If you see a pink elephant, call in a tusk force
by Mervin Straughan
June 2020
It's widely accepted that when someone asks us "not to think of a pink elephant," we're likely to picture one, despite our best efforts to resist it.
I recall both a personal effectiveness course and a teambuilding session, some years apart during the 1990s, where each facilitator posed this challenge. And I'm confident that, like me, my fellow delegates only grasped a part of the message behind this amusing diversion. That when we attempt to close our mind to a suggestion, the image – in this case, a humongous pink elephant – uses its battering ram strength to barge into our consciousness.
CRUCIAL PIECE OF LEARNING
It was only after becoming a life coach a decade later that it became clear I'd missed a crucial piece of the learning – it's the view of many experts that the subconscious is unable to process the words "no" and "not."
So, "Do not think of a pink elephant" becomes "Think of a pink elephant."
Take this further and imagine the possible ramifications this has on goal setting and the likelihood of success because we're likely to secure the opposite to what we're seeking. Lockdown has given many of us plenty time to consider what we'd like to change in our lives but if the subconscious reverses the meanings when the original command is negatively framed, the impact might be an unwelcome one.
Let's say someone wants to make changes. Given what we now know, which of the instructions in the following pairs have the greater potential for success?
In the case of losing weight: "I'm not going to touch another cream cake." versus "I'm only eating healthy foods from now on."
In the case of giving up smoking: "I'm not going to smoke any more cigarettes." versus "I'll only have what's good for my lungs."
In the case of spending too much time online: "I'm not going to spend hour after hour on social media." versus "From now on, I'll devote more time to pastimes that benefit me such as reading and going for walks."
POSITIVE POWER OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS
One of the most acclaimed methods of harnessing the power of the subconscious came from the work of the French pharmacist Emile Coué who in 1913 founded the Lorraine Society of Applied Psychology.
As a pharmacist, he noticed through careful observation over several years that when he praised the medicine's powers, it worked well for his customers but when he made no comment, it was less effective.
Coué told patients wanting to recover from an ailment or illness to say to themselves: “Every day in every way, I am getting better and better. Every day in every way, I am getting better and better. Every day in every way.” This statement is framed in the present which conveys to the mind that the desired outcome is already happening.
This approach builds on optimistic autosuggestion and uses the placebo effect. The aim is to develop a self-talk that creates the right mindset for success. After a while, the subconscious accepts this belief and responds.
Anything that increases the likelihood of success with our goals has merit.
Frame a goal in the positive and it'll send the elephant packing.
June 2020
I recall both a personal effectiveness course and a teambuilding session, some years apart during the 1990s, where each facilitator posed this challenge. And I'm confident that, like me, my fellow delegates only grasped a part of the message behind this amusing diversion. That when we attempt to close our mind to a suggestion, the image – in this case, a humongous pink elephant – uses its battering ram strength to barge into our consciousness.
CRUCIAL PIECE OF LEARNING
It was only after becoming a life coach a decade later that it became clear I'd missed a crucial piece of the learning – it's the view of many experts that the subconscious is unable to process the words "no" and "not."
So, "Do not think of a pink elephant" becomes "Think of a pink elephant."
Take this further and imagine the possible ramifications this has on goal setting and the likelihood of success because we're likely to secure the opposite to what we're seeking. Lockdown has given many of us plenty time to consider what we'd like to change in our lives but if the subconscious reverses the meanings when the original command is negatively framed, the impact might be an unwelcome one.
Let's say someone wants to make changes. Given what we now know, which of the instructions in the following pairs have the greater potential for success?
In the case of losing weight: "I'm not going to touch another cream cake." versus "I'm only eating healthy foods from now on."
In the case of giving up smoking: "I'm not going to smoke any more cigarettes." versus "I'll only have what's good for my lungs."
In the case of spending too much time online: "I'm not going to spend hour after hour on social media." versus "From now on, I'll devote more time to pastimes that benefit me such as reading and going for walks."
POSITIVE POWER OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS
One of the most acclaimed methods of harnessing the power of the subconscious came from the work of the French pharmacist Emile Coué who in 1913 founded the Lorraine Society of Applied Psychology.
As a pharmacist, he noticed through careful observation over several years that when he praised the medicine's powers, it worked well for his customers but when he made no comment, it was less effective.
We're told that Coué never made wild claims and always advised patients when it was unlikely he could help or when the improvements would be marginal. However, it's reported that many of his successes were astonishing.
This prompted him to begin studying hypnosis and psychology and he founded his society. Word spread about the effectiveness of his approach and waves of patients came to him seeking cures from a variety of ailments and illnesses.
This prompted him to begin studying hypnosis and psychology and he founded his society. Word spread about the effectiveness of his approach and waves of patients came to him seeking cures from a variety of ailments and illnesses.
CONDITIONING THE SUBCONSCIOUS
His method was simple and has many supporters. It works by conditioning the unconscious through repeated self-suggestions or images.
His method was simple and has many supporters. It works by conditioning the unconscious through repeated self-suggestions or images.
Coué told patients wanting to recover from an ailment or illness to say to themselves: “Every day in every way, I am getting better and better. Every day in every way, I am getting better and better. Every day in every way.” This statement is framed in the present which conveys to the mind that the desired outcome is already happening.
Followers of the method believe it can be applied to all aspects of our lives.
So, building on our healthy weight example, the Coué approach would have been to tell ourselves: "Every day in every way, I am getting to my ideal weight."
That's a lot different to: "I'm not going to stuff my face with crisps anymore."
So, building on our healthy weight example, the Coué approach would have been to tell ourselves: "Every day in every way, I am getting to my ideal weight."
That's a lot different to: "I'm not going to stuff my face with crisps anymore."
This approach builds on optimistic autosuggestion and uses the placebo effect. The aim is to develop a self-talk that creates the right mindset for success. After a while, the subconscious accepts this belief and responds.
Anything that increases the likelihood of success with our goals has merit.
Frame a goal in the positive and it'll send the elephant packing.
- Purpose features in Mervin's pocket-sized self-coaching book Imagine Life As Three Bus Journeys. Printed by Lightning Source, it's available for £9.99 in the UK and $11.99 in the US. Retailers include Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble.
Also check out this video on the theme of the role of the subconscious in setting goals: