Does Subliminal Self Hypnosis Work?

As someone who has long been interested in the power of the subconscious mind, and the ability of human beings to change their reality simply by changing their point of view, I have a great interest in subliminal self hypnosis. Like many people, I have wondered if subliminal messaging is effective as a means of change, and if subliminal self hypnosis can really change someone's life in a profound way.

After researching these subjects for years, I have seen significant research and anecdotal evidence to suggest that subliminal self hypnosis actually does work, and that the subliminal messages involved are clearly registered understood by the brain.

While there is an enormous amount of anecdotal research to suggest that subliminal self hypnosis is a viable means of personal development, there are also made few major university studies to back up this claim. An Israeli study (Hassain, 2007) found that subliminal images of symbolic objects, such as flags, were clearly recognized by the subconscious mind, even when the participants had no conscious knowledge of being exposed to the image.

The study also found that individuals exposed to the subliminal images altered their behavior based or on the type of image they were shown. This research suggests what many in the para-psychology field have been saying for years: the subconscious mind is aware of (and influenced by) everything that goes on around it, even the things we are consciously unaware of.

Another double-blind study conducted by University College, London produced exactly the same results (Bahrami, 2006). The London study used MRI brain scan technology to verify that the visual cortex within the brain had been activated at exactly the moment the subliminal image appeared.

These studies and others like them strongly suggest that subliminal self hypnosis can be an effective means of personal development, and that subliminal images are both understood and acted on by the subconscious mind -- even when we are unaware of them.

Although there has been a great deal of skepticism in some quarters about the efficiency of subliminal messsaging, it is interesting to notice that many of the largest advertising firms in the world have used subliminal images in television and print advertisements. The United Kingdom has banned the use of subliminal advertising messages, after it was discovered that agencies were routinely inserting subliminal "buy now" messages in their television advertising campaigns. Australia is currently considering a ban as well, after a well-publicized awards ceremony was caught using subliminal advertising text and images.

The question becomes, why would companies spending millions of dollars on advertising waste their time with subliminal images if they did not believe they were effective? The simple answer is, they wouldn't. Advertising executives have known for years that ALL messages influence human behavior, subliminal and otherwise.

The use of subliminal messaging is exciting in many ways, because it gives individuals a chance to influence their own subconscious mind, rather than letting the advertising agencies (and political campaigns) do it for them. There is enough evidence at this point to say with certainty that subliminal self hypnosis does affect the thoughts, beliefs and behaviors of users. Many believe it could be the greatest self-help tool of our age.