The Power Of Suggestion

Though the media makes it out to be voodoo, hypnosis may be your secret sauce for success.

- By Kyra Mackesy

When you think of hypnosis, you probably picture a mustachioed magician with a swinging pocket watch who compels his subjects to cluck like a chicken upon awakening. But in antithesis to this Hollywood typecast, hypnosis actually is a valuable, research-supported tool used to harness the power of the brain. For athletes, it can be used to instill confidence, erase doubt and enhance performance. Best of all, you can do it yourself — no necromancer required.

In simple terms, self-hypnosis is a state of heightened consciousness characterized by deep relaxation and increased receptivity to suggestion. It’s about gaining, not losing, control over your subconscious mind, which cannot differentiate between real or imagined experiences. The more control you have over your imagination, the more you’re able to influence your real-life actions.