Suppose some hypnotist wants you to do X. Forcing you would be costly and risky. The ideal outcome is when you exclaim: “I desperately want X!”
How does he make that happen? He narrows the infinite variety of the universe to a tiny segment — X, Y, and Z. Within that frame, X gains maximum weight.
Then the hypnotist puts on a white coat and, through monopoly, excludes all other opinions. Now the “right” choice is obvious.
But the real trick is this — the subject himself helps the hypnotist.
We’ve lost the ability to hear our true desires and got used to silencing them — a side effect of entering culture through imitation.
The question “What do I want?” feels unbearable because it brings the discomfort of uncertainty. So the mind looks for a model — similar, but higher up. Where does He look? At X. Therefore, X is valuable.
“I want that too! I’ve always wanted only X!”
The way out isn’t to find another guru — it’s to turn your attention inward. Into the desert silence, until your own “I want” begins to speak.
The real battle is for your attention. Who does it belong to?
Yours sincerely,
-Alexander
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
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