Sometimes I like to joke that the work I do is brainwashing. I mostly do this because, well, it's funny, but also because it's true.
Obviously, “brainwashing” has an almost entirely negative connotation. The term conjures images of cult leaders, political extremists, and abusive partners. But all brainwashing really is, is making someone believe that something is true through repeatedly telling them that it is so.
That brainwashing can occur at all simply points to the fact that our brains are highly plastic. We have an innate capacity to change our minds and thus change our orientation towards life, ourselves, and the world. Why wouldn't this plasticity be able to be leveraged towards our betterment?
Every now and then a client will tell me they were in a pinch or a situation they've identified that they want to handle differently. They feel the old, uncomfortable feelings, they start telling the old story, and then they’ll hear my voice in their head. That voice will remind them they have more options, that they can see themselves or the situation differently.
Honestly, this used to make me a little uncomfortable, but now I understand what is happening.
When my voice enters the scene, they are integrating the new beliefs and perspectives introduced by our work into their self concept and into their orientation to life and the world. They’re simply using my voice as a bridge. Through repetition (and extinguishing beliefs that tell us otherwise), the positive beliefs and perspectives become their own. This is quite literally brainwashing… Only this kind feels good.
