Autosuggestion means the self-influence of the person. Therefore, the ego is not a coherent and crystallized unit. It consists of one part that can influence the other. The division of these two parts of the ego is simple: the influencing side is made up of the conscious part and the influenced side is in the subconscious. The conscious part of the human mind is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the great and mysterious subconscious. Actually, we have no information about that part of the ego to which autosuggestion applies.
In an attempt to perform a kind of “virtual mapping” of the soul, with the aim of locating and distinguishing that abstract element of the subconscious that is sensitive to suggestion, the best method is to evaluate the phenomenon of hypnosis, where suggestion acquires the character of manifestation more direct and focused.
The ego paradox
Beyond the fact that our ego extends between the conscious and the subconscious, and that one part can influence the other, hypnosis demonstrates another phenomenon related to the subconscious ego. It is only this part, which is supposed to be the solid core that underlies the conscious ego and which is actually the “core of the mind”, it is this part that is liquid and unstable. It is where we expect the individual to maintain their strongest identity, that their identity is not solid at all. A person can easily be hypnotized into believing that they are someone else entirely. A person can be hypnotized into believing that he is living in another place and in another time, and he will really believe it. Also, in some cases, a person may be hypnotized into believing that he is an animal and may believe it in his hypnotic trance and behave accordingly. When hypnosis was first discovered, there was not much awareness of the severe damage it can cause to the human psyche. Pioneer practitioners hypnotized young women into thinking they were chickens, believed it, and clucked, causing some of them to eventually lose their sanity.
The paradox, according to which the main core that underlies the human personality is the weakest part of his personality, is not unique within the body-mind system. The brain itself, in which all sensations and emotions are concentrated, and which is the only organ that the body detects, including any pain or light touch, is actually insensitive and does not react to being touched, pinched or cut.
Hypnosis shows that the human mind hides a central point that is not limited, neither by place, nor by time, nor by the identity that the individual has developed throughout his life. This part accompanies the individual from birth to death. Almost every night we find it in dreams in which we find ourselves in another time, in another place, and sometimes with a different identity. If we compare the mind (or psyche) with a virtual ball, the solid outer cortex is the conscious part, while the nucleus, the point affected by hypnosis, since it bypasses all the layers and surfaces around it, is the nucleus mental. . It is due to the “ego paradox” and its confused nature, that hypnosis remains a scientific mystery and the mental core remains undiscovered.
An explanation of the ego paradox
At birth, a child is largely “tabula rasa” in relation to his identity and personality. In fact, he was born with genetic attributes, with an instinctive will to survive and with an inherent selfishness, and yet, in all aspects related to his identity and personality, he is highly dependent on the environment in which he was born. If, for example, he is raised among monkeys or wolves, he will come to believe that he is a wolf or a monkey (despite feeling the difference between him and them). You will adjust to the environment in which you live, adopt its customs and norms, feel that you belong and identify with it and build your identity accordingly. You will do everything you can to adjust the genetic data you were born with to the reality you are growing up in. Every baby that is born, regardless of the environment, develops over the years its character, nature, essence and identity, based on its genetic makeup and environmental factors.
The ego-building process that every person goes through does not completely cover the mind, but leaves its core largely neutral in relation to its own identity and personality. Layers of ego are built around the core, enveloping it and crystallizing through achievements, experience, the development of self-confidence, reinforcements, status, ownership, etc. There are people who have created thick, solid layers of protection around the core of their soul, and there are those whose core is more exposed, but for everyone, it is liquid in terms of identity and personality.
To understand the reason for this, we must apply the “negative test” method. Let us suppose that the core of the mind is made up of opposite attributes, that is, that it has a clear and crystallized identity, strong, solid and unchanging. A person with such a core would find it very difficult to adapt to the many changes in life. You would not be able to cope with the changes that occur in your body, your growth and aging, and the different roles that you must play throughout your life. I could not handle changes of place, time and conditions of life. He would be completely incapable of playing the role of another, of disguising himself or deviating from his stereotypical image. There is no doubt that such a life would be much more boring and that people would behave like sophisticated robots whose behavior and reactions are always predictable.
The weakness of the mental nucleus is also the secret of human strength, since the soul wishes to supply its weakness by strengthening the layers of the ego that cover its nucleus through, as has been said, achieving achievements, respect and status.
If the core of each person were rigid, we would be free from many problems: no ego struggles, no wars for respect and status. All the phenomena that demonstrate sensitivity, vulnerability, revenge and jealousy would not exist. Furthermore, there would not be all the psychological problems related to identity and personality, such as split personalities, fragmented personalities, failed personalities, and various personality disorders.
A rigid and solid core would make the desire for achievement and self-fulfillment superfluous. A person with such a core would not feel the need to belong to any group. Nor would he feel the need for warmth and love, where a missing part of his personality is intended to be completed.
The need to create and maintain an identity, which accompanies the individual throughout his life, is almost equivalent to his will to survive, which is an inherent genetic factor. Usually there is harmony between these two impulses, but sometimes they can find conflicts. There are people who are willing to die to maintain their identity, dignity, status, independence or the social environment to which they belong. On the other hand, under the threat of death, many would be willing to renounce their identity and alter it to protect their lives.
Suggestive influence
There are three levels of suggestive influence: suggestion, autosuggestion, and hypnosis. We are constantly exposed to suggestions, in all ages and in all places. They apply, directly and indirectly, to our subconscious and conscious, and can affect our thoughts, emotions, desires, opinions, consumer inclinations, etc. Suggestions do not usually penetrate deep into the mental core.
Autosuggestion, on the other hand, is not directed at the conscious at all and is not intended to alter direct thoughts or opinions. It is completely directed to the subconscious and its target is the emotions.
Hypnosis has the strongest suggestive impact and is capable of penetrating the mental core. Also here, the weakness of the core is the secret of its power, since being elastic it can quickly recover, following the hypnotic impact, its original shape.