Is there a difference between meditation and hypnosis? Both evoke a calm state of complete mental and physical relaxation but are different. Today we are taking a deep dive into what similarities and differences exist between the two modalities and which one may be more beneficial for you depending on where you are in life and what you are looking to accomplish. This information can be applied to guided meditation, facilitated hypnotherapy sessions, personal mediation, and self-hypnosis. S0, let’s get into it!

What is Meditation?

Meditation comes in many forms. There is mindfulness, spiritual, calming, insightful, transcendental, yogic, sound and many more. Regardless of what method you are looking to practice, they all inherently train your awareness. Encouraging a heightened state of understanding makes it easier to manage emotions, reduce stress, accomplish objectives, and improve overall well-being.

• Focused meditation is the practice of concentrating on something specific. It could be a mantra, a sound, a breath, or even a spot on your wall. It’s all about keeping your attention on any one thing. When/if your mind starts to wander, you bring it back to your breath, the sound, or phrase that allows you to calm your mind and be at ease. It involves practicing awareness without judgment. In easier terms, it allows you to observe your thoughts and actions. It’s not a method of stopping your thoughts; more so it’s about noticing them and letting them drift off just as quickly as they came. This is great for people who struggle with the monkey mind or ruminating thought patterns.

• A body scan meditation is one of noticing sensations in your body, both pleasant and uncomfortable. Starting at the top of your head and moving down to the toes of your feet. Or, starting at your toes and moving to the top of your head, it’s really about preference. You notice what comes to us without judgment. See if your body has messages for you or insights on what it needs or wants.

• Visual mediation is exactly how it sounds. You visualize a peaceful place or give your breath and image. Allowing whatever visuals come up to speak to you and noticing the sensations that come with it. The awareness that comes from visualizing has profound effects on the body + mind.

• A reflection meditation is a practice of reflecting on specific questions. “what am I most grateful for?”, “what are these thoughts trying to tell me?”, “who am I without this (insert uncomfortable feeling"?”. Noticing what comes up and allowing your mind to communicate with you. This internal communication creates new neural pathways that allow for more introspective work naturally throughout the day, even when you are not in a meditative state.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a method of relaxing the mind and focusing attention on specific feelings, emotions, and memories. It allows for deep subconscious reprogramming and an enhanced capacity for responding to suggestions. It is a naturally occurring state that we experience daily. You may have experienced driving to work, forgetting how you got there, or watching a movie and losing track of time. Hypnosis happens any time you're so focused on something that everything around you goes quiet… time stands still… and you may even forget what happened between the beginning and the end of the period you were entranced.

The objective of hypnosis is to choose a specific goal and focus on the desired outcome. It’s a process of recalling uncomfortable memories to reframe them and give them a new story + feeling + context. Hypnosis is incredibly effective when addressing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, insomnia, fatigue, and self-sabotage. Its primary focus is healing a specific event or habit to become whole and healthy in mind + body + spirit. The process can be done through self-guided hypnosis or with a practitioner for faster results.

Hypnosis uses the synaptic firing of your brain to reprogram the inner operating system of your mind. As humans, we have the ability to pivot and be flexible to our surroundings. This is because of the subconscious mind, but when the subconscious is programmed by trauma and emotional wounding, our habits become a trauma response rather than a healthy whole response. The goal is to heal on a deep subconscious level, rather than simply focusing your thoughts or imagining a picture. By setting these intentions, you can move from a state of stress, grief, and anger into a place of calm, confidence, and joy.

Comparing Meditation & Hypnosis

Both meditation and hypnosis provide incredible benefits. They evoke a calm experience that allows the body and mind to relax and helps achieve a state of calm. Both methods help people everywhere, every day live more authentic lives, and even though there are plenty of similarities, there are some key differences, so let’s explore these contrasts to see what suits you best in your practice.

Hypnosis, especially hypnotherapy, is all about your barometers for success. The goal is to achieve some sort of emotional healing or change an unwanted habit. Meditation on the other hand, generally focuses on keeping the mind clear to practice increasing your overall awareness and noticing sensations in the mind and body. Whereas hypnosis and self-hypnosis encourage you to quiet your mind by going deep into your subconscious so that your awareness is focused on your internal world as you access memories and emotions and integrate direct hypnotic suggestions. Both modalities have the potential to help you in your day-to-day life, but if you are looking for a deep-rooted change, hypnosis is the answer. If you want to know more about self-hypnosis, CLICK HERE, where you will be taken to a blog post I wrote about different methods to use on your healing journey. However, a hypnotherapist can get you to your end goal much quicker. If you are looking for a hypnotherapist to help you in your work, keep reading!

Looking For A Hypnotherapist?

One thing I love most about being a hypnotherapist is helping others find the answers within themselves as they find their own internal resources to heal their problem. I am not the solution; I am not leading you to answers, I am a guide, and you are the alchemist. All insights and wisdom come from within your own mind. I truly enjoy this work. I find it potent and powerful as they regain control of their healing and lives. If you are struggling with emotional wounding or a bad habit, reach out. It doesn’t take years or hours of talking about your feelings; instead, it takes peeling back the layers of the issue to find the root cause of the problem. If you would like to get to know more about me, Click Here to be taken to my story. If you want to explore my services, values, and methods, Click Here to be taken to my hypnosis page, and if you’re thinking, “I really want to know more about hypnotherapy and how it can help me,” then Click Here to be taken to my scheduling page where you can book a free 20-minute clarity call to get to know one another. I’m happy to lend any resources I have to your journey and answer any questions about Hypnosis.

With Love, Emily Rose Wheeler

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ABOUT THE BLOGGER

I'm Emily Rose

Embodiment Coach + Energy Therapist

I'm your unwavering guide, here to liberate you from the grasp of old stories & labels that were never truly yours. Together, we'll reignite the connection between your mind & body, offering grounding & nurturing support to shift you from a sense of disconnection and stagnation to one of embodiment and wholeness in your life's journey. I firmly believe that purpose, passion, & pleasure are attainable for everyone.

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