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Negative hallucination and false stories in our head

Negative hallucination and false stories in our head
Negative hallucination and false stories in our head

In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to discuss negative hallucinations and the false stories we create in our head.

First a quick update:

Why ISIS is succeeding in recruiting Western Youth – Boys and girls around the world, and as young as 13 years of age, are fleeing their country to join and fight alongside terrorists. Three girls from the US were just caught in Germany. Why is ISIS succeeding with youth? Read my insights here.

Follow me on Twitter – You can now choose to follow me and receive a few words of wisdom on Twitter: @Behavior_Expert   https://twitter.com/Behavior_Expert

Now, let’s talk about negative hallucinations and the false stories we create in our head.

Many years ago when I was performing stage hypnosis shows I would hypnotize volunteers to perform hallucinations and negative hallucinations.

Hallucinations are things we see that don’t exist; negative hallucinations are things we don’t see that actually exist.

For example, I would hypnotize a volunteer and tell him that there is a UFO in the sky and now he must warn people about the danger (hallucination.) In another scenario, I would tell the hypnotized volunteer that the audience has completely vanished and it is so quiet and peaceful here. Next, I would ask the audience to shout loudly and have people come up and jump up and down in front of the hypnotized person who would see and hear nothing.

He simply could not see or hear what was happening right in front of him, and happening quite loudly and clearly. He couldn’t even feel the weight of the people jumping up and down in front of him.

It is amazing to see and experience the things hypnotized people will do and the way that they will react under hypnosis.

However, most of us fail to recognize that we do these same things on a daily basis – we engage in hallucinations and negative hallucinations.

We see things in our head that don’t exist and we fail to see the things that do exist in reality.

For example, a client told me that she was experiencing anxiety and feelings of rejection because she had not heard from a friend regarding a project with which she could have helped him.

She began to explain to me the hallucinations – she believed that he doesn’t care, isn’t interested, doesn’t think she is significant and doesn’t need her for the project.

That was her story.

In her mind she created a story about his actions or lack of actions.

She created a hallucination, which in this case was a negative use of her imagination and which, created feelings of anxiety, rejection, insignificance and unworthiness.

She also engaged in negative hallucination because her story automatically denied any link to the truth, to reality and what actually existed and occurred. If she were to have called, texted or messaged him until she made contact, she would have found out that he was overwhelmed by the project and that he actually needed her help.

We all have the extraordinary power of imagination; we all have the ability to create stories in our head.

We become fearful, paralyzed and unmotivated when we create false stories (hallucinations) and when we fail to take action, to learn the true story – the actual reality – we further drive and reinforce our false story.

Imagination is a key to motivation; the pictures we see in our minds (which create, add to and support beliefs) determine the type of action we will take.

If you choose to see in your mind the hallucination that someone is rejecting you, doesn’t care about you or believes you are insignificant, then the action you will take will be to isolate yourself, to give up and to become despondent.

Further, if you also choose to not take any action to learn the truth, then you are now engaging in negative hallucinations – you can’t see the truth or reality.

The more we engage in hallucinations and negative hallucinations, the less motivated we become. We either see painful pictures and stories (creating fear) or we see no stories (creating apathy and hopelessness.)

Here are some tips to overcome and transform hallucinations:

Beautiful Imagination
We all have imagination and create stories about our world; use the power of imagination to create pictures and stories which support your goals and which inspire you to take action to realize your goals and dreams. Imagine on a regular basis what you truly want to create; imagine already being, doing and having what you want; see it and emotionalize it. If you notice that you are feeling stale, unmotivated, listless, or depressed, then pause and notice that you have most likely stopped using your imagination. Rekindle your deliberate imagination – focus on potential and possibility; imagine beautiful things.

Dissolve Hallucinations
When you find yourself creating negative stories and pictures, respond by creating the opposite. If you imagine going out on a date or to an event and you simply see and feel it turning out badly, respond by imagining it turning out well, and, take the necessary action to ensure it does turn out well. Another example: most people avoid exercise because they imagine and create the story of pain, rather than imagining and creating the picture and story of triumph, achievement and pride.

Dissolve Negative Hallucinations
Instead of creating a story about reality, determine the reality, find out the truth: ask questions, seek answers. Approach the person and ask him or her to explain. Again, ask questions, stop assuming or making false interpretations, conclusions or analyses. When you know the truth about a situation, then you have the ability to respond accordingly.

Erase the personal story
This is the number 1 story – for everyone – “It’s my fault…There is something wrong with me.” We believe that the way people are responding to us is because of who we are, rather than because of who they are. It is true we can motivate and influence people; we can even inspire them. However, we are not responsible for the actions other people choose to take. It is actually egocentric and irresponsible to think that the world revolves around us and that we are the creator or god of other people. We cannot control other people’s responses and actions; we can only control ourselves.  Constantly creating stories where we take everything personally (i.e. I caused him/her to act this way) creates pain and anxiety.

Finally, remember, they are all stories. Even the things that happened to us in childhood are stories. Yes, they happened but we changed the story with our faulty interpretations and conclusions; we changed the story with our judgments of ourselves and others. Create new stories, empowering and boundless stories!

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I wish you the best and remind you “Believe in yourself -You deserve the best!”

Patrick Wanis Ph.D.
Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert & SRTT Therapist
www.patrickwanis.com

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