The power of suggestion plays a large part in our lives. Those suggestions come from every side of every fence.
By Luca DiMatteo
I had been thinking about this for a few days when, during a card game with some family members, I was coming close to winning the hand, and I suggested that I could send them a “vibe” that would cause them to make a choice to play cards that would allow me to win. I won the hand, as predicted. I then told them that I would lose the next two hands in all fairness, which I did. At the beginning of the fourth hand, I said they needed to concentrate so that I wouldn’t tell them which cards to play. When one of the other three players played a card that helped my hand, I thanked them. I won the fourth hand, and two of the players began to believe that I could telepathically influence their choices. They went one step further and told me I was cheating. I eventually explained this concept of the power of suggestion and we all laughed.
What makes the power of suggestion such a useful tool wielded by so many industries and so many people? One word: Imagination. We have the incredible ability to imagine the future and create outcomes. We hear an instruction (suggestion), either subtle or direct and our minds automatically take over and frame an outcome which produces a desire. We desire to have an outcome happen. It may not align with the instruction (suggestion) given, but now the suggestion has been placed and runs in the background. It doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not.
A fascinating accompaniment to the mind game is that our physical body reacts to the suggestion shortly after the mind creates the desire. Think about eating your absolute favorite dessert. Your mind has sent an image to you. Imagine how it tastes, the sensation you get when you’re eating it, and how satisfied you feel afterward. How many of you are craving that dessert right now? How many felt your mouth water or your belly tell you that would be great. All of us have experienced this a million times. It’s advertising 101.
As a mystery author, I use the power of suggestion to create stories that make you want to solve the case. For some, just telling them I write mystery thrillers gets them playing detective. Taking it one step further, imagine if your favorite book didn’t have the ending written and you were left guessing. How many of you are feeling the stress of this just at the mere suggestion of it?
I do not wish to delve into the psychology or spiritual realms in this piece. Still, I would like to point out that both fields have been cashing in on the power of suggestion for many decades, anywhere from understanding it to using it to your advantage.
Perhaps one of the largest and most lucrative industries to arise using the power of suggestion is the Social Influencer arena. I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that I have contacted some social influencers to promote my upcoming book. I guess I believe in their abilities. After all, I find myself under the control of the power of suggestion many times. I don’t think this is necessarily a “bad” thing. It just is. I try to stay aware of the situation, but alas, my body returns the signals to my mind that I really want that favorite desert.
Again, a reminder, I am not for or against the power of suggestion, I am merely pointing out its existence.
The power of suggestion lives all around us in every corner of the world, filling every facet, both private and public. From friends to politics, subconsciously to consciously, the power of suggestion is present. How will you use or be used by the power of suggestion?
Luca DiMatteo believes that the written word is not an escape, it’s an adventure.
He was a doctor for over 25 years before retiring. He has spent many years working in and around nursing homes. In addition, he has co-founded two personal growth organizations, had his own column and been published is magazines and newsletters. Luca has been published in Pressenza, The New Haven Register and Aspire magazine. He is a member of the Connecticut Author’s and Publisher’s Association. Throughout his life he has stayed close to the written word and has found a way to make it part of everything he does.
Writing Green Haven, a novel came to him in a dream. According to the author, the story, and its characters became alive. It was as if they were telling the story to him. He admits he couldn’t type fast enough and often went late into the night trying to catch up.
“Stories are pathways leading to great journeys. And journeys are what make up our lives. So, pick as many pathways as you can and enjoy just as many journeys.”
What lies ahead for Luca is his second, third and fourth novels (currently underway) and his co-hosting of a podcast series entitled The Author’s Way.
Pre-order the Green Haven in hardcover, E-book on Amazon:
To order an Advance signed copy of Green Haven or contact Luca DiMatteo visit https://www.luca-dimatteo.com/
