For the past few years, concern has been heard about the wonders of a new version of positive psychology, including awareness. It makes me wonder if there is any substance to this or if it is another mantra of pop psychology, awaiting repulsion from the next trend. Is this unwarranted panacea just another place requiring miraculous results or a therapeutically significant concept? My intention here is to investigate the origin, basis and potential value of mindfulness psychotherapy - and its connection to hypnotherapy.
I first became acquainted with this concept when I attended a three-day seminar jointly conducted by two psychologists at the annual conference, which was held every December in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The presenters were Mark S. Weisberg, Ph.D., mind / body authority practicing in Minnesota, and Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, who is associated with Harvard Medical School. I have since become acquainted with the work of Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D., a scientist from Harvard University, working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Tenzin Nagi, Ph.D., at Emory University in Atlanta.
A common theme in their work is the belief that focused awareness can and will affect the physiological structure of the body and can also affect behavioral problems. This appears to be part of the mind / body continuum, which considers the role of stress on the body, as well as the beneficial effects of compassion meditation on the body that causes stress-related cortisol and the presence of oxytocin in the cranial cavity. Dr. Davidson correlates with negative stress triggers - the more oxytocin, the more tolerant to a negative image a person becomes.
Can not say the word mindfulness without contemplating Buddhism at the same time, a fact that gives it a quasi-religious flavor. Indeed, this should not be surprising, since Dr. Nagi is not only a Tibetan and a former monk, he also has a Geshi Lamrimpa degree, which is equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist studies. In addition, I once met Dr. Siegel at a symposium in which His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. At the same meeting, Dr. Davidson presented his latest research to His Holiness. So the Buddhist connection and effect on mindfulness psychotherapy is a very well established fact.
Anyone who has minimally studied Buddhism recognizes that “proper mindfulness” is the number of the seventh Noble Eightfold Path of the Buddha. In fact, this is one of the three components of mental development of the path, and the other two are the “right effort” and the “right concentration”. The first sermon of the Buddha-Enlightenment included the Four Noble Truths, the last of which was the path to enlighten what kind of mindfulness belongs to. Since Buddhist practitioners view this path as a response to mental integrity, it is actually very easy to secularize it as a psychotherapeutic intervention.
Most of the studies that have been published over the past few years speak of the remarkable results achieved in obtaining the subject, in order to focus more on modern time and space, which is largely the best definition I can find for awareness. However, for some reason I do not believe that the current enthusiasm for this topic fully appreciates its true meaning and significance. Indeed, the ability to focus the mind has more significant consequences.
To understand this, one must overcome the quasi-religious consequences and study the complex science that can be found by exploring its neurological basis. In several of my courses, I point out that the thickness of neural networks in various brain structures directly correlates with an increase in functional capacity. You can translate this to improve the functions provided by this area. For example, if a region with thickened neural networks is associated with spelling, math, memory, etc., you can perform these tasks at a higher level. A pop-up message was found stating that Magazine "Time" The man of the century, Albert Einstein, had thicker parietal lobules than usual.
Improved brain structures have also been found in long-term meditators, groups that may represent the embodiment of practicing mindfulness. It was found that they, as a rule, have thicker reticular-coated activation systems and right prefrontal cortex. It is believed that the first, which is located in the brainstem, has much in common with the human mind. (Consequently, this is the primary goal for chemical anesthetics.) The latter provides higher brain functions, such as inhibition and sense designation. It also provides an extra service that allows you to think selectively. That is why increased competence in this area is so important for hypnotherapists and anyone interested in personal transformation.
There is another very important area of the brain that also needs to be considered. This is the anterior loin of the cerebral cortex, which is located deep inside the brain and in front of the limbic system. Think of this switch for our thoughts. While some, such as the University of Pennsylvania, abandoned the neurobiologist Andrew Newberg, MD, touted the remarkable value of activated ACC, others, such as Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist who reviewed over 40,000 heads, warn that when this structure becomes excessively active, it can cause a wide range of mental problems. I also equate this activity with the long-term negative effects of excessive multitasking.
Therefore, instead of focusing on the almost mystical quality of mindfulness, my suggestion is that anyone who is interested in human transformation, by which I mean mental and physical, to include an increase in competence, should focus on two essential facts. First, the increased use of any functional area of the brain creates a higher level of competence. This is not limited to areas that tend to become overdeveloped in the minds of the masters of awareness. My conclusions come not only from the studies of meditators, but also from the consideration of amazing geniuses, including those who have been identified as having the syndrome. Secondly, by calming the brain - especially ACC - more energy and focus can be applied to this process of building competence.
What does this have to do with hypnotherapy? My definition of hypnosis suggests that it is a process of reducing the resilience of a sample, that is, neurological resistance to change, and increasing the effectiveness of selective thought. This process tends to have a side benefit to calm an overactive ACC. Thus, the increased awareness that occurs as a result of hypnosis can be attributed primarily to this. Secondly, the selective structure of brain thinking - the right prefrontal cortex - plays a role in both hypnosis and awareness.
While hypnosis tends to tinker with the same parts of the brain that are involved in mindfulness efforts, it ends up short when it comes to the fact that it will actually benefit the person in the long run. Of course, this is without the subjective practice of self-hypnosis continuously for a long period. If hypnosis does have a positive effect, it should be practiced regularly, and it should strive to stimulate and strengthen more than just the right prefrontal cortex and reticular activation system. Note that advanced Buddhist meditators are also involved in higher-level analytic meditation and tantric practices, which include intensely detailed visualizations of complex mandalas and even the movement of energy drops inside their bodies. Indeed, attaining awareness is only the first step. The lack of direct and comprehensive visualization skills is a typical hypnotherapy. This is a problem I bought to fix with Advanced Neuro-Noetic Hypnosis TM.
Thoughtful psychotherapy pointed out many of the benefits of long-term efforts with regard to the practice of constant mental concentration. Unfortunately, I am afraid that this trend should be considered essentially as a panacea, the benefits of further consideration will not be realized. Undoubtedly, recent studies show the ability of a person to physically change the brain, directing the content of their thoughts. I think this is just one positive step towards a significant realization of the tremendous power of transformation that is inside each of us.
