According to author and leadership consultant Simon Sinek, our brains don’t understand the concept of negativity. For example, giving a negative command to yourself, “Don’t think of elephants!” doesn’t mean you don’t think about elephants; instead, it emphasizes thinking about elephants. It means that “do this!” rather than a negative command of “don’t do it!” leads to a behavior-oriented change in humans. If you use negative expressions when asking or begging someone, you are likely to be rejected or fail. “Eat at the table!” is more likely to result in cleaning the house than “Don’t eat on the sofa!” - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Paradoxically, one of the reasons for Rome’s demise was that it kept winning wars. Victories expanded the empire’s territory, and the risks increased proportionally. Men, primarily middle-class men, volunteered as soldiers; the larger the territory, the longer the wars lasted, and the longer it took for them to return home. The women who remained at home were forced to borrow labor and became indebted to the nobility. Eventually, the women were sold into slavery, and by the time the men returned, their families had disintegrated. People don’t betray because they’re evil, but because it increases their risk. If the territory you’re in grows, you might reconsider your loyalties to the organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”