You've Been Hypnotised Before - Now Use It to Create the Life You Want

The Moment Marilyn Became the Chicken

Marilyn was hesitant when she was asked to come up on stage to be hypnotized in front of the crowd. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself, but she was also very curious about what would happen, so she agreed. 

She recounted her story to me. 

“I was up on stage in front of a whole audience of people.  There were a lot of people.  That was daunting to start with, for sure.  But then I did feel quite relaxed sitting in that seat.  It was interesting to watch a glass move across the stage without anyone holding it.  And there were other things like this.  But the really crazy thing for me was after the stage show. 

“I went outside to have a cigarette in the break.  Then I actually started cackling like a chook!  I was doing all the sounds and flapping my elbows!  The crazy thing was it felt like it was my choice, and it felt really natural. I knew what I was doing.  I was fully awake and aware.  That wasn’t enough to make me stop!”

Her experience wasn’t about mind-control. It was about suggestibility—the same biological mechanism that allows us to learn, focus, and absorb ideas quickly when we suspend critical resistance.

Everyday Hypnosis

Have you ever promised yourself to quit sugar or stick to a new diet—only to find yourself buying a colourful drink that undermines your plan? Or walked into a store and felt drawn to the season’s latest look, even if it didn’t quite suit you?

These are forms of social hypnosis. Advertising, social media trends, and even peer approval exploit the same psychological gateways a hypnotist uses. When your attention narrows and emotions heighten, the analytical mind relaxes. In that moment, suggestions—whether a logo, a melody or an internal affirmation—bypass conscious filters and reach the subconscious, where habits live.

The Mystery of the Mentalist

A well-known stage act demonstrates this beautifully.  You may recall this one: 

A flip chart was placed in the middle of the stage. You could only see the cover of this flip chart. You didn’t know if there was anything drawn on any of the pages. 

Everyone in the audience was then handed a piece of yellow paper and a black marking pen.  In one variation of this now-repeated phenomenon, the process was adapted to a timely Halloween event, where the audience was told that yellow paper was being handed out to them for a reason.  The yellow would allow the Mentalist / Hypnotist easier access to the frequency of their thoughts. 

There was a musical interlude.  The stage was set.  The lights they were told would be brightened a bit so that they could draw freely.  No tricks.  Just each individual with their own hand on their own pen.  The only request they were asked was that they show no-one what they were drawing, not even their beloved partner or family member or best friend beside them.   Or else how would they know if the Mentalist / Hypnotist was truly gifted or not? 

Some people looked like they were thinking hard about what they might draw.  But everyone guarded their work as they drew. 

They were then asked to turn their drawings on their laps face down, so no-one could see them. 

Then the lights dimmed again, apart from the stage light, featuring the Hypnotist with his flip chart.  This spotlight zoomed into focus on the Mentalist/Hypnotist on stage as if what he was about to do what no Other would be capable!  Whirling shadows were just visible where the lights had now been darkened. (Well, it was Halloween after all!) 

He picked up his marking pen, flipped the cover page over and drew a line drawing of a house. 

The lights went up again quickly.  Everyone was asked to show their drawing.  The looks on the faces of every individual was one of amazement when they all saw they had all drawn a house!!!!

Although some in that audience may have started reaching for their favourite talisman that evening, no sorcery was involved—only expertly planted cues and the shared field of focused imagination. Hypnosis operates in that same fertile ground. 

Science Meets Spirit

“When we are hypnotized, or ‘in a trance’, our scope of awareness narrows to focus on particular areas…

“A state of trance is also often present when we are absorbed in something we enjoy, such as a good book, playing a sport or even baking a cake. In all these cases, the “immediate environment fades away and our awareness is filled with the task at hand… 

“Understanding the concept of attention brings with it the possibility of control over how we use what we notice."

Mark Tyrell, Psychology Educator and Founder of Uncommon Practitioners^[2].

Hypnosis, therefore, can be described as an adaptive learning mode—a natural function of the human mind. 

Just about everything we know about our environments and the ways we relate to the people, animals and plants in it can be explained through the mechanisms of our learning and “pattern matching” our behaviours.  Like Marilyn above, when she was fully awake and knew that she was cackling like a chook, but didn’t know why, we all do things that we often wish we hadn’t, but it is us doing them!  Like binging the last packet of chocolate biscuits, or whatever it was we wish we hadn’t done, but seemed natural at the time.  We believe our behaviours are chosen each moment, but they have largely been processed and built up over time by us through many events, and most of these events will have had to have been catalysed through learning on these deeper levels that synchronise our emotional patterns. 

Traditional cultures have long understood trance as part of healing: from Indigenous songlines and rhythmic drumming to yogic meditation and Christian contemplative prayer. Each alters consciousness to realign the body, mind and spirit.

From Being Hypnotised to Using Hypnosis

Recognising that you’ve already been hypnotised—by trends, opinions or fears—is empowering.
The same mechanism that made you crave a drink or adopt a style can help you:

• Release a habit such as smoking or overeating
• Improve performance in study, sport or music
• Transform limiting beliefs that sabotage success
• Resolve trauma or phobias gently and safely

Professional hypnotherapy guides you to use this innate ability intentionally. Over time, self-hypnosis becomes a daily practice of mental clarity and focus—like meditation with direction.

Reclaiming Your Inner Influence

When you learn to guide your own trance states, external suggestions lose their grip.
You choose which ideas take root in your subconscious garden.
As the American Psychological Association notes, “Hypnosis is a collaborative process that enhances the client’s ability to make desired changes in thought, feeling and behaviour.” ^[1]

The Invitation

Next time you set a goal—whether to sleep better, manage pain, or simply feel lighter—consider hypnosis not as stage entertainment but as self-mastery.
You’ve already proven you can be hypnotised; now learn to hypnotise yourself toward wellness, purpose and peace.

If you would like to know more about how you can use Hypnosis in your life in any of the areas above, or others that you would like more control over in your life, then sign on for more information, or request a Discovery Session through Counselling Confidence, Soul Advisory Portal.