What happened? What caused Simon to choose the Red BMX bike? Did you pay close attention to everything you heard and saw? If not, then first go back and look around the room at the props that Derren used to manipulate and influence Pegg. Now, I want you to look over some of the dialogue used by Brown that you may have missed:
"how I bike gifts. . .
to handle bar none . . .
what to saddle for . . .
rather than recycle the same two tyred bottles of wine . . .
bike creating a strong feeling of desire. . .
all sort of pumped up . . .
they BeaM eXcitement . . .
can Be so eXtreme . . .
i want X . . .
Like a BM or an X Box . . .
What was the outcome?
Derren Brown: ?So . . . What's your dream present?'
Simon Pegg: ?A BMX Bike'"
The influences were both verbal and visual. Simon Pegg was being influenced the moment he walked into the room. By the way, exercises like this have been taking place for a long, long time. Not only that, but do you know that almost all commercials on TV are comprised the same way with the same intentions--to get you to choose/desire something you MAY NOT want.
Now let me ask you another question: how many daily commercials try to influence you to eat a certain food? How commercials do you hear on the radio that do the same thing? On top of that, you must also add your own personal history and subconscious conditioning. You see, it's not easy to shake old habits since they have been embedded in your minds computer--your subconscious mind. Unless you take a pro-active approach to the way you think and how you approach your goals, victory is up against a big enemy that resides in your own mind. Don't let it beat you. Don't let the endless images and words dictate your destiny. Begin to take steps that can turn it around. Here are just a few:
1. Write down what you want to achieve. Thinking about it is NOT enough. Writing down your goals is one of the most important things you can do in pursuit of your aspirations. Formulate what you want want and write it out in a plan. Is your goal to get stronger..leaner...tighter...faster...more muscular? Whatever it is, write those things down in your own words and recite those goals daily.
2. Visualize what you want. As we saw in the video, imagery can influence you in more ways than you realize. Did you ever notice that in TV commercials that are centered on health and illness, the colors and shading in the commercial BEFORE the individual uses the product is always darker and less vivid than after. For instance, once the product is taken (cold, cough, sinus medicine, etc.), the individual feels better and the "colors" in the commercial become brighter and more cheerful. Pay attention next time and take notice. What's the purpose of this? To evoke emotion in you "in relationship" to the product being sold--without you necessarily being fully aware.
3. Self-talk. Talk to yourself with positive words ALL day, EVERY single DAY. You are much more likely to hold on to a NEGATIVE word than a positive one. You must consciously make a decision to STOP thinking and saying what you DON'T want and START thinking and saying what you DO want. Simple right? Maybe so, but most people find it harder than you may think. In fact, MOST successful people take control of their words, rather than letting their words control them. Also, your words need to be connected with your dreams and aspirations and they NEED to stir up your emotions and truly inspire you.
Take this for what it is worth. But as a natural bodybuilder, I lift VERY heavy weights. I can use a 250 lb dumbbell for single arm Dumbbell Bent-over rows. What will I look like BEFORE I lift the weight? You can find me talking to the dumbbell with the words, "YOU'RE ABOUT TO LOSE." What do I say after the set is over? Well, of course I turn to the dumbbell and say, "YOU LOSE." No, I'm not crazy. I believe my words will directly affect my actions and I take it very seriously. This leads to my next point.
4. Use both visual and verbal conditioning in pursuit of your goals. In other words, SEE and SPEAK the outcome you desire with words that inspire you. SPEAK it and SEE it. The words may not mean anything to someone else, but so long as they inspire you...use them. Play the mental movie in your mind of what you want to see and do the voiceover in your head.
I hope this article stirs you up to pay much greater respect to your mind and your daily thought pattern. In most cases, it is the deciding factor in determining either success or failure.
