When the critical factor or faculty of your mind, the part that passes judgment, distinguishes between the concepts of hot and cold, sweet and sour, large and small, dark and light are bypassed and we substitute selective thinking for conventional judgment making. Selective thinking is whatever you believe wholeheartedly, any doubt and the critical factor or faculty is no longer bypassed.
(Dave Elman)

A state of intensified attention and receptiveness, and an increased responsiveness to an idea or to a set of ideas.
(Milton H. Erickson)

A lot of people tell me “Well I don’t think I was in a trance because I could still hear things and feel things.” If you can’t hear things and feel things, that’s death: that’s a different state.
(John Grinder & Richard Bandler)

In the end no one really knows what hypnosis is, but we know what it is not. It is not meditation, it is not Psychotherapy, & it is not sleep.
(Roberta Temes, Ph.D.)

Question: Can I stay in a state of hypnosis?
Answer: No, either two things will happen, you will wake up or fall asleep. You cannot stay suspended in a hypnotic state.

Question: I hear that I loose all control while under hypnosis, is that true?
Answer: No, the fact is that you have all the control. You can either accept or reject my positive suggestions. I am merely a guide.

Question: Isn’t hypnosis for the weak willed?
Answer: No, the fact is that hypnosis works best with people of higher intelligence and stronger will. People with lower IQ or weak will have a harder time concentrating and entering a relaxed state.