I figured the quickest, easiest way to help Jim overcome test anxiety was to work with my 10-step self-hypnosis program. This program was very rigid and Jim would have to follow each direction in the specific order it was given.

Jim was out of school about 10 years and had a chance to become an air traffic controller if he could pass the rigorous test. As I entered his living room, I looked around for symbols that may represent success, achievement, relaxation or courage. I always like to use something personal in the client's home. This is the place where the self-hypnosis plan will be reinforced. I want the client to have all the tools he/she needs. As Jim sat on his couch readying himself for hypnosis, I noticed a painting on the living room wall. The painting was an image of a magnificent lion. I decided to use this image as a focal point for Jim as he practiced his self-hypnosis exercises. After hypnotizing Jim and then teaching him my 10-step method on How to Hypnotize Yourself, I assured him, that he would do well on his air traffic controller's test.

Just as I was at the door, leaving, Jim's wife came home and had a request for me. She asked if I could help Jim, quit smoking. I gave about 5 minutes worth of advice and hurried my way out of his house.

About six months later I was in a restaurant when Jim and his wife saw me and came over to my table. Jim was excited and related to me how he passed his test and now was an air traffic controller. His wife added that Jim had quit smoking. Jim excited explained to me how he used my 5-step program every day. (Do you remember I had a ten-step program?)

I was polite and just answered, "yes." He went on to explain the 5-step plan and explain how he uses the picture on the magnificent lion to give him the courage to survive in the jungle. I listened intently as he told me how he mastered these techniques and said he can't wait to develop more problems so that he hand handle them through his self-hypnosis program.

After Jim and his wife left, I thought hard about what he said. Jim stated he used a 5-step program not a 10-step like I had advised. Also, he didn't even use the 5 steps in the correct order I presented. What this demonstrates is that I want you to learn the principles as I teach them but remember that what you decide works for you, go for it. You are the best hypnotist in the world when it comes to your own problems. I can teach you to talk to your subconscious mind in a way that you will understand. I can perform a lot of exercises and hypnotic inductions, but all of the healing that goes on comes from you and you only.

This is exciting! You can take what I give you, personalize it, and make it work. You don't need to get bogged down in a lot of theory and worry about your technique. One of the main reasons I place the history and theory of hypnosis in the back of the book is to allow you to experiment and become successful without having to judge your own form and technique. You are going to become very successful at hypnotizing yourself. You are going to achieve all of your goals in life.

Before we begin with your first hypnotic induction performed by the greatest hypnotist in the world, I would like to go over some typical questions you may have in your mind, regarding self-hypnosis and hypnosis.

First of all, there is no button in your brain that you push to become hypnotized or dehypnotized. Becoming hypnotized is just following directions and concentrating so intently on a particular thought or string of thoughts, that nothing else that is going on around you seems to be distracting or very important. Since there is no button to push, there is no button to get stuck and have you frozen in hypnosis or self-hypnosis. In all of the history of hypnotism, no one has ever gotten stuck. That's too bad, because it is a wonderful state of mind for you to be experiencing.

You will hear all the instructions given. Whether I am giving you instructions in person or you are giving them to yourself, you will hear everything that goes on around you and everything that the hypnotist is saying. The only time you won't hear everything that is being said is if you go to sleep. As you relax in hypnosis it is very easy to fall into natural sleep. In a few minutes, however, you will wake up on your own. You will, however, respond to any suggestion you gave yourself before falling into natural sleep.

When you listen to a hypnotist or your own hypnotic recording, do not evaluate or judge what is going on. There will be plenty of time to evaluate the process once you are back into the waking state of mind.

Your mind works better at accepting positive suggestions when your body is at rest and your mind is just listening to each and every word the hypnotist is saying. Listen to the words as you listened to parents when you were a child of five or six years of age. Remember that anything is possible when you are in the hypnotic state of mind.

Here are a list of FAQS or Frequently Asked Questions, regarding hypnosis and self-hypnosis. When you have additional questions feel free to visit my Hypnotism Education Website at:

http://www.wayneperkins.net

You will find additional FAQS on the Website as well as the Self-hypnosis Forum. You may want to join. People from around the world have the same questions as you regarding self-hypnosis. They will also share with you how they have overcome problems and achieved goals with self-hypnosis. Other hypnotherapists and health card professionals will share their experiences with you as well. Below are some FAQS, (frequently asked questions) which is pronounced "fax."

The major objectives of Chapter 3 are to teach you how to give yourself an hypnotic induction, record it on tape, and listen to the induction with maximum results. Its sounds like a lot to expect at this part in the book. However, remember that the best hypnotist in the world for your success, is you. Once you have accepted that statement in your subconscious, you will be able to achieve results you never believed possible.

Listen by yourself for the first few sessions. Do not tell anyone that you are going to work on a problem with self-hypnosis. Other people's views and misconceptions of hypnosis will come into play if others are brought in to the process at this phase. Let yourself have many positive experiences with self-hypnosis to share with your friends at a later date. Your success is the most important issue here, not the validation of your friends.

Remember that since your mind will be very alert during this exercise, you will be able to react to any emergency that is going on around you.

Practice this skill over and over. Repetition will help condition you faster.

As you read the following script into your recording equipment, read in a slow, relaxed style. As you are reading the script into your recording device, you may notice how I say things like, "you are going deep asleep, or you will feel alive and alert." Record this exercise first exactly as written and then substitute, the word, "I' for you. Practice and see, which exercise you, enjoy best.

Use a new tape for each new induction. Label each tape to correspond with each Chapter. This is Chapter 3, Self-hypnosis Conditioning, Eyes Open Method. Side
B of the tape may be labeled Eyes Open Method with "I."

If you fall asleep during the exercise, don't worry. Practice sitting in a less comfortable chair next time. You were probably just a little too relaxed as you lay on your bed.

As you read the hypnosis conditioning script into your recorder, pause for 3 seconds each time you see the (Pause) cue.

Always remember that ALL hypnosis is self-hypnosis! You are always in control. You have all the power necessary to make positive changes in your own life. You may have found out already in life that you also have the power to make all the negative changes in your life. Let's focus on the positive changes.

Find an area in your home or place of work where you can have about 10 minutes to yourself. That's right, only 10 minutes are needed in your quest for a successful induction at this point. After practicing this exercise many times, you may reduce the time to only one or two minutes. Now read the following words into a recording device. Read very, very slowly. Pretend that you are tired as you read this exercise and you will react in a relaxed, sleepy, manner. You will find yourself empathetic to your own voice. You may want to print out this page for future reference. Whenever you see the (Pause) cue, pause for 3 seconds, then go ahead and read again. Let your body relax for a few moments before continuing to record.

BEGINNING OF EXERCISE

END OF EXERCISE

How do you feel? Do you feel alert and awake and feeling better than you have ever felt before?

Activity 1 - Listen to the tape

Listen to this tape recording each day for the next 10 days. We will be adding additional self-hypnotic inductions and you will have an opportunity to listen to those as well. Our purpose is to have you condition yourself for this wonderful state of mind.

Record your reactions and thoughts to this exercise by answering the following questions:

What was the first thing you thought about as you finished the exercise?

How did you feel during the exercise?

How do you feel now?

Did you have any unusual sensations as you were listening to your voice?

List anything that you feel was "memorable" during the exercise.

Go back over the script, I prepared for you and substitute the word, I for the word you. Read into the tape recorder. Label the tape as Chapter 3, Optional. Listen to the newly recorded tape.

Use one of the extra Evaluate Your Induction forms located in Appendix A and answer the questions on the form.

Access the Internet and go the Self-hypnosis Forum located at: http://www.wayneperkins.net

Share your thoughts about your first self-hypnotic experience with others from around the world. Read and learn from the responses that you see posted.

In Chapter 3, you read the FAQS, (frequently asked questions) of hypnosis and self-hypnosis. You learned more facts about the state itself. Then you actually recorded and listened to your first induction. You were the hypnotist or operator. You were also the subject or hypnotee. You completed the entire cycle of hypnosis. How do feel?

END OF CHAPTER 3.