and a new approach that will help you achieve your ends.

You must, first of all, ask yourself if you are feeling better and
whether you have made strides in the direction you desire while giving
yourself suggestions in whatever stage of hypnosis you have achieved. If
your evaluation is affirmative to any degree, you can expect even
greater results. "But," you may say, "how can I expect greater results
when I haven't achieved self-hypnosis?" My answer is you may be
achieving self-hypnosis and not know it! The change to the self-hypnotic
state from the waking state can be imperceptible. Many times, prior to
testing subjects under hypnosis, I ask them if they think they are in
the hypnotic state. The answer is invariably no. When asking the
subjects for a cogent reason for this answer, they usually exclaim that
they are aware of what is going on and do not feel any different than
they did before I started working with them. They are amazed to find
that various tests work so perfectly.

Some subjects do not respond to hypnotic tests no matter how long you
work with them. For these persons, I usually de-emphasize the need for
passing the tests and concentrate on the therapeutic results which are
desired. This approach lessens anxiety and usually results in a
deepening of the hypnotic state. It is my feeling that many subjects
resist any tests as the implication is that once the tests work, the
subject is under complete control of the hypnotist. The subject may fear
this supposed subjection on one hand and yet want it on the other hand.
These forces can work unconsciously, and thus the attainment of hypnosis
becomes a very intricate, perplexing and trying procedure. Even though
this may be so, I can assure you that the problem and attainment of
hypnosis can be resolved. It is only a matter of motivation on the part
of the subject. This is the main ingredient necessary for successful
hypnosis.

Let me now explain a technique which has worked admirably for many who
have been frustrated because of their inability to achieve
self-hypnosis. It involves _pretending you are hypnotized_ and going
through the motions of the various tests _as though you were a perfect
subject_. You will recall that one theory of hypnosis is that the
subject behaves in a manner that he believes is in keeping with hypnotic
behavior. This role playing is the basis for our unique approach. As
the subject continues this procedure, he takes on the conditi