Power of Influence

I recall a story which I read in the school level during my childhood. The story goes like this—A man bought a goat and carrying it back home from the market. Three swindlers saw him and made a plan to cheat him in a persuasive manner.

The first one approached the man and said, “Why are you carrying a dog on your shoulder?”

“This isn’t a dog, it’s a goat”- the man replied angrily.

“Since when have you started calling a dog a goat?” said the first crook and walked away chuckling. The man shook his head and proceeded.

In a few minutes, he happened to encounter the second crook, who said the same thing to him. This time, though, a doubt arose in the man’s mind and he put the goat down. He observed it thoroughly.

After a while the third crook came along and inquired about his “dog.” Then the man was confused. Three people said that the goat was something else. Now the man started thinking, “Have I actually been cheated into buying a dog instead of a goat? If my villagers came to know about his, they’re going to make fun of me. He continued to think of this and allowed the goat go free, and quietly took steps towards his home. The three swindlers laughed and walked away with the goat.

This is what exactly happens in our lives. The certain external factors like NEWS, media, politicians, priests, teachers, friends etc. are all giving us their thoughts which are their world views. In other words, which are their opinions and versions of the truth. Thoughts are not just being given, but imposed upon us in a such a manner that we don’t have any doubts about their reality because they come from a popular reliable source. As a result, we believe those opinions to be true. Therefore, our words and actions might follow them in blind faith.

Questions to ponder

Can your life be influenced by the thoughts of others?
Do the choices of others affect you?

Pradip Parajuli

I am Pradip Parajuli. I have been in helping profession since 13 years. To tell the truth, I am a new Life Coach practitioner. Yet prior to becoming a Life Coach, I spent 5 years working as a Counselor; and before that I used to work as a Social Worker and Program Manager in a reputed International Non-governmental Organization. I am practicing Counseling as well as Life Coaching. From the get-go, I loved life coaching. As I kept going and trained in Counseling, Hypnotherapy, NLP, Life Coaching (Beginner to Advanced), my belief that I had found my niche in life was cemented. That niche is to help people get unstuck and find more purpose and enjoyment in their lives.
I genuinely do understand when clients say they’re looking for a change, but don’t know what it is yet or how to achieve it. Because I have been there, done that and thankfully was lucky enough to walk away to now be doing a job where I never have to think “Thank God it’s Friday (TGIF).”