ix to ten minutes. You are not sure, though, that
you are under hypnosis. There are many ways to test this, and I shall
outline one of these tests later in this chapter; however, for your
initial attempts, it isn't too important whether or not you are under
hypnosis. You are still to give yourself the posthypnotic suggestion
that the next time you attempt to hypnotize yourself you will fall into
a deeper and sounder state after you have relaxed for about five minutes
and counted to three.

In your initial attempts, you will be trying to establish a conditioned
response to the count of three which will subsequently cause your eyes
to close and put you under hypnosis. Eventually, you should react
instantly to the count of three or any other cue you may use to trigger
the response. The key words or stimulus become associated with the
action that you seek. Through repetition, just thinking about the
stimulus can bring on the response. This is known as ideomotor action
and is present in the waking as well as the hypnotic state. Pavlov's
famous experiments which induced dogs to salivate when a bell was rung
after previously having had food fed to them at the same time are
examples of this type of conditioning. Don't we generally become hungry
if someone tells us it's noon and time for lunch when, in fact, it's
only 11 o'clock?

I had a common experience recently that I am sure many readers have
shared. One of my neighbors, seeing my car was parked in front of my
house and knowing I was home, called to say he was dropping in to see
me. While working on the manuscript of this book, I thought I heard the
doorbell as I was typing. I went to the front door and no one was there.
I even walked around the house looking for him because I was so certain
I heard the bell. This is another example of an ideomotor action. I told
my friend about it when he arrived approximately 30 minutes later. He
looked at me rather whimsically, and we both shared a laugh. Haven't you
thought you heard the phone ring when you were waiting for a call?

In the chapter, "How Does Self-Hypnosis Work," stress was laid on the
importance of the visual-imagery technique. During every attempt to
achieve self-hypnosis, you attempt to visualize yourself going into the
hypnotic state. Once you have deepened the state, you begin the process
of visualizing yourself exactly the way you want to be. You may
experience difficulty at first, but as you keep at it, you will