Self Improvement

A search of the internet reveals a number (but not that many, about 20) of apparently reputable, scientific research papers about whether subliminal audio messaging works. Most come down against any evidence of efficacy, except where there might be a placebo effect. (About which more later).

The argument seems to be that if the message is too quiet to hear, effectively hidden or masked by the main music or other foreground sounds (ocean, rain, wind), then by definition it is not processed by the brain because it doesn't get through.

Sounds (pun intended) pretty convincing. But is it?

The trouble with these experiments is that they are just that - tests undertaken in laboratory conditions on a very limited number of subjects. Like evidence-based medicine, they are valuable to the extent that the evidence base is complete and unbiased.

Unfortunately for the sceptics they do not take into consideration the idea of Silent Evidence - in the case of subliminal audio messaging this means that just because there is no evidence that it works does NOT constitute proof that it doesn't.

Indeed two of the studies did grudgingly show some positive effects of subliminal messages not due to chance, but these were put down to the placebo effect.

Here lies the answer to the question: surely this is the way to approach subliminal audio - believe that it works and it will. It's the self-fulfilling prophecy, or as Henry Ford put it "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're probably right".

The best way to benefit from subliminal audio is to know exactly what the subliminal messages are. The most professional recordings have a list of the affirmations, no more than 10 or so, which are embedded in the soundtrack.

The idea behind affirmations is that the conscious mind doing the affirming is passing the command to the sub-conscious mind where it will be rooted as a new belief. At a basic level the mind cannot tell the difference between reality and the imagined.

Picture a lemon; hold it close to your nose, smell the lemony tang; now slice the lemon in two with a sharp knife, feeling and scenting the fine mist; now bring the cut lemon up to your mouth...what's happening? You're salivating, aren't you, over this thought-lemon?

Affirmations are well-researched and widely accepted as being effective in changing thought patterns, and ultimately behaviour. They are written as personal, positive and present tense, for example "I am grateful for all the good things in my life". However, the feelings of the affirmer should be in sync with the affirmation. If affirming peace but feeling angry, the affirmation will not produce the desired outcome.

So, if you believe in the subliminal affirmations, if you feel they are right for you, and if you believe that they are penetrating deep into your sub-conscious, then you will in time see results.

The key is "in time" - this is not a quick fix. However the beauty of subliminal audio is that you can listen to it when you're doing something else - just download an mp3 to your iPod or whatever and away you go.

They are deeply relaxing anyway, the sounds of ocean, thunderstorm, wind and fire all drill down into the ancient, atavistic parts of the brain - much more evocative and powerful than chill or new age music.

In conclusion then, subliminal audio messaging works if you want it to - it's really as simple as that.

Not sure what to expect? Try subliminal audio for free.

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The author has been involved in management training, performance improvement and self-help for most of his working life. He firmly believes that people have it in themselves to make profound and lasting changes to their life - if they want to badly enough.

Visit his website for more on subliminals Personal Development Direct.