If you are interested in your own spiritual growth, this technique can be very useful. If you are used to the typical style of self-hypnosis, and or the way that I have taught hypnosis you can just reverse the levels and begin with 10 and go down to 0. Or after counting down imagine yourself going up these levels. Here is Dr. David Hawkin's instruction on Self-Hypnosis. Instruction on Self-hypnosis
"Another useful technique is hypnosis. Alternative medicine is now very interested in hypnosis as well as acupuncture. The most useful form of hypnosis is self-hypnosis. It is advisable to learn it for oneself rather than needing to seek it from another, for reasons having to do with the advancement of consiousness. It is a very simple process. One can use the hypnotic state, which is really only a state of high suggestibility, to learn the very things described previously. If one goes into an extremely relaxed state and begins to experiment and experience the truth of what has been presented above, the learning is much faster. In my experience with self and others, the value of self-hypnosis is that it enables one to reach a level of concentration that is not otherwise accessible. In that suggestible state, one is capable of degrees of concentration not available in an ordinary mental state.
There is a simple technique that people who have any chronic physical condition can learn to use. Instead of the word 'hypnosis', which has all kinds of associated beliefs and meanings, we will talk about extreme relaxation in a state of heightened suggestibility and capacity to concentrate. Just sit or lie down in a very comfortable position and start to progressively relax. Picture yourself walking down a series of ten steps and then say, "Level 1." That announces that we are about to do this procedure. Then say, "Level 2" and go deeper into relaxation.
The first step initiates the experience, and the next step allows some time to relax all the muscles in your head. As you do that, you will notice, the soreness in your face and jaw muscles reflecting the tension of the day. Your cheeks are actually sore-just poke them and you will find that is true. Why are they sore? It is from the chronic tension of resisted feelings.
Allow yourself several minutes to relax your head. Then say, "Level 3." Now relax your neck. Relax all the tension in your neck and upper shoulders. Then say to yourself, "Level 4.", and move and relax your back and chest muscles. As you say "Level 5", just continue to progressively relax, starting with the biggest muscles and then moving to the smallest-the shoulders, the upper arms, the lower arms, the hands, and then the fingers. Say "Level 6" and allow your chest and torso to relax. With "Level 7," move into the lower abdomen, relaxing all the tensions you have been holding there. Say "Level 8," move into the hips and buttocks area, and allow the deep relaxation. At "Level 9," allow that relaxation to flow down your legs. Now say "Level 10" and allow your feet to relax. Next say, "I am at level 10." Using that letting go of resistance, allow yourself to let go of all resistance to this profound state of relaxation.
In this profound state of relaxation, now tell yourself the things you want to know and then let go of resisting them. Let go of resisting the thought that pain is one thing and suffering is something else. There is no such thing as suffering in pain when that pain is not resisted. In that profoundly relaxed state now, go back to the previous information to deal with chronic pain. ...
Doc, H&R, Chapter 10, p. 325-326
