Hypnosis: Communication Skills
Hypnosis for communication skills
Communicating effectively is one of the best skills you can gain. But how do you do it? First you have to believe that you communicate clearly and effectively. If you don’t believe that you speak clearly, then that’s going to translate into speech issues, such as stuttering, not remembering words, etc. Hypnosis helps in this area by inserting the idea that you are an effective and clear communicator into your subconscious mind.*
(*Note: I prefer to call it the subconscious mind rather than other commonly used terms such as unconscious and nonconscious mind. Unconscious and nonconscious lend to misconceptions that you are unconscious or not conscious while in hypnosis which isn’t true. Hypnosis just activates a heightened mental focus and state of relaxation, you are alert and aware during trance.)
Why does hypnosis help get new ideas into the subconscious mind?
Being in the hypnotic state allows you to bypass the Critical Factor, this is your inner analyst that rejects new ideas that don’t line up with what’s already in your subconscious mind. When you’re in a normal state of mind the Critical Factor is active and will act as a gatekeeper against ideas that oppose your current beliefs.
What ideas could help make you a better communicator?
he main ones I use with clients are around the clarity of communication, self-confidence, being a good listener and expecting a positive response from the audience.
Here are a few therapeutic suggestions to increase your belief that you communicate effectively. Pair these with self-hypnosis to start upgrading your mind today. Check out my article on how to do self-hypnosis here.
I speak clearly and concisely therefore I easily communicate my ideas to my audience
Because I am confident in my knowledge I naturally speak with confidence and ease
More and more now I believe I am an effective communicator therefore I speak easily and clearly
Because I know the value of nonverbal communication I now effectively use body language and gestures to convey my message
Because I actively listen to others I am consciously engaged in my relationships therefore I notice more connection and acceptance in my relationships
I know and deeply believe that I speak well therefore words smoothly roll off my tongue
Because I expect acceptance and connection from my audience I feel excited to speak in front of crowds
More and more now I feel calm and grounded when speaking in front of crowds because I am confident in my skills and abilities and I effectively communicate my message
Because I know my needs and feelings are important I clearly communicate them to my partner therefore I experience more connection and love in my relationship
Because I know that mistakes are stepping stones to greater understanding I am kind and compassionate with myself if I make a mistake
Day by day in every way my memory is getting better and better therefore I am confident in my knowledge and I confidently communicate my wisdom to others
Now that you are inundating yourself with new ideas about effective communication what do you do next?
Take Action!
New ideas are fantastic, but if you don’t take action then they just remain ideas. Begin by taking baby steps, do a video recording on your phone of you speaking on a topic you’re passionate about. Focus on speaking clearly and concisely. What is the most succinct way you can say something? When we lack confidence we’ll add fillers such as “I think that maybe, um,....” or “I believe that this might be the best step, but um what do you think”.
Recording yourself when speaking helps you to just get used to talking and you have the opportunity to go back and see where you could have been clearer. Start noticing when you get nervous and backing down on your confidence. Then create a suggestion reversing it i.e. “Because I pause after completing a thought I breathe deeply and remain calm while speaking”
If you’ve had traumatic experiences around public speaking then I recommend seeing a hypnotherapist. Those experiences need to be collapsed, or else the new ideas will not take root in your subconscious mind very well.
Bonus for the nerds like me
What is physically happening in your body when you get nervous and how to
reverse it?
First, being nervous or stressed activates your sympathetic nervous system (SNS) commonly known as Fight or Flight. The SNS shifts blood flow to your low brain (reptile), heart, lungs and big muscles. Your heart might race, your mouth goes dry and you breathe more shallowly. Blood flow is reduced to your frontal lobe (higher mind) and digestive systems. This is why your mind goes blank and your mouth is dry because producing saliva is part of the digestive system.
To reverse this start by taking a few deep exhalations. Take a deep breath in, hold it for a pause and then exhale slowly, ideally you want the exhale to be longer than the inhale. The slow exhalation causes your vagus nerve to be stimulated which activates your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). This system shifts blood flow back to the frontal lobe and digestive system. It allows for problem solving and clearer thinking. Additionally salvia! Which is nice to have when you’re presenting.
