors.
This is basic neuroscience it is how the brain works and hypnosis works by developing stronger associations with the desired goal.
The Two Parts of Mind.
The conscious part of a mind is the thinking, rational, analytical part. It helps make decisions about careers, financial opportunities, where we will live, etc. (it is kind of like a parent, it is the practical authority). The subconscious part is where all memories, beliefs and feelings reside. It is very imaginative and like an 8-year-old child. This is the part of mind that dictates our behavior. The conscious mind is the thinker, the subconscious is the doer.
Hypnosis is a process that allows the subconscious part of mind to have a voice. During this natural, peaceful state the hypnotist can guide and assist the client in reaching their goal.
Let’s say a person wants to learn another language. They consciously have the desire to do so (it will further their career, open up more opportunities to travel, etc.). They enroll and go to a couple of classes. But, an old memory, or belief from the subconscious part of the mind comes creeping in and without awareness the person finds an excuse to quit the class (the hours are too long, I don’t have time, I don’t like the instructor). What is really happening is an old belief or memory is present that tells them that they won’t be able to learn anything new. The conscious mind got them into the class and the subconscious got them out of class because it was uncomfortable with the idea.
During hypnosis, the hypnotist can lead the person back to the very first time they experienced that memory. Perhaps when they were in grade school, a teacher, parent or caregiver either made a remark that stayed with the person, or they berated the person and cause them thinking they could never learn anything new. With hypnosis, the original event can be transformed, creating a new belief that learning is easy, fun and exciting and that they will be fluent in the new language. Experiments in the field of neuroscience tell us we can change the emotion related to a memory, and this is basically what we do with hypnosis.
Hypnosis was used successfully in the 1800s by the medical profession in surgeries where anesthesia was not available. The latent powers of hypnosis were used in the mind of the patient to refocus during surgery. In 1949, The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis was founded. It was expanded internationally 10 years later. The American Medical Association recognized hypnosis as a legitimate treatment method in both medicine and dentistry in 1958. To learn more, go to the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners website.
Valerie A. Grimes is a certified clinical hypnotherapist assisting individuals in achieving an optimum level of support through positive thinking and by teaching new habits and forming new beliefs available through the process of hypnosis. She blends centuries old hypnotic practices with modern day neuroscience. Her office is located at The Flow Center in Oak Lawn.