How Mentalists Read Your Mind The Art Of Cold Reading or Mind Reading | Page 22

9.

Forking Barnum Statements

Be prepared to follow each Barnum Statement with one of two
supplementary statements, either to strengthen the initial
idea or to reverse it, depending on the client’s reaction to it.
Example: Barnum Statement = “You tend to be quite self critical.”
If the client seems to be broadly in agreement, then add:
“You often give yourself a hard time over mistakes and shortcomings
with perhaps other people wouldn’t worry about. You have a
tendency to be your own worst enemy in this regard, and this has
held you back on more than one occasion.”
If the client seems to reject the statement, then add:
“But this tendency is one you have learned to overcome, and these
days it rarely comes to the fore. You have learned to accept yourself
and to be reconciled with your own special mix of gifts and skills.”
10.

The Name Factor

Nothing is more personal and important than a person’s
name. USE IT.
Example: “MARY”
M might stand for merry as a cheerful disposition; or for material
things – i.e.: the liking to have nice things -; but I sense here
more of a magnetism, a personal magnetism that draws people
to you. You are gifted, charming and others seem comfortable
confiding in you. They are drawn to you; feel comfortable in
sharing their thoughts and concerns.
A stands for a combination of things: Alpha, the beginning, and
Able. “Alpha” would seem to indicate that something is
changing for you. You are entering a new stage, with new
possibilities. And “Able” means that you have learned many
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