Pretending

Pretending is a fun and useful thing to do, except when you pretend something didn't happen. That's when it turns into denial.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Pretending

“The longer you pretend an event didn’t happen, the longer you'll carry around the weight of history on your shoulders.”

That was a weighty message from The Grasshopper many years ago.Pretending is a valuable gift, except when you use it as a vehicle for denial.

Many people can't face their history, so they cover it over with a fairy tale – a revisionist piece of fantasy, that contains none of the foundational pieces of their past. The thinking goes something like this, “If I pretend it didn’t happen, I’m not responsible for anything that has happened.”

This elaborate workaround is designed to take the burden of their past off their shoulders when, in fact, the opposite happens: they become ladened with guilt in their reflective moments. This can lead to behaviors that are designed to smother their senses: non-stop activities, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Acknowledgement is the weight reduction program that works.

Everybody has a past and a personal history. It’s not helpful to live there, but that’s exactly what you do when you deny its existence. Pretending creates a double focus. You have to consider something you’ve done in order to deny it. It's like being told, "Don’t think of the color 'blue.'” In order not to think of it, you have to think of it.

It’s also like the maxim you learned from your mother: “If you never lie, you’ll never have to work at keeping your story straight.” Many of us ignored Mom’s advice and have paid the price of burdening ourselves with the heavy penalty of pretending.

When you face your denial, a burden is lifted. Yes, it’s quite painful to our self-image to admit to our pretending, but the lightness that follows acknowledgement is true freedom.

You can’t run away from your past because it always follows you. It’s like Peter Pan’s shadow. You can outgrow its burden though.

It begins by acknowledging your past, warts and all. Once you take that step, you lighten your load and don’t have lie about being you any longer.

All the best,

John