Having been a practitioner of both meditation and self hypnosis since 2007, I often get asked about the similarities and differences between the two. In fact many didn’t know that they are both their own entities. What I always tell them, is that if they were considering one or the other, try both!
With meditation the goal is to empty the mind of all invading thought. If one is meditating and they suddenly remember the electric bill needs paid, they are no longer meditating, pure and simple. Thoughts, as we all know, acklowledge past events and contemplate future outcomes. To be in a meditative state, we should only be in the present moment. This can be tricky first time out, regardless of what anyone might tell you. To get in the rhythm for any kind of meditation I know, we either focus on breathing or focus on a mantra and breathing. As long as we remain focused on this, we leave the alert Beta state, pass through the relaxed Alpha state and enter the daydream like Theta state. One knows when he or she gets there. When we practice regularly our bodies find a rhythm that allows us meditate without having to remind ourselves to head back to the Beta stage. Our body clocks take care of that. We arrive back alert and refreshed, totally recharged and the wonders of meditation are already at work.
Self hypnosis is different. The similarity with meditation lies with the frequency range we need our brains to operate on. But now we have thought processes and desired outcomes, for example to lose weight or ditch the cigarettes. Sometimes it is just to enhance our social skills. Everybody who takes up self hypnosis has a psychological weakness that they want strengthened. And it is very highly effective, too. Our psyche is made up of historical experiences, conscious ones and unconscious ones. Repeated patterns are the ones that get lodged in our unconscious minds and dictate our behavior. Self hypnosis is a great way to undo years of repeated processes that are ultimately detrimental to our well being.
Whenever you follow a guided meditation, you are actually partaking in self hypnosis. You follow the words of the voice that guides you. This means to follow suggestion. Following suggestion is hypnosis. I’m not for a second saying that guided meditations are no good. Quite the opposite, they are a great introduction to meditation for the novice. However there is a difference and I hope I made the distinction a clear one.
For those who say they cannot be hypnotized….this is a myth. You slip into micro hypnotic states every day. We all do. Ever recall a time when you were driving home along a familiar route and “forget” driving on a paticular road? Although you clearly did? Or how about just sitting at home watching TV and your mind veers off, and for a moment or two you are somewhere else? A partner or someone there with you asks you “Are you there? Still with us?” and it takes a second for it to register? That is you slipping into the Theta state, it comes on and goes off just like that.
Benefits of Meditation has more information about this fascinating subject (and guided meditation if you’re still interested)!