Self-Hypnosis Revolution

A few months back, the publisher of Self-Hypnosis Revolution sent me a copy of the book, asked me to give it a read, and if I wanted to, write a review of it. While it took me awhile to get to it, I’m happy to say that I’m finally able to share my thoughts on it.

What is Self-Hypnosis?

Hypnosis, in the classical sense, is the act of bypassing the conscious mind in order to plant suggestions into the subconscious.

This is usually associated with the stage hypnotist - look at the moving watch… you’re getting sleepy… sleepy… sleepy…….

………………………………..

Oh, sorry… I’m back.

Self-Hypnosis is the act of implanting suggestions into your own subconscious mind.

In the introductory chapters of the book, the author explains explains how much suggestion alone influences our lives. Marketers make their living using the power of suggestion to get us to buy things. Politicians use it in order to get us to vote for them and support their agendas. Activist organizations use it to get us to support their causes.

In Self-Hypnosis Revolution, Forbes Robbins Blair teaches us how to use it to create our better lives.

Premise

The basic premise of the book is summarized by the following statement:

“Everything you do has an underlying meaning that provides an opportunity to plant seeds within your mind to promote healing, change, and growth.” - Self-Hypnosis Revolution, pg. 1

This reminded me of Napoleon Hill’s directive in Think and Grow Rich to use what he called “auto suggestion” in order to implant positive directives into our own minds. This would probably be referred to as an affirmation nowadays: a positive statement that is repeat over and over in order to install a new belief into our subconscious mind.

In Self-Hypnosis Revolution, the idea is taken a step further. This book suggests taking everyday activities - brushing your teeth, taking out the garbage, cooking a meal, driving to work… anything you do on a regular basis, and attaching a suggestion to it.

How to Do It

The four steps outlined in the book are:

1.) Select an ordinary activity.
2.) Recognize basic associations with that activity
3.) Compose and commit to memory a beneficial self-suggestion
4.) Recite the formulated suggestion as you perform the activity.

The idea behind this is that our mind works best when we have associations and metaphors connected to our goals. For instance, taking a shower could be a metaphor for cleansing away a bad habit or illness. Driving to work could be a metaphor for taking action on and moving toward your objectives in life.

The explanation and method in the book are fairly simple, and only take up the first 59 pages. The balance of the 290 pages is dedicated to providing activities and suggestions that could be used in conjunction with those activities in order to promote positive change in the areas of physical wellness, mental wellness, career and finances, relationships, and spirituality.

For example:

Walking
Key Associations: movement, change, self-support

Walking primarily involves the legs and feet in a highly coordinated movement requiring tremendous balance. Walking is, therefore, a metaphor for making self-supported, balanced changes in life. While walking, credit yourself for the grace and poise you posses to direct your life toward your goals.

Physical Wellness - “I support myself with balance and poise to becoming healthier.”

Mental Wellness - “I move myself with grace toward a peaceful and balanced mind.”

Career and Finances - “I direct and support myself in becoming more successful.”

Relationships - “I make balanced changes in my relationships to support my own needs.”

Spirituality - “I move gracefully toward an ever-greater spirit centered life.”

– Self-Hypnosis Revolution, pg. 214

There are over 200 pages of these suggestions in the book - more than enough to provide any reader with activities, metaphors, and suggestions to work on their goals.

Tracking

There is also a set of planner sheets at the end of the book, which allow the user to set up a 7-day program to use the suggestions and activities that he or she has selected. It’s suggested that after working on one of the suggestions for 7 days, that you evaluate your progress and decide if you want to continue for another seven. It is also recommended that you be sure not to let the program become a burden - you want this to happen naturally, as this is the most effective way to implant the suggestions into to the subconscious. Resistance, in any form, will only impede your progress.

Closing Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading Self-Hypnosis Revolution, and consider it another tool in my arsenal of personal development material. The idea of linking daily activities to self-suggestion was logical to me, and I’ve been doing it (on a hit and miss basis) since I read the book. I haven’t done an official seven day exercise yet… that may be something I’ll consider in the future, but even with the ease and almost no-effort that this would take, I’m doing my best to stay focused on one program at a time.

You can get more information on Self-Hypnosis Revolution from Amazon.com