Thought viruses Bashny.Net

The first concept of thought virus in NLP was proposed by Robert Dilts. He described it this way:A thought virus is a belief that lives in isolation from other cognitive processes and the experiences from which it arose. Simply put, a thought-virus is a belief that has no context.





As an example, Dilts cites the thought-virus: “If you really care about your family, you have to prepare them for anything.” It seems quite humane belief, but considering that it was said to a person with suspected cancer. Fortunately, the patient did not share this belief and lived much longer than promised.

A thought virus, like a real virus (computer or biological), is a piece of software. In itself, it is not dangerous, because it can only work by joining any “program” when it is launched. That is, if a person performs an action based on a belief that is a thought-virus.

Therefore, in order not to fall for thought viruses, it is always worth checking whether the belief underlying your actions is appropriate in this context. "Many women, that's good" when you think so in the company of men, and quite the opposite - in the company of his wife. It is also not superfluous to ask how this belief relates to your experience, and is it yours at all?

Here are a few more variants of typical thought-viruses, detached from context and concrete experience: “In Russia, only fools.” Everyone knows that imported is better than domestic. "This disease is incurable." “Resistance is meaningless, there is no way out.” "I don't owe anyone anything." "I'm always right."

A thought virus can be a separate belief, a set of beliefs that confirm themselves, or an idea. If we are faced with self-reinforcing beliefs, it is very likely that we are dealing with a thought-virus: “You can’t get a good job without experience and not work, experience will not get.” Or, “It takes a lot of money to get power.” To get big money, you have to be in power. Such “logical” objects should be immediately quarantined and marked with a sign: “Caution!” Thought virus. When touched, it reproduces!





Thought viruses multiply like real viruses. They copy themselves into any information environment they can join. If a person is interested in power, then thoughts-viruses about power can arise among his beliefs, if he is interested in money - thoughts-viruses about money, etc.

The fact that they appear among the beliefs of a person, of course, does not mean that they will work and harm him. Only if one accepts them at face value are true and appropriate beliefs. Therefore, all new beliefs should always be carefully checked: whose experience they are confirmed, where and when it was, and whether they are personally relevant to you at the moment?

How to neutralize thought-virus? In order to do this, it is enough simply to identify the thought virus, or, in other words, to expose it. After all, knowing that some beliefs or ideas are thought viruses, you are unlikely to rely on them in your actions and decisions. At least if you’re not going to fool yourself.published



Author: Egor Bulygin

P.S. And remember, just changing our consciousness – together we change the world!

Source: nlping.ru/2C48C76E-F42BE-1E214CA1