They say there are wolves in Dalarna

I'm sitting here contemplating the power of suggestion, not least after chatting to somebody about lunch restaurants and then finding myself back in the office eating up my entire biscuit supply…

It's fascinating, isn't it, the way that thoughts can be planted in our minds. Just a tiny seed, just one small word, and we're off on a new track. Even that track can be littered with associations and sidetracks and lead to the most amazing things. Maybe this is more a description of how my mind works than anything else, but anyway.

A case in point: last summer I happened to hear a number of reports about wolves in Sweden. There was also a fair bit of excitement about bears. I have for many years spent the summer cycling along forest roads in Dalarna and by "forest roads" I really mean Roads and Forest, end of story. No houses, no people and very few cars. Mile after mile. Never, before that summer, had I thought about wolves or bears yet I find myself halfway along the road between Leksand and Sågmyra becoming quite obsessive about the idea that wolves probably run faster than I can cycle and that I heard somewhere they selectively pick on women, the weaker sex. You see what I mean? Utterly ridiculous, no perspective whatsoever and doesn't even fit with my normal behaviour.

I can by the way recommend a very interesting book with the title "Risk, the science and politics of fear" by  Dan Gardner that will give you some tasty little insights into how human beings perceive things. You can only capitulate and agree that, yes, sure, I really am that illogical.

But I digress. It has been said by somebody that you cannot change people's minds, you can only change the contents of their minds. Combining the power of suggestion with a credible, trustworthy style produces powerful communication. Imagine the body language that would signal your total conviction and belief in what you're saying, I think it's quite easy.

Try for example this simple test. At the same time as making a positive statement of fact in front of an audience, nod in confirmation. Look around the room and I can guarantee you will see some people nodding back at you, mirroring your body language without probably even being aware of it. Interesting, isn't it?

If on the other hand you make a statement of truth but you don't dress it in a body language and behaviour that says that you completely believe it yourself then you're in trouble. People prefer to believe body language over words if they have to choose.

So, it's powerful stuff this learning how to convince and well worth thinking a little about. Even if all you want to do is avoid being influenced into thinking about wolves.

A quiz for sharp thinking folks

A glorious day in sunny Uppsala. Sitting in my usual chair and on my usual spot. But not so usual in actual fact as a small thing is missing. It's important but not anything you usually think about I must say, just as many similar such daily bits and bobs that build a patchwork for an ordinary day. You miss so many minor things which your brain is built to cut out, as Common or Normal or Always around. You’d go nuts if you didn't, don't you think? But I ask you, what is it that is not around just now? Can you work it out? It’s in front of you and highly obvious if you know, naturally!

Put it in a short mail if you can work it out.