A
good hypnotic suggestion addresses the core problem, which you
discovered in autoquestioning. Instead of only making the suggestion,
I will lose weight, the chronic cake sufferer in our example
should also add, I do not need chocolate cake to celebrate my
success.
Some
tips for good suggestion formulation:
Language
is not natural to the subconscious, which thinks in images. A good
suggestion is short and phrased in a positive way. Instead of I
do not eat chocolate cake, suggest, When I see chocolate cake,
I put it aside.
Neither
the past nor the future exist for the subconscious. The
subconscious only understands now. Therefore, suggestions
should be phrased as though they are happening now. Early
hypnotists were not aware of this, and got mixed results. Instead of
I will lose weight by June, try I lose weight every
day.
Good
suggestions are highly specific. In the early days of Dr.
Erickson's research, it was believed that very general suggestions,
such as every day, in every way, I am getting better and better,
could be extremely potent. We now know that the more specific a
suggestion is, the faster and more effectively it addresses a
problem.
Once you have
formulated a suggestion, "verify" it with your subconscious
through autoquestioning. Ask if the proposed suggestion will work
exactly as you intend and how long it will take to be fully
implemented. If you do not get agreement from the subconscious, edit
your suggestion.