The Logic of Sleep Learning (Part 3)

During sleep, during periods of relaxation, during hypnosis, mental stress is at a minimum. Since learning is most easily absorbed under favorable emotional conditions, and since the mind is so receptive to suggestions under these conditions, sleep-learning reflects the benefits of many advantages not always possible during waking hours.

It is no longer necessary to make a conscious effort to concentrate, to eliminate distracting thoughts, or to call up the will to learn.

The procedure, as described, is to begin listening to the recording before falling asleep, during the beginning stages of Reverie (the light sleep period). The first thing heard is "relaxation affirmations," designed to help prepare the subconscious for the proper degree of receptivity after falling asleep.

This pre-sleep relaxation is considered especially important during the first few weeks of sleep-study sessions, for the new student must often overcome the tension and nervousness attendant on a novel and exciting experience. For some, there is no difficulty at any time, but many beginners, eager for success and keyed up in anticipation and foreknowledge of what is to happen, awake at the sound of the recorded voice— in many cases even a moment ahead of time. This problem is usually overcome in a few nights.

The next stage is described as the most trying period, the period during which the 'original barrier* must be overcome. This is the resistance to sleep-learning, which can be eliminated by gradual conditioning of the subconscious to be receptive to audible directed sound. Once this is achieved, the barrier had never been known to reappear, and material can be easily learned in a few nights, in many cases in a few hours.

The length of time it takes to overcome the barrier varies from student to student, but tests have proven that complete reception begins within fifteen to thirty nights after the initial attempt. If this does not happen, the barrier must then be overcome by using a tape with a positive affirmation for sleep-learning in order to remove the psychological block.

The importance of relaxation affirmations is stressed because of the tensions and frustrations that are a part of our life, and which can be at work even during sleep. Other recommendations for getting through the barrier stage include:

• Conscientiousness and genuine desire to succeed.



• Consistency of sleep-study—without even a night's interruption, if possible.



• Short messages at the beginning; using a poem for the first learning attempt, since the alliteration and rhythm seems to be conducive to early reception.



• Avoidance of alcohol, drugs, barbiturates, or tranquil-izers, which induce a heavy, unnatural sleep.



• Confidence and overcoming of anxiety.



• Delay of study, instead using sleep-therapy affirmations during illness and recuperation.



• Alternating self-development recordings and material to be learned, to remove tensions and negative thoughts, build up self-confidence, and develop relaxation.



• Keeping mechanical noise to a minimum.

If the barrier appears to be impenetrable, special sleep-therapy tapes are available.

It is strongly recommended that, at the beginning, only the Reverie Periods should be used for sleep-learning. Reverie is described as the state of drowsiness between waking and dreaming which begins just before falling asleep, and which recurs about one hour before awakening. It is during this state, psychologists have found, that the subconscious is most receptive.