Activation - What do you want to put behind you?

 
Change is a challenging thing to accomplish in our most our lives without effort, and part of the process is understanding our story or what makes us tick.  One term that is being used widely in behavior change circles in the health and wellness is "Activation" that relates to that underlying motivation each of us has to drive change in our lives.  According to Merriam and Webster's dictionary, the term  Activate means to make (something) active or more active: such as a  : to cause (a device) to start working. 
 
Today I'd like to explain how it plays a role in the MINDWAYS QUIT Solution™ Stop Smoking program That combines change methodology with hypnosis to help people to stop smoking.  The program is currently free to anyone through the end of the year.  You'll find more details at the end of this post.

Activation is a fluid process of change.  In our program there is a focus on helping people personally activate to achieve the change they desire to stop smoking.  We combine a caring understanding of the difficulty they face in quitting, but infuse hope by providing scientifically proven tools that deliver an immediate lasting positive change.

First, we help our participants migrate through the quitting process by using a change methodology approach.  Next, we use hypnosis to clear a pathway for the brain to accept new messaging necessary to implement changes in behavior and thinking that helps the person to quit smoking.

Here is a study that supports helping people achieve change through hypnosis.  It looks at the science behind hypnosis, and how it affects the brain in delivering new behaviors while preventing the old from reoccurring.  In the article "Hypnosis, Memory, and the Brain" by the Scientific American  the process of PHA (posthypnotic amnesia) is investigated as a means of how hypnosis can alter memories, and induce action.    

Hypnotists produce PHA by suggesting to a hypnotized person that after hypnosis he will forget particular things until he receives a “cancellation,” such as “Now you can remember everything.” PHA typically only happens when it is specifically suggested and it is much more likely to occur in those with high levels of hypnotic ability, or “high hypnotizable” people. Now a new study shows that this hypnotic state actually influences brain activity associated with memory....Mendelsohn et al.’s study is important because it demonstrates that hypnotic suggestions influence brain activity, not just behavior and experience.

This study helps to prove the power of hypnosis because we now see that clinical diagnostic pictures (MRI) are able to show that with hypnosis there is increased brain activation that leads to change.  If this is powerful in controlling memory wouldn't it be effective in helping individuals overcome unwanted action in their lives (smoking)?  The study appears to lead us to that outcome.

I hope you found this interesting, and helps you in your decision of choosing a method to stop smoking or helping someone close to you.  Please visit us at www.mindwayssolutions.com for our free program, and other resources which are available through the end of the year.  Take care.

Dave