The As If Principle & YOU!

It's natural to harbor some doubt when you seek to become more confident in a situation that used to scare you, strive to overcome an unhealthy habit, or in your efforts to enhance the ability to heal. Fully understandable, as Shakespeare once said, "what's past is prologue." By definition, change means becoming a different version of your current self, which can seem foreign.

Yet I've encountered some who subscribe to the school of thought that you won't get better until you eliminate any and all doubts about your healing. However, this is not necessary or likely, especially in the early stages of change.

It's helpful to look at terms. A belief can be defined as something that feels true to us, but may or may not be true. It differs from a genuine fact which can be objectively verified. For example, if I drop my pen, the pull of gravity will cause it to fall to the floor. While I do believe this to be true, it will happen whether I believe in it or not-what I feel has no bearing on the outcome. Beliefs are often not verifiable in this way. 

Your hopes start becoming beliefs when you start making progress. However, what do you do in the interim? The frequently used hypnotic technique known as future pacing can help by giving you a glimpse into the time in the future when you have succeeded-what it looks, sounds, and feels like. This can remind you that the persistent effort you are putting in now will pay off down the road..

In between sessions this is where the As If principle comes in. Although you may not fully feel like you are going to succeed yet, act As If you were going to. If you are overcoming a fear, keep gradually exposing yourself to the challenging situations. Pretend As If you were that confident person. If you want to get to a lighter and healthier condition, adhere to your healthy eating and movement behaviors As If you were already that thinner person. Set your intention to act As If you were already the person you want to be, and soon enough the feelings will follow.