Everything I Need to Know about Life, I Learned at the Movies—

Well, Almost… 

By Patrick K. Porter, Ph.D. 

Millions of people attend the movies every day. How does it affect the way we, as individuals and a society, think, act and respond to life? In today’s headlines we find that some people simply don’t get it when it’s just a movie. In recent weeks lawyers are using what has been dubbed the Matrix Defense, claiming that the special effects and storyline of the Matrix movie caused criminal behavior in individuals who believe that their lives are not real but rather an extension of some dream-induced world. These people and their lawyers are blaming their ill behavior on the movies. 

Does your mind know the difference between real or imagined? 

Scientific evidence from studies conducted at both Stanford and Harvard demonstrate that the subconscious and body do not know the difference between what is real or imagined. This means whether you are reading a book, watching a play or going to the movies, someone else or something else has control over your body and your subconscious. One of the greatest discoveries of just how powerful this influence over the subconscious and body can be came about in the 1950’s when subliminal advertising was banned from movie theaters. Lawmakers discovered that theatre owners were placing a flash frame photo of buttery popcorn every 30 frames in a movie and, because of it, they would sell over 50% more popcorn.  

More than just popcorn! 

If you are like millions of others that attend movies, you are allowing the director and actors to make you feel good or bad, happy, angry or sad by what you watch them do on the screen. For at least two hours you are giving away your power. This really isn’t a bad thing as long as you are aware that you’ve made a conscious decision to let it happen. The problem is that some people forget that it’s just a movie. Take, for instance, the recently released movie, “Bruce Almighty,” starring Jim Carrey.  In one scene of the movie God’s telephone number appears on a pager. While the number wasn’t live in Buffalo, New York, the setting of the movie, it was live in 147 different cities in America. Hundreds of people dialed up the number to talk to God.  A full seven minutes was devoted to the story on the morning news. 

If you don’t take control someone else or something else will. 

Once our clients truly learn the benefits of hypnosis and practice it everyday they begin to see the different trances that people enter into daily. At times they might be at the movies so they are in the “movie trance.” They might be reading a book and are then in the “book trance.” They might be complaining to a friend, which puts them into the “poor me trance.” The truth is that far too many people get stuck in trances they don’t like such as the “smoker’s trance,” or the “overeaters trance.”  Far too many go through life with no more motivation than to make it to Friday. We call this one the “Thank God it’s Friday” trance. They even named a restaurant after this trance so people can get it any day of the week!   

What does all this have to do with hypnosis? 

Let’s take one of the biggest fears people have about hypnosis; they don’t want someone else to control their mind.  They fear that a hypnotist can make them do something against their moral code or ethics. Now let’s take a look at what hypnosis really is. Hypnosis is a selective state that one enters into for a specific purpose. In other words, hypnosis cannot take place without conscious and willing participation. At Positive Changes Hypnosis people choose to enter into the selective state of hypnosis to focus on their lives and make meaningful, positive changes for a healthy, happy life. This means that it is not mind control or brain washing, rather it is better termed mind cleansing. It is trance by choice; as opposed to trance by default. 

The power in learning self-hypnosis. 

I can’t wait until people try the diet that came out in the movie “Bruce Almighty.” In the story, a woman prayed to lose weight and lost 40 pounds on the Krispy Kreme® diet. (I think one would definitely need divine intervention for this diet to work!) The truth of the matter is someone eating these destructive foods doesn’t deserve to lose weight. Yet there are people that believe they can put garbage in and somehow end up with a great looking body. Then when it doesn’t work they blame someone or something; the “it’s not my fault trance.” This is why each Positive Changes member is given the opportunity to learn self-hypnosis; we call it the “take back your power trance.”  

The power of choice. 

Hypnosis gives you the power to choose. With the help of our trained hypnotists you will uncover the programming that is affecting you in ways you never imagined. Then armed with this new information you can engage your subconscious mind to make positive changes.  If you try to change at the conscious level, without hypnosis, it can take up to 18 months. But as proven at major universities, visualization and relaxation techniques (just like those used at Positive Changes Hypnosis) can bring about a lasting change in as little time as 21 days. 

We attend the movies to escape and take a mental vacation. Fortunately, nearly every movie, when taken to its core, offers a positive moral message.  Choose your movies wisely and spend time each day practicing self-hypnosis to cleanse the mind of everyday stress and negative influences. Use this powerful time to retrain your brain and benefit from positive suggestions, and the “I’m back in control of my life trance” will be yours! 

Self-hypnosis classes are held for members weekly at your local Positive Changes Hypnosis Center. Please call 1-877-POSITIVE (767-4848) for a schedule of classes. You can also sign up online for our Positive Changes Today E-Newsletter filled with tips and a schedule of events.