Deep Design: Programming Your Future in the Unconscious
by Thomas H. Budzynski, Ph.D.
This article first appeared in The Voyager XL ( aka The Mind's Eye ) User Guide
© Copyright 1993 Theta Technologies.
Deep Design: Programming Your Future in the Unconscious is the title of Dr.
Budzynski's cassette tape which accompanies this session in The Voyager XL ( aka The Mind's Eye ).
Purpose: Deep Design, with its associated cassette tape, was developed
with the goal of allowing you to bypass the conscious mind's defense mechanisms and
communicate directly with the unconscious through the medium of mental imagery.
Why do conscious affirmations, new year's resolutions, and good intentions often fail?
Most of us believe that our mind has an unconscious or subconscious part. Some people
don't like those terms but would probably acknowledge that we have a "shadow
side" that seems at times to take control and force thoughts, actions and behaviors
that surprise us. This "other side" or unconscious is an extremely powerful
determinant of our behavior and feelings. From the split brain research of the 70s we know
that the unconscious appears to be manifest primarily in the right or nondominant
hemisphere of the brain. Moreover, it generates it's own desires, goals, and agendas which
may differ from our conscious (left brain) plans.
If this division of plans can occur, is it any wonder that at times we find ourselves
doing things which our conscious mind does not wish to do, e.g., stopping at a fast food
place even though we had consciously decided to avoid such places because we want to lose
weight. Obviously, the unconscious has other plans and has won this round. Dieters and
smokers know very well how powerful these unconscious programs can be.
How can these conflicts be resolved? Consider this: You have a conscious program
(C) and an unconscious program (U). Let's say that the C program involves lying in order
to sell used cars. The rationalization is to say, "Everybody does it - it's part of
the job." However, an old U program from a deeply religious childhood says,
"Thou shalt not tell untruths". In this actual case the conflict was resolved by
the powerful unconscious in a unique way - it took away the man's voice by giving him
spastic dysphonia so that he couldn't sell used cars. In this case the U took the moral
high road and won out. Incidentally , the man's voice returned when he was able to get his
old job back selling new Volkswagens - a job that presumably involved little or no
untruths.
Most of us would say (consciously) that it is our U programs that are maladaptive or
negative in some way. If that is indeed the case (think about it carefully before
deciding) then you will somehow want to convince the U to change its program.
Unfortunately, this is much more difficult than changing the C program.
Why is the U resistant to Change? Most of the basic U traits were established
early in life and usually in association with emotional arousal, often of a negative
nature. As such they have affected us ever since, even though we may have not been aware
of these scripts. Any program that has been around that long is bound to be more resistant
to change; after all, it is part of our basic personality. The secret to change in the U
is an extremely powerful emotional experience, of frequent repetition of an imaged goal
(resolution of the conflict) in a deeply relaxed state. Deep Design presents the latter
solution.
Moreover, it has often been said that the human brain functions much like a computer,
and computer programs can be changed - if they can be found! The Deep Design AVS
(Audio/Visual Stimulation) program with its associated cassette tape was developed with
the goal of allowing you to bypass the C defense mechanisms and to communicate directly
with the U through the medium of mental imagery (the medium of choice in the nondominant
brain).
Bypassing the conscious mind. Yes, there are many ways to bypass the C
processing. The ancients developed most of them. They included chanting, dancing,
ingesting hallucinogens, torturing oneself, and even the extreme case that the
Pharaoh-in-training underwent - being placed in a box and having the air slowly taken out.
In near suffocation the brave prince would undergo a near death experience, or NDE, and
would be saved only at the last moment. Now he knew first hand of the afterlife
(especially if something went wrong!).
Neurotechnology. Fortunately today we have easier ways of finding and
influencing the U. The EEG of brainwave is a fairly good indicator of our state of
cortical arousal. Neurotechnology includes a number of techniques that influence the EEG
to entrain or "frequency-follow" a pulsating sound or flickering light. In other
words, the EEG frequency will tend to change in lock-step fashion with the stimulus. The
Deep Design cassette tapes acts in concert with the audio/visual stimulation to allow your
goal imagery to be presented to your U because the EEG is being gently urged into a theta
or twilight stated pattern. In this pattern, most of the C mind is bypassed, and yet, it
is a state in which a minimal amount of C is available off and on to present the imagery.
The plan. Develop your goal imagery as realistically as possible. Remember - you
may get what you asked for so make sure it's what you really want. Think about what life
will be like when you've reached your goal. What does if feel like? Any down side? Does it
feel icky in your gut? If there are nagging doubts, you'd better change your goals.
Research has shown that neurotherapy programs can be extremely effective even with
alcohol addiction, but it must be done each day (preferably twice each day) and over a
three to six month period. you may experience positive changes right from the first
session, but please try to follow through for at least one month even if you achieve your
goal(s) quickly.
Remember, for most people it takes regular practice and concentration on the imagery
over a period of time to get lasting results. Make a place in your daily schedule right
now. Do not say "I will fit it in when I can." This probably won't work. Plan
ahead and - this is important - it can indeed change your life!
Finally, remember that you have to act on your goals. Wishing for them is not
enough to make them come true - that only happened to Pinnochio. Do something each day to
act on your goal. This takes courage (growth comes only from change) and change can be
stressful. Go for it!
Thomas H. Budzynski, Ph.D.
Dr. Budzynski graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of
Detroit and served as an aerospace engineer for seven years. During part of this time he
was crew chief of the inertial navigation team on the top secret SR-71
"Blackbird" project. He later left engineering to earn an M.A.. and Ph.D. in
psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
A biofeedback pioneer, Dr. Budzynski developed several of the early biofeedback devices
including the first digitally-quantifying EMG, and the Twilight Learner which was featured
in an article in psychology: Today (Aug. 1977).
Dr.. Budzynski and his noted colleague, Dr. Johann Stoyva, established new standards in
biofeedback and behavioral medicine research with their landmark studies at the University
of Colorado Medical Center. Dr. Budzynski served as President of the Biofeedback Research
Society in 1974-75.
A noted lecturer and workshop leader, Dr. Budzynski has traveled to a number of
European, Australian and Canadian cities to speak on behavioral medicine, stress, pain,
biofeedback and neurotherapy. He has been published numerous times in his areas of
expertise. His Relaxation training Program has been a best selling stress management audio
cassette program for over twenty years. With Denis Waitley he developed the top selling
The Subliminal Winner album for Nightingale-Conant. A new Pain Control program for Thought
technology combines hypnotic inductions with effective imagery. The REVITALIZER and
CYBORIUM 2010 are two exciting new products.
A frequent consultant in the areas of brain mapping, stress management, biofeedback,
self-help audio tapes, pain management, priming process and neurotechnology, Dr. Budzynski
carries out research in these areas. He is presently the Director of Research and Training
at Anabasis of Sarasota, Florida.
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