Training Session2013-12-12

Focus Your Mind To Create The Outcome You Want with Eben Pagan

Eben Pagan teaches how focusing on what you want to create rather than what you want to avoid is crucial for achieving your goals. He explains the neurolinguistic principle that the unconscious mind doesn't process negatives, making positive focus essential for success.

neuro-linguistic programmingfocusing on what to avoid

Key Moments

How to Focus Your Mind on What You Want to Create -- A method for redirecting mental focus from avoiding problems to creating desired outcomes

Losing an Arm vs. Winning a Million — Why Loss Dominates

Negative outcomes can be exponentially worse than positive ones are good. For example, losing your arm is much worse than winning a million dollars, making the fear of loss a powerful motivator.

▶ 0:32

Focusing on What You Want Creates More of It

Focusing on what you don't want makes you more likely to create it, while focusing on what you want makes you more likely to create that

▶ 1:04

Telling Yourself to Stop Reinforces the Unwanted Behavior

When people repeatedly tell themselves to stop doing something, the unconscious mind only processes the action they want to stop

▶ 1:16

Unconscious Mind Hears the Action, Not the Negation

The unconscious mind can't process negative commands. When you tell yourself 'don't do this' or 'stop that,' your unconscious only hears the action you want to avoid, making you more likely to do it.

▶ 1:11

Focus on the Positive Outcome, Even When Fear Drives You

Focus on the specific outcome you want to create, not what you want to avoid. Even if you're motivated by moving away from negative things, you must start with a clear picture of your desired positive outcome.

▶ 1:57

Relevant Clips15

How-To
How to Focus Your Mind on What You Want to Create -- A method for redirecting mental focus from avoiding problems to creating desired outcomes
Teaching
The Practical Neuroscience Behind Focusing on What You Want
There's value in focusing on what you want rather than what you don't want. While not being 'woo-woo,' the principle that mental focus influences outcomes has practical applications based on how the unconscious mind works.
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching
Why Telling Yourself to Stop Reinforces the Behavior
When people repeatedly tell themselves to stop a behavior, their unconscious mind only hears the behavior itself, reinforcing it instead of eliminating it. The key is focusing on the positive alternative instead.
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 1:57
Focus on the Positive Outcome, Even When Fear Drives You
Focus on the specific outcome you want to create, not what you want to avoid. Even if you're motivated by moving away from negative things, you must start with a clear picture of your desired positive outcome.
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 1:11
Unconscious Mind Hears the Action, Not the Negation
The unconscious mind can't process negative commands. When you tell yourself 'don't do this' or 'stop that,' your unconscious only hears the action you want to avoid, making you more likely to do it.
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 0:32
Losing an Arm vs. Winning a Million — Why Loss Dominates
Negative outcomes can be exponentially worse than positive ones are good. For example, losing your arm is much worse than winning a million dollars, making the fear of loss a powerful motivator.
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 0:08
Away-From vs Toward Motivation — Which Drives You
People are motivated by both moving away from what they don't want and moving toward what they want, but most are more motivated by one or the other unconsciously
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 1:04
Focusing on What You Want Creates More of It
Focusing on what you don't want makes you more likely to create it, while focusing on what you want makes you more likely to create that
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 1:16
Telling Yourself to Stop Reinforces the Unwanted Behavior
When people repeatedly tell themselves to stop doing something, the unconscious mind only processes the action they want to stop
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 0:29
What Does Form Follows Function Mean in Design
Negative motivation tends to be stronger because negative outcomes can be much worse than positive ones
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 1:54
Away-From Motivators Still Need a Positive Outcome
Even if you're an 'away from' motivated person, you must start with the positive outcome you want
→ Canonical teaching
Teaching▶ 1:16
The Unconscious Mind Has No Concept of Negation
The unconscious mind doesn't have a concept for the negative - only the conscious mind does
→ Canonical teaching

Show 3 more

Quotable▶ 2:17
Focus on What You Want — Not What You're Avoiding
if you focus on what you don't want you're going to be more likely to bring it into your reality if you focus on what you want you're going to be more likely to bring that into reality as well
Quotable▶ 1:16
The Unconscious Mind Has No Concept of the Negative
the unconscious mind doesn't have a concept for the negative only the conscious mind does
Quotable
Focus on What You Want to Create, Not Avoid
focus on what you want to create not on what you want to avoid

Entities Touched

Concepts

Attention Mechanism Focus Neuro-Linguistic Programming Developmental Psychology Inevitability Thinking Mental Models Opportunity Mindset Perspective Shifting Social Psychology Inner Game Mastery

Questions

How do I maintain sustained focus on important tasks?How do I overcome limiting beliefs about money and wealth?How do I break out of limiting mental models that restrict my thinking?How do I develop consistent wealth-building habits?

Canonical Teachings

Humans will do twice as much to avoid losing something as they will to gain something — making fear and loss prevention twice as motivating as desire When people repeatedly tell themselves to stop a behavior, their unconscious mind only hears the behavior itself, reinforcing it instead of eliminating it. The key is focusing on the positive alternative instead.Focusing on what you don't want makes you more likely to create it, while focusing on what you want makes you more likely to create that When you tell yourself to stop doing something, the unconscious mind only processes the action, amplifying what you want to quit Even if you're an 'away from' motivated person, you must start with the positive outcome you want People are motivated by both moving away from what they don't want and moving toward what they want, but most are more motivated by one direction unconsciously The unconscious mind doesn't have a concept for the negative - only the conscious mind does. The unconscious mind cannot process negative commands, making resistance counterproductive.Negative motivation tends to be stronger because negative outcomes can be much worse than positive ones

Summary

Understanding Your Motivational Pattern

Eben explains that people are motivated by both moving toward what they want and away from what they don't want, but most have an unconscious preference for one approach. He notes that negative motivation tends to be stronger because potential losses can be exponentially worse than equivalent gains.

How the Unconscious Mind Processes Focus

Drawing from neurolinguistic programming and hypnosis, Eben reveals that the unconscious mind cannot process negative commands. When you tell yourself to 'stop' doing something, your unconscious only hears the action itself, potentially reinforcing the unwanted behavior.

The Power of Positive Focus

Eben emphasizes that regardless of your motivational type, you must focus on desired outcomes rather than what to avoid. He references The Secret's approach while maintaining a practical perspective, explaining that mental focus directly influences what you're likely to create in reality.

Focus Your Mind To Create The Outcome You Want with Eben Pagan

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Counterpoint

Claim: “You can motivate yourself by focusing on what you want to avoid or stop doing”

Reframe: The unconscious mind only processes positive commands, so you must focus on desired outcomes rather than what to avoid

Neurolinguistic programming and hypnosis research shows that when you say 'stop smoking' the unconscious mind only hears 'smoking' because it cannot interpret negative commands