Indirect Suggestions: Truisms
Truism (from the English word “truth”) refers to one type of indirect suggestion, which works by bypassing the conscious mind. There’s no need to memorize this term; the main thing is to understand the principle. Like all other indirect suggestions, truisms don’t guarantee a 100% result, but they significantly increase the likelihood—well above 50%. Even if you haven’t heard this unfamiliar word before, it doesn’t mean you’ve never used it yourself.
Main Criteria of a Truism
- Use of generalizations (everyone, always, most, many, never, nowhere, usually, etc.).
- Complete alignment with reality, or it’s impossible to immediately disprove.
- Presence of a verb (action) or command. It’s very important that, in regular speech, this command is highlighted just a bit with your voice!
- The other person can agree with it.
So, a truism either describes reality (if it can be checked right now) or creates it (if it can’t be checked immediately).
Examples of Truisms in Relationships
- “All good children listen to their parents.”
- “All grateful children take care of their parents.”
- “All fathers who love their children buy them ice cream.”
- Sometimes the word “all” is implied and not spoken directly:
- “Good relatives help each other.”
- “Real men can buy their wife a diamond ring.”
Examples of Truisms That Negatively Affect Health
- “Everyone who reads while lying down ruins their eyesight.”
- “Anyone who gets their feet wet will get sick.”
- “Everyone who drinks cold water gets a sore throat.”
- “Everyone who smokes will get cancer.”
(And yes, the Ministry of Health, with the best intentions, increases the likelihood of cancer by saying this!)