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We are used to thinking of self-hypnosis as something that is done on
purpose, by persons to themselves. But what hypnotism is, is merely the
suggestions of ideas (concepts) that are perceived and put into a time-released
form that can be a very powerful and overwhelming thing. People intentionally
hypnotize themselves all the time without realizing that this is what they are
really doing. People who are on diets and use "will-power" have in fact
hypnotized themselves. This is the type of hypnotism that we term "auto-
self-hypnosis". Society may one day be able to make very good use of this
knowledge in achieving great goals, but when the phenomenon exists and
occurs on its own without the control of individuals, it can be very destructive.
Anyone who excels at anything through their "will-power" or "drive" has done
so by the suggestive power of hypnotism. This suggestive power works in all
areas of the mind, including, as we have said, the subconscious. You may self-
hypnotize yourself while you sleep and of course, not realize that you have
done so. This does not mean that you are evil or a criminal. Your 'intent' while
being awake may be entirely different from that which you may be led to find
yourself in as a result of being hypnotized while sleeping. So, even the fact that
persons have done things with "apparent" intent, does not mean that they did so
without having first being hypnotized to do so - in a DREAM they had!!! And yet,
society does not realize this and therefore punishes people who have no doubt
done things that they truly had no control over on a "conscious" level.