Fascination is a force that can rule both our thinking and our emotions. It can affect our most careful thoughts, choices or actions.
So what does it really mean to fascinate?
From Renaissance philosophers to Sigmund Freud, scholars have long used the word fascination to describe the same hypnotic power of persuasion. Tracing back to its Latin roots, the word fascinare means “to bewitch.” For thousands of years, fascination was feared as an evil power that could grip anyone’s attention, holding them captive…powerless to resist.
Fascination is not the same as interest. Fascination is a neurological state of intense focus, one that creates an irresistible feeling of engagement. It’s almost the same as falling in love.
When you’re fascinated, you’re in the moment. You’re in the flow.
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes this “flow state” as:
“Being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
So what exactly is happening inside your brain when you enter this euphoric state of intense concentration?
Emotionally, you experience fascination as a feeling of confidence and clarity. It’s a wellspring. You are calm and focused. Your brain enters a semi-euphoric state.
You are are literally using less brain power when you are in the fascination flow.
How can you fascinate and enthrall your audience?
Your own personality has certain fascinating qualities. When you begin to understand what makes you fascinating to other people, it becomes easy to see why people want to hire you, promote you, connect with you, buy from you, and even fall in love with you.
When you fascinate someone–a potential client, a coworker or an employee–you become more worthy of attention.
Watch this vintage video clip, where I explain how unlocking your Fascination Advantage® is the first step to becoming instantly compelling to your listener:
Have you discovered your own Fascination Advantage? Then you’ve uncovered your natural powers of persuasion, so that people are more likely to listen to you, remember you, trust you and respect you? Log into your account now and review your Fascinate profile.
Don’t have an account? Take the Fascinate test and get your profile right here.
