Pablo Picasso had an enormous influence on the development of art when he invented Cubism in the early 1900s. He is often quoted as having said this:
“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”
In other words, work hard, keep on working and sooner or later you’ll get insights that you can’t achieve in any other way.
And that goes for any creative endeavor, whether it’s painting, music, sculpture, dance, writing, or something else.
But apart from hard work, is there any other way to improve your creative prospects?
There is, by using self-hypnosis to boost creativity.
The beauty of self-hypnosis is that you can practice it anywhere and at any time. It lets you enter a trance or altered state of consciousness so you can make powerful and exciting transformations in your life.
It’s exactly the same as any other kind of hypnosis or hypnotherapy, except that you put yourself into a trance state.
Once you’re there, you’ll be able to connect with your unconscious mind, the place where your imagination and creativity are stored.
That means you’ll be able to do any number of things to increase your creative potential, such as:
Using self-hypnosis to boost creativity means you’ll be able to find answers to questions and solutions to problems more quickly than you thought possible.
That’s because the answers and solutions are already there, in your unconscious mind, and you just need a way to tap into that information.
Self-hypnosis is the key that opens the door to all of it. As well as the benefits listed above, it can help you achieve a whole lot more.
>> If you’re interested in hypnotherapy or want to improve your practice, check out our live and online hypnosis training events.
Want to know more about hypnotherapy, but not sure what certification program is the right choice for you? Book a DISCOVERY CALL today to learn more about Hypnosis Training Academy’s hypnotherapy programs.
The Benefits Of Using Self-Hypnosis For Personal Growth & Development
Like any form of hypnosis, self-hypnosis is a powerful way to enjoy deep relaxation. And what’s the best thing about being deeply relaxed?
When you’re relaxed, you can’t be stressed. So stress relief is another benefit self-hypnosis has to offer.
You can also use self-hypnosis to build your confidence, an important characteristic for anyone who puts themselves or their work on display.
It’s the ideal tool for releasing creative blocks as well, because you can literally reprogram the way you think.
Most artistic people will tell you that they can get into a rut from time to time or develop bad habits. With self-hypnosis it’s possible to break any bad habits while instilling good habits in their place.
And finally, self-hypnosis will enable you to set realistic and achievable goals that will help you take your creative pursuits to the next level.
So why don’t more people take advantage of all the things that self-hypnosis has to offer?
Misconceptions & Concerns About Self-Hypnosis
Hypnosis has received some bad press in the past, due mostly to media hype and its misrepresentation in old movies as some form of mind control.
That’s unfortunate, because hypnosis is nothing like that. It’s actually a partnership between the hypnotist and the client, and unless the client is willing to take part, then nothing can happen.
Regardless of the truth behind it, there are still some who have reservations. Here are several of the myths and misconceptions that surround it.
1. I’ll get stuck in a trance forever – it’s impossible and it has never happened. You’ll either come out of it gradually or you might fall asleep if you’re relaxed enough.
2. I’ll be made to do things against my will – again, this is impossible. No one will do anything under hypnosis that goes against their ethics or moral code.
3. Hypnosis only works on weak or stupid people – actually the reverse is true. The more intelligent and creative you are, the more likely it is that you’ll benefit from self-hypnosis.
4. Hypnosis is some form of magic or paranormal experience – the fact is that everyone gets hypnotized all the time. You enter a trance when you get absorbed in a good book, a gripping TV drama, or even just when you’re daydreaming. The trance state is completely normal and natural.
5. I won’t remember anything that happens – you’ll be awake during hypnosis and your senses will normally be on high alert, so you should be able to remember everything.
Forget about those horror films where the villain says: “You are getting sleepy!”
To experience hypnosis, you have to be awake. Otherwise there’s no way that you can get in touch with your unconscious mind and access all of its potential.
Preparing For Self-Hypnosis
If you want to get the best out of your self-hypnosis session, then you need to make sure you create the right environment. Here are five points you should consider when setting it up.
1. Choose somewhere clean and quiet
Ideally this should be an area where you feel relaxed and comfortable, preferably one with fresh air, although any space will work if you can adapt yourself to it.
2. Set a time limit
You don’t want your session to go on indefinitely, so set a time limit of 15 minutes or so. You could set a gentle alarm sound to remind you when the time is up, although as you get more experienced your brain will naturally tell you when to end your session.
3. Minimize interruptions
If possible, tell people what you are doing so they won’t disturb you. Turn all your devices onto silent mode. If necessary you can listen to background music through headphones just to make sure there are no outside disturbances from traffic or other sources.
3. Avoid stimulants
Try not to drink caffeine or alcohol before your session as it will make it difficult for you to focus and to think clearly. You need all of your brain power operating at its best to maximize your chances of success.
4. Make yourself comfortable
Make sure you have a comfortable chair or mat to sit or lay back on. You should also try to ensure that your clothes are not constraining you in any way. It may seem obvious, but you should try to go to the bathroom before the session begins.
The next step, of course, is where you actually get to hypnotize yourself.
As you learn more and more about the process, you’ll probably have access to lots of different methods. To get started, though, here’s a simple guide to explain how you might go about it.
>> If you’re interested in hypnotherapy or want to improve your practice, check out our live and online hypnosis training events.
Want to know more about hypnotherapy, but not sure what certification program is the right choice for you? Book a DISCOVERY CALL today to learn more about Hypnosis Training Academy’s hypnotherapy programs.
How To Induce A Self-Hypnotic State
There are basically three parts to a successful self-hypnosis session: the induction, the suggestion phase and the return to conscious awareness. Here is a bit more information about each of these parts.
1. The induction is simply the beginning of the session where you try to relax. You can do that by practicing progressive muscle relaxation, releasing the tension from the various parts of your body starting at the top of your head and moving down to the tips of your toes. It might also help if you start things off by just closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing as you gradually move into the muscle relaxation.
2. The suggestion phase is where you give yourself positive suggestions that apply to the areas where you want to make improvements. These are like positive affirmations which are paired to the particular goal you want to achieve. If your goal is to be more creative, for instance, then your suggestion might be something like the following:
“I find it easy to be creative.”
“I’m a naturally creative person.”
“My head is full of terrific ideas.”
“I have a vivid and unlimited imagination.”
3. When you’ve made your suggestions, you will be able to return to normal waking consciousness by simply counting to five or ten. While counting, remind yourself that you are becoming more aware of your surroundings. When you get to five or ten, whichever you decide on, open your eyes, stand up, stretch your arms and legs and get on with the rest of your day.
Tips For Relaxation & Focusing The Mind
If you’ve never tried self-hypnosis before, it can be tricky getting started. You know what it’s like. As soon as someone tells you to relax, relaxing is the last thing you’re able to do.
Here are a few tips on how to achieve relaxation, which will also help you calm down and be able to focus your mind more precisely.
Concentrate on your breathing – close your eyes and take notice of every breath you take in and every breath you let out, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Listen to music – many people find a bit of gentle background music helps them shut out the world, making it possible to relax.
Spend time outdoors – being in nature can help relax your mind and let you get rid of any stress or anxiety.
Unleash your creativity – throw yourself into your favorite hobby or pastime. Doing something you enjoy is one of the easiest ways to relax and put your cares and worries to one side.
Keep a journal – some people find it helpful to write down their thoughts as a way of clearing them from their mind so they can devote their mental energy to other things.
When you do get the hang of self-hypnosis, what can it help you achieve, particularly where creativity is concerned?
The Connection Between Self-Hypnosis & Creativity
Self-hypnosis has the power to literally unblock your creative energy, helping you reconnect with your natural flair and imagination. It takes you inside yourself so you can access resources that aren’t always available to you.
This gives you a deeper and more substantial understanding of your particular medium and enables you to take your creativity to newer and more exciting heights.
In order to do that, there are certain strategies you need to put into place, including the following:
- Boosting your self-confidence and stopping any negative self-talk
- Keeping your expectations at reasonable and achievable levels
- Identifying your creative goals and making each one the subject of its own self-hypnosis session
Self-hypnosis puts you in touch with your unconscious mind, which is where your memories and intuition are stored. It gives you the opportunity to open up your mind to an endless array of possibilities that can be translated into whatever creative venture you choose to pursue.
Of course, you can also combine self-hypnosis with other creative techniques to ramp things up even further. One example is creative visualization.
This involves seeing yourself achieving a goal and feeling the emotion you would feel when that goal is achieved. It has to be a goal that is possible to achieve, one that is practical and within your capabilities.
But the truth is that if you can see yourself doing something, then chances are it’s something you can actually do. The technique is used by people from a wide variety of creative fields, including writers, artists, musicians, public speakers, dancers, actors, and so on.
Self-hypnosis is a skill, and like any other skill it simply takes practice and dedication to learn. When you do, however, you gain access to a whole new world of creative potential beyond your wildest dreams.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
Self-hypnosis is a powerful way to boost your creativity and unleash your imagination.
It unlocks your ability to learn material faster and to mentally rehearse what you want to do.
The technique lets you access your unconscious mind which makes it possible to boost your self-confidence while at the same time getting rid of any limiting beliefs that are holding you back.
Self-hypnosis will also enable you to:
- Release any creative blocks
- Enjoy deep relaxation and stress relief
- Break unhelpful bad habits
- Instill constructive habits
- Set and achieve realistic goals
Hypnosis has had some bad press over the years, thanks in part to the media and sensational Hollywood movies.
The truth is that it’s a safe, non-invasive and relatively inexpensive way to make serious and lasting changes in your life.
And where self-hypnosis is concerned, the only real cost is your time.
All you need to practice self-hypnosis is a quiet and comfortable space and about 15 minutes of free time when you won’t be interrupted.
A normal self-hypnosis session involves three parts: the induction, the suggestion phase and the return to normal awareness.
When you enter a hypnotic trance, you’re able to tap into your unconscious mind where you can access your own internal resources.
That means you can stop any negative self-talk, set reasonable expectations and make positive suggestions that target your goals specifically.
However you look at it, self-hypnosis provides the perfect platform for unleashing the potential behind all of your creative and artistic endeavors.
If you’re interested in learning self-hypnosis, check out this comprehensive article and infographic:
How To Hypnotize Yourself: Discover The Easy 6-Step Self Hypnosis Formula
>> If you’re interested in hypnotherapy or want to improve your practice, check out our live and online hypnosis training events.
Want to know more about hypnotherapy, but not sure what certification program is the right choice for you? Book a DISCOVERY CALL today to learn more about Hypnosis Training Academy’s hypnotherapy programs.