Confession

I feel sadness—intense, heavy, and very persistent sadness. The feeling is like glue; it covers almost all my moves and thoughts. It feels like all areas of my life are somehow connected through this sad feeling. I am at a loss; there is a general atmosphere of complete despair.

The only thing that brings me a little joy is when I walk outside. Otherwise, work and interactions just make it worse. It feels like nothing matters anymore. Maybe I have internalized the constant bad news: the world conflicts, the inflation, the doom and gloom. Even when I see people being joyful, I can only see the tears that will inevitably come later.

Why am I feeling this way? Why?

Secret Technique (mind trick)

A coach asked me to pretend in my mind that "I was the smartest person in the world, that I am an extremely high performer in life".

He asked me to 'Truly believe that you embody those qualities and then take action based on the behavior you imagine such a person would exhibit. Immerse yourself in this persona and adopt the traits of a high performer'.

And I was surprised to see it working, that day ; by leveraging the power of belief and self-perception to influence behavior.

Later he explained to me that this technique works because:

1. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: When you convince yourself that you possess certain qualities or abilities, you are more likely to act in ways consistent with that belief. This can create a self-fulfilling prophecy where your behavior aligns with your perceived identity as a high performer.

2. Cognitive Dissonance: Humans have a natural tendency to seek consistency between their beliefs and actions. By adopting the mindset of a high performer, you may experience cognitive dissonance if your behavior contradicts that belief, motivating you to act in ways that are consistent with your self-perception.

3. Motivation and Confidence: Believing in your own capabilities can increase motivation and confidence, leading to improved performance. When you view yourself as a high performer, you may approach tasks with greater enthusiasm and perseverance, which can ultimately lead to success.

4. Neuroplasticity: The brain is adaptable and capable of rewiring itself based on experiences and beliefs. By consistently reinforcing the belief that you are a high performer, you can potentially reshape your neural pathways to support behaviors associated with that identity.

5. Social Influence: Our beliefs and behaviors are often influenced by social context. If you surround yourself with others who also view you as a high performer or who exhibit similar traits, it can further reinforce your self-perception and encourage high-performance behavior.

Overall, the mind trick works by harnessing the mixing of beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions to shape behavior and facilitate personal growth and achievement.