One evening I went to a live comedy show where the main act was a hypnotist.  He warmed up the crowd with a few jokes and eventually asked for volunteers to join him on stage.  You could feel the hesitation in the room since nobody wanted to be made to look like a fool.  Certainly everyone had heard that under hypnosis you will be doing things you would not normally do.  He calmed fears by reiterating that although you may be hypnotized, you will still have the choice to act on his suggestions.   When he was finished establishing his credibility and even explaining that you will feel refreshed after the exercise he asked again for people to come up.  This time all seats filled up within seconds.  

He led volunteers into deep relaxation by having them slow down their breathing.  During this most crucial time of the performance, the audience was to remain quiet.  After this conditioning segment, the crowd was allowed to laugh audibly.  It was fascinating that during hypnosis, even after volunteers were asked to open their eyes, they responded to suggestions as if they were based on reality but were not.  For example, while their eyes were closed he told them they were stuck to their chairs, their friends and family in the audience left without them and they needed to devise a plan to get home.  Sure enough when instructed to open their eyes, they acted as if stuck to their chairs, and became annoyed when they peered into the audience and did not see anyone.  Then they frantically started planning an alternative way to get home.  They had a false sense of reality because they were hypnotized.

Are you hypnotized today?  Perhaps you may think that you are not smart enough, strong enough or courageous enough to undertake a certain challenge.  Maybe you feel that you are too old to pursue a certain dream or you have been defeated too many times to try again and be successful.  But who told you this and more importantly why do you believe it?  You have a choice!  You may need a guidance or someone to hold you accountable but do not give up on your goal.  Not only can we do all things through Jesus who gives us strength (Phil 4:13) but He wants us to act with boldness, power and intelligence (2 Tim 1:7) in our undertakings.  I prefer to be hypnotized in this way!

Hypnotized

When indeed under the spell of hypnosis

What you perceive as reality is truly amiss

To the world you may seem as if present

But your faulty reference makes you absent

It is then crucial to whom we listen and what we believe

For your very survival and destiny you may never perceive

Maintain focus on the positive, the good and the optimistic

Then your world will be somewhere that’s most realistic