6.3｜Why Hypnosis is Difficult
6.6 Why Hypnosis is Difficult: Not Because Suggestion is Invalid, but Because It Cannot Bypass the Self-Monitor
Can we change the subconscious through hypnosis? This is a common method in both psychology and successology. Their basic assumption is that the subconscious does not distinguish between good and bad, nor between imagination and fact. Therefore, we can "rewrite the source code" by flooding the subconscious with new linguistic suggestions.
On paper, this isn't absurd. If we could enter a "deep hypnotic state" and plant affirmations like "I am successful" or "I am abundant," it seems logical. However, reality is far more complex.
First: Entering a true deep state is exceptionally rare. Most self-hypnosis only reaches a shallow level of relaxation. Suggestions must still pass through the "gate" of consciousness. Even if a suggestion enters, it doesn't automatically overwrite the old belief; instead, it creates a conflict.
Second: The idea that "the subconscious doesn't distinguish facts from imagination" is an oversimplification. The truth is: the subconscious believes what "feels real" emotionally and physically. To make a suggestion stick, you need the alignment of emotions, bodily sensations, and self-structure. This creates a paradox: To use a suggestion to break the old self, you often need the old self to approve the suggestion first.
6.7 Case Study: The Assistant — How Goodwill is Translated into Control
I once hired a highly capable assistant from a poor family. He was the youngest of five brothers, ignored and belittled throughout his childhood. Despite this, he worked his way through a prestigious university.
I saw immense potential in him. I promoted him quickly and mentored him intensely, hoping he would one day manage one of my U.S.-based companies. I gave him "brainwashing-style" encouragement: constant affirmation, bonuses, and introductions to industry legends. I also critiqued his old circle of friends, wanting him to "think like a CEO."
One day he turned to me and said: "President Liu, I appreciate your kindness, but why do you always want to control my life? Do you look down on my friends that much?"
In that moment, I realized my mistake. I had projected my own values—my hunger for growth and opportunity—onto him. I ignored his internal evaluation system. To him, my mentorship was "brainwashing" or even an insult. Because I criticized his friends, he translated that as a rejection of him. My vision of his future was translated into "drawing a pie" (making empty promises) and manipulation.
The Fact of the "Internal Filter"
This story illustrates a critical fact: A person's subconscious will automatically resist any "brainwashing" that threatens its internal structure.
Even when others try to "wash your brain," the information is filtered through two layers: conscious logic and subconscious value judgment. You hear it, but you don't accept it. You accept it, but you don't act on it. Your internal structure acts as an immune system against any data that is inconsistent with its current "seed."
