Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

S

SifuPhil

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Having had a love of psychology for most of my life I once spent much time thinking about self-fulfilling prophecies - those times when you think (and sometimes even obsess) over something negative possibly happening in your life, only to discover that it has indeed happened.

Here's a personal example: I taught martial arts for many years, usually in my own schools, and as a way to both help students and my bottom line I would offer a limited number of private lessons.

At first I charged $10/hr for those private lessons - when a monthly membership in my school, with unlimited group classes, was $30. :confused:

I wondered why so many people were asking for private lessons, and I convinced myself that people were cheap. As time went on it turned out that I was right - at least, I thought so.

But then I changed my thinking - that my private lessons were worth much more, and that people would see the value and gladly pay higher fees.

When I did that, suddenly people weren't even blinking at $30/hr. rates - a tripling of my rates overnight.

Now semi-retired, I charge $75/hr for private lessons and have to turn down a lot of applicants for lack of time. All because I gave up those damaging self-fulfilling prophesies.

Ever experience anything like this?
 
Congratulations to you Phil.

Yes and no. I do believe in self fulfilling prophecies, but didn't experience the success you have - yet. But I'm still trying.
I do feel positive thinking ( which is what you were doing - right? can make a difference in one's life by drawing into one's life the situation, people, success, that they desire.
I see people heal themselves of incurable diseases and overcome crippling phobias through the powers of their minds.

As a mediation instructor, I'm privileged to see people make progress in all aspects of their lives almost daily. It helps me in my own life and decisions. I do attract greater success when in a positive frame of mind and self worth. I think others are attracted to that. It's a power of sorts and all people want to feel empowered.

What do you think?
 
I had played with the concept of positive thinking as I wrote my post and I came to the conclusion that it's similar but somehow not quite the same thing.

Maybe this: positive thinking is the tool that you can use to get out of those prophesies.

Yes? No? Maybe so? :)

P.S. - Yes, I had success in that particular scenario, but trust me, I've had my share of failures. :(
 
Yes Phil, something very similar. I've always been handy with fixing stuff, creative with drawing and painting. But you draw what you enjoy...dogs, cats, dancing mice, over sized cupcakes and a fairy castle for my daughter's room. An eight foot tabbie in another room. But I just considered it silly fun. I could do cartoons but nothing complicated. Then I started decorating aprons at my job. Word got around and people were asking me to paint their aprons too. Last Christmas I must have done almost 40. But still just considering it silly cartooning. I taught myself how to do graffiti style and I got even more popular.

Two people I made aprons for cornered me one day and put an envelope in my hands. It was a long heartfelt thank you. One of the key phrases they kept repeating "You are an artiste". The light bulb went on over my head. Maybe I am pretty good. It gave me the confidence to come up with a portfolio. When the weather warms again I'm going to approach different townships about decorating their public spaces.
 
Yes, that's a great example of a success story, fur! :encouragement:

I just hope you're starting to charge for your hard work. What you will find, as I did, is that at first you'll lose all those people who praise your work but won't part with a dollar. At the same time you'll discover your true fans, those who gladly pay you.

A craft business is a tough one - you have to consider not only material but time spent in labor plus a good profit margin. Finding the right price for your work is also an art and a science.

Good luck and Godspeed!
 
I believe you can program your own mind. I watched Jason Day play in his recent golf tournaments and saw him visualize each shot before he played it. He was basically telling his mind how he wanted the shot to turn out. Other golfers probably do this, but Day seems good at it.
 
Great example, John. The ability to visualize is something that can be a great boost in many professions and sports. It sets up that "atmosphere" that defeats the negative self-fulfilling prophecies.
 
I have had the opposite experience. IF I worry and obsess about something happening.... it doesn't.. It simply doesn't.. AND the more I have worried about it.. the less chance it has of happening. Therefore... I tend to worry... so it DOESN"T happen.. I find the worse things that happen are the things that come out of the blue. There is an old saying.

"I have lived through so many horrible things in my life..... and some of them have actually happened"
 
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