Are You Under the Influence? Part 2
- Michelle Leduc Catlin
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Explore how you're influenced and how to begin breaking free from external control.
“If we cannot consider an opposing opinion, we don’t own our opinions — they own us.”
Think of the most contentious opinion you have.
Something you feel immovable about.
Is your opinion really your own?
Or did you inherit it from your parents, your spouse, your social circle?
Was it influenced by the movies, the media, or by the current zeitgeist?
Much of what we think doesn’t actually come from thinking.
It would be more accurate to say that we have thoughts — thoughts that came from external sources.
Consider this:
If your political, spiritual or societal views haven’t changed in the past 5 years, you’re likely not doing any thinking.
No offence.
This is normal in a culture where we are inundated with so much information that we barely have time to take it in, never mind mull it over.
Consider that this is intentional.
If we’re too busy trying to keep up with information, on top of our already busy lives, we’re more likely to defer to “experts” — those people who are all too happy to tell us what to do.
And when we’re overloaded with everything to do and consider, we’re likely to want to check out.
To numb ourselves with alcohol, drugs or Netflix.
(Or all of the above.)
All numbing agents lower our guard and put us into a receptive alpha brainwave state, where we are highly susceptible to influence.
Simply watching a movie puts us in a hypnotic state of suggestibility as we fix our gaze upon a screen, watch the flickering blue light, and lay ourselves bare to subliminal and not-so-subliminal messaging.
In part 1 of this blog series, we saw how master mentalist Derren Brown used a “fixed gaze” along with repeated messaging and emotional connection to manipulate Mission Impossible star, Simon Pegg.
In this video, Derren Brown takes it to the next level, inserting an even subtler subliminal message for an unsuspecting crowd of movie goers.
Combining some of the same tactics he used one-on-one, with the addition of a big screen and alcohol, most people succumbed to his suggestion…
Now think of all the film and television you’ve consumed in your lifetime.
Can you even begin to imagine the influence you’ve been under?
So how do we break the spell of other peoples’ influence and create our own path?
Knowing is half the battle.
Then we can start expressing our opinions with more objectively.
The easiest way to do this with no external consequences is to write down a strong opinion you have about any hot topic issue, and then write down a thoughtful opposing opinion.
You won’t have anyone else’s judgement, though you will have to grapple with your own.
“Having the courage to reckon with our emotions and to rumble with our stories is the path to writing our brave new ending.”
— Brené Brown
Can you do it?
If you can, you will notice a kind of softening of the hard edges of your beliefs.
You may or may not begin to change your mind, but you will begin to be able to see how others might think the way they do.
You may even begin to see how their beliefs were formed, and maybe even how yours were.
When we begin to see how much we are influenced, we can then not only take precautions to protect ourselves, but we open up whole new possibilities in our lives.
We are able to have new conversations, new viewpoints, and even new and renewed relationships.
When we begin to understand that those with different opinions are not the enemy, we can begin to speculate who or what is behind all the manipulation, and why.
In part 3, we move on to exploration of this very subject.
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In my upcoming course, we explore the most important issues in your life — all in the privacy of your journal.
Join me for this excavation of your unique inner wisdom.
Starting Saturday, March 1,2025
Rewrite your story.
Reprogram your mind.
Spaces are limited.
Questions are welcome.
Nicely written! btw the nervous system plays a vital role in overall health, and understanding its function helps identify issues like brain nervous system disorders, central nervous system diseases, and abnormalities. Common ailments of the nervous system include conditions affecting the brain and nerves, often linked to various causes. Early detection and management are key to addressing these disorders effectively.