Everyone responds to hypnosis differently. It’s really important for you to understand this, because otherwise you may not reach your potential due to faulty assumptions and expectations.
If you’ve read or heard others’ tales about hypnosis, whether this is from a stranger on the internet or your closest friend—take them with a grain of salt. Don’t expect them to apply to you, necessarily. What really matters is the reality of YOUR experience.
Understanding yourself and what works for you can make all the difference in getting the most out of hypnosis. Below, I’m going to talk about how hypnosis journaling can get you there. But first:
In what ways do people experience hypnosis differently?
The short answer: in infinitely different ways. There are very few things in life that are one-size-fits-all, and hypnosis is no different. But here are some examples of ways in which your experience could differ from someone else’s:
- One person may respond to a session right off the bat, while another may need a full 21 days of consistent work to get the benefit of the session.
- Some people may fall into a trance easier than others, and some may demonstrate hypnotic resistance and require more help to overcome mental roadblocks.
- The environment—how quiet it is, how comfortable you are, etc.—may affect you differently than others.
- Some may use affirmations to great effect prior to hypnosis, and some may not get much out of them.
Coming to an understanding of how hypnosis affects you and what works for you can make all the difference toward your future experience. But how do you come to that understanding? Hypnosis journaling is a great tool. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Record your activities
You want to get a picture of everything that happened surrounding a given session. Write down what you did before the session—where you went, what activities you engaged in, who you saw.
Next, write your observations on what happened during and after the session. What was different? What was the same?
Document your environment
This can really help you narrow down what sort of environment is ideal for you to undergo hypnosis. You want to document:
- The time you started your hypnosis session.
- What your environment was like (calm, noisy, messy and so on).
- What clothes you wore.
- What resting position you adopted (lying down, sitting up, sitting reclined)
Journal your reactions
Now record your reactions to the session:
- How did you feel (during and after)? What are your thoughts?
- How did you respond to the subject matter?
- How well do you feel the session went?
Making these observations, and taking the time to really dig deep into your response and actually write it down, could open your eyes to how your activities and environment affect the session. This can be invaluable information, allowing you to zero in on what really works best for YOU.
Once you have this understanding of yourself, it may be easier for you later on if problems should arise, because you will have the tools at your disposal to troubleshoot, reset and move on.
Let hypnosis work for you
Hypnosis journaling is one of the many ways that you can get the most out of hypnosis. If you’re interested in more ways that writing can be incorporated into your hypnotic journey, take a look at my post on writing goals and mantras.