Atkinson and affirmations: not the best mix

[dfr1973]

 Last week, John Michael Greer wrote a lovely little introductory post on affirmations, where he lays out seven basic rules for constructing affirmations.  I already picked up a few here and there - usually in the answers of Magic Mondays - enough to realize William Walker Atkinson was not a good source for affirmations.  There is a particularly bad example in The Master Mind, but I can't put my finger on at present.  I do recall the first two sentences (and right there is a problem in that it is too long for easy memorization): "Don't be such a weakling!  You are stronger than that."

Ouch.  That is the one that stuck out like a broken thumb on the first read-through, and as far as bad examples go, that's a real winner of a loser.  It starts out in the negative, which the subconscious does not process, then go into the swamp of relatives.  Stronger than what, exactly?  You should be trying to pip the bulls-eye with a sniper rifle, not a sawed-off shotgun.

So with just the first part of one affirmation, we illustrate two major blunders.

Typing up the two authors' names, makes me wonder if I should adopt a third name myself.  You know, sort of as a pseudonym to tag onto my given and family names.  This also brings up the question: three names, or three parts of a name?

Comments

[methylethyl]

Meanwhile, Google: "Don't be evil"

[dfr1973]

Oh yeah, and I think their motto has worked in the opposite way they intended.

[methylethyl]

I would love to see a statistical comparison of "Don't drink and drive" campaigns, vs. "Drive Sober" campaigns. But I suspect if data are even available, it's pretty messy.

We all know how the "Just say no" thing worked out ;)