Tag Archives: manipulate

Using your Inner Voice

Sometimes it is not appropriate to express publically what we are thinking.  Doing so creates the risk of negative outcomes.  In these cases, the thoughts and feelings we choose not to express outwardly can serve to seem to warn, self-criticize, or influence our actions.

Using our inner voice can be a powerful tool, aiding us to behave in ways that will lead to the best results.  However, since only you can challenge your inner voice caution does need to be exercised.  The guidance you are giving yourself might not map to reality.

Let it Go

Active use of the inner voice may lead to frustration.   Typically these thoughts are negative or bridge on the more harmful emotions (e.g., anger, hate, sadness, frustration) frequent use can mire you in negativity.

Unquestionably there are occasions when the use of your inner voice can defuse a situation.  This should not become your “go-to” approach though as you will become disillusioned and basically tend to checkout.

Present as Humor

Sometimes the things you are thinking need to be said but blurting them out or boldly stating what you really think can often cause more damage than good.

Couching your ideas in humor, stating them in an offhand way and then perhaps saying something like “Oops, inner voice” and laughing can defuse the situation but still enable both making a point and letting off a little personal steam.

Use it, Don’t abuse it

Our inner voices can be very valuable in helping us behave appropriately outwardly without ignoring the issue.  When overused they can cause us to be morose and inwardly focused in ways not beneficial to our mental help.

Use you inner voice but exercise care to use it to the best effect.

 

Persuasion

When you want someone to believe or act a particular way you are practising the art of persuasion.  The intent of the persuasion activities is to convince them.

Often persuasion can be attempted unconciously.  That is, we have something we want others to believe or do and so we behave accordingly, intuitively.

Argument

We can construct our arguments unknowingly.  We recognize what we want to happen and so craft our message in a way that is pervassive, so ultimately another person will act the way we desire.

Sometimes our proposed action may have a weak justification and so we bolster our argument using a position of authority or threat.

For Example

The TD bank recently sent me an email requesting I attend at a local branch to update my personal information or access to my credit card might be restricted.  

They gave me a deadline to do this by mid-January.  Providing deadlines is a good way to reinforce threats.  Also a standard marketing technique.

I suspect TD was trying to persuade me to come to a branch so they could try and sell me stuff.  This is something most people resist so they added a veiled threat.

TD’s attempt at persuading me to subject myself to a sales pitch, without any real justification has only upset me to the point where I want to cancel my card.

Backfire

When we craft our arguments in support of our objective focused solely on our objective we can dissaffect our audience.  This can reduce even eliminate our chance of successful persuasion.

This is a strong argument to think through how we will persuade carefully before proceeding.