The Miracle of Imagination

In our last issue, we learned that hypnosis, or the so-called “trance” states, are really more common than most people think.

So common, in fact, that scientists suggest that we experience some kind of “trance state”, on average, every 15 minutes.

We also learned that being able to focus our attention in one point, and engaging our imagination, are the only 2 ingredients needed to produce such “hypnotic state”, and that, at the end of the day, “all hypnosis is self-hypnosis”.

Today, we’ll let ourselves into the magical world of Imagination, and learn how it has the power of defining –and re-defining– our entire life experience.

But before that, give me a moment to explain something that I introduced last time:

I mentioned that hypnosis is, in despite of what movies and the media have tried to sell us for decades, a really natural process, something we’ve experienced in our daily lives many times.

How so?

As I mentioned above, the only 2 ingredients necessary to produce a hypnotic state are: focused attention and engaged imagination.

Can you think of any activity you engage in in your day-to-day life where you these 2 ingredients are present?

Right!

Watching TV is a classic example of a hypnotic state!

You’re there, sitting on the coach, likely enjoying some treats and maybe even some good company…

And all of the sudden, you find yourself transported to another world!

You get upset when the hero is in danger, cry with them through their hardships, and if the movie is good, you’re always “at the edge of your seat”.

Now, think about it…

You know that what you’re watching is a lie.

The hero is not really in danger at any point.

He’s not really going through any of that.

And they already know all of those things you so desperately want them to find out before is too late…

After all, they’ve already read the full script!

I know it sounds silly when I say it like that.

Of course you know it’s just a movie!

Of course you know they are just actors, performing a screenplay.

Of course you know they are not really enemies, they are friends, or at least colleagues, and after shutting down the camera they surely went out to grab some beers together.

But you know what IS real?

Your tears!

And also your laugh, your fear when he’s about to fall into that trap that you saw coming…

Your disdain, and even your hatred, toward the antagonist that’s making your dear on-screen friend’s life so miserable… and your feeling of relief when it all finally ends well for them.

All of these emotions ARE REAL, in despite of the fact that they were artificially crafted and “induced” into your unconscious mind by the cinematographer!

Now, this is the interesting part…

If I were to ask you later to describe something outside of the screen, maybe a specific detail about the room, or something that happened in the room while you’re enjoying the show…

You’ll probably won’t be able to recall it!

Of course, if the watch party is happening at home you will know the space pretty well, simply because you’ve seen it so many times before…

But if you were invited to someone else’s place, don’t be surprised if you cannot even recall what color the walls were! (or the clothes they were wearing)

Your whole experience took place inside that screen –or, in reality, inside your own unconscious mind– for the entirety of the runtime!

Something very similar happens when you’re reading a book.

Except maybe that it’s more obvious to you that you’re using your imagination to bring those characters to life. (What else?)

Tell me…

Do you have any memory, after a reading session, of having turned pages?

No, of course you don’t!

And that, my friend, is what hypnosis is.

Sometimes, the trance gets deeper though…

Like those times you’re so engulfed in the book, or the movie, that you couldn’t hear your spouse calling you –or even screaming at you– several times.

Or, at least, that’s what they say (for the life or you that you can’t remember hearing them!)

And what about those times when, after being driving for hours, all of the sudden you realize that you don’t remember seeing anything along the way for, at least, the last couple hours?

Yup, it happened to me too.

Now, have you noticed what all of these experiences have in common?

That’s right: your attention was tightly focused in ONE thing –the road, the images on the TV screen, the words on the page– and your imagination started creating a different reality.

We, humans, do that ALL THE TIME!

Sadly, we usually use the unstoppable power of our imagination to hurt us, instead of helping us.

But we’re going to change that, starting today.

In a moment, I’m going to ask you to use your imagination, but this time, for your own good.

I’m going to instruct you to imagine certain things, and you’ll bring them to life with your imagination.

And if you follow my instructions –remember: “hypnosis is a collaborative act of imagination”–, when we finish this practice in just 10 minutes or so, you’ll feel FANTASTIC.

In fact you’ll feel better than you’ve felt in years, and you’ll start noticing that your ability to focus at work will increase, your mental clarity will increase, and you’ll feel completely confident in your skills, and your ability to excel at whatever task you decide to tackle.

As a bonus, you’ll have a really peaceful, restful sleep, the next time you go to bed. (promise!)

Ready for it?

Are you ready to be hypnotized, to share this experience with me?

When you are, and you can put aside 10 minutes for yourself somewhere where nobody is going to interrupt you, sit in a comfortable place and listen to my words:

See you next week!

Leonardo

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My mission is to put these tools for change in the hands of as many people as humanly possible!