During the Korean War, some American Prisoners of War were held by the Koreans, some by the Chinese.
After the war, the American government realised that the proportion of ex-POWs who showed pro-communism beliefs (or had even defected) was many times higher in those that had been in the Chinese POW camps.
Initially, people were unsure as to why.
But, they went on to realise that it was down to a particular tactic employed in the Chinese POW camps.
Where the POWs were asked to write certain things.
It started subtly.
Asking them to write things about the USA that weren’t so great.
And things they thought weren’t so bad about Communism.
If they refused, they were asked to copy out a pre-written passage, which most did as it seemed no big deal if they didn’t believe it.
Over time, the things they were asked to write became more pro-Communism, more anti American.
So slowly that people barely noticed.
Twas a smart move by the Chinese.
They knew that the human brain struggles when our thoughts and actions don’t match.
When they are not ‘congruent’.
We don’t like to when we do (or don’t do) something that we don’t (or do) believe.
So, something has to change.
Usually, it’s our actions.
But, when they can’t change, the thoughts often do over time.
After months and months of writing these things down, many of the men started to believe them.
Stopping writing wasn’t really an option.
So their beliefs changed to re-enable this ‘congruence’.
With a knock on effect on future actions.
I tried a similar thing with some ninjas recently.
I asked for volunteers for an experiment.
People who had been struggling with a certain aspect of what they were doing.
I then gave them a phrase to write five times every day which was kind off the opposite of where they currently were.
“I am in complete control of my food choices”
“I eat healthy meals 95% of the time”
“I drink plenty of water everyday”
And so on.
I then posted every morning with that day’s date and people posted a picture underneath of their handwritten, signed and dated writings.
Took them about 60 seconds a day.
And nothing else for 30 days.
I wanted to see the effect of that intervention and that intervention alone.
No extra messages checking up on them, no other reminders to do it, etc.
At the end, I checked how people had got on.
Most, sadly, hadn’t done it.
Some didn’t even start.
Some dropped out part way through.
But, out of those that did all 30 days (for 30 minutes total work)……..
Every single one reported it helped to, at least, a reasonable degree.
Their thoughts had started to change to more congruent with what they were writing.
And their later actions changed to keep inline with with these new thoughts.
The changes ranged from minor to huge.
But, for one minute a day………
30 minutes a month……….
That’s a pretty epic return on investment.
So, if you’re struggling, it’s worth a try.
Pick a sentence that’s kinda the opposite of where you are now.
More a “I am the kind of person who XYZ” rather than “I will do this or that every day” or “I will never to ABC”.
Try writing it down.
With pen and paper.
For 30 days.
30 minutes total effort in a month.
And let me know how you get on?
## As always, check myrise.co.uk/briefing-meeting if you like the idea of techniques, methods, etc instead of “just try harder” ##
Much love,
Jon ‘Fortunate Son’ Hall and Matt ‘Bit me in the bu-ttocks’ Nicholson
RISE Macclesfield – myrise.co.uk
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