Like Alex said, just notice.
It IS easy for me to say "tear down the walls," because I've done it. At one time I had no knowledge of hypnosis and believed as you did. Now I am starting to have more of a clue as to what it is about for me personally.
It's really simple. Just keep doing it until you learn what is going on. "Tearing down the walls" of your expectations is as simple as looking at them and going, "Ok, these aren't doing anything for me. Maybe I should be more open." Instead of expecting and being disappointed, open up, experience, and at least be willing to accept what you get.
To quote Thufir Hawat from Frank Herbert's Dune, "The first step in avoiding a trap is knowing of its existence."
You know that your expectations are getting in the way, so just notice them and don't let them distract you too much.
If I were in your shoes, I would sit down with an intention, quiet myself down, and then say, "Ok, unconscious, do your thing" and let my unconscious mind do whatever it wants to make progress towards my goals.
Whatever happens, THAT'S IT! Don't get something and then go, oh, that can't be it because it doesn't match what my preconceptions are....
Tearing down walls isn't the right metaphor, really. It's more like experiencing what blocks you, just looking at it or feeling it or whatever, and allowing what happens to happen.
You're motivated enough to come on a forum and talk about it. As far as I am concerned, that shows motivation enough.
And like Alex said, hypnosis isn't going to do it for you, so if you think you can just black out, get reprogrammed, and that's that, IMO you're wrong.
Frankly, your bad luck with hypnosis, to me, may be one of the best things that has happened to you. Maybe your unconscious is teaching you that no one can do it but you where you are right now. There's no magic pill to take. Hypnosis is not an escape from the need for persistence, learning, and creativity. It's just you as you are right now. You can do it.
To paraphrase Dr. Christopher Hyatt, Dare to be who you are RIGHT NOW--there are no guarantees. That means don't entertain any illusions, use what you got to get what you want. Chances are that you can, but there are no guarantees of success. That's just something you're going to have to apply your will and creativity to with persistence.
[This message has been edited by babayada (edited September 16, 2005).]
