Gateway One to Your Subconscious Mind Is Repetition
Every few weeks I hand the mic over to my friend William Wood, a hypnotherapist who has spent his career working with what’s running underneath people’s conscious minds. He built a lot of his teaching on Roy Hunter’s classic, Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis, and today he starts walking through Hunter’s five gateways into the subconscious. This first one trips up more people than any other, because most of us are using it wrong without knowing it. Here’s William Wood’s episode.
90% of your success and failure starts in the mind. Your mindset, your attitudes, your beliefs all influence your emotions. Your emotions influence your behaviors, and your behaviors are constantly sculpting your outer reality to match the state of your inner reality. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to succeed in business. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to succeed in your personal life. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to succeed in sports. You need to master your psychology. Master your mindset and you will reach the pinnacle of success that you want. Ignore your inner game and you will reap the consequences of mediocrity.
What I want to share with you today is something that I first learned from one of my early hypnosis teachers, Roy Hunter, a true legend in the hypnosis world. In his excellent book, Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis, he outlined several key concepts that helped him effectively help clients change their deep subconscious limiting beliefs, paradigms, and behaviors. I have found Roy’s teachings useful in helping thousands of clients create the changes they want in their health, relationships, and finances.
Why Some People With Less Ability Succeed
Have you ever wondered why some people with less ability succeed? A few years back, I was sitting down talking with a collegiate coach about the difference between the college-level athletes on his team. And he said to me, “Will, you know by the time an athlete gets to the collegiate level, he is capable. Very rarely does someone just slip through the cracks. By the time they get to college, they’ve been watched by multiple scouts. They’ve made it through the tryouts. They’ve been through different pressure tests, all to see how well they perform.”
He paused and thought. “Will, by the time a young man gets onto my team, he has been tested to the utmost degree. He is capable. He is talented. He is physically fit. He is a good athlete. And some of these talented young men go on to success. Some soar to incredible heights. And yet others will fade into the night.”
I asked this coach what the difference was between the two groups. And he said, “The biggest difference between these young men is not the talent they have. The athlete that succeeds has a different mindset. He believes that he can do it. He believes that the result is possible. And he goes for it. He is more determined. More persistent. There’s just something different about him.”
Does that mean some people are just doomed to live a life of mediocrity? That depends. Some of you already have a certain level of confidence and have achieved a certain level of success, but you want to reach the next level. And you can reach the next level. Maybe you’ve got really negative self-talk, or deeply held limiting beliefs, or fears that have been holding you back your entire life.
You don’t have to stay at your current level of success. Your ability to break through depends on whether or not you are willing to do the work to truly transform your old limiting beliefs, your old paradigms, your old patterns that have held you back. No one else can do that for you. Because no matter where you are starting, no matter what level your thinking is currently stuck at, I have good news for you. You can change your beliefs, you can change your paradigms, and you can change what’s in your subconscious mind. Just like the top performing college athlete, you must learn to master your mindset.
Speaking the Native Language of the Subconscious
Let’s start with the basics. We have a conscious mind, and we have a subconscious mind. The conscious mind tends to respond to logic, reason, and willpower. Logic and reason have built the cornerstones of Western civilization, and they are super important. But most of the time, your subconscious mind doesn’t respond well to logic. Nearly all of your deeply held limiting beliefs are held at the subconscious level. Before making a coaching appointment with me, most of my clients have already tried to logic themselves out of their deeply held limiting beliefs. And failed. That is why they are in my office. Because what they are doing is not working.
Let’s say you had a belief. Something like “I can’t do it.” Or another really common one is “I’m not good enough.” Deeply held subconscious beliefs like these can affect your confidence level and your ability to be effective in your interpersonal relationships, and they can oftentimes prevent you from really going for that big dream you’ve always had your eye on. These beliefs can change. But in order to change them, you’ve got to be able to change what’s in your subconscious mind.
Now here’s the question. Do you actually know how to effectively influence your own subconscious mind? Most people don’t really know the rules that govern the subconscious. So they will logically explain to you why you shouldn’t have your problem, or tell you that you just have to apply more willpower, and accuse you of not trying hard enough. If that works, great. But if you’ve already tried that and failed, there’s a good reason. You aren’t influencing the part of your mind that has the problem. If you keep on trying to influence your subconscious mind with conscious mind strategies, you will keep on having the same kind of results you’ve been having. You must change your strategy to get new results.
So let’s say you want to change your limiting beliefs, or your self-image, which is also held subconsciously. You try to give yourself a new affirmation, but the mind stubbornly rejects your suggestion. It’s like there’s a giant barrier inside your mind, and the new thoughts just keep bouncing off of it. Have you ever noticed that? The new self-image, the positive new belief, the visualization often get rejected. Denied entry into the subconscious mind.
Here’s why. One of the primary jobs of your subconscious mind is to keep you safe. To protect you. So your subconscious mind has a filtering system set up to keep new ideas out and old ideas in. Sometimes this filtering system is called the critical faculty. That’s good news and bad news. If what you have inside your subconscious mind is working for you, your natural defenses are protecting you from change. On the other hand, those same defenses pose a real problem if your old beliefs, patterns, or paradigms aren’t creating the level of success that you really want. Understanding the principles that govern your filtering system puts you in a position of power. As your mind changes, you start to feel differently. As you feel differently, you act differently. Bit by bit, your outside world begins to align with your inside world. Change your mind, change your world.
This one idea changed everything when I learned it. To change the conscious mind, you must learn to speak the native language of the conscious mind. And to change the subconscious mind, you must learn to speak the native language of the subconscious mind. So if you have not succeeded in creating the next level of your success yet, there is a good reason. You are probably speaking the wrong language.
Gateway Number One: Repetition
These five principles are described in Roy Hunter’s book, Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis, as the five gateways to the subconscious mind, and if you want to read more, I recommend buying his book. Change can be easy when you have the right tools. Here’s gateway number one. Repetition. Familiar ideas tend to get accepted. New ideas tend to get rejected. That means that if you repeat a new belief long enough, it is more likely to penetrate into the subconscious mind. Spoken or written affirmations are one example of using verbal repetition to get a new idea past the critical faculty.
However, Roy has observed that when there is substantial subconscious resistance to your new idea, repetition alone may not be enough to create the change that you want. If you have been using affirmations for some time and are not getting results, it’s a good sign that you may need to combine repetition with another subconscious gateway. If you find your subconscious mind talking back to you, saying negative things while you affirm, that’s another sign. The same principle applies to repeated visualization. If you get tense, nervous, or panicky while visualizing, you may need more than repetition alone. On the other hand, if you don’t experience much resistance while you are visualizing or doing affirmations, then repetition becomes your ally, and you can create deep and lasting changes with this first gateway to the subconscious mind.
If there is substantial subconscious resistance to an idea, my experience with clients has shown me that relying only on repetition can backfire and actually make things worse. The client says, “I can do it.” But inside there is a voice that says, “No you can’t.” So then you get louder and say, “Yes I can.” And then the subconscious yells even louder, “No you can’t.” Some of you listening know exactly what I mean.
If you have that kind of battle going on in your mind, I would recommend that you add in one of the other subconscious communication strategies. And it might be a good idea to find a mentor who has experience influencing the subconscious mind, because there are other tools and approaches that can really speed up the process of change. Every top performing athlete has a coach. Every top performer I know, in every field, has a mentor. Finding a mentor is the shortcut to creating lasting results in your life.
Full episode transcript
Lightly edited from the original recording — fillers removed, nothing added. Income disclaimer.
To truly give you the gift of freedom as you walk along the path of each Daily Shortcut episode, you'll discover that it's the people who you mastermind with that give you the power to transform your business. You'll take off in your business when you decide to slow down time and connect with other great mentors. When you decide, today decide to embrace fully the transformational information from one of my mentors. As we open a new door to a vehicle, you can step inside and smile, taking one step and then the other. As we open a new door to a vehicle, as you walk on a stage so we can celebrate you, pay attention to William Wood in this special episode as he shines a light on the power you have inside so you can immerse yourself in the power of the power of the power.
With the principles of success, lift your hands in the air and be free. Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis by Roy Hunter. I believe this book has the power to change your life. All you need to do to win your free copy of this book is post a meaningful comment below immediately after listening to today's post. My team and I will select two people who leave the best comments and we'll ship the winners a free copy of the book.
If you're chosen, we'll ship the book directly to your home or business at no cost to you. 90% of your success and failure starts in the mind. Your mindset, your attitudes, your beliefs all influence your emotions. Your emotions influence your behaviors and your behaviors are constantly sculpting your outer reality to match the state of your inner reality. It doesn't matter if you're trying to succeed in business.
It doesn't matter if you're trying to succeed in business. It doesn't matter if you're trying to succeed in your personal life. It doesn't matter if you're trying to succeed in sports. You need to master your psychology. Master your mindset and you will reach the pinnacle of success that you want.
Ignore your inner game and you will reap the consequences of mediocrity. What I want to share with you today is something that I first learned from one of my early hypnosis teachers, Roy Hunter. A true legend in the hypnosis world. In his excellent book, Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis, he outlined several key concepts that helped him effectively help clients change their deep subconscious limiting beliefs, paradigms, and behaviors. I have found Roy's teachings useful in helping thousands of clients create the changes they want in their health, relationships, and finances.
Today, I would like to share just one of these life-changing tips. Next week, I will share four more principles from Roy's excellent book, Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis. Remember, leave a comment below and share the blog post today. You could win your own copy of this transformational book. Have you ever wondered why some people with less ability succeed?
A few years back, I was sitting down talking with a collegiate coach. We were discussing the difference between college-level athletes on his team. And he said to me, Will, you know by the time an athlete gets to the collegiate level, he is capable. Very rarely does someone just slip through the cracks. By the time they get to college, they've been watched by multiple scouts.
They've made it through the tryouts. They've been through different pressure tests. All to see how well... how well they perform. He paused and thought.
Will, by the time a young man gets on to my team, he has been tested to the utmost degree. He is capable. He is talented. He is physically fit. He is a good athlete.
And some of these talented young men go on to success. Some soar to incredible heights. And yet others will fade into the night. I asked this coach what the difference was between the two groups. And he said, The biggest difference between these young men is not the talent they have.
The athlete that succeeds has a different mindset. He believes that he can do it. He believes that the result is possible. And he goes for it. He is more determined.
More persistent. There's just something different about him. Does that mean some people are just doomed to live a life of mediocrity? That depends. I'll explain more in a minute.
Some of you already have a certain level of confidence. And have achieved a certain level of success. But you want to reach the next level. And you can reach the next level. And I know some of you listening to this are saying to yourselves, Oh no.
I've got a terrible attitude. Does that mean I'm doomed to failure? Maybe you've got really negative self-talk. Or you've got deeply held limiting beliefs. Or fears that have been holding you back your entire life.
You don't have to stay at your current level of success. You can hit the next level. Your ability to break through to the next level depends on whether or not you are willing to do the work to truly transform your old limiting beliefs. Your old paradigms. Your old patterns that have held you back.
No one else can do that for you. So it depends on you. If I share how you can create the change you need. Are you willing to do that? Because no matter where you are starting.
No matter what level your thinking is currently stuck at. I have good news for you. You can change what's in your head. You can change your beliefs. And you can change your paradigms.
And you can change what's in your subconscious mind. Just like the top performing college athlete. You must learn to master. Let's start with the basics. We have a conscious mind.
And we have a subconscious mind. The conscious mind tends to respond to logic, reason, and willpower. Logic and reason have built the cornerstones of western civilization. And they are super important. You definitely want to use all of your conscious mind and logic.
But most of the time your subconscious mind doesn't respond well to logic. Nearly all of your deeply held limiting beliefs are held at the subconscious level. Before making a coaching appointment with me. Most of my clients who have unsuccessfully tried to change a limiting belief. Have already tried to logic themselves out of their deeply held limiting beliefs.
And failed. That is why they are in my office. Because what they are doing is not working. Not working. They need help.
Let's say you had a belief. Something like I can't do it. Or another really common limiting belief is I'm not good enough. If you have these deeply held subconscious beliefs. They can affect your confidence level.
They can affect your ability to be effective in your interpersonal relationships. These beliefs can often times prevent you from really going for that big dream. You've always had your eye on. Remember. These subconscious beliefs can change.
But in order to change them. You've got to be able to change what's in your subconscious mind. Now here's the question. Do you actually know how to effectively influence your own subconscious mind? Most people don't really know the rules.
That govern the subconscious. So they will logically explain to you why you shouldn't have your problem. Or they will tell you. That you just have to apply more willpower. And accuse you of not trying hard enough.
And hey. If that works. Great. But if you've already tried that. And failed.
There's a good reason. The problem is that you aren't influencing the part of your mind that has the problem. Heck. Logically. You know your beliefs are holding you back.
And you know you should change. But you still haven't done it. And if you keep on trying to influence your subconscious mind with conscious mind strategies. You will keep on having the same kind of results you've been having. And only you can decide if you're okay with it.
You must change your strategy. To get new results. So let's say you want to change your limiting beliefs. Or your self image. Which is also held subconsciously.
You try to give yourself a new affirmation. But the mind stubbornly rejects your suggestion. It's like there's a giant barrier inside your mind. And the new thoughts just keep bouncing off of it. Have you ever noticed that?
The new self image. The positive new belief. The visualization. Often get rejected. Denied entry into the subconscious mind.
Here's why. One of the primary jobs of your subconscious mind is to keep you safe. To protect you. So your subconscious mind has a filtering system set up to keep new ideas out and old ideas in. Sometimes this filtering system is called the critical faculty.
Understanding the principles that govern your filtering system. And the subconscious mind puts you in a position of power. You can learn to better influence your subconscious mind. Now as your mind changes. You start to feel differently.
As you feel differently. You act differently. Bit by bit as you change your mind. Your outside world begins to align with your inside world. Change your mind.
Change your world. You can start this process today. Let's get back to the critical faculty. The critical faculty is designed to filter out anything that is different than what is already inside the subconscious mind. In terms of beliefs, patterns, or paradigms.
That's good news and bad news. If what you have inside of your subconscious mind is working for you. You can rest assured that your natural defenses are protecting you from change. On the other hand. Your natural defenses can pose a real problem.
If your old beliefs, patterns, or paradigms aren't creating the level of success that you really want. This one idea changed everything when you learned it. To change the conscious mind. You must learn to speak the native language of the conscious mind. And to change the subconscious mind.
You must learn to speak the native language of the subconscious mind. Conscious mind strategies influence your conscious mind. Subconscious strategies influence your subconscious mind. So if you have not succeeded in creating the next level of your success yet. There is a good reason.
You are probably speaking the wrong language. If you pay attention carefully. Over the next few minutes. I'm going to share with you the first of five principles. For influencing your subconscious mind.
These five principles are described in Roy Hunter's book. Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis. As the five gateways to the subconscious mind. If you want to read more. I recommend buying his book.
You can also tune in next week. And I will go through the other four principles. That will help you create the subconscious change. You are looking for. Change can be easy.
When you have the right tools. Here's gateway number one. Repetition. Familiar ideas tend to get accepted. New ideas tend to get rejected.
That means. That if you repeat a new belief long enough. It is more likely. To penetrate into the subconscious mind. For those of you that are using spoken.
Or written affirmations. These are one example of using verbal repetition. To get a new idea. Past the critical faculty. However.
Roy has observed that when. There is substantial subconscious resistance to your new idea. Repetition alone. May not be enough. To create the change that you want.
If you have been using affirmations for some time. And are not getting results. It's a good sign. That you may need to combine repetition. With another subconscious gateway.
For example. If you are doing affirmations. And find your subconscious mind. Is talking back to you. Saying negative things.
It's another sign. That you may need to use. More than repetition alone. The same principle applies to repeated visualization. If you are visualizing what you want.
But you get tense. Nervous. Or panicky while visualizing. It is a good sign. That you may need more than repetition alone.
To create the changes. You want at the subconscious level. On the other hand. If you don't experience much resistance. While you are visualizing.
Or doing affirmations. Then repetition becomes your ally. And you can create deep and lasting changes. With this first gateway to the subconscious mind. If there is substantial subconscious resistance to an idea.
My experience with clients. Has shown me. That only relying on repetition. Can backfire and actually make things worse. The client says.
I can do it. But inside there is a voice that says. No you can't. So then you get louder and say. Yes I can.
And then the subconscious yells even louder. No you can't. Some of you listening. Know exactly what I mean. If you have that kind of battle going on in your mind.
I would recommend that you add. In one of the other subconscious communication strategies. And it might be a good idea to find a mentor. Who has experience influencing the subconscious mind. Because there are other tools and approaches.
That can really speed up the process of change. Every top performing athlete has a coach. Every top performer I know. In every field. Has a mentor.
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