I recently had a discussion about will-power and other cognitive-based thinking regarding success.  In this discussion with a colleague, we both recognized that the simple act of using will–power to go after a goal, losing weight, having success in sports and/or many other areas of life, just doesn’t work.  Our rational minds are important in certain areas that we engage in and it also helps in dealing with complex issues.

Yet, when it comes to behavior and actions, it’s the emotional part of our brains that engage in both of those areas.  More specifically, it is the hypothalamus in the limbic system that controls us.  It’s our autocontrol system part of our brain.  In the theory of the mind, the subconscious represents the limbic system.  No matter how much conscious input we use and that includes reasoning, we won’t act until and unless we add an emotional element to the mix.

I realized years ago that when giving suggestions to my clients that are in a highly suggestible state (hypnosis), the more emotional intense the suggestion is given, the more it will enter and stay in the subconscious mind.  When this happens, the more likely action will be taken or a habit change occurs.

We are constantly being bombarded by suggestions.  Advertisements and commercials do this on a regular basis.  The more emotional the advertisement is, the more the suggestions that are made will enter into our subconscious mind.  That is the reason you will see constant use of animals, young children and babies in commercials.  Ad agencies learned long ago that they work.

The thing about making suggestions that are emotionally-based, whether to yourself or to others, is that they will only respond in the positive.  Since our minds can only see in images, you have make sure that suggestions are made towards what you want, not what you don’t want.  The age-old example I always use is, “Don’t think of a pink elephant.”  What did you imagine when I said that?  A pink elephant, right?  Instead, I could have said, “Think of white tiger.”  Our minds does not think in negatives regarding images.  That includes what you don’t want.

If you want to reach a certain goal, then state that you want to reach that goal.  If you want to become wealthy and that means a specific amount of wealth and by a certain date, then say that.  Never say that, “I don’t want to be poor.”  That will only direct your mind to move towards that.  Anytime you have an away-from mindset, it will actually move you more towards that you are trying to move away from.  Always have a moving-towards mindset and let your suggestions show that.  And make sure when you do, do it with emotions.  That includes passion, attitude and belief.

I wish you the best when you start giving yourself suggestions.  That includes how you feel about yourself.  Yes, we are constantly and subconsciously implanting suggestions about ourselves as well as how we feel about what is happening in our lives.  Be more aware of those continuous suggestions and learn to take control of what you want, not what you don’t want.

Bob