Binds

Ericksonian Hypnotic Language Patterns
Binds come in two forms, single and double. Seems like most people have heard of double binds and we’ll get to that next time. Right now we’re going to talk about the elegantly effective single bind. It goes something like this:

Don’t (x) unless you want (y).

More Specifically it is this:

“Don’t (their current behavior) unless you really want (your outcome for them).”

If you link their current behavior to your outcome for them, you are putting them in a bind.

As you read this, dear reader, I could say to you,

“Don’t read this unless you really want to be unreasonably happy.”

If your roommate is watching TV, you could say,

“Don’t watch TV unless you want to call my mother for me.”

If your agent is carefully reading the contract, you could say,

“Don’t read this contract carefully unless you want to be confident it’s everything you’ve been looking for.“

One of my favorite binds is when the client is awakening from the trance experience, (by the way, when a client is in this state they are exceedingly open to suggestion) I say to them,

“Don’t open your eyes unless you are really ready.. to see things in a completely new way… now.”

Now, don’t continue reading unless you’re ready to write your own examples.

Have I mentioned that the best way to learn is by doing? To Practice, won’t you.
Perhaps, by now, you’re already putting all the different patterns you’ve already learned together into a whole induction, or not.
I wonder what would happen it you were to say them aloud to another human being with the proper tonal shift?
What if you were to…use them this week?
Here’s an idea: REVIEW. Use all the patterns learned thus far once a day, everyday this week and thoroughly enjoy the process.

There’s an ancient Chinese proverb that says

I hear and I forget
I see and I remember
I do and I understand.

I always say, use them and they are YOURS.