| The Self is a Relationship | | | | somehow this message gets communicated |
| Self hypnosis is a fascinating and complex subject. | | | | nonverbally and changes the attacker's mindset. |
| I believe that most people develop an interest in | | | | In Aikido we attempt to cooperate with the |
| self hypnosis because they want to be able to | | | | attacker and touch their true desire. When we |
| live a life of greater fulfillment. People have a | | | | are able to accomplish this the musculature of the |
| desire to accomplish certain goals that they | | | | attacker softens and their fighting mind is |
| currently seem incapable of achieving, and thus | | | | neutralized. The goal is to protect the one being |
| they have an inkling that there must be "a better | | | | attacked, as well as protecting the attacker. We |
| way." It is important to remember: | | | | strive to blend with the energy and attempted |
| THE SELF IS A RELATIONSHIP- BOTH | | | | goals of the attacker rather than confronting |
| INTRAPERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL. | | | | them. |
| "Who am I? I am a relationship. I choose to, and I | | | | In Aikido we say: |
| have the right to, feel good and be respected. I | | | | "Change yourself first, before looking to change |
| am." | | | | your opponent, and in the process, you might find |
| When we are feeling stuck we might think of self | | | | that your opponent has changed himself." |
| hypnosis like this: "There is a part of me that | | | | "First learn to control your self and then look to |
| wants to get another part of me to change. And | | | | lead others gently. Help the attacker to get what |
| the annoying thing is that the part of me that 'I' | | | | he wants without his needing to use violence to |
| want to change does not appear to be open to | | | | achieve his goals." |
| my suggestions!" In such instances, "What we | | | | In self hypnosis we can say: |
| have here is a failure to communicate." | | | | "Change the mindset of your cognitive self first, |
| For instance, people often say to me: "Why is it | | | | before looking to change your somatic self, and in |
| that when 'I' want to 'lose weight', 'stop smoking', | | | | the process, you might just find that your |
| 'get up earlier in the morning', that there is | | | | somatic self will change itself." "Control your |
| somehow, somewhere a hidden part of me that | | | | cognitive self and gently lead your somatic self. |
| very much does not want to accomplish these | | | | Help the cognitive self to get the appropriate |
| same goals? Why does this conflict exist and how | | | | results it desires, without it needing to resort to |
| can I get 'myself' to do what 'I' want to do?" Self | | | | manipulation and conflict. If your cognitive self is |
| relations therapy would call this hidden part that is | | | | not getting the results it desires, then what will |
| not cooperating "the neglected self." Other forms | | | | your cognitive self need to do to change itself, in |
| of therapy would talk about "the subconscious | | | | order to more fully align with your somatic self?" |
| mind" or "the unconscious mind." Seishindo | | | | Or yet another way to say this is: "The solution |
| presents the concept of "the somatic self." What | | | | your cognitive self is attempting to implement is |
| we are striving for in self hypnosis is developing a | | | | instrumental to the continuance of the problem. If |
| context of cooperative communication. We need | | | | you implement the 'right' solution, you will likely |
| to learn how to respectfully communicate with | | | | find that there is no problem. With a high quality |
| the hidden parts of one's self, and in the process, | | | | solution in hand, the problem ceases to exist." |
| enlist the resources of the entire self in order to | | | | You are invited to experiment with our self |
| bring about a more balanced life. This is the main | | | | hypnosis practices drawing from the wisdom of |
| task of self hypnosis. | | | | the Japanese martial art Aikido, the Japanese |
| Cooperation | | | | health management system of "Sei Tai" and |
| One of the reasons that the martial art Aikido | | | | melding this knowledge with concepts from |
| works so effectively (when and if it is done with | | | | Ericksonian Psychology, Self Relations Therapy, |
| the proper ideals in mind) is that the practitioner | | | | and NLP. |
| has no intent to harm or force the attacker, and | | | | |