Chapter 19 - For Personal Benefit

Assuming that you have read the foregoing chapters and understand them sufficiently to hypnotize a person, you may consider that you have joined the force of the very few who understand and can use the great mental powers which lie dormant in the minds of most persons. You are fortunate; one among millions. You know something and can do something which very few know and still fewer persons understand or can do.

The next question is: How can this power be used to benefit the individual in everyday life? Everyone who reads this will be interested in this question. The first benefit comes as a conscious knowledge that you have the ability to use a force ignored and unknown to so many of your fellow beings. This alone, will give you more self-confidence. Your timidity will vanish to the point of relative nothingness as you study and master this subject. You will realize that you are not just one of the common flotsam and jetsam of the human race, but one set apart with power to lift yourself above the average run of mankind.

The problems of everyday life can be mastered. The frailties of the average human mind are understood and can be effectively coped with by applying the rules you have learned. No longer do you need to let these mental limitations which sway and defeat the average man stand in your way, but you can use the great power of suggestion to yourself and to your fellows to lift yourself above the common lot, to make your life more desirable as you progress in knowledge of this wonderful science. You can use your power to help your struggling fellowman to make his life better and brighter. Do not put your candle under a bushel or bury your talents in the garden, but use them to help others.

Now, let us get down to concrete examples instead of theories and generalities. Do you have trouble getting up in the morning? Just put your mind to work on this weakness. Make up your mind that you desire to get up at a certain time and fix this time in your mind, and be sure that you convince yourself that you do wish to get up at a certain time. Do this every night for several nights. You will see a wonderful change in your rising time. When you have done this several times, you will eventually learn to rely on yourself and you will not need an alarm clock. I have not used one in many years, even when I must arise at an unusual hour. Just an empty wish will not avail you. It must be a real bona fide desire to get up at a certain time.

Are you timid and afraid? Do you lack self-confidence? Then analyze your attitude. Ruthlessly dig into your sensations and ideas responsible for such feelings of inferiority. Realize that they are based on false ideas; that other people have them who are more successful than you are, but they conquer such ideas; that such feelings are the natural result of some past experience, but are not necessary to be harbored, once you realize the true cause of such feelings. Realize that you have within yourself the power to throw off such feelings of inferiority. Realize that everyone likes the go-getter and a man with courage to fight for what he believes to be right. Whoever saw an audience cheer a timid and bashful actor, or speaker, or politician? Tell yourself these things over and over again. Reason with yourself. Soon, you will find that the fears no longer bother you.

Let us take one familiar form of timidity. We all know about it. We see it every day. I am speaking about the form of fear known as bashfulness. This is a good subject to use for an illustration of how to use your mental powers to overcome your own weakness. You cannot be a successful hypnotist until you have conquered this weakness, if you have it. I am now speaking of bashfulness where the opposite sex is concerned. First, ask yourself of what are you afraid? Then, face the fact that every member of the opposite sex probably has the same feelings which you have; that they are generally as interested as you are. Realize that you do not have to be handsome or beautiful, to be attractive, but just make yourself interesting. I will never forget a personal experience I had along this line, if you will pardon personalities for the sake of an illustration. Once I was a guest at a woman's college along with others, in my college class. I was timid and not rich or handsome. I saw a meek girl off to one side and guessed her plight to be the same as mine—timidity. Sudden sympathy and desire to cheer her up prompted me to begin a conversation with her. We got along fine. I noticed other friends of mine wandering around, lonesome and awkward. I called them over as they passed by and introduced them with some remark which put them at ease. Finally, there was a circle of them laughing and talking with the timid little girl. Every one of them enjoyed the last hour of that reception and I know the girl never forgot it. I can give you many more illustrations of this principle but space is limited. The one I have given is easily understood and the principle is the same no matter where it is applied, be it in the lowly walks of life, the high courts or Congress of the nation. In all this effort, be it with men or women, with your sex or the opposite, be sincere.

Are you beset with worries and ailments? Just sit down and analyze them one by one. What causes them? Are they really as serious as you think? Just pick them to pieces. Be honest with yourself. Find a way to solve your worries. Realize that all could be a lot worse than they are. Count your many benefits and blessings which you have. When you have done all this, resolve that you will think less and less of your worries and ailments and more and more of the good things you have. Realize that these worries which you think so great will eventually pass and be less and less important. You will be surprised how easily your worries pass away after a few days of this treatment.

If you have ailments, resolve to overcome them one way or another. Say to yourself, "I am my own master. I can conquer any situation. I shall not fail because I shall not yield to defeat. I wish to be well. I am going to be well." Resolve to get well. Do this every day. Think health. Picture yourself as you wish to be. Finally, this resolve will do the trick and you will get well. Of course, if you have some disease or infection which really requires medical attention, then you should see a doctor, but keep your resolve to get well growing day by day, by exercising that resolve. It helps medicine to do the trick.

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