Three is a magic number. Orators and writers have been using the “Rule of Three” since the beginning of recorded history. When we want others to remember what we have said, we need to repeat it at least three times. Recall TV commercials you have loved or hated…. Note that they repeat their most important point or points at least three times. Most people who watch TV with any regularity, for example, have no problem remembering that the phone number for Empire Carpet is 1-800-588-2300.
This is especially true when people are under stress, which is often the case when someone needs to see a medical professional. It’s so well-known, for example, that a visit to a medical professional causes a person’s blood pressure to elevate, that the phenomenon has a name: White Coat Syndrome. (See http://surgicalsupport.info/PDF/White-Coat-Syndrome.pdf)
In The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo (who has recovered from two different cancers) says to repeat important things three times: once for the right ear, once for the left ear, and once for the heart. “Mark Nepo is a poet,” Oprah says. “He’s an author and a philosopher and has been through two different cancers. So when he writes, he writes purely from the heart.”
When you want to make sure that your clients or patients will remember what you have said, and that you care, say what you need to have them know three times with appropriate spacing. Saying it three times in a row only counts as once, so, using sense-based vocabulary if you can, provide an explanation for what you want them to remember before repeating it.
Also, remember to meet the requirements of the person’s Confirmation Metaprogram or “convincer” strategy: Give them something to read or view as part of your repetition process, and be sure to set a kinesthetic anchor to help them remember.
Send your questions about how other-than-conscious communication skills can hurt or help your patients and clients to Joel P. Bowman (Joel@SCS-Matters.com) or Debra Basham (Debra@SCS-Matters.com), co-developers of Subtle Communication Systems. We will provide answers to those for you. For more information about Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, or about the Imagine Healing Process, visit:http://ImagineHealing.info or http://SurgicalSupport.info.
Healing with Language: Your Key to Effective Mind-Body Communication is available for a limited time for $10 plus $5 shipping within the U.S. For volume orders and overseas shipping, check with Debra.See the Table of Contents and List of Exercises in PDF format for more information about this comprehensive text and training manual.