Subliminal Hypnosis: Can it Work?

There is an urban legend about how the owner of a movie theater inserted subliminal messages into the movies he was showing saying things like “EAT MORE POPCORN” and that sales at his snack bar soared as a result. Although this event apparently did not really happen, it raises some intriguing questions. Would it be possible to use subliminal hypnosis technology to influence ourselves or others?

The premise is that if a message can be introduced into someone’s subconscious without his or her conscious awareness or processing, it will have a more powerful impact on future behavior than ordinary communication. Manufacturers of subliminal self-help products use either visual images or sound recordings in their offerings.

A visual subliminal involves splicing words or images into a seemingly ordinary video every few frames so that it is not detected consciously, at most it will appear as a quick blip on the screen. In creating audio subliminal recordings, a number of elaborate proprietary processes are used that are supposed to somehow embed the concealed messages into a music or natural sounds track.

Critics of the audio programs point out that a sound is either heard or it isn’t. If you are whispering to someone at a noisy construction site the louder sounds are physically canceling out your message and thus there is no communication or persuasion.

However, the visual system is able to discern fleeting images, as evidenced by speed readers who can take in written information very rapidly by scanning whole sentences and even paragraphs instead of single words. The potential effectiveness of visual subliminal influence seems to be more plausible than for the audio methods, especially if emotionally charged words/images are used since strong emotion enhances suggestibility.

Then there is the question as to whether the placebo effect comes into play. A true test of subliminal hypnosis technology would be to try it out on unsuspecting individuals to see if it indeed had an effect beyond chance and little research has been done in this direction, possibly due to ethical concerns.

When used as a self-help product, it is actually impossible to factor out the placebo effect. The intention to use any form of assistance towards a worthwhile goal and a belief in its effectiveness is in itself a powerful force. In one study it was found that telling people an ordinary audio recording contained subliminal suggestions for anxiety reduction produced a healing effect in a significant fraction of participants.

So can subliminal hypnosis technology be effective? A case could be made that a properly designed visual subliminal program could indeed help you reach your intended goals.

James Malone is a Certified Hypnotist from Point Pleasant, New Jersey and publisher of the insanely popular online Creative Calm Newsletter. Rest assured only positive subliminal messages were used in the creation of this article and that your growing curiosity about Subliminal Hypnosis Technology is healthy and should be encouraged by PAYING A VISIT to the Subliminal Resource Page.

How to Improve Memory: 5 Memorable Tips

Do you frequently walk into a room and forget why you were going there? Some of us have problems with remembering names and faces. The ability to do well on tests or promotional exams often hinges on the ability to retain and then recall information. Despite its importance, how to improve memory is a topic that is often overlooked in our education.

Memory can be broken down into three basic components: imprint, retention and recall. Imprint is when we encounter a new piece of information that we would like to store in the memory banks. Retention is the degree to which this information creates a memorable and lasting impression or not. Finally, recall is the ability to retrieve the retained information at will. Any of these three phases can be the culprit in a memory lapse.

Here are some tips that can help you improve memory.

Pay Attention- Sometimes people blame their recall abilities when a given fact escapes them when really the error occurred during the imprint phase. If you are not paying attention, chances are you will not remember. Part of the problem is the we are continually bombarded by trivial messages courtesy of the mass media. Attention follows interest, if something is important to remember, remind yourself of that at that time.

Make Associations. Neurologists tell us that the individual brain cells actually make physical connections with other brain cells in response to new associations. The more associations you make with a piece of information, the more likely it will be retained. Just met someone named Richard and you want to be sure you remember his name? It would be pretty hard to forget if you created a mental image of Richard Nixon putting his arm around this new acquaintance while he said, “I am not a crook, and my friend Richard here isn’t here either!” The more colorful and comical an association is, the more easily it will be retained.

Get Enough Rest.- Sleep deprivation and fatigue are proven to dampen all phases of memory. Elite military units intentionally create conditions of mental and physical exhaustion during the training and selection of new recruits to see if they can function properly under those circumstances, many cannot and are dropped from the program. Memory problems are one of the early warning signs that stress has gotten out of hand. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep, rest and recreation.

Stay Hydrated and Oxygenated- All of the organs of the body require copious amounts of water and oxygen to function at their best, especially the brain. Many of the health problems encountered the elderly are due to dehydration, including memory lapse. The brain uses a lion’s share of the oxygen brought into the body. Make sure your living and work spaces are well-ventilated. Deep breathing exercises as taught in yoga can also improve memory and mind power.

Watch Out for Negative Beliefs- A person gets to a certain age and it is almost inevitable he will begin to complain about the memory starting to get foggy. This is not to say that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are not real maladies. However, the power of self-suggestion can impair memory in an otherwise healthy person. A popular routine amongst stage hypnotists is to suggest to a receptive volunteer, “in a moment the number between 6 and 8 will disappear, you will try very hard to remember it, but it will remain a blank until I snap my fingers.” Lo and behold the number does seem disappear for awhile, where the otherwise intelligent person cannot answer “what is four plus three?” The volunteer still has a perfectly fine brain, the power of belief just created a temporary and amusing memory lapse. Use positive affirmations like “my memory and mind-power grow stronger each and every day” to combat negative thoughts and beliefs.


James Malone is a Certified Hypnotist from Point Pleasant, NJ. Do you remember why you read this article? Hint: its because you want to improve your memory! Will you remember to visit the Improve Memory Resource Page later on or should you just visit there now to learn even more?

How to Become a Hypnotist: 5 Helpful Suggestions

Public interest in natural healing methods is at an all time high. More people want to go beyond using them for their own health needs and desire to become practitioners themselves and hypnosis is one of the more popular arts. Have you ever wondered how to become a hypnotist?

Hypnosis is a collection of talk therapy techniques that uses trance and suggestion in order to alter habitual patterns of unhealthy thought, feeling and behavior. Quite often the results are rapid, dramatic and lasting because hypnotism addresses many of life’s problems at their root cause-the subconscious mind.

There are two basic categories of hypnosis practitioner, the individual who is licensed in some healthcare discipline like medicine or psychotherapy who integrates the techniques into his or her work. Then there are those people who practice hypnotism as a separate and distinct profession, often using the titles of Certified Hypnotist, Hypnotherapist of Consulting Hypnotist. The tips in this article are addressed primarily to those in the latter group.

A person who practices hypnosis is not born with a special power; rather it is a skill that is acquired through training and practice. Below are five suggestions that you may find helpful if you are considering entering this field.

Have a sincere desire to help others. Although a significant income can be generated in a hypnosis practice, your primary focus must be on the client’s wellbeing and happiness. People can spot insincerity a mile away and a person in trance actually becomes more perceptive than usual. Be one of the good guys, love what you do and the money will follow.

Receive good training. There are courses in clinical hypnotism that claim you can be ready to work with paying clients after one weekend training-this is dubious claim at best. The more respected hypnosis training organizations have set a minimum standard of 100 hands-on classroom hours for initial certification, with annual continuing education standards for recertification. Some of the better organizations are the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), the International Medical and Dental Hypnosis Association (IMDHA) and the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT). There are also good online training resources, however these cannot replace the need for live instruction and supervised practice.

Research the legal limits of practice in your state. Hypnotism is not tightly regulated in most of the United States. However, you can get in big trouble if you appear to be practicing medicine or psychotherapy if you are not licensed to do so. As a general guideline, complimentary practitioners cannot diagnose or prescribe for a physical or mental illness; if you work with these conditions a doctor’s referral will be needed. Nonetheless, there are plenty of folks, who struggle with “the everyday problems of everyday life,” who need your help. You can do this without infringing on the rightful domain of the licensed healthcare professional. The aforementioned professional organizations can help you with these questions.

Use the skills on yourself. One of the major side benefits of a good clinical hypnosis training course is that you will learn invaluable skills related to being able to be more relaxed and confident in your own life. Be sure to practice them. As mentioned previously, the hypnotized person becomes more aware and perceptive. A tense and unhealthy practitioner is creating a sense of incongruence that will limit his or her ability to positively influence the client. Walk the talk!

Recognize the need for an entrepreneurial spirit. One drawback of a career in the natural healing arts is that unlike other professions, you usually cannot start working for someone else before beginning a practice of your own. Realize you may have to learn how to be business person as well. Chances are you may require some help with this as well. Consider establishing a relationship with an established practitioner where he can act as your mentor. There are also organizations like S.C.O.R.E. that can be a big help.

Are you curious enough about how to become a hypnotist to learn some more? IMAGINE THAT! Might I suggest you see what you can learn from the Underground Hypnosis Course?

How to Break a Bad Habit: 5 Powerful Tips

How to break a bad habit is a topic that puzzles many people. Very often we persist in behaviors that can have negative and sometimes life-threatening consequences, yet like the Energizer Bunny, you just keep on going and going and going….

For starters, it is helpful to consider what is meant by habit. Our friend Webster defines it as “a customary behavior pattern.” What is also known is that thought, feeling and action can be broken down into two broad categories, conscious and subconscious.

The conscious mind refers to the part of the self that is critical and analytical; it thinks and it reasons. This is the part of the self that recognizes that whatever rewards or satisfaction are being derived from the problem behavior are outweighed by its consequences.

Your subconscious mind refers to the part of the self that is habitual and automatic, it doesn’t think or reason it simply responds in the way that it has been conditioned to do. Most habits are benign and even useful like brushing your teeth, automatically using a turn signal when driving and so on. Yet habits can also be horribly destructive such as in the case of those persons who continue to use alcohol and drugs in a destructive fashion even when the negative results are obvious.

So is there anything that can be done? Sometimes it is necessary to get outside help, especially if the situation poses an imminent health and safety. Yet whether you get professional assistance or not, here a five tips you may find helpful.

Expect it to feel strange at first when you stop. Try this experiment. Lace your fingers together and notice which thumb rests on top-the right or left one. Now separate them and intentionally re-clasp with the opposite thumb on top. Feels strange, right? Any change good or bad will feel awkward at first-it usually takes about a month for it to feel normal for you.

Get past the notion of helplessness. It is a popular view that many problem behaviors are lifelong and uncontrollable, yet the science behind this notion is poor at best. Quite a few people for example, drink alcohol heavily during their college years and then go on to discontinue this unhealthy behavior as the responsibilities of work and family take on more prominent roles. Expect to evolve.

See the behavior in the total context of your life. Remember the Rolling Stones song about “I can’t get no, satisfaction!” Is it that you are an “addict” or that you are simply unhappy with your life in general? Public health data tells us that while 10% of doctors and lawyers smoke, over 60% of waitresses are smokers. The former group probably tends to find life more satisfying than the latter. What active steps would you have to take to improve your personal, professional and spiritual life? The drinking/smoking/drugging/overeating is certainly not getting the job done!

Intentionally remove the cues of the old behavior. Although we scarcely recognize it, most of our actions follow a predictable sequence of events, where a stimulus provokes an unconscious reaction. Do you drink to excess with a certain group of people? Stop hanging out with them!

Remember you are worth it! You may feel ashamed of yourself because of your past behaviors. This can set a trap where you don’t feel worthy of a better life, which in turn causes you to dull this pain with the habit that has complicated your life. Consider accepting this idea. You are worthwhile simply because you were born a child to human parents and that there has never been anyone quite like you in the past, nor will there be another person exactly like you in the future. There is a reason that you are here right now-find it.

Could you use some extra help in this regard? Would you like to K.O. that nasty habit right out of your life? The Power of Positive Habits can be your guide, sort of like a Sherpa of your subconscious!