Cold Reading Summary (C28): The Great Paradox

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Everyone, by default for survival, has an ego. 

Ego is what centers us in our minds. 

It’s what makes us put our own needs in front of others (even if you consciously tell yourself otherwise, in reality, everything you do is because you believe it benefits you in the long run.)

It’s what makes us do the things that we think will help us thrive socially (such as putting someone else’s needs in front of our own).

It’s the part of us that craves recognition. 

It’s the part of us that makes us think we are unique. 

Not only that, it makes us think that our uniqueness is better than everyone else’s.

Look at all these mindless sheep. Just going through the motions—same thoughts, same routines, over and over. They don’t see it. But I do. I’m not like them. I see things differently. If only I could show them that somehow. If only they’d notice. Then maybe they’d understand. Then maybe they’d finally see.

Have you ever had thoughts similar to the above?

Well, so has everyone else. 

This is the great paradox: Everyone has the same thought as above, but they all think it’s their unique thought. 

As a cold reader, you must embrace the idea that almost every single unique experience you’ve had, and all the thoughts and feelings that go with it, are not unique at all.

You must give up the idea that you are unique simply because you are. 

Of course, there are many unique people in the world - I’m sure people will agree that Elon Musk is not like the rest of us - but these are the outliers, and most of us would consider them a little weird. 

Instead of pretending you are unique, embrace sameness and use it to your advantage. 

Since we all have similar fears, anxieties, desires, etc., use it to tap into others’ emotions.

Most people will never look deep into their own emotions like you do with journaling. Knowing your true feelings and then being able to articulate them through vague structure language will resonate with people on a very deep level.

This is the art of cold reading.

Read the next chapter here.

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