This man could read your mind in 30 seconds.
The FBI hired him.
Doctors called him impossible.
Yet most people have never heard of Milton Erickson.
Here's how he decoded humans like no one else: 🧵
The FBI hired him.
Doctors called him impossible.
Yet most people have never heard of Milton Erickson.
Here's how he decoded humans like no one else: 🧵
His story is like no other...
Polio left him unable to move anything but his eyes. For months, he could only watch.
That's when he noticed something that would change psychology forever...
Polio left him unable to move anything but his eyes. For months, he could only watch.
That's when he noticed something that would change psychology forever...
His sister said "I don't want to go to the dance"
But her eyes looked at her dress.
Her feet pointed to the door.
Her hands fixed her hair.
He realized: The body never lies.
But her eyes looked at her dress.
Her feet pointed to the door.
Her hands fixed her hair.
He realized: The body never lies.
Paralyzed and voiceless, Erickson became obsessed.
He studied every twitch, glance, and gesture.
What he discovered? People constantly reveal their true thoughts.
They just don't know they're doing it.
He studied every twitch, glance, and gesture.
What he discovered? People constantly reveal their true thoughts.
They just don't know they're doing it.
By reading these "tells" he could predict:
• Who was lying
• Who was in love
• Who was about to quit
• Who was hiding trauma
All in under 30 seconds.
The FBI started calling him for help.
• Who was lying
• Who was in love
• Who was about to quit
• Who was hiding trauma
All in under 30 seconds.
The FBI started calling him for help.
At 51, he shocked the American Medical Association.
With a total stranger, he deduced:
- Her hometown
- Her childhood trauma
- Her relationship problems
- What she ate for breakfast
In just 30 minutes. The room went silent.
With a total stranger, he deduced:
- Her hometown
- Her childhood trauma
- Her relationship problems
- What she ate for breakfast
In just 30 minutes. The room went silent.
His secret? 5 universal "tells":
1. Feet don't lie
They point toward interests, away from threats
2. Micro-expressions
Real emotions flash for 1/25th of a second
1. Feet don't lie
They point toward interests, away from threats
2. Micro-expressions
Real emotions flash for 1/25th of a second
3. Voice changes
Pitch rises with lies
Speed increases with anxiety
Volume drops with shame
4. Hand positions
Open = honest
Hidden = concealing
Pitch rises with lies
Speed increases with anxiety
Volume drops with shame
4. Hand positions
Open = honest
Hidden = concealing
5. Eye patterns
Looking up-right = creating/lying
Looking down-left = internal dialogue
Direct stare = aggression or attraction
Master these. People become open books.
Looking up-right = creating/lying
Looking down-left = internal dialogue
Direct stare = aggression or attraction
Master these. People become open books.
But here's what captivated me:
Erickson was also colorblind and tone-deaf. His disabilities forced him to see differently. He found patterns others missed.
Limitations became superpowers.
Erickson was also colorblind and tone-deaf. His disabilities forced him to see differently. He found patterns others missed.
Limitations became superpowers.
This mirrors my own path.
At 16, I left traditional school.
Everyone said I was limiting myself. Instead, I finished university by 18.
Sometimes the "wrong" path teaches us to see what others can't.
At 16, I left traditional school.
Everyone said I was limiting myself. Instead, I finished university by 18.
Sometimes the "wrong" path teaches us to see what others can't.
Erickson used his gift to heal, not manipulate.
He read what people couldn't say. Helped them face hidden truths.
Seeing everyone's pain taught him compassion.
He read what people couldn't say. Helped them face hidden truths.
Seeing everyone's pain taught him compassion.
But seeing everyone's hidden struggles is heavy.
When you read pain in every gesture...
Anxiety in every voice...
You realize we all need help with our inner battles.
When you read pain in every gesture...
Anxiety in every voice...
You realize we all need help with our inner battles.
That's why I am partnering with @Lorwen108 (Harvard psychologist, worked with Dalai Lama) to bring you
Anxiety Relief Transformation™
A scientific approach mixing psychology, art & mindfulness.
Join the waitlist for 25% off:
offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/anxiety-relief…
Anxiety Relief Transformation™
A scientific approach mixing psychology, art & mindfulness.
Join the waitlist for 25% off:
offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/anxiety-relief…
Follow @ToanTruongGTX for more genius stories.
I uncover how history's greatest minds turned weakness into strength.
We're ONE genius away from saving the world.
I uncover how history's greatest minds turned weakness into strength.
We're ONE genius away from saving the world.
That's a wrap!
Follow @ToanTruongGTX for more fascinating stories about human psychology and historical events that changed how we see the world.
Like and RT to share this story :)
Follow @ToanTruongGTX for more fascinating stories about human psychology and historical events that changed how we see the world.
Like and RT to share this story :)
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