Before we learn how to hypnotize people, we need to dispel some of the myths surrounding hypnosis.
1. Learning how to hypnotize people is evil. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is little more than meditation which all religions encourage. There is nothing inherently bad about communicating directly with the subconscious mind.
2. People in hypnosis might never wake up. This is false. Unless you have become extremely skilled, and your subject is extremely skilled at going into trance, people remain in control. They are aware of their surroundings but choose not to react to them unless their subconscious tells them they are in danger.
3. You can control someone completely under hypnosis. Sorry, this is not going to happen. You will not be able to get someone to do anything against their morals whether under hypnosis or not. You will not get a stranger to give you all there worldly possessions. This requires brainwashing not hypnosis.
4. I will be able to hypnotize people against their will. Sorry, you will never hypnotize someone who does not want to be hypnotized. In order for it to work, you must have their permission or their subconscious will not listen to you.
5. Learning how to hypnotize people takes years of study and college to be able to do. You have been hypnotizing people your entire life. Once you learn how, it just takes a little practice. However, the more you learn about it and practice it, the better you will be at it.
6. Hypnotizing someone else is completely different from hypnotizing yourself. First of all, ALL hypnosis is self hypnosis. You will never hypnotize anyone; they will hypnotize themselves by following your directions. This is what makes it so safe. Your clients must make the decision to follow your suggestion in their own mind. This makes it their change not yours and gives it its power.
7. You have to be extremely careful not to go into trance while you are hypnotizing someone. It is almost impossible to hypnotize someone without going into a trance yourself. The best way to put someone into a trance is to show them where it is and explain how to get there. However you will be giving suggestions based on their needs and how they think. You may not want those changes for yourself, then again, you may want the choice for yourself.
8. Hypnosis gives you only one way to act under certain circumstances. The purpose of hypnosis is not to carry out commands given in trance. This will not work. Hypnosis is about giving someone a choice in how to react. Choice is empowering.
9. Hypnosis is only successful under very deep trance. While it may be slightly more effective under deep trance, most change can happen while mildly relaxed.
10. If I go into trance, someone can tell me to do stupid things, and I won’t remember doing it. When you are in a trance you remain fully alert and remember everything that happens. Again the primary purpose of your subconscious mind is to protect you from harm.
