When you think of self-care it may conjure up images of relaxing retreats or pamper weekends, but day to day self-care practices can keep you balanced, grounded and healthy. These can include eating well, getting a good night’s sleep, exercise, and other healthy habits. Another fantastic self-care habit to add to your toolbox is self-hypnosis, allowing you to tap into the power of your subconscious and make positive changes to your mental and physical health.
Self-hypnosis doesn’t take up a lot of time nor require any special processes and can be done from the comfort of your own surroundings anytime you need that extra support and relaxation.
What is Self-Hypnosis?
Self-Hypnosis can be the most empowering tool at your disposal. It involves entering a highly focussed state whilst giving yourself positive suggestions to help you achieve your goals. It allows you to have a better control over your thoughts and feelings.
How to Hypnotise yourself
Hypnosis is a perfectly natural and safe state where you are always in control. If you wish to bring yourself out of hypnosis at any point, all you need to do is count to five. Below is each step in more detail:
1. Find somewhere comfortable where you won’t be disturbed
First of all find somewhere comfortable with your arms and legs uncrossed. Maybe lie on the bed or a comfy chair. Most people find looser fitting clothing more comfortable, switch off your phone and let anyone else who may be around that you need 20-30 minutes to yourself and to not disturb you.
2. Take yourself in to Hypnosis
There are various ways of going into a hypnotic state and one of them is a progressive muscle relaxation. With this we want to put all our awareness on any tension stored in the body and release it. Taking deep breaths in and out as you move down through each part starting at the head, the shoulders, the arms, hands fingers and so on. Visualise all the tension melting away. Sometimes it’s useful to tense the muscles slightly as you breathe in and relax fully as you breath out.
3. Focus on what you want to achieve
In this relaxed state you can really focus on what you want to achieve and the goals you have set yourself. Have you ever said to yourself “when I’m in the right frame of mind….” knowing that is when you are at your best? This is when you are in that frame of mind. The statements are clear, simple statements always affirming your goal in the present tense.
So for example if you wish to improve on your diet you might say “I eat three healthy meals per day” or if you wish to feel reduce stress or anxiety levels you might say “I feel calm, relaxed and confident.” This is just a couple of examples, but it can be used for anything you want including cutting out cravings, overcoming fears, sleeping better or any other area of your life you want to improve on. Make sure you talk to yourself about what you do want and not what you don’t want. So for example instead of saying “I don’t want to be stressed” saying “I am calm”
4. Bringing yourself out of Hypnosis
After affirming your suggestions in the present tense using positive language, begin by counting to five telling yourself on each number that you are going to become more alert, refreshed, and able to achieve your goals. Once you reach the number five open your eyes, take a nice deep breath and have a stretch with a proud sense that you have taken a step in your self-improvement.
Set aside a time for this quick and easy self-care routine. It’s a powerful tool which will soon become a habit to improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It will start to become your natural go to during difficult times or times when you need that focus to achieve your goals. When practicing Self-Hypnosis, make sure you have a clear goal in mind, repeat your affirmations with conviction, keep up the practice and you will see results from the offset. If you have any questions or require any further help please do get in touch.