Quite often I am asked, “What’s the difference between meditation and hypnosis?” While meditation and hypnosis can be similar in terms of the process utilized to achieve a relaxed state of mind and body, they differ in terms of the outcome. Meditation is used to quiet the mind while hypnosis is used to program the mind.

Meditation seeks to quiet the mind and helps create a blank slate where you can release all of your cares and concerns. Meditation helps you recharge and rejuvenate, and it helps you ease stress. Hypnosis does all of those things and it has an even greater purpose: To reprogram the subconscious mind.

Hypnosis is a very common state of mind.

Hypnosis is a very common state of mind that you achieve every time you get lost in a thought or allow your mind to wander. You can also achieve a hypnotic-like state while driving, which is called highway hypnosis. Anyone who has ever missed an exit on the highway because their mind was lost in a thought will be familiar with this concept. Hypnosis works by helping you reprogram your self-sabotaging, self-defeating behaviors and thoughts that keep you from achieving your goals. Hypnosis is typically used to help people stop smoking or lose weight, but it can be utilized for virtually anything you want to either eliminate or improve upon.

Most habits or mindsets can be overcome in as little as 21 to 30 days.

Hypnosis helps you move beyond your conscious mind by helping you access the subconscious mind, which doesn’t know the difference between reality and imagination. Most thought processes and patterns can be overcome and changed, when given enough time and patience because most habits take around 21 to 30 days to overcome. Your subconscious mind is like a giant sponge that absorbs everything around it. These thoughts and images then become part of your belief system where they are sent out to the universe to become your new reality. In other words your thoughts create your reality.