In a world where millions of people die annually due to degenerative diseases such as diabetes and cancer, many individuals are seeking solutions that will promote longevity and holistic well-being throughout all stages of life. In recognizing the role that attending to health can play in promoting longevity and quality of life, some people seek out strategies that will enhance their level of wellness. Yet despite recognizing that working out is one of the most effective ways to promote wellness, most people still refuse to exercise consistently. If this is the case for you, now is the time to tap into the power of hypnosis. Read on to learn more about how hypnosis might empower you to work out consistently so that you can attain a wide range of life-enhancing benefits:
First Things First: What Is Hypnosis?
Although people define the term with different concepts and words, hypnosis is generally thought of as the treatment of addiction, disease, or symptom through the use of hypnotism. Hypnotism is a psychosomatic process that involves an artificially induced state commonly thought of in terms of a trance. This state of consciousness is akin to sleep and is typically characterized by increased susceptibility to the suggestions of the hypnotists. Hypnosis has been used to cure a wide range of addictions, including gambling and smoking.
Hypnosis And Working Out: Making The Connection
Oftentimes, people want to start working out yet find themselves coming up with a wide range of excuses. Excuses vary, but one of the most popular is a lack of time. In many cases, this excuse may seem legitimate as individuals begin thinking about the fact that they have to work 8-10 hours, come home and prepare dinner, complete school-related assignments, etc. While tending to all of the vocational, domestic, and scholastic assignments that are necessary to keep one’s life going is important, claiming that you lack the time required to exercise will simply reinforce your belief that you don’t have time. The end result is that there is little to no attempt to find time to work out, but rather an attitude of tolerance towards not working out.
When an individual has used their mind to build up one or several excuses that they find to be legitimate or convincing, they are in a conscious state commonly referred to as rationalization. Once this mental modality becomes primary to an individual’s psyche, it is very difficult for her or him to make the psychological and physical changes necessary to bring about a desired end. Here is where hypnosis, which is oftentimes referred to as hypnotherapy, comes in. The power of this form of therapy lies in its ability to surpass an individual’s habitual conscious thoughts so that her or his unconscious self is open and receptive to new ideas that can result in a significant psychological, physical, or behavioral shift. The therapeutic impact takes place as the individual’s conscious and subconscious mind are reconnected in ways that eliminate the prevalence of a negative or indifferent disposition towards exercise.
How Exactly Does Hypnosis Work?
As mentioned earlier, hypnosis works through creating connections between the conscious and subconscious mind. Generally, the conscious mind is the element of the psyche associated with active reasoning, willpower, reason, and logic. Many hypnotists refer to this aspect of the self as the excuse-maker because it is a component of identity capable of coming up with reasons to avoid certain behaviors and courses of action.
On the other hand, the subconscious mind is the realm of self that contains no willpower, reason, or logic. This component of the self is purely behavioral and reactive. According to many hypnotists, everything that passes through an individual’s conscious mind results from associations within the subconscious mind. The core efficacy of hypnosis results from its ability to bypass and quell the activity of the conscious mind so that positive associations can be created within the individual’s subconscious.
Hypnosis In Action
To understand how hypnosis works, consider the case of a woman who loved working out but found that she could not always motivate herself to do so. After explaining this reality to the hypnotist, the hypnotist asked her to state what she really liked about exercise. She stated that she enjoyed the sense of strength that came from engaging in physical activity. Specifically, she liked feeling fit, healthy, and treating her body in a respectful way.
Following this conversation, the patient leaned back in a chair and closed her eyes. After doing so, the hypnotist engaged her in several visualization exercises. These exercises facilitated the patient’s sense of deep relaxation. The patient noted that the aspect of herself that tended to be very skeptical grew silent while the hypnotist quietly suggested that she could shift her perspective regarding multiple matters in her life. The hypnotists also reiterated the positive things that the patient could redirect her focus towards. When she left the hypnosis session, the patient felt very calm and peaceful. The next day, she went to the gym and felt stronger than ever.
People who are serious about exercising regularly should know that hypnosis may be the treatment modality that empowers them to do so. Review the information outlined above to determine whether hypnosis might be the appropriate or ideal medium through which you develop a passionate attitude towards exercise.