“Don’t forget to put out the trash.” “Don’t trip on that.” “Don’t catch the flu that’s going around.” “You kill me.” “Oh I am terrible at” fill in the blank.
Every day we hear or say things like this. Knowing what I know now, I cringe when I hear it. Why? Because of how our subconscious minds work. Our subconscious mind isn’t really into the “don’t” or the sarcasm, joke or attempt at being humble. It hears what it hears.
Test it now. Don’t think of a rainbow. No, I said don’t. It happens automatically in our subconscious even though we said don’t. How many times have you told yourself I need to stop thinking about that thing I didn’t do at work, my to-do list at home or the pain in my foot so that I can go to sleep. You consciously know that nothing can be done about it at the moment and dwelling on it does you no good. But the more you try not to think about those things the more that you do.
Our minds work this way. So when people say things they believe are innocent like don’t do this or that they always get sick, aren’t good at something, etc., they are not realizing that they are programming their subconscious to that thing. It can become self-fulfilling prophecy. You know that person who always talks about their ailments and seems to get worse all the time. That person who says to himself don’t forget and yet keeps forgetting.
Fortunately, not every single thought or thing that comes out of our mouths manifests in that moment. However, it is a good practice to reframe and reword what you think and say. Be safe. Be careful. Get well. I remember to put out the trash. It works. It is kinder and gentler in a lovingME way and it really does make a difference, particularly over time.
