TOLD!

     Have you ever noticed that if you’re told not to do something that becomes the very thing you HAVE to do!

     As an example:  You’re sitting in a restaurant with your wife or girlfriend and all of a sudden she says: “Don’t look.  But that guy behind you is eating like a pig!”  What is the FIRST thing you HAVE to do?  Look!  Right!

     It just seems to be our human nature that when we are TOLD something we immediately have the urge to do that very thing.  It seems to be true about so many things. 

     If you are trying to stay on a diet and you are TOLD you can’t eat any of that chocolate cake your wife made last night!  What is the first thing that begins to consume your every thought?  I’ve GOT TO have some of that cake!

     You see it displayed in those old “B” horror movies.  When the young ones are TOLD: “Don’t go out after dark.”  Or perhaps: “Don’t go into that old house.”  You know what is going to happen as the movie continues on!  At some point they are going to do what they have been TOLD not to do!

     Look at today:  There are many of us who have said for a long time:  “I’d really like to have some time off from my job.  It is driving me crazy (or whatever).”  Now that the local, state, or federal authorities are TELLING people:  “Stay home.  Don’t go to work.”  What is the first thing that goes through our minds?  I need to be at work.  What is going to happen now that I can’t work?  My financial future is going to be ruined!

     It seems to work on our minds, this reverse psychology!  But why is it so effective?  And how can it cause so many problems?

     Just look at your local stores.  We are being TOLD don’t panic shop.  Just get the immediate supplies you need.  Give the stores the time they need to restock.  But what is happening?  The store shelves are becoming empty.  Now people start thinking:  “The stores are running out of supplies and I have to make sure that I get my share!  So I’ll go do some of my own shopping!”

     Trying to understand people is a life-long (probably longer) assignment that I’m sure I am not interested in getting into.  The fact remains that we don’t like someone telling us WHAT we can and can’t do!  We don’t like being TOLD!   It helps me appreciate the problem really comes down to the fact that WE’RE ONLY HUMAN!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"When you do what should be done,

does it matter that someone told you to do it?"