A Healing Journey for the Subconscious: A Practical Guide from Guided Meditation to Self-Hypnosis

Imagination is also incredibly useful for reconnecting. When you lose someone you want to communicate with again, you can imagine yourself reuniting with them and telling them everything you wanted to say-things you might have never had the chance to say before. By reconnecting and resolving things that have been troubling us, we can heal our inner selves. Inner wholeness naturally allows our outward appearance to return to normal. A breast cancer study conducted by David Spiegel of Stanford University School of Medicine included a weekly support group that engaged in "supportive-expressive psychotherapy."

With the mutual support of the group members, the patients practiced self-hypnosis therapy. At the end of that year, patients who underwent self-hypnosis reported that they experienced only half the suffering of those who did not. This further confirms that utilizing our imagination can have a positive impact on our bodies. Below is a guide to self-hypnosis. It can be used for weight loss, pain relief, improving athletic performance, or achieving goals in other areas.

How to self-hypnotize. Set aside 20 minutes each day in a quiet, comfortable place where you won't be disturbed. Ideally, do this while you are awake. First, choose a positive affirmation, such as one of the following: I am happy, healthy, and at my ideal weight. I feel great and look great. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and imagine all the tension flowing out of your body. Then choose an image, such as one of the following, or one you like: Imagine a sunset; see all those beautiful colors. Watch the sun sink below the horizon and the stars begin to appear in the night sky. Imagine you are lying relaxed on a beach, feeling the warm, soft sand beneath you, listening to the sound of the waves, and breathing in the fresh sea air.

Imagine you are lying relaxed in a beautiful garden or meadow, the temperature is just right, and you are enjoying the scenery, the scents, the sounds, and the wonderful atmosphere. Slowly relax each part of your body, one by one, from bottom to top. Be aware of your feet and relax that part. Then gradually raise your awareness upwards, through your ankles, knees, thighs, hips, stomach, chest, shoulders, neck, and then to the back of your head behind your eyes, finally reaching the very top of your head. Use this method of relaxing one part at a time until you are completely relaxed. Count down as you relax, feeling more relaxed with each number: five, four, three, two, one, and say to yourself, "I am now in a state of deep relaxation." Since you are just starting out with these exercises, it doesn't matter whether you actually achieve deep relaxation. What really matters is whether you feel comfortable during the process.

Tell yourself how long you intend to be "hypnotic" (15 minutes, 20 minutes, etc.). This allows you to set your body's "internal clock." Thank yourself for doing this. Think of some good things that have happened to you in your life. Be grateful for everything you have. You can imagine yourself standing under a waterfall or in the rain, letting all the negativity, such as negative emotions, be washed away. By doing this, you can see and feel yourself letting go of things that no longer belong to you. As you do this, tell yourself that with each shower, any negativity you've been clinging to will be washed away.