Eight Laws Of Mind and Thought That Affect Change

By Ron Stubbs Cht., C.I.

We know as we begin the process of change, our own healing journey, that each one of us is and individual, unique to our own, with our own set of schemas, personal issues, and perception of how life has treated us. True? Perhaps not. Perceived fairness, or unfairness, good and bad memories, guilt, adaptive or maladaptive patterns do indeed all play into the factors that can either increase or decrease our chances for healing, but we can also look at common behaviors that we all fall into and from there begin to develop a guideline that can provide a basis for expectant behavior if we are to heal ourselves or facilitate a healing process in others.
Some of these guides to facilitate or promote the healing process are the

Eight Laws of Mind and Thought that Affect Change.

#1) Law Of Desire
To make a change in our lives, we must TRULY want the outcome we claim to seek. Not passively, but truly a burning desire for the positive outcome. If there is a pattern of secondary benefit, that is, a subconscious reason for an existing condition, such as attention, love, monetary reward, sympathy etc. these can create obstacles to healing. Developing a belief in ourselves as independent and able people can result in an altogether different positive outcomes.

#2) Law Of Harmonious Attraction
This is by far the most important law of thought; and it can be the easiest to apply once the simple concept is understood. Imagine a time when you thought about a desired result, saw yourself taking the steps to achieve the result and ACTUALLY ACHEIEVED THE GOAL!! We have all done this to a certain extent. When we begin to understand the law of attraction, we can constantly attract what we desire. The Law of Manifestation implies that all we need to do is think of the result and we achieve it. Wouldn't it be amazing if the universe worked that way? That theory has but one vital flaw, and that is we have to DO SOMETHING, do what it takes to reach our goal. No "new age"concepts here, it is pure and simple science.
When we can imagine a goal, visualize taking the steps necessary to gain that goal, a part of the Limbic system of the brain called the Reticular Activating system takes over and we guides us to do what it takes to achieve the desired result. The Reticular Activating System is the attention center in the brain. It is the key to "turning on your brain," and seems to be the center of motivation. The Reticular Activating System is connected at its base to the spinal cord where it receives information projected directly from the ascending sensory tracts. The brain stem reticular formation runs all the way up to the mid brain. As a result, the Reticular Activating System is a very complex collection of neurons, which serve as a point of convergence for signals from the external world and from interior environment. In other words, it is the part of your brain where the world outside of you, and your thoughts and feelings from "inside" of you, meet.
Professional athletes have known this for years, and we know that our clients will continue to attract conditions and situations that are in harmony with their thinking. It is important that what is NOT wanted be avoided in thinking. What our minds can imagine, our bodies can produce, both positive AND negative. Take time to examine your self-talk, is it filled with negative words such as "try", "should" "can't"? If so, consider changes in your language patterns to develop a positive outlook, imagine the results and watch yourself take the steps to achieve them. Do yourself a favor; take moment and "RAISE YOUR RETICULAR"!!!

#3) Law of Expectancy/Belief
Success/Healing is achieved when the mind TRULY believes and sincerely EXPECTS the imagined result to happen.
The old adage "Seeing is Believing", may work for some, but for making life changes we have to think in a different paradigm. A much better line of thinking would be the phrase, "Believing is SEEING". Success is achieved only with the trust and belief that it can be done. What we expect to happen does indeed happen.
When we have faith and expectancy, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that we will get better, make more money, have a better relationship etc.; we can succeed in achieving that goal. This again also holds true for negative behavior as well. As a therapist, my clients come to me with a certain expectations that I will be able to help them overcome their issues. With this positive image and belief system set in place, the odds for success are greatly increased.

#4) Law Of Relaxation
This is also the law of opposite effort. If we are doing manual work, we must put all our effort into it to be successful. When approaching mental work, we must step aside and allow it to come naturally. Desired outcomes cannot be forced or manipulated. Imagery is the tool; thought is the technique. If you consider thoughts as entities, therefore, they have the energy and ability to bring about a desired change.

#5) Law Of Visualization
With guidance, we can generally be helped to see the positive end result. Negatives can be released and a new positive image is imprinted. This new positive image has to be a product of our own mind, our own positive self-images, one that we can relate to and above all, it must, BE BELIEVEABLE!!!! If the image isn't believable, it will not bypass the critical factor in the brain and it will not become reality. Once we, begin to easily see ourselves becoming part of that believable new physical visual image, we become part of the positive resolution.

#6) Law of Substitution
Since the mind can only hold one thought at a time, and we choose what that thought will be at any given moment, it is essential that negative thoughts be cancelled out and the empty space filled with substituted positive thoughts, imagery and impressions. It is not enough to simply identify seed thoughts that create fear, or issues in our lives, those negative self-thoughts and self-talk must be eliminated and substituted. This procedure is one of the major differences between "talk therapy" and hypnosis. Using hypnosis, we can provide the imagery that provides a positive substitution.

#7) Law of Repetition
The importance of repetition cannot be understated. We humans are creatures of habit, and therefore most of us aren't willing to make major life changes easily. Although we may tell ourselves, trying to convince ourselves that we accept change readily, our deep subconscious, the very place where change happens, gets stuck in past memories, frameworks, and schemas, and until we make the changes at the subconscious level, those changes will not stay in place. Luckily since humans are "meaning making machines", that is we have to place meaning on all aspects of behavior, and we CAN be essentially "reprogrammed" or "rewired", we CAN be successful if we use the simple technique of repetition. Habits are made and broken in a span of 21 to 30 days as a rule. Repetition for that length of time can greatly increase the odds of making permanent change.

#8) Law of Self Concept
This is so very important. This law is the key to making positive changes in our lives. We must be able to feel deserving, worthy, and capable of achieving their desired outcome. If others; our parents, friends, spouses, siblings, are occupying rent -free space in our minds, these areas of control need to be released and reclaimed. We must begin to feel self-empowered, able to take responsibility for OUR OWN HEALING, or no such healing will ever take place. The need to end the self-defeating behavior and empty the bag of limiting thoughts and actions must take place to begin to become empowered individuals. For too long we may have been made to feel inferior, inadequate or deficient. We may have been told that we were fat, ugly, and stupid, that no one would want us; or others such words designed to imprison us in a shell and take away our natural born power. Only by building the self-esteem, the self worth can these issues be overcome and our personal power, our sacred space, our own self worth, be taken back. We need to feel safe that our anger is justified when appropriate, that it is OKAY to SHOW and FEEL emotions, not stuff them away, that we are worthy, deserving individuals that have a right to happiness, health, prosperity and love. Then, and only then can the change, the healing, which we all deserve, can begin.

Ron Stubbs is a Certified Hypnotherapy Instructor and Registered Certified Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist in the Greater Seattle/San Juan Island area. He has become one of the most well respected hypnotherapists in the Pacific Northwest Area. He is a national speaker, teaches nationally with Dr. Kevin Hogan PHD and Marie Mongan (Hypnobirthing Founder), an expert on Tinnitus, Pediatric (Child) Hypnosis, Adult Sexual Survivor Abuse, Past Life Regression, as well as general hypnotherapy, giving lectures, teaching classes and seminars on hypnosis. He has helped clients reach their goals of wellness from ages 4 to 90. He is currently teaching Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy certification classes at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington. He is also in the process of writing various articles for publication on hypnosis and related subjects. He is the co-owner of Islelife Hypnosis, located on beautiful Camano Island, and can be reached at 360-387-1197