Affirmation

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Principle | Practice | Discussion | See also

Principle

When you praise them or otherwise support their sense of identity, they will feel good about themselves and confident about you and your intent.

Practice

When they do something that you want them to do, congratulate them. Tell them they have done well. Support their sense of identity.

Say things like:

That's right.
Good.
You can do it.
There! Doesn't that feel good?

There are other ways of affirmation, for example by getting themselves to see themselves as clever, beautiful, skilful and otherwise wonderful.

Step outside and see how wonderful you are.
You are God's creation, just like all the people you admire.
How do you feel now? Is it good?
There -- you did that all by yourself.

Discussion

When affirming a person, it is important to really believe and mean what you say. Hypnotists who are scornful of their subjects are unlikely to be very successful.

Affirmation works directly on the need for a sense of identity. By supporting the identity in any way, you also support self-confidence and self-belief, including in the ability to change and respond to hypnotic suggestion. Confidence in the self also increase confidence in the hypnotist, creating a bond that increases suggestibility.