Controlling the habits that try to control us
How Hypnosis can help us break free
What are habits?Habits, we all have them. Some of them we like, some of them we don't. When we don't want them, they seem to be the easiest thing to have. And when we do want them they seem to be the hardest thing to get!
Habits are actions or thoughts that we do automatically without thinking or planing. Habits are all learned through some life experience that we have had. Once they are locked in place then our subconscious mind takes over and controls them for us. Habits whether they are "good" or "bad" are just tools we have to allow us to accomplish more without having to spend our conscious mind thinking about it. Once we perform an action or thought so many times, then our programing integrates it and makes it automatic. For example, we all had to learn to tie our shoes and this was no easy task! It took a lot of concentration and focus to learn this skill and even may have caused quite a bit of frustration for us. But we did it. And now it is something we do but don't really think about. In fact we can be thinking of other things or talking to others at the same time and not put any thought into getting our shoes on for the day. |
Wikipedia Definition Habits are automatic routines of behavior that are repeated regularly, without thinking. They are learned, not instinctive, human behaviors that occur automatically, without the explicit contemporaneous intention of the person.
FUN FACT:
Most habits and beliefs we have now, we got before the age of 11 yrs. old! Do you think some of them might be a bit outdated? |
Why are habits so hard to change?
When we think of changing a habit or starting a new habit in our life, we sometimes feel as it it is going to take a huge amount of effort to make it happen. We may even daydream about just having the new habit in place already and not having to go through all the work. Because we know once the new action is a habit then we won't have to work so hard to have it as part of who we are.
So why can't we just say to our self "I do this now" and have it work right away?
So why can't we just say to our self "I do this now" and have it work right away?
- One reason is that our habits become stronger and more engrained in us the more we use them. It becomes like a grove in our subconscious mind.
- Another reason is that our subconscious mind considers any habit we develop, necessary for our well being. Good or bad it doesn't matter. hat is more is our subconscious mind will sabotage any effort we make to stop the habit.
Ways to change habits
Changing a habit means reprogramming our subconscious mind. There are a few ways to create new habits and beliefs.
- Repetition: It is known that it takes about 30 days of repeating an action to form a new habit. This works well but it takes a strong will to maintain the new desired action until it gets locked into being a habit.
- Heightened emotionalized state: When a very emotional or traumatic event happens, our subconscious mind opens right up. In that split instant what ever belief or idea we decide about our self or our safety jumps right into our open subconscious. An examples of this would be like when someone has a near death experience and then they all of a sudden "turn their life around". Or they will say they have "had a wake up call".
- Hypnosis: Hypnosis creates an environment where our mind and body can relax and allow us to move past our critical factor (our barrier that keeps our subconscious safe) and enter into our subconscious and even super-conscious mind. Since this is where our habits reside, we can then look at the true reason for our habit and then make a new decision about it based on who we are now. This means we can understand the core reason for smoking and then create new healthy habits.
- Also Authority Figures and Peers are other means for beliefs and habits to take hold in our subconscious mind. This can depend on various factors but is effective all the same. Just think back in you memory to some of your beliefs and you may find one or the other has been the starting point.
How many sessions will it take?
Habits can take on many forms. What ever that form may be, the most important factor is to ask our self, how intense is our desire to change. Because when we are ready for change than it can happen very quickly, sometimes even with one session. Most habits and beliefs take 3 to 5 sessions. After three sessions you can evaluate where you are and decide from there if you would like more.
One thing to be aware of is how many issues are you addressing. It is recommended to only address one habit/belief at a time. It can happen that other things come up along the way and in this case it is good to acknowledge that as far as number of session. The best way to approach it is to focus on the new positive that is occurring in your life!
One thing to be aware of is how many issues are you addressing. It is recommended to only address one habit/belief at a time. It can happen that other things come up along the way and in this case it is good to acknowledge that as far as number of session. The best way to approach it is to focus on the new positive that is occurring in your life!