Lesson Two: Utilizing Self-Hypnosis to attain Academic Success

About two months have passed since I blogged about a simple self-hypnotic technique to Enhance Relaxation and Reduce Stress. Time necessary for those interested and motivated to master this basic technique and skill. Now it is time to apply this skill to improve your lives. The second lesson is academic dear Watson.

Here are two simple self-hypnotic techniques that will build on the self-hypnotic technique in Lesson One, which you can  easily apply in your academic pursuits to improve your academic performance and success.

1. Learn how to study diligently and efficiently. Study systematically and review the material that will be on a test. This will give you confidence and lower your stress level. Practice a regular pretest routine that works for you. Consult your school counselor or the internet for test strategies if you have any difficulties.
2. Utilize your Simple Self-Hypnotic Technique To Succeed. Prior to any exam use your self-hypnotic state of relaxation and while relaxed give yourself an autosuggestion that will help you relax and perform optimally on the test. For example, “When I sit in the test chair I will feel confident, my mind will be focused and clear, I will easily remember the test material and answer the test questions with ease and confidence.” When you first try this, I suggest you do it daily at least three days in advance of your exam. Some will only need to do it the night before or morning of the exam. In time you will figure out what works best for you. Also avoid negative thinking and self-doubts. Use your self-hypnosis to visualize a positive image of success to abolish these self-defeating thoughts. For example visualize yourself smiling and happy staring at your excellent test results. The more you practice visualization and autosuggestion the stronger they will become to neutralize self-doubt and enhance your performance.
3. Personalize your Autosuggestions and Visualization. Your self-hypnotic techniques will be more powerful and effective if their created from your personal circumstances and needs. You may need to change your autosuggestion and visualization depending on the type to test e.g., math, history, biology, physics etc. Be creative. Here is an example. A friend of mine had failed his electricians licensing test two times. He always feared and obsessed about the presence of the Electrician’s Board Tester always seeing him as a threatening authority figure that caused my friend’s anxiety to skyrocket. Also he had difficulty comprehending the written exam questions which caused him to make mistakes in answering them. Currently, he was in a panic that he would fail the test a third time. I gave him a post-hypnotic suggestion which in reality is an autosuggestion that when he took the exam he would be struck by the fact the Board Tester was so friendly and was always smiling at him. That was how he would visualize him. I then gave him the autosuggestion that when he read the test questions he would see himself actually doing the work on the job and the answers he needed would come from his work experience as a journeyman electrician and his electrician studies. Needless to say he passed the Electrician’s Board with flying colors and proudly received his electrician’s license. Moral of the story never give up and believe in yourself and you will succeed.

Enjoy! Learn from the process and your mistakes and failures knowing you will do better.

Lesson 3: Utilizing Self-Hypnosis to improve Athletic Performance

Most people’s ideas and assumptions about hypnosis are erroneously based on George du Maurier‘s 1895 novel Trilby. Svengali is a man who seduces, dominates and exploits Trilby, a young English girl, and makes her a famous singer through the use of unscrupulous hypnosis. Moreover, Dracula’s hypnotic stare as he bites his helpless victim, or from theatrical stage hypnotists who make audience volunteers do foolish, humiliating, and outlandish things.

These larger than life myths of an all-powerful hypnotist who has absolute control over his subject or victim has created unnecessary fear in the public’s mind and done great harm and disservice to the true value and benefits of hypnosis. Scientific research has proven that a person under hypnosis can not be forced to do something that is against their will – including something that is against their morals.

It is fundamental that you understand that ALL hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of mind which can be defined as a heightened state of focused concentration. The competent hypnotist only serves as a guide to your accessing and developing your innate self-hypnotic abilities. The more you practice and utilize these abilities the more efficient and powerful they will become.

I will be offering you some simple self-hypnotic techniques that will build on each other to help you deal with stress, improve concentration and focus, and your performance. The main purpose is to help you focus on a specific goal and use your concentration, imagination, visualization, guided imagery, and autosuggestion to attain the desired result. Your motivation is key here and it is critical that you suspend all expectations and judgement about what you think you should experience, otherwise you will defeat yourself.

Lesson One:

Sit comfortably in a quiet place. Close your eyes and take a slow natural breath. With each breath imagine breathing in relaxation and exhaling tension. Repeat until you begin to feel a sensation of relaxation. Now count back from ten to one and with each count feel yourself relaxing more deeply. You may feel your body feeling lighter or heavier. When you reach the count of one take another slow relaxing breath and let your mind drift to someplace peaceful. A place in your imagination or someplace you have actually been (for example, imagine floating on a cloud without a care in the world). Continue to breathe naturally and enjoy this moment as long as you wish. Then suggest to yourself that whenever you take three slow deep breaths and think about this special calm, tranquil, and peaceful place it will be the trigger for you effortlessly relaxing in the face of stress.

The secret to self-hypnosis success is let things happen without trying to force it. Your creative mind may surprise you with an experience or symbol of relaxation that you would never have imagined. Mastery of this simple process will lay the ground work for future optimal results.

Have fun!

Next Lesson: Utilizing Self-Hypnosis to attain Important Goals