The Truth About Negative Commands (Dont Read This!)

Everyday when I read promotional emails and advertisements, or listen to television commercials and dialogue in shows and movies, or hear people around me in everyday life use commands such as the following examples, I feel dismayed for them.

This is because I understand something that many others do NOT!

And, since learning what I now understand, while I am BOMBARDED every day from all directions with commands like those listed below, in all their variations, I feel worse and worse for not speaking up!

I feel especially badly for all those advertisers out there who are ignorant about this, because I also realize they are often sincerely excited about what they are sharing and are working very hard to attract the attention of others.

Examples:

- Don't miss this [fill in the blank]!

- Don't delay!

- Don't forget to be there!

- Don't forget to stop and buy milk [or pick up the dry cleaning -- fill in the blank]!

- Do not forget to be on time!

- You can't miss out on this opportunity!

- Don't be afraid to ASK!

- Would you like to [fill in the blank]? If so, don't wait another minute! Order Your [fill in the blank] NOW!

- Don't Live With Depression [fill in the blank]

And so on...

This is because your subconscious mind works in strange ways. I learned this while training to become a hypnotherapist.

*********

FACT: Your subconscious mind cannot recognize a negative!

*********

As a result, when a person reads or hears statements similar to the above, their subconscious mind actually understands the command as follows.

Examples:

- Miss this [fill in the blank]!

- Delay!

- Forget to be there!

- Forget to stop and buy milk [or pick up the dry cleaning -- fill in the blank]!

- Forget to be on time!

- Miss out on this opportunity!

- Be afraid to ASK!

- Would you like to [fill in the blank]? If so, WAIT another minute! Order Your [fill in the blank] NOW! (In this case, you might think it's okay because the negative statement is followed by a positive request for action... but keep reading, you'll see how it can be improved!)

- Live With Depression [or, fill in the blank]

Whenever I have tried to explain this to those who use this type of command in their advertising or their everyday language, they ALWAYS say, "I'm trying to create a sense of URGENCY."

But research is absolute on this...

The subconscious mind CANNOT recognize a negative command.

And so, anytime you use a statement that includes a negative command, you are actually giving the OPPOSITE command for the action or results you desire!

This is also why using only positive language in personal growth affirmations and in hypnosis -- whether self-hypnosis or with a trained professional -- is crucial.

It's also important to avoid alternate forms of negative commands, such as the following examples:

- rather than...

- instead of...

- avoid...

- etc.

Always use POSITIVE commands and suggestions!

I'll admit, it takes some creative thinking, and it's a learning process to overcome the overwhelming cultural training we have all been living with!

However, by becoming aware, I am gradually learning how to choose my words more carefully and achieving greater results!

For instance:

- Instead of "Don't miss [fill in the blank]!" you can say "Take advantage of [fill in the blank]!" or "Get in on [fill in the blank]!"

- Instead of "Don't Delay!" you can say "Hurry!" or "Act Now!" or "Take Immediate Action!"

- Instead of "Don't forget to be there!" you can say "Be there!" or "Remember to be there!"

- Instead of "Don't forget to stop and buy milk [or pick up the dry cleaning -- fill in the blank]!" you can say "Remember to [fill in the blank] on your way!" or "Please buy [fill in the blank] before you get home!" or "Thanks in advance for [fill in the blank]!"

- Instead of "Do not forget to be on time!" you can say "Be there on time!" or "Remember to be there on time!" or "Be there at [time]-sharp!"

- Instead of "You can't miss out on this opportunity!" you can say "You must TAKE this opportunity!" or "TAKE this opportunity NOW!" or "This is a MUST-SEE (or MUST-DO) opportunity!"

- Instead of "Don't be afraid to ASK!" you can say "Feel free to ASK!" or "Please ASK any questions you have!" or "Freely ASK your questions!"

- Instead of "Would you like to [fill in the blank]? If so, don't wait another minute! Order Your [fill in the blank] NOW!" you can say "Would you like to [fill in the blank]? If so, ACT IMMEDIATELY! Order Your [fill in the blank] NOW!"

- Instead of "Don't Live With Depression [or fill in the blank]" you can say "Overcome Your Depression!" or "Live Free of Depression!" or even "Be Depression-Free!" and so on.

Get the idea?

Command, suggest, or inspire people to POSITIVE ACTION, and you will achieve far greater results!

And now, if you re-read my article headline, you can ALSO get an idea of how you can use this information to create some "reverse-psychology" results, as well!

Copyright Laurie Kristensen, 2005-Present. All rights reserved.

Laurie Kristensen owns and operates a successful audio transcription and typing business from home, visit http://www.LKTranscription.com (remember to subscribe to "Your Partner in Success Newsletter" and receive THREE valuable free gifts) -- also be sure to browse through Laurie's Success Resources at http://www.LKSuccess.com

You have permission to publish this article in its entirety, unchanged, electronically or in print as long as the byline, URL, and copyright are included.

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Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:55:22 GMT Smallest planet shrinks in size - BBC News Canada.com Smallest planet shrinks in size BBC News - Jul 4, 2008 The smallest planet in the Solar System has become even smaller, studies by the Messenger spacecraft have shown. Data from a flyby of Mercury in January 2008 show the planet has contracted by more than one mile (1.5km) in diameter over its history. First Results From Messenger's Mercury Flyby Slashdot Mercury is shrinking, NASA craft finds; a cool clue: 'lobate scarps' Los Angeles Times eFluxMedia - Baltimore Sun - Examiner.com - ChattahBox all 155 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:45:26 GMT Analysis: McCain struggles to regain footing - The Associated Press The Associated Press Analysis: McCain struggles to regain footing The Associated Press - 2 hours ago WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement. The GOP presidential candidate trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls, organization and money while trying to succeed a deeply unpopular fellow Republican in a year ... Rural voters lean to the GOP St. Joseph News-Press Neither Obama nor McCain meets Energy Party standard The State New York Times - Online Athens - Washington Post - Newsweek all 465 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:40:55 GMT Ore. man completes flight of fancy _ in lawn chair - The Associated Press The Associated Press Ore. man completes flight of fancy _ in lawn chair The Associated Press - 1 hour ago CAMBRIDGE, Idaho (AP) - Using his trusty BB gun to help him return to Earth, a 48-year-old gas station owner flew a lawn chair rigged with helium-filled balloons more than 200 miles across the Oregon desert Saturday, landing in a field in Idaho. Video: Ore. Man Uses Balloons and a Lawn Chair to Fly AssociatedPress Believe it or not, he's lounging on air The Oregonian - OregonLive.com CNN International - BBC News - KOHD - San Jose Mercury News all 1,071 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:50:31 GMT Obama "puzzled" by Iraq comment frenzy - Reuters Washington Post Obama "puzzled" by Iraq comment frenzy Reuters - 1 hour ago By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he ... Obama struggles to thread needle on Iraq AFP Obama Refines the Blame on Iraq Miscue New York Times International Herald Tribune - Voice of America - Washington Times - New York Daily News all 1,620 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:08:23 GMT Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg Voice of America Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) Bloomberg - 8 hours ago By Eliana Raszewski July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina's lower house of congress approved the government's plan to increase taxes on exports of grains and oilseeds, risking a resumption of three months of strikes by farmers. Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina New York Times Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike guardian.co.uk RTT News - BBC News - The Associated Press - AFP all 144 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT Hippie Arrests Draw ACLU’s Attention - New York Times ABC News Hippie Arrests Draw ACLU’s Attention New York Times - 6 hours ago By AP CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union said on Saturday that it would investigate the actions of federal officers who had arrested five members of the Rainbow Family in western Wyoming during the group’s annual gathering. ACLU plans to investigate Rainbow Family treatment The Associated Press ACLU to investigate Rainbow Family treatment LocalNews8.com WKOW-TV.com - Billings Gazette - cbs4denver.com - Austin American-Statesman all 306 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:40:38 GMT McCain Battles a Nemesis, the Teleprompter - New York Times New York Times McCain Battles a Nemesis, the Teleprompter New York Times - 7 hours ago Mary Altaffer/AP By MARK LEIBOVICH LAS VEGAS —Senator John McCain was performing relatively smoothly as he unveiled his energy plan. McCain Campaign, in Relaunch, Seeks Tighter Message Focus Wall Street Journal McCain Campaign on Obama and Iraq FOXNews The Associated Press - Washington Post - Los Angeles Times - CNN all 737 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:31:52 GMT Create Blog RSS Software

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