How to Stop People From Manipulating You

All of us in one way or another are constantly being manipulated by outside parties, and all of us in one way or another are ourselves constantly manipulating others.

For example, ever persuaded a friend to do something you knew that they in truth did not really want to do, and I’m not talking something sinister here, I’m talking persuading them to come with you to the shops or something like that when you know that they don’t really want to go. That’s manipulation.

Ever told a truth that was not the whole truth for whatever reason. That’s manipulation.

On I could go. But the point I’m making is that manipulation in itself is not per se a bad thing, it’s not a good thing, but most people when they manipulate do so in a harmless way, but not all, and that’s the problem.

It is also why it is so important to know how to stop people from manipulating you, and to show you how to do that, in this post, I’m going to manipulate you, so get ready.

You are about to be manipulated – make sure you read to the end if you want to know how to protect yourself

I want you to remember this equation: A + b = c

Have you got that clear in your head? Awesome. Now here are a few realities that will aid me in my manipulation of you.

Firstly, brains are like computers, and your senses - sound, sight, smell, taste and feel - are what code those computers.

The most powerful of those for the manipulator is sight and sound - or rather actions and words. Every action you see a person make and every word you hear a person utter enters your head and draws a response.

That’s why manipulators are basically brain hackers, and why all of us are basically brain hackers. Any time we speak to a person, we are by default entering that person’s head and, in turn, are influencing their thoughts.

What a manipulator with malicious intent does though that others do not is use words and actions to input malicious coding into an unsuspecting person’s brain, the aim being to manipulate a desired response.

Stating the obvious, I know, but it’s important to acknowledge. For example, take a manipulator in an abusive relationship, they want to trick their partner into staying with them,  even though doing so will cause their partner continued pain. They do this by making their partner believe that leaving them will cause them more pain than staying.

It’s a lie. But because the manipulator is in a certain position - i.e. they are in their partner’s head - they are able to continue selling the lie. So, they use words and actions to make their partner believe something that isn’t true.

And that is the goal of a malicious manipulator, tricking us into thinking that what they want us to give them or do for them will benefit us, when it won’t, it will benefit them and harm us.

I’m now going to trick you to show you how it’s done, and I’m going to use only words to do so because they are all I have, and you are reading them so I can use them, just make certain you keep reading them, as I promise you you’ll be glad you did.

Remember the equation I told you to remember, a + b = c. The answer to that equation is four.

Have you got that? Just in case you haven’t, I will say it again: the answer is four. And because the answer is four, I want you to think of the number four, and I mean really think of it, say four in your head.

You just did so, even if you don’t think that you did, you did because you read it in your head. But it means nothing to you, so I’m not inside your head. How do I get inside your head?

By using the answer to that equation, that’s how. The answer to the question is FOUR. Do you believe me?

No doubt you’re confused. Even I’m confused, so clearly I’m not inside your head.

In fact, I’m probably now further from being inside your head than when I started, because now you know I’m trying to manipulate you, and you probably think that I’m not doing a good job at it - or I’m just trying to confuse you, so your defences are up.

Many will probably want to stop reading at this point; no doubt they will be bored. They will perhaps even think they know what I’m doing, the point I’m going to make. They don’t, and if they stop reading they will never learn, but if you keep reading you will learn.

You’re probably also thinking of the number four right now, mainly because you’ve again just read it. But you’ll also be thinking I told you to think of it. I did, I wrote it and you just read it in your head, and so again thought it. You’ll also likely be questioning why I told you to think it, and how you thinking it could possibly lead to me being inside your head.

You’ll also be thinking all this while intently reading the words, which I have written, all of which will be entering your head because you are choosing to read them still, even at this point. Therefore, by reading these words which I have written you are wilfully implanting my words into your head.

But my words don’t mean anything right now, and neither does the number four. They are irrelevant to you, and after you stop reading, no doubt you will forget them. Yet, unfortunately, my words may be inside your head right now, but I’m clearly not leaving a mark inside your head.

Though I am doing something, I’m influencing your thoughts because these are my words, and you are thinking about them otherwise you would not still be reading them, and if you want the answer to protect yourself, you must keep reading them.

I know, if you’re thinking my saying this repeatedly is the point, and I’m trying to trick you into reading something long-winded to make a point, I’m not. The point will only be made when you get to it, and we are not there yet.

Here’s why, I am not manipulating you yet, or am I?

No, I don’t think I am, not yet. Believe me? Time will tell, but let’s imagine that you don’t. How do I start manipulating you?

It’s a good question. I’ll tell you what, I’m going to tell you what I’m going to manipulate you into doing.

I’m going to make you think of the number four and have the number four mean something to you. In fact, the number four is going to be the key to your finally being happy. I’m gonna show you how the number four can transform your life.

Do you believe that’s what I’m actually going to do?

Why wouldn’t you? But the question is, if that is my plan, how do I actually manipulate you into thinking the number four, and have that number mean enough to you to change your life? And how do I do it without making you think that I’m trying to manipulate you into doing this,  something I’m not going to lie will be very difficult to do considering I’ve told you I’m going to do it. So what do I do?

Getting more confused? So am I. But keep reading, the point is near at hand.

I’m going to make you come to the conclusion that the answer is four on your own accord. So rather than telling you what to think, I’m going to guide you, like a teacher. Hence, the equation a + b = c.

Let’s have a go. What is 2 + 2? Take a second to think of the answer. Write it down even.

Did you do so? Whether you wrote it down or not, whether you tried to answer it or not, you’re now thinking of the answer, which is four, and you came to it of your own accord.

Except you likely didn’t, you in fact most likely did not think of the number four until you again read it.

Funny how every time you read it you think of it, and yet even when I gave you the equation and offered you the chance to think of the answer, you did not think of it because I did not write it. Do you think this is the point I’m making?

Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. But one thing I do know is that you’re likely by now thinking in-depth about everything I’ve just told you, looking for the catch, the part where I spring something on you. The anticipation is most likely building.

It should be, the answer you are looking for is coming up.

Just not yet. This is because you’re also undoubtedly thinking that this is just some clever riddle; maybe you even already believe you know the answer. In fact, I bet a lot of you think that you do.

Whatever the case, the fact that you are still here, the fact that you are still thinking about what I’m saying, do you know what that means? It means you’re thinking what I wanted you to think, and you came to it on your own accord, which means I’ve just dictated your thoughts and am now inside your head. And well and truly inside your head.

Confused? Of course, that’s the point, because let me ask you this: who has the answers to the questions which could bring an end to your confused state, and make all this make sense?

One person, and one person only. Me.

That’s how you manipulate somebody, you find their fear, give them a question on it, and make certain that they believe only you have the answer to it.

But that leaves us with the question, how do you stop a person doing this?

How to stop a person from making you believe they have the answers to your fears

Manipulation is about implanting an idea: that only you have the answers. That means by default, the way to protect yourself from manipulation is by learning to protect yourself from those who would make you believe only they have the answers.

There is only one way to do this. You see, though I have manipulated you, hence, why you read so much confusing babble, I do not have the power to maliciously manipulate you. There’s an element missing, and a big element at that. The belief that I control the key to your happiness. If you believed that I did, right now, if I had malicious intentions, you would be in big trouble.

But you don’t, and I don’t, so you’re not.

Let’s imagine somebody has malicious intentions. For example, let’s think about an abusive relationship. An abusive partner gains control of their victim by tricking them into thinking that only he or she has the answers to their happiness.

That means that the abusive partner manipulates their victim into believing that they have all the answers to all the questions in regard to both of their happiness.

They don’t. But in making their victim truly believe that they do, they gain complete control.

This is why the best way to identify whether you’re being manipulated, and to protect yourself from manipulation, is by identifying if a person is attempting to argue that they and only they hold the answers to your happiness. Any person who is doing this is trying to manipulate you, and if they are trying to manipulate you, you know what you have to do: get rid of them.