auto-suggestion

noun

au·​to-sug·​ges·​tion ˌȯ-tō-sə(g)-ˈjes-chən 

-ˈjesh-

variants or autosuggestion

: the influencing of one's own attitudes, behavior, or physical condition by mental processes other than conscious thought : self-hypnosis

"Auto-suggestion means you are literally talking to yourself," [Leonard] Rubenstein says. "Whatever you think or talk about goes into a phase of your mind, the subconscious area of your brain.

—Stasia Evasuk

Using autosuggestion, you consciously plant ideas in your own mind, which, in turn, believes them on an unconscious level.

—Jeffrey Staggs

Word History

Etymology

auto- + suggestion, probably after German Autosuggestion or French autosuggestion

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

auto-suggestion

noun

au·​to-sug·​ges·​tion

variants or autosuggestion

-sə(g)-ˈjes(h)-chən 

: an influencing of one's own attitudes, behavior, or physical condition by mental processes other than conscious thought : self-hypnosis compare heterosuggestion

auto-suggest transitive verb

or autosuggest

-sə(g)-ˈjest