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The power of the subconscious.
The triumph of the subconscious over "will power" is not reserved, however, to the victims of phobias. You can test this fact for yourself. Your subconscious mind knows that failing is a bad thing. From early infancy it has done its best to prevent you from suffering bruising or frightening falls. At times you have been able "instinctively" to gain your balance when you might otherwise have flopped. That's been your subconscious at work.
* The italics are mine; the definition is from "A Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychological and Psychoanalytical Terms," English and English.
Now suppose you place a short, narrow plank of wood on the floor. Without any difficulty you walk on the plank and you walk the length of the plank.
But place that plank twenty feet off the floor, and you will find it hard to will yourself to walk its length. Your subconscious is there to stop what can lead to a fall. It keeps begging you and ordering you to stop this dangerous attempt. You inch and you crouch and you can scarcely get your legs to move.
Yes, and you know what your reaction would be if the plank were high in the air, between two tall buildings. You likely couldn't even step a foot onto it.
You may wonder how it is possible, then, for aerialists, steeplejacks or window washers to conquer their fears. Well, not one of them becomes an aerialist, steeplejack or window washer over night. It is a matter of gradually training the subconscious mind to accept heights, and thus to establish a habit pattern.
Will power cannot triumph over subconscious habit. Indeed, it has been found that will power and conscious attention is a considerable hindrance in the attempt to rid oneself of a habit. If you play golf or dance expertly, you've probably noticed that the harder you try, the less likely you are to succeed. It's the relaxed, smooth player who scores. It's the relaxed dancer who quickly learns the new step, and follows it easily. Youngsters learn faster than adults simply because they have not yet gotten into the habit of consciously "trying."
Why use self hypnosis:
"I'm sure that I can now convince myself that I've got to quit smoking. The big fact about self hypnosis is "heightened suggestibility."
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