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Here’s a cool little thing that sums up my blog quite nicely (click on the image to see it full-size)

I am currently working on a post regarding typical misconceptions held about hypnosis. However, I’m in the thick of revising for an exam and, as such, I’ve been a little busy…

Yesterday (Thursday) I had one of those mornings where, try as I might, I just couldn’t seem to get going. I figured I’d follow my own advice, and the second half of the day was really productive. However, today something occurred to me.

If, when you think about doing something that you have to do, you feel resistance to doing it, then it’s tough to get it done.

If, when you think about doing something that you have to do, you think to yourself “I’ll do it tomorrow”, then it’s tough to get it done.

There has been a lot of researched carried out into behaviour. In 1986, two researches (Norman & Shallice) suggested a model of action control which puts forward the idea that automatic behaviour, comprised of routine and habit, is governed by a modular system of “information models” or schemas. These schemas come into play either via external stimulus, or internal motivations. Tasks that can be classed as automatic are tasks that have become routine, and most often are performed without a conscious awareness of the pattern. So this would include tasks such as sitting down, writing with a pen, driving in a car (and, in some cases, procrastinating over an essay)…

These schemas operate until the task is finished (e.g. when driving, arriving at your destination) or a higher-priority schema is operated (pulling into the services because you need the loo).

Speculatively, I’d include having feelings as being under this automatic control. Feelings are often generated beyond our conscious awareness, and they are governed by schemas that sometimes co-operate with one another, but often compete with one another…

However, the Norman & Shallice model acknowledges the fact that not all behaviours are routine. Where novel tasks must be completed, the “Supervisory Activating System” (who comes up with this stuff?) comes into play. The SAS “is responsible for more complex cognitive operations and, in general, intervenes when routine control is insufficient.” To relate this to our driving example, this would be driving in France and realising (hopefully) that you now need to drive on the other side of the road. As this thought occurs to you, “you” intervene, and swerve to the other side of the road… This is known as “willed action”.

The Supervisory Activating System is closely related to conscious awareness in another interesting theory, the “Global Workspace Theory” (Baars, 1988), and also to the idea of a “Central Executive” in the theory of “Working Memory” (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974).

So this seems to relate to our thoughts – at least those thoughts that feel like us (rather than the random ones that seem to “pop” in there from time to time…) The Supervisory Activating System seems to relate to that “inner voice” that is trying to plot our way through our days. In other words, our will.

(There are other models that include automatic and willed action however Norman and Shallice’s model is the simplest).

The above model relates to hypnosis quite nicely, in that some researchers (Woody & Bowers, 1994) suggest that hypnosis has the ability to disengage that supervisory system, granting the hypnotist increased access to the automatic control schemas. This is certainly consistent with my practical experience and it’s a powerful proposition. However, that wasn’t the point of this post…

(Hmmn – and there was a point; this post was really only meant to be a brief update, but now I’ve gone and written my usual 500+ words… O well.)

The point is: if your automatic behaviour (and feelings) are averse to completing a task, or if your willed thoughts (that voice in your head that’s supposed to be in charge) is averse to completing a task, or – worse still – if both the voice and the feelings are averse to completing a task, then it’s damn difficult to complete a task!

This is where NLP comes in. By using NLP patterns (visualisations, use of language, etc) you can empower the supervisory activating system to intervene more effectively; to build a better outcome that is beyond those limiting, routine, behaviours…

Richard Bandler is right: living an effective life is all about generating better feelings…

If you feel like doing something, and that voice in your head is saying “let’s do it!” then you are going to get it done. It’s pretty simple really…

Finally, on ITV’s This Morning, Nurse and hypnotherapist Bernadine Coady, 67, (btw I hope I look as good as her when I’m 67?!) explained how it felt to have surgery under hypnotic anesthesia. You can read about it (and see a video – if it finds its way onto Youtube, I’ll replace the link) here:

http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/ThisMorning/Health/Surgeryunderhypnosis123/default.html

At the end of the piece Dr. Chris Steele explains some of the interesting cases he’s treated with hypnosis. If only all doctors were as open minded as he seemingly is…

That’s all for now – if you find this interesting, please leave a comment!

Adrian
http://www.lastingchange.co.uk