How Your Subconscious Mind Really Works (Golden Retriever Edition)

We all do it. All of the time.

We do things we “know” we shouldn’t but just can’t seem to stop ourselves from doing — like eating that cheesecake, or calling the bad-boy beefcake, knowing we are just going to feel totally let down afterward, and disgusted with ourselves for being weak and failing once again.

It’s like we are subconsciously sabotaging our own success.

And we are. But probably not for the reasons you think.

Then as if that isn’t enough, we add misery to the mystery, digging ourselves even deeper into the abyss with some good ol’ negative self-talk...

...saying things to ourselves like “I’m never going to be able to do this right,” or “I’m just a bad, worthless, lazy person,” or “There must be something wrong with me.”

And while I know there is nothing wrong with you...you probably wouldn’t believe me about that just yet.

So let’s look at this a completely different way...

Imagine you are at work and sitting next to you is the most adorable Golden Retriever in the world — looking up at you with total love-trust in its eyes and a wag in its tail.

And all that sweet, dopey dog wants to do is:

1. Keep you safe

2. Make you happy

Period.

Now imagine you turn to that big, sweet dog who totally adores you and say, “When we get home, don’t eat the chocolate chip cookies.”

And you keep saying it, all day long — “When we get home, don’t eat the chocolate chip cookies.”

Now notice when you say that sentence to yourself, what parts can you actually picture?

Home. Kitchen counter (or table perhaps). Chocolate (yummy!) chip cookies. Plate (maybe).

So where’s the “don’t” in that picture?

There isn’t one. Because you can’t actually picture “don’t.” It’s impossible.

So is it any wonder that when you get home your inner Golden Retriever hurries to the kitchen (happy tail wagging!) and snags some chocolate chip cookies?

Then, being the awesome dog owner you are, what do you do?

You start yelling, “Bad dog! No! Bad, bad dog!” and in an instant your “I’m-so-happy-we’re-home-let’s-play!!” dog’s face goes from joy, to confusion, to being totally depressed.

It’s like you just punched that sweet, dopey dog in the face.

So stop doing that, okay?

Stop picturing the things you don’t want.

Picturing things you don't want only makes your loving inner-Golden Retriever think you DO want them. And you end up confusing the heck out of your subconscious mind (aka: your inner Golden Retriever), because while the conscious mind has language abilities, your subconscious mind does not.

While your subconscious mind (located in the limbic regions of your brain) understands images, experiences, feelings, and tone of voice, it isn’t logical. Words aren’t its language. Pictures and feelings are.

Which is why, if you tell a real Golden Retriever what a “bad dog” she is but use a happy, excited tone of voice, she’s going to think you love her and want to play fetch.

So the next time you don’t want to eat the chocolate chip cookies…

Start picturing yourself walking by the cookies while eating a banana, or a peach, instead.

That’s something your inner Golden Retriever can much better understand!

Grab my free “ReWire It!” e-book and learn how to shift your mind’s pictures fast.

Ready to learn how to help you inner golden retriever really succeed?

(It's free)