Negative commands are a technique within the Milton Model of hypnotic language patterns, used to suggest an action by telling someone not to do it. This indirect approach is effective because people often resist direct commands, but in doing so, they end up focusing on the very action they were told to avoid.

How Negative Commands Work

Negative commands work by subtly directing attention to the desired outcome. When you say, “Don’t think about me too much while you’re away,” the listener has to imagine thinking about you in order to understand what they shouldn’t do. In this way, the suggestion is planted without directly commanding it.

Examples:

• “Don’t make a decision right now.”
• “Don’t buy my product until you’re completely convinced it’s right for you.”
• “Don’t let yourself relax just yet.”

Why Negative Commands are Effective

Negative commands take advantage of the way the mind processes information. To understand what not to do, the mind first has to imagine the action itself. This creates a mental image or idea that makes the action more likely to happen.

For instance, if someone says, “Don’t think about a pink elephant,” your mind has to picture a pink elephant before it can attempt to ignore it. This works because:

1. Mental Representation: We first visualize the action before attempting to negate it.
2. Focus on the Unwanted: By thinking about what not to do, attention is unintentionally directed toward that action.
3. Confusion and Distraction: The conscious mind gets tangled up trying to figure out what to do, which makes the unconscious more open to suggestion.

Challenges with Negative Statements

While negative commands are great for influencing others, using them on yourself can have drawbacks, especially in goal-setting or personal development. This is because:

• Visualizing the Negative: When you focus on what you don’t want, your mind pictures it, unintentionally reinforcing that image.
• Endless Alternatives: There are countless ways to not do something, which can lead to confusion or undesirable alternatives.
• Lack of Clarity: Focusing on what you don’t want prevents you from clearly defining what you do want. For example, saying “I don’t want to yell at my kids” doesn’t clarify the positive behavior you’re aiming for, such as speaking calmly or guiding them constructively.

Using Negative Commands for Influence

These challenges can actually be leveraged to influence others effectively:

• Mental Imagery: The listener has to imagine the undesired action first (e.g., “Don’t go into trance yet”).
• Multiple Interpretations: There are many ways to interpret or resist the command, leading to confusion.
• Conscious Distraction: The conscious mind gets occupied trying to resist or understand the statement, making the unconscious more open to suggestion.
• Internal Conflict: The mind gets stuck between resisting the command and not resisting it, which is especially useful for inducing a trance-like state.

Negative commands are powerful tools for indirect influence and suggestion, effectively guiding attention and behavior while appearing non-directive.