Hypnosis and Selective Thinking

What if you had a simple tool to make everyday life easier? 

Hypnosis is that tool. It’s not just something you see in the movies—it's a practical resource you can use in everyday situations. Whether you want to improve your communication skills or help people manage their emotional states, understanding the basics of hypnosis can make a big difference.

At the heart of effective hypnosis is the ability to bypass the "critical faculty," (the part of your conscious mind that analyzes everything), and to establish selective thinking. In this post, we'll explore simple yet powerful techniques that will help you harness the power of hypnosis to create positive change.

Understanding the Critical Faculty

The "critical faculty" might sound like a fancy term, but it's actually quite simple. Think of it as the part of your mind that's always on the lookout, analyzing and questioning everything. Think of it as the filter that decides what information gets through to your unconscious mind, where real change happens.

In hypnosis, the critical faculty can be a bit of a roadblock. When you want to help someone relax, manage stress, or even overcome a fear, bypassing this critical part of the mind is key. Once you get past the critical faculty, you can start to establish what's called selective thinking, where the person focuses on one idea or suggestion, allowing them to make real, positive changes.

In the next sections, we'll look at some easy ways to gently nudge the critical faculty aside and open the door to more effective communication with the unconscious mind. It’s simpler than you might think, and once you understand it, you’ll see how hypnosis can be a powerful tool in everyday life.

The Power of Pattern Interrupts

Pattern interrupts are one of the coolest tools in the hypnosis toolbox. They work by doing exactly what the name suggests—interrupting a pattern. When someone is caught in a loop of undesirable thoughts or behaviors, you can use hypnosis to help them break out of it.

Imagine this: Your child falls and scrapes their knee. Naturally, they’re upset and crying, completely focused on the pain. In this situation, trying to reason with them or simply telling them "it’s okay" might not do much good. Their mind is locked onto the discomfort, and it’s hard for them to think about anything else.

This is where a pattern interrupt can work wonders. Instead of focusing on the injury, you suddenly ask something completely unrelated, like, "Hey, what time does the pet food store close today? We need to pick up some food for the dog!" This unexpected question catches them off guard, pulling their attention away from the pain and onto something different.

For a moment, their brain is no longer stuck in the loop of focusing on the hurt knee. They start thinking about the dog, the store hours, and whether you’ll have time to get there. In that split second, you’ve successfully interrupted the pattern of pain and worry. With their attention diverted, you’ve bypassed their critical faculty—the part of their mind that was hyper-focused on the pain—and created an opportunity to calm them down, allowing selective thinking to take over.

Once you've created this shift, it becomes much easier to guide them to a more relaxed state. You can then say something like, "Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of time to get to the store after we take care of your knee." By the time they’re back to thinking about the injury, their emotional response is often much less intense.

This simple technique of using a pattern interrupt can be incredibly effective, not just with kids but in all sorts of situations. It’s about breaking the cycle of thoughts or feelings that might be unhelpful and steering things in a more positive direction. By introducing selective thinking after the pattern interrupt, you can help guide the mind toward a calmer, more controlled response.

Whether you’re dealing with a child’s scraped knee, calming someone who’s anxious, or even managing your own stress, pattern interrupts are a powerful and practical tool to have at your disposal.

Hypnosis in Dentistry

Read: Hypnosis and Dentistry: A Powerful Combination

Hypnosis might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about a visit to the dentist, but it can be surprisingly effective, especially for helping kids (or even adults!) stay calm during procedures. Let’s share a story that perfectly illustrates this.

Imagine another young child sitting in the dentist’s chair, feeling nervous about the upcoming procedure. A dental professional who is well-trained in hypnosis can use creative techniques to keep the child relaxed.

On the old pulley drill, the dentist ties a little cotton ball that spins in a gentle arc when the drill is turned on. As the child watches the cotton ball move, the dentist says, “Look at the little bunny rabbit! Isn’t he cute? Can you keep watching the bunny rabbit while I work?” The child’s focus shifts away from the dental procedure to this imaginary bunny, and just like that, the critical faculty gets bypassed.

But it doesn’t end there. While the child is engaged with the “bunny rabbit,” the dentist introduces selective thinking by saying, “Wouldn’t it be nice if the bunny had a little hole to hide in? I’m going to make that for him now.” The child, now focused on helping the bunny, is no longer anxious about the drilling. Instead, they’re involved in the story, watching the bunny’s new home being made.

This simple yet brilliant technique turns a potentially stressful experience into something much more manageable. The child is calm, cooperative, and maybe even entertained. The dental work gets done smoothly, all thanks to the power of hypnosis.

This example shows how hypnosis, combined with a little creativity, can reduce fear and anxiety in challenging situations. Interestingly, many professionals use these techniques without even realizing they’re doing hypnosis. That’s because hypnosis isn’t just what you see on a stage show—it’s a natural part of how we can guide attention and influence emotions in our everyday interactions.

Automatic Imagination Model

The Automatic Imagination Model is a fascinating model of hypnosis developed by Kev Sheldrake and Anthony Jacquin that relies on the power of imagination. Here’s how it works: Imagine placing your hand flat on a table and pretending it’s stuck there. At first, it seems silly—you know you can lift your hand anytime. But as you focus on the idea, your imagination starts to take over, and it actually feels like your hand is stuck.

What’s happening here is you’re bypassing the critical faculty at will. By engaging your imagination, the suggestion that your hand is stuck starts to feel real—you’ve established selective thinking. The more you focus on it, the more it seems like your hand truly can’t move.

At some point, you realize that it’s all in your head, and you can lift your hand whenever you want. This realization doesn’t take away from the power of the experience—it actually highlights just how much control you have over your own mind. The Automatic Imagination Model is a great reminder that hypnosis isn’t about losing control; it’s about using your imagination to explore the amazing things your mind can do.

Hypnosis in Everyday Life

Now that you’ve learned about some of these powerful hypnosis techniques, you might be wondering, “How can I actually use this stuff?” The good news is that these techniques are incredibly versatile and can be applied in all sorts of situations to make life easier and more enjoyable.

For example, think about how you could use a pattern interrupt the next time you’re in a tense situation. Maybe you’re having a heated discussion with someone. Instead of letting the conversation spiral out of control, you could throw in a surprising comment or ask an unexpected question to break the tension and steer things in a more positive direction.

Or perhaps you’re dealing with a stressful moment, like feeling overwhelmed at work or anxious about an upcoming event. Engage your imagination and watch the stress just melting away, or pretend you’re already through the challenging situation and feeling great. You’ll be surprised at how you can shift your focus and change your emotional state in an instant.

Even the simple act of helping a child calm down, like the dentist did with the bunny rabbit story, shows how you can use these techniques to turn a potentially difficult moment into something more manageable, making life smoother and more enjoyable.

The best part is that these methods are easy to learn and use. With a bit of practice, you’ll find yourself naturally incorporating them into your interactions with others and in your own self-care routines. So go ahead, use them, and see how hypnosis can make a positive difference in your everyday life!

The Next Step

If you’re excited to learn more about hypnosis and how it can transform your life, now is the perfect time to get started. The Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy offers a wealth of resources, lessons, and a supportive community to help you develop these powerful skills.

Start with a free test drive to see firsthand how hypnosis can make a difference, whether you want to improve communication, manage stress, or explore a new career path. Click here to begin your journey—no credit card required

We also invite you to join our free Facebook group, Brain Software. It’s a vibrant space where you can dive deeper into hypnosis and effective communication while connecting with like-minded individuals who share your goals. Click here to join us!