Cold Reading Summary (C17): Hypnotic Patterns

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Deep down inside we are all preprogrammed with the desire to accomplish great feats so we can reap great rewards.

The vast majority of us play it safe. We don’t want to take the risks necessary to accomplish those great feats, so we end up with average lives. 

This isn’t a bad thing. Most of the happiest people have lived perfectly ‘ordinary’ lives. But for the cold reader, it is useful to know that this universal desire to accomplish great things is dormant in the vast majority of humans. We can tap into that, as well as many other common desires.

Make a list of the things you want (more money, prettier girlfriend, more recognition, abs of steel, etc.)

Know that whatever you write down, almost everyone else on the planet has similar desires, whether they admit it or not. The priorities may change, but the basic desire is there.

Now dissect each of your wants into a list of I need or I wish statements. For example, if one of your wants is a Porsche 911, your list of wish statements might be:

• I wish I had more attention.

• I wish people envied me.

• I wish pretty girls would want to be with me.

• I wish I had the freedom to drive anywhere.

• I wish I could feel the adrenaline of speed.

Be honest with yourself when you do this. Most people won’t want to admit that they wish to be envied or that they want to be the center of attention, but if you search deep within, it’s highly likely that you do (just like everyone else in the world).

For each of your wish statements, rephrase them into the third person and drop the “I wish” part:

• you had more attention.

• people envied you.

• pretty girls would want to be with you.

• you had the freedom to drive anywhere.

• you could feel the adrenaline of speed.

The “you” here, if written formally, would be “one” (one wishes they had more attention). In conversation, however, it’s better to use the word “you” or “we all.”

For example:

We all know how it goes. You are out minding your own business when …

Now turn your list of statements into a string of pacing and leading statements.

It would be awesome to have a car like that, wouldn’t it? We all see those movies with the cool spy in the awesome sports car (pacing). Everyone looking at you, envious (desire). Think of all the pretty girls you could date with a car like that (leading). Not to mention the freedom (universal desire) you get. Don’t you just love the adrenaline of high speeds …

Sam’s Note: I made the above up. I haven’t had much practice so it’s not very good. Here is the one from the book focused on the subject of dating:

Dating is pretty difficult these days, isn’t it? I mean, it’s funny how we all want somebody, but at the same time many people have given up looking. But the more you realize this (pacing) the more you start to wonder (leading) if there isn’t a better way. I mean, we all hear those stories (pacing). You (ambiguous) are out minding your own business, you’ve (ambiguous?) given up actively looking, and then bam. You (ambiguous?) meet this person. And this person reminds you of that ideal person (universal desire) that you had almost given up hope of finding. That ideal person that everybody hopes you’ll (ambiguous?) meet some day. You (specific) ever wonder if that's really true?

Once you have finished writing your statement, put it through your angel filter. If someone said it to you, would it be true?

Read the next chapter here.

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