You’ve seen it time and again in films and television shows. A “hypnotist” holds a gleaming pocket watch in front of a patient, gently swinging it back and forth until the patient falls into a deep trance. During that trance, the hypnotist is supposedly in complete control of the patient’s mind, able to make suggestions that the patient will act on when they re-awaken. According to these works of fiction, those who are hypnotized retain no memory of the experience when awake, and are generally zombie-like while in their hypnotic trance. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

Hypnosis is a relaxed state in which your mind is more receptive to learning and the creation of new habits, along with the avoidance of old habits. Hypnosis is a tool that you can use to combat everything from stress to bad habits and trauma that occurred years or even decades earlier in your life. It can be used to enhance your performance (on the sports field, on the job, or in your personal life), and for a myriad of other reasons.

Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can be used to address a very wide range of conditions, addictions, habits and even mindsets. However, that is all it is – a tool. Without the right strategies and the right teacher, it serves no purpose. Most patients are completely aware and awake while hypnotized, and able to carry out and initiate conversations with their hypnotherapist. Hypnosis does not “put you to sleep” in any sense and some patients do not even close their eyes while hypnotized.

Most importantly, patients who undergo hypnosis sessions are able to recall those sessions with complete clarity.

All you need to do is figure out what you would like to change about yourself and commit to your desired outcome. You’ll be amazed at what you can overcome and what you can achieve.