‘Don’t think about the Pink Elephant’ 
In order to thrive in life, achieve our goals and be the person we want to be, it is important that we focus on what language we are using to tell our brain what we want and how we want to act. After all, our brain is a powerful tool and when used correctly it enables us to take control of our life, our thoughts and more importantly our happiness. Unfortunately we increasingly rely on our brain to control us rather than the other way round, when we take control we see improvements. One of the ways we do this is to change the language we use when we talk to ourselves and others.
As humans we have a habit of telling ourselves what we don’t want – ‘I don’t want to be in an unhappy relationship’ or ‘I don’t want to be angry’. This is unhelpful if we want to achieve what we want in life. Our brain cannot recognise negations, such as, don’t and won’t’s. For example, if I say ‘don’t think about the pink elephant’ what do you do? You think about the pink elephant. So when you say to yourself ‘I don’t want to be angry’ you have actually said to your brain ‘I want to be angry’ therefore you visualise yourself angry and guess what…you are angry! To thrive in life, it is far better to imagine yourself and tell yourself how you want to be ‘I want to be calm’, I want to be in a loving relationship’. You are not only telling your brain what you want, so it can do its best to get you there, you are also visualising it and using the power of attraction in a powerful way.
Many of my clients have got into the habit of using words like ‘don’t and won’t ‘and as soon as they start changing their language to how they want to be and how they want life to pan out…guess what? They get there, they feel calmer, life starts to develop how they want and more importantly they are happier. It is such a simple thing to do…
KATIE GUTHRIE – BA(hons), DHP HPD MNCH(Lic)AFSFH
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Psychotherapist
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