Episode 053 - What Are You Not?

Don't Imagine a Leaping Nude. © Neil Cowmeadow 2017

Hear The Thesis

The Thursday Thesis  - 22/06/2017

“Your Inner Negative Image...”

As we explored in last week’s TT, where your mind goes, your body follows; so let’s continue with that idea, and mull over the way we define ourselves by what we are not – because it’s a huge idea that we say are what we are not.

Why should this be true?

Hmmm.... It’s that pesky brain, again; playing games and messing with your mind.

The problem is that our brains don’t handle negations – not’s, no’s, un’s and the like – very well.

Do not think of an elephant.

What are you thinking of?

Despite being told not to, you are undoubtedly thinking of an elephant. Naughty you.

What happened?

Were you just contrary, or is there something else at play?  

The brain has to think of the thing in order to not think of the thing, and the word “elephant” immediately conjures the image of an elephant from your memory – just so that the image can be erased.

So what happens when we tell ourselves what we are not, when we tell ourselves we are not lazy, scared, fat or poor?

We imagine ourselves as just the things we wish not to be.

Nowt as strange as folk, as they say.

And that’s why any goal we have for ourselves must be positively stated. It’s why “I’m not poor” won’t end well, whereas “I’m financially successful” will probably do the business.

Similarly, “I’m a non-smoker” will be feeble when compared to “I’m healthy and strong, and I breathe clean air into my spotless lungs”.

So what are you telling yourself you’re not, every day?

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

© Neil Cowmeadow 2017
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