The prime purpose of negation is to attract resistance and so diffuse it. Negations are sneaky ways of delivering suggestions that don’t seem like suggestions. Some good examples follow…the first is probably the best, derived from Dr. Milton Erickson’s work. It implies choice.
A. You don’t have to… ‘You don’t have to relax.’ ‘You don’t have to pay any attention to what I’m saying.’ ‘You don’t have to feel growing comfort.’ ‘You don’t have to go into trance until you want to.’ B. Don’t… This brings me to the: ‘Don’t think of pink elephants principle!’ In order to NOT think of pink elephants you have to think of pink elephants.
‘Don’t relax too deeply…yet.’ ‘Don’t make any changes you don’t want to.’ ‘Don’t relax your breathing…’ ‘Don’t notice where you feel most peaceful…’ C. Never. (A don’t variant.) ‘Never imagine pleasant scenes.’ ‘Never feel very good until you’re ready.’ ‘Never fall into a deep hypnotic sleep till you know it’s what you want to do.’ These sorts of language patterns can be used well with so-called ‘polarity responders’ or contrarians if you prefer.
