Those of us of a certain age can remember the classic Odd Couple episode where Felix Unger was acting as Oscar?s lawyer and intoned to the court that the danger when you ?assume? things was that you can ?make an ass of you and me!? (ass+u+me) There is a lot of truth in that statement as our assumptions can be a major roadblock to our success and happiness.

You can learn about how powerful assumptions can be by watching a good magician at work. His or her tradecraft involves understanding and then manipulating what we assume to be true and working from there. ?As you can see this is a perfectly ordinary deck of cards,? the magician informs his audience while limiting their ability to inspect the deck, or ?we have never met before, is that true?? he asks of the confederate ?randomly? selected from the crowd.

The magician understands that people will seldom question what they have assumed to be true. As long as we continue to follow the premise of the original assumption, it is then a relatively simple matter for the magician to engage in deception. This is not a problem in an entertainment setting, however elsewhere-well that?s a different story.

The great philosopher Socrates was known for his refined method of questioning known as the Socratic Method. One of his essential questions was, ?what am I being asked to assume here?? Now this is one question you can and should turn on yourself from time to time. What have you had to assume in order to believe in your limitations in regards to becoming calmer or more in control of your habits and responses? Can you absolutely be certain these assumptions have been accurate?

Many self-limiting opinions we have about ourselves were the result of us taking on the beliefs of others who may or may not have been well-meaning. Chances are you are not destined to be continually stressed and frustrated, however you have to get past the assumption that you are.

P.S. For the readers of this newsletter who are serious students of human nature, might I suggest that you check out the Easy Mentalism and David Blaine?s Secrets e-books being offered at The Holistic Mall.Com? It has been my observation the magician?s art can teach you plenty about how we think and respond-and it can be a lot of fun to boot!

On my book review page, I have just added a book I consider essential for anyone interested in mind/body healing, Tinnitus by Kevin Hogan. Tinnitus, or persistent ringing in the ears is a condition that plagues millions and can be responsive to hypnosis counseling and related methods.