What You Resist Persists - Carl Jung

This is an interesting brief video that may have a profound message for prevention professionals…or professionals of any stripe who are concerned about preventing “whatever.” Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95EH9G1c_4o

This reminds me of an exercise I do with students when we discuss working with clients who are preoccupied with negativism. I ask the students, in various voices and with varying words and descriptors to “not think about purple elephants with yellow spots.” I repeat the admonishment several times as described, but always in some variant of the negative…“Do not…” After “setting them up,” I then ask, “What are you thinking about right now?” and they always smile and say, sometimes in unison, “Purple elephants with yellow spots.”

I think I am going to switch to this youtube clip :)

Robert

Robert J. Chapman, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor of Behavioral Health Counseling
College of Nursing & Health Professions
Drexel University
245 N. 15th Street/MS507
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Office: 215-762-6922
Fax: 215-762-7889
http://www.robertchapman.net
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