The way I sell self-hypnosis to people is that it is a powerful mind training tool. It creates the same benefits as meditation, just easier to learn. Whether or not mindfulness is your thing, that’s fine: self-hypnosis will still work for you.

People have used it to beat smoking and insomnia, overcome heartbreak, remove bad clothes and install better ones.

I’ve used it to become calmer, happier, more focused, more productive, braver, healthier, more present, more creative, and probably a hundred other things I’m forgetting.

So I’m not lying when I say it’s one of the best self-improvement tools out there. I eat my own dog food with this one.

But that’s not why I do it. Yes, I’m a self-improvement junkie, but to be honest, I’d do it even without those benefits.

I might even do it if it was bad for me.

For me, the main benefit of self-hypnosis is that it’s fun.

It’s the exact same model of fun that makes Nintendo such a rich and beloved company.

Think of the heavy hitters that sit in the corner at Nintendo. Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon are quite different franchises, but they do have a common thread.

The plot in almost every Mario game is a wafer-thin ball of clichés, save the princess. But how does Mario save the princess? Exploring unique, beautiful and surreal worlds and defeating powerful enemies.

He gathers treasure too, but not for materialistic reasons. One hundred coins give you a new life and, apart from extending your journey, have no intrinsic value.

Zelda games have equally weak plots: the chosen one fights the evil one. Every game is the same. But how does Link defeat Ganon? Exploring unique, beautiful and… surreal… worlds?

Hmm, that sounds familiar…

There is much to explore and many hidden off-road treasures. But every treasure, even the largest wallets, is of no use other than allowing you to further your quest.

None of the treasures of Link’s world are turned into luxury items, exotic vacations, or hedonic distractions.

With Pokémon, you explore the world with unique, beautiful, and surreal creatures. If you want, you can explore every corner of the map in search of the most exotic monsters. But do you sell them? No, you collect them or you get stronger by fighting them.

The exploration makes these games so much fun.

It’s the same thing that makes self-hypnosis so addictive. Your head is full of unique, beautiful and surreal things. It is a landscape similar to that of Hyrule or the Mushroom Kingdom.

You carry a world of treasures with you, even if you can’t spend a hundred.

And you get stronger by investing your treasures and facing your challenges.

It’s a great way to spend an afternoon. What else could compare to brain training that’s just as fun as the best video games?