Entertainers

- The secret of entertaining lies in the ability to concentrate the thoughts of others upon the conversation or objects presented for entertainment. A lecturer must "have his audience with him" if he desires attention and appreciation. Follow the principles of hypnotism during your endeavors to entertain others, and success will follow. First be full of the subject you desire to present; be oblivious to all surroundings and be possessed with the one idea of presenting your thoughts forcibly and that you have the will power to hold your audience in close attention. Forget self and focus your mind upon your hearers. A good hypnotist will have no difficulty in entertaining others when he desires to do so.

A Brilliant Hostess

Social functions are rendered most enjoyable when the hostess is an adept in the art of entertaining. She can become such only as she studies the various methods of mentally influencing her guests. A brilliant hostess once remarked: "I owe my success to a determination to make all my guests enjoy themselves. I make them understand that they come to my house for pleasure, and then I strive my best to exercise hypnotic control over them and make enjoyment contagious, and it always works successfully."

Aristocracy

There arc certain classes of persons who have a realizing sense of superiority, and deport themselves accordingly. Wealth, ancestral pre-eminence and titles usually beget this feeling of superiority, and although contrary to democratic ideas, it exerts its influence upon the great mass of people in America, .as well as in foreign lands. A true aristocrat, with refinement of feelings and capabilities of intellect, is recognized everywhere by unmistakable evidences of mental character which display themselves even in spite of poverty and shabby clothes. Upon the other hand, persons of coarse nature, with suddenly acquired riches, may vainly endeavor, by gaudy display and self-emulation, to impress their superiority upon others. Their shallowness betrays itself because they are unable to mentally experience the feeling of superiority they endeavor to manifest.

Assuming Wealth

In the chapter on "Self-Hypnotism" instances are given where the constant dwelling upon certain imaginations renders them apparently real. This is often true in regard to wealth. Persons of no means may so continually picture themselves as possessing riches that eventually they will settle down to the belief that they are actually wealthy, and only awaiting the settlement of certain estates until they can assert themselves. We frequently see this in persons who are descendants of the original "beneficiaries" of the "French claims" or of estates in litigation a hundred or more years ago. This delusion of wealth is a species of self-hypnotism that engenders idleness, detraction from useful thoughts and a general false idea of life.

Many worthless and poverty-stricken foreigners, indolent and immoral in habits, are actual or imaginary heirs to titles and estates, and attempt to live accordingly. These vagabonds, who upon their own personal merits and habits would be debarred from associating with decent persons, are freqnently lionized by society and received with open arms into many of the most select family circles. They first hypnotize themselves until their imaginary superiority becomes a living reality, and then they hypnotize others into the same frame of mind. The glamor of empty titles has a mental influence such as is exercised by the various objects hypnotists use in bringing their subjects under hypnotic control.

Consciousness Of Incapacity

One of the greatest drawbacks to business success is the consciousness of incapacity. Circumstances beyond individual control often prevent men from securing more than a limited education or from learning the details of business. They are therefore placed under a disadvantage, and should study every method that offers an opportunity for self-advancement. To realize incapacity and to betray that incapacity is fatal to success. By individual effort deficiencies must be kept in the background. Every man may become proficient in some one direction, and that proficiency must be impressed upon others.

In many instances mental superiority fails to be recognized simply because its possessor is extremely modest and retiring. As a rule, however, superior mental capacity compels recognition. There is an indescribable air of ability that immediately distinguishes a person who possesses mental power and erudition. This cannot long be falsely assumed, neither can it be long concealed; but when actual mental superiority exists it can be used to great personal and general advantage through the medium of hypnotic influence.

Losing His Grip

We frequently hear the expression, "That man has lost his grip." It implies business failure and mental inability to overcome discouragements. A man who "loses his grip" carries about with him that air of dejection that only increases his failure. It is of the utmost importance that the mind should be trained to withstand discouragements and reverses, for the man who looks upon the dark side of life will be unable to exert any favorable influence over others; in fact, his acknowledgment of defeat and his lack of self-confidence is certain to mentally influence others to refuse him help or to repose confidence in him.

How different is it with the man who is "in the swim." Everything seems to favor him, and what is termed "good luck" apparently follows him everywhere. His mind is in that condition of self-confidence and self-satisfaction that exerts an influence of a similar character over others.

These various phases of mental condition are enumerated for the purpose of illustrating the unconscious influence we can exert. Knowing these statements to be true, we can readily realize the great advantages to be gained by training the mind as we would preparatory to becoming proficient in the art of hynotism.

This young man believes he holds in his arms the beautiful object of his affection.

Peculiar expression of countenance during the first stage of hypnosis.