Discover how to recognize and protect yourself against subconscious manipulation by examining, expressing, and exploring your critical thinking.
“If somebody is being silenced in order for an idea to make it, then the idea is not good.”
Chase Hughes
When I was young, I inherited very entrenched opinions about politics and religion from my parents.
It was scary to even think about other ways of seeing the world.
But when I let go of my ego attachment to those views, when I stopped being afraid of examining my opinions and those of others, my conscious brain was free to think.
I began to question, discern, and develop critical thinking.
The world opened up like a smorgasbord of ideas.
This is the opportunity of letting go of our point of view — we find so many vistas to explore.
We become capable of fostering compassion for others outside our tribe.
The subconscious, however, wants none of it.
In its constant search for safety, the primitive part of our brain wants what’s familiar — and those who profit from influencing us know it.
Companies don’t spend millions on advertising because it doesn’t work.
Governments don’t spend billions on messaging for no reason.
Our agency comes from knowing that we’re being influenced, understanding how, and protecting ourselves in the face of it.
In part 1 of this series, I wrote about examining our believes, and offered a simple test to demonstrate the subconscious at work.
I showed an entertaining example of how a small belief could be almost instantly changed through subconscious manipulation.
(What movie star, Simon Pegg, wanted for his birthday.)
In part 2, I shared a video example of subconscious manipulation through subliminal repetitive content.
(People walking out of a movie theatre and forgetting what they just saw.)
And I suggested an exercise in expressing opinions in order to open our minds to consciously open up new ways of thinking.
In part 3, I’m taking this further and exploring the ramifications of these simple examples of behaviour modification.
When we are not aware of how we are influenced, when we are not fully utilizing our executive function, the subconscious keeps us in a reactive mode.
In this fascinating video on societal manipulation, a former US military intelligence officer and behaviour expert outlines how consent is engineered.
Take 20 minutes and listen to Chase Hughes explain how focus, authority, tribe and emotion are used to manipulate our opinions...
In a time of information overload, fear porn, and the normalization of psychological warfare, we still have a choice.
We can relinquish our agency and allow others to dictate how we should feel, what we should think, and what we must do.
Or we can put aside our inherited assumptions, challenge our current opinions, and ask critical questions beyond our beliefs.
“Who benefits from that opinion?”
“Am I willing to consider the other side of the argument?”
“What could I learn by keeping an open mind?”
Those who rule use divide-and-conquer tactics to keep our attention off the root cause of our problems, and instead pit us against each other through symptomatic differences.
This false division triggers emotional reactions that otherwise kind and rational people wouldn’t make.
“Emotional responses suppress critical thinking.”
Chase Hughes
Consider that while the videos from part 1 and part 2 of this series were harmless examples of entertainment, Derren Brown’s coup de gras was his Netflix special where 3 out of 4 average people were persuaded to murder an innocent man.
Now imagine what decades of government propaganda and media messaging have done to us.
The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that we have one.
Until we acknowledge that we are all subject to persuasion, we will remain under the influence.
—————
In my upcoming course, you will be guided in a profound exploration of your beliefs and self-imposed limitations.
Join me for this excavation of your unique inner wisdom.
Starting Saturday, March 1,2025
Rewrite your story.
Reprogram your mind.
Spaces are limited.
Questions are welcome.
Thanks for this resource! Puts a framework to what is always at work. (Might we read this helpful stuff in plain black and white here? My eyes! My eyes!!)