Often times there is much confusion surrounding meditation and self-hypnosis. Are they just two different terms for the same thing? Or are they completely different?
There’s no straight forward answer. There are so many types of meditation. Some of them are very similar to self-hypnosis, while others are obviously not.
When used properly and consistently both are impressive tools.
When you think of meditation what comes to mind? You might have visions of a yogi or monk sitting quietly in solitude.
When you consider self-hypnosis what comes to mind? Do you think of a psychologist. Perhaps you remember the stage hypnotist you saw in high school or at the bar that made some of your fellow peers walk like zombies.
Consider these differences:
1. Purpose: Most meditations have a general goal in mind even though its possible to mediate with a a very specific event. These goals usually revolve around understand the nature of your mind, mindfulness, and limiting the power or influence of random thoughts.
- Self-hypnosis focuses on a specific purpose, such as becoming more confident while public speaking or quitting smoking. Self-hypnosis is used as a means of making one more open to suggestions or affirmations.
- Self-hypnosis can also be used to overcome phobias, change your attitude about health or wealth, or to even lose weight.
- Self-hypnosis is often utilized to find a creative solution to a problem. For example, you might want to determine the best plot twist for a novel or find a solution to a complex dilemma in your life.
2. Attention. Meditation allows you to focus on a fixed point or entity, such as the breath, maybe a spot on the wall, or a mantra. The goal is to grasp your attention on a focal point. When your thoughts move astray, and yes they will, the objective is to return your attention to your personalized focal point. You learn more about how your mind works and how to focus more effectively.
- On the other hand, self-hypnosis frequently involves following a story, such as confidently navigating a social situation. The experience is the object of your focus. You lead yourself through an experience and gain benefits from that.
- With self-hypnosis, you can change your normal perception and perspective. You can experience something that might not be available to you in everyday life.
3. Guided or non-guided. Meditation can be assisted with oneself or it can guided. By definition, self-hypnosis is non-guided. However, many people consider the use of hypnosis audio recordings to be self-hypnosis. The use of a live hypnotherapist would not be self-hypnosis.
- There are many audio programs available online that will help you learn how to meditate or utilize self-hypnosis. The quality of these recordings varies tremendously, as there are numerous beginners practitioners putting their new ideas out into the world.
Both meditation and self-hypnosis can bring you benefits, and you can use both in your life.
Meditation is effective in quieting your mind, it enhance your ability to focus, and decrease the tendency to ruminate. Meditation has been around for thousands of years and is very effective.
Self-hypnosis is a more surgical tool for dealing with the challenges in your life. Whether you want to increase your confidence, lose weight, quit smoking, or get over your fear of heights, self-hypnosis can be a powerful tool.
Both techniques can work very quickly in some people, but others find that weeks or months are required to see real benefits. If either one might be of benefit to you, why not give it a try for a few months? Measure your results and proceed appropriately.
Self-hypnosis and meditation are not considered to be the same thing but are certainly related. Remember, there are many types of meditation, and some are more similar to self-hypnosis than other types of meditation.
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