Our conscious mind gives us the ability to use reasoning, logic and analytical thinking.

However. we can’t ‘think’ our way out of a habit, out of anxiety or out of a challenging life situation. In fact the more we think about our problems the worse they get.

Our  conscious, thinking mind knows all the good reasons why we ‘shouldn’t’ reach for the next helping of food – why we ‘should’ go for a walk every day – why we ‘shouldn’t’ let ourselves get angry about small things – why we ‘should’ stop pining over our lost love.

And yet, we tell ourselves, ‘I’ll start tomorrow’ . . . ‘I’ll do something about it when I’m less stressed’. 

Somehow that ‘tomorrow’ never arrives. We find ourselves pushing those good intentions to the background and remaining stuck in the same old patterns - trapped in the gap between intention and action..

Change happens when we let go of this endless chatter, slow down and pay attention to what is happening 'below the surface' of our everyday thoughts.

‘We can only know what we know but we can always learn what we don’t know’

Our ‘subconscious’ mind consists of the many complex brain structures that operate  behind the scenes of our everyday awareness. 

These brain structures store the memory of everything that we have ever learnt or experienced throughout our lives - our talents, our practical skills and our wisdom - as well as - unwanted habits, thoughts and our emotional responses.

Those memories form who we are as a unique individual - our sense of self - our core beliefs - our values and how we relate to others. They shape and drive our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. 

The good news is that no matter how stuck we feel in our habits, thoughts and emotions our brain is very capable of learning something new.

The ‘unconscious mind’ generally refers to

(i) Our parasympathetic nervous system that regulates the systems of our body - digestion, heartbeat, breathing, hormone regulation, hunger, thirst, and libido

(ii) Our sympathetic nervous system (sometimes referred to as the 'primitive' or 'reptilian' brain) that controls and regulates our ‘fight/flight’ response to stress or danger.

This part of our brain controls all those lightening quick responses that bypass our conscious thoughts.

That includes all our habitual reactions and emotional responses such as anger and fear - that happen in response to particular triggers and can appear to be out of our control.

These two systems work together to keep our body in balance.

Our sympathetic nervous system carries signals that put our body systems on alert.

Our parasympathetic nervous system carries signals that relax those systems.

No matter how stuck we feel in our habits, thoughts and emotions our brain is always capable of re-learning, re-framing and learning something new.

Throughout our lives biological changes happen in our brain as we learn the complexity of skills that enable us to negotiate our environment. Neuroplasticity recognises this ability of our brain to adapt and change - to create and strengthen neural pathways in response to new experiences.

Hypnosis is one way that we can target and influence the neural pathways associated with habits, emotions, or behaviours. Using techniques such as visualisation, guided imagery and mind rehearsal we can literally change the 'programming' of our subconscious brain.

How Does Our Brain Learn?

Our brain learns through experience, practice and repetition and it responds to imagined experience just as effectively as if it were real. It fires the same neurons, which stimulate the same neurochemicals, which create the same response in our body as if we were actually living through the experience.  The more we repeat a thought or behaviour, the stronger the neural pathways become.

When we vividly imagine ourselves reaching certain goals our brain is stimulated to fire up and strengthen new neural pathways

Similarly if we vividly imagine ourselves failing at something we are more likely to fail.

When we mind rehearse, or visualise, thoughts and actions that are targeted towards achieving our goals we are building the neural pathways that will strengthen our resolve  and maximise our success. Just like exercising a muscle to make it strong the brain circuitry that is required to help us make healthier choices, or to get out of bed and go for that walk grows and strengthens. 

Athletes use mind rehearsal as ‘mental workout’ to imagine all the steps and mind-set for peak performance.

Musicians can practice their instrument by imagining the position of their fingers as they play notes and chord formations.

Public speakers can imagine speaking in front of a group feeling calm, relaxed and appreciated.

Students can imagine themselves taking an exam while feeling relaxed and focused with good access to memory. 

Hypnosis can harness this power of your imagination to create the changes you would like to see in your life.