A magazine for and about Stage Hypnosis. ©
Krisztina Hall
.
 Using Language Patterns in Hypnosis
  1.   In my four years as a professional stage hypnotist I have had the opportunity to really learn the do's and don'ts of giving effective suggestions.  You might think that what you say to the subject doesn't matter, but let me tell you it does. Remember, the subconscious mind often interprets thinks quite literally and more simply than the conscious mind.
      In giving suggestions, your objectives are to: 1) make it really clear what you want the subject to do; and 2)have the subject want to carry out the suggestion that you give him/her.
      When giving a suggestion to the subconscious mind you must realize that the subconscious mind is more readily accepting of a positive suggestion than a negative one. When I say positive or negative suggestion, I am NOT referring to whether it is good or bad BUT how it affects their mind.
      A good example of a negative suggestion is: "don't think the color blue." Automatically, the subject will think the color blue because this is the only information their brain has to work with. This is the opposite of what you probably meant. First they think of blue then they have to "NOT" do it. Many people will think of blue with an X over it or think of a different color afterwards.
      Another way to have someone "not think the color blue" is to say it as a positive suggestion: "think the color red." This way the subject knows exactly what to do and there is no disputing what you want. They will think of a specific and different color.
      However, there are uses for negative suggestions. For example: if you have a subject that is a polarity responder. A polarity responder is a person who will almost always do the opposite of what you say. If you say "black" they think "white," if you say "white" they think "black." In this case, you could suggest to him/her "Don't relax now" or "You can't go into hypnosis." As a result, they will cooperate and go into hypnosis.
      The key is to make sure you say what you want them to do rather than what you don't want. For example, it will be easier for a subject to "see the audience naked" than to "see the audience with no clothes on." People will understand both versions but it is easier for them to follow a positive suggestion.
  1.   So how do you make it easy for subjects to carry out your suggestions?
      Early in my career, I found out that one of the words that should never be used on stage, is the word "TRY", unless you really want the subject to fail at something. I still hear a lot of stage hypnotists who use this word many times a night.
      When you say to a subject "Come up here and TRY to get hypnotized," you pre-condition the subject to fail at getting hypnotized. The word TRY renders failure. For example, when you tell a friend, "I'll try to be there," what is the likelihood of you showing up? Not very likely, is it? Whereas if you tell your friend "I will do my best to be there," you are very likely going to make it. Do you notice the difference?
      The word "TRY" puts doubt in your subject's mind and actually sends them the message that they are likely to fail. My guess is that when a hypnotist is using the word "TRY" a lot, this is an indication that THEY are not confident in their ability or that they have doubts as to whether the suggestion will work.
      However, if you really WANT your volunteer to fail at something, use the word "TRY". Let me give you an example: On stage, when I give my induction, I say to the volunteers: "And as you sit there... think of your hands... and as you do... they become like lead weights... So heavy that the harder you TRY to lift them... the heavier they get." Now, if I had said that they can't lift the hands, they would have felt challenged to prove me wrong. By emphasizing the word "TRY," I am indirectly and powerfully suggesting that they will fail at lifting their hands.
      If you want them to fail, use TRY. If not, leave it at home and speak with confidence.
  2.   I could talk about the benefits of learning to use language patterns for a long time, but I won't because I could end up writing a novel :-).  I just want you to see how using language effectively can really influence the success of your show. You can use even use language to get rapport with your audience and volunteers, to make subjects want to volunteer for your show, plus much more.
      If you would like to know more about using language patterns, please feel free to e-mail me with your questions.
     
.Canada’s Original and Best Female Stage HypnotistI am available for bookings across the US and CanadaDrop me a line: info@FemaleHypnotist.com and visit my web page:http://www.femalehypnotist.com/. ©1998 SZELES INC. UNAUTHORIZED COPYING,  REPRODUCTION,  BROADCAST,  USE OR SALE OF ANY AND OR ALL                     PORTIONS OF THIS WEB SITE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.                       ©1998 SZELES INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

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