1. Maybe it’s just me, but this idea that when you ask your mind negative questions, you get negative answers, and that negative answers aren’t as valuable as positive ones, doesn’t actually make sense to me. But then I’ve never really gotten along with what I commonly hear about negativity in general, because I take issue with the idea that somehow negative is bad, positive is good. I think negative can be a positive thing. And positive can be a negative thing. For example, we learn more from negative than positive experiences, and thus have more to contribute as a result. Further, negative creates contrast, contrast leads to meaningful differences. Finally, sometimes negative is positive. A little fear gets us going, moves us out of the way, gives us a kick in the rear when the positive focus temporarily loses its attractiveness (too much of a good thing) I think it is more useful to use both positive and negative together, mix desire with fear, as a way of creating sustained and sustainable motivation.
2. Much of this had to do with how we talk to ourselves. But not everyone has such an active internal dialog that they are asking themselves questions, positive or negative. I have a fairly quiet mind and don’t really know what I think unless I’m talking or writing. It’s why I love writing, actually. I don’t ask myself any questions unless i have a specific project or purpose for it. And when I do ask myself questions, whether positive or negative, they are in service to a mission, goal, purpose or plan. “What don’t I like about this?” is a useful question. “What’s wrong with this picture?” has protective power. And “What didn’t work?” is a great way to learn from experience.
3. I confess: I’m disappointed to find Speed Seduction as the lead post on A.J.’s blog today. I think that ‘getting people to do stuff’ in this form isn’t persuasion, it’s a kind of coercion, an abuse of communication power that comes at a terrible price – the loss of trust. Ewwwwww. In fact, I find the whole idea of using persuasion to get people to do things,’ or ‘think things’ or ‘feel things’ like it’s an operation on them instead of a relationship with them to be off-putting and counterproductive.

Thanks Barbara for all you do, and best wishes,
Rick

Dr. K´s last blog post..Life Skills – Quick! Think Fast!