Are hypnosis and meditation the same thing? Are they alike in some ways but different in other ways?

In reality, hypnosis and meditation overlap, but their goals and processes are different.

What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a practical method used to help everyday people solve everyday problems. It refers to a state or condition in which the client becomes highly responsive to suggestions. Hypnosis can be used to solve a problem  or to maximize skills. Generally, clients will want to be able to so something that they currently cannot do, or stop doing something that they currently do.

Hypnosis is a method to tap into the unconscious mind and help the client become more aware. Consciousness gets heightened in the process. The client is always in control, and is always capable of making decisions regarding how they want the process to go. Because of this, some people say that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.

Hypnosis can be used to get to the root cause of a problem and then release the elements that have been blocking progress. It is also used to give suggestions of a positive nature that aid the client in reaching their goal.

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is a method used to introduce you to yourself. We are citizens of two worlds — the external world and our internal world. Most or all of the time we are focused on our external world. In meditation, our focus shifts inward. In meditation, your mind is alert, but is not focused on any external events. We use an object of meditation to aid the inner journey. This is most often the breath, or a mantra, or both. Meditation is defined as an effortless, one-pointed focus of attention and awareness.

People use meditation for various reasons: stress management, problem-solving, better health and wellness, and to experience our spiritual essence. Underneath all these presenting reasons, our goal in meditation is to quiet the mind and experience our true nature. It is a process of emptying the mind of all conditionings and beliefs.

How Are Hypnosis and Meditation Alike And Different?

Both of these methods use relaxation and breathing techniques to help move us to an inward state. Both involve achieving focused attention to get the desired results. Both are therapeutic techniques. However, hypnosis is done to achieve a goal in life. Meditation is ultimately done to achieve higher states of consciousness by continually disengaging from the contents of the mind.

Meditation is an ongoing inward journey that continues over one’s lifetime. As we progress, we tap into subtler and subtler levels of our being. We achieve more serenity and calmness of mind, unleash creativity, and develop deeper compassion and understanding of ourselves and others. Physical and mental stressors get released as side effects of the process.

Learn more about hypnosis.

Learn more about meditation.