She Inspires: What Really Shapes Your World?

by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow

Close your eyes and think of a large yellow “M” with a red rectangle underneath it. Did you immediately think McDonald’s? Did you see food?

Now close your eyes and think of a beauty campaign for a cosmetic. Think of the model showing off her beautiful eyes with the new mascara on. What are you seeing? Is the model skinny? Does her skin appear flawless with to-die-for features?

I asked you to do these quick exercises to show you something. Now you may think that the pictures that you visualized were yours because they came from your mind. But the truth is, they were programmed there. Yes, all of your thoughts are not your own. You may not believe me or wish to not acknowledge that you do not think every thought for yourself.

That is ok. I simply want to share some thought provoking thoughts and allow you to take from it what you will.

From birth, we are constantly surrounded by images, icons, symbols, sounds that influence the way we perceive the world. I graduated with a Bachelors of Art in Advertising, and this is a topic I learned very quickly in the program – advertisers manipulate the psyche of consumers to promote, market and sell products to them. Plain and simple.

The reason you see a yellow “M” and think McDonald’s was due to the advertising put in place. The locations, color choices and amount of impressions per ad campaign were all very strategic. Tell me how many children can recognize McDonald’s by just a year of age? Did you know the colors yellow and red stimulated hunger and excitement, and red is also the first color babies can see?

So again, what you’ve experienced through your senses from birth to today has played a major role in shaping your perceptions and views of the world. Many of us are not even aware of this and let our minds run on autopilot. But, this is the best part – once you become aware, you can turn it all around for the better.

If there were any deposits made into your subconscious that have not been supportive to the life you desire to live, you can reverse it’s effects. How? The same way they were deposited there, by surrounding yourself with things that support you. If you have an inferiority complex, then you will want to surround yourself with images of equality, use self talk that supports you being worthy as anyone else, and surround yourself with like minded company who treats you as such.

But, the first step is awareness, and just by reading this article, you have gotten one step closer to eliminating unsupportive, negative mentalities. So, give yourself a pat on the back for taking the time out to better yourself, for just wanting more for yourself and for taking even just one step towards your best life possible.

You CAN shape your world. It all begins in your mind.