Have you ever felt manipulated?
I know I have. I used to wonder how manipulators got away with it. Now that I know the truth, I no longer feel manipulated.
So what is the truth? How do those manipulative people get away with it? It’s really very simple. They either get us to believe a lie or capitalize on one we already believe. Really. That’s it.
So why don’t we recognize those lies?
If someone is lying to us, we should just say, “That’s not true. Leave me alone!” Why don’t we? Because a skilled manipulator never puts the lie out in the open where it will be challenged. He (or she) leaves it unspoken; it’s implied but never quite stated. That works really well because, while we question what people tell us directly, we usually don’t delve into the implied stuff. We tend to be so busy dealing with our emotions that we don’t think things through. So we don’t make the lie conscious.
The unconscious is where all the action and all the power is. When you’re not aware of something, you’re powerless to change it. So if someone can get you to feel guilty, and you don’t question the assumptions and beliefs driving this guilt, then you can be easily manipulated. Do what he wants and you’ll feel like a good person again. You won’t have to feel those uncomfortable feelings any more.
At least, not until next time.
