Acting As If Without The Fake Welcome back to another Five Minute Quickie! You’ve probably heard the phrase “fake it till you make it”—but let’s be honest, it feels like a lie, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. When you try to copy someone else—how they walk, talk, or behave—you’re not acting as if, you’re acting as them. And deep down, you know it. You can’t fool yourself. So what’s the real power behind acting as if? It’s stepping into the version of you who has already achieved your goal. Not pretending, not faking—just allowing that future you to live in the present. That’s when you tap into the physiology and psychology of success. In this short FMQ, I’ll share why “acting as if” works, why faking never does, and how to make it real so you can accelerate your goals, your dreams, and your enjoyment of the journey. 🚀 Why not share it with a friend  Have thoughts or questions about this? Email me:&nbsp; Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul  Hey there! I’d love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at .  Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe?  to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review .  Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit .  Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to .  Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter:  Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure.  Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on , Castbox, , YouTube, or on our . Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨  Music Credits Music by  from , Music by  from , Music by  from , Music by  from , Music by  from . And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism  &nbsp;  Welcome back to amusing, a five minute quick amusing. Acting as if, but acting as if without fake, because it sometimes feels a fake and I'm going to tell you why it feels a fake, and how to make it real, real. You see, acting as if is one of the most powerful, I mean it, the real most powerful ways of achieving your goals. &nbsp;  To achieve your goals, not only to achieve them, but to achieve them quicker, bigger, better, and enjoy them. Because there's one thing about getting what you want, it's enjoying the journey, enjoying the adventure. Becoming who you really are in that adventure, in the journey, not just the start and the end. &nbsp;  And if you want to get ahead of the others, get ahead of the game, be in that top percentile that achieves their goals, above and beyond, quicker than anybody else, then acting as if is a thing. And I'm going to tell you now why it feels fake. You see, if you try copying somebody, copying their mannerisms, the way they speak, the way they move, as a copy, it's not you. &nbsp;  It's them, and you're not bloody them. And it will feel fake, because you cannot fool yourself. You know, in effect, you're lying to yourself when you're trying to act that way. &nbsp;  Because it's like acting like them, not acting as if. It's copying, and you're not a copy. Yes, you can model people, modeling is a different thing, it's a different art, it's not copying. &nbsp;  Modeling is getting into someone's mind and noticing the strategies they use, and then using the strategy, not just a copy. And that's why it feels like fake, because you're lying to yourself. But the thing is, how do you act as if? Well, I'm going...

FMQ 516 Acting As If Without The Fake

Trying to leave this little old world and the people I meet in a better place then when I first met them.

Who am I and what do I do?………Paul Clough.

I now love helping making changes in people and guiding them to create the life they really want.
 
A personal look at me:
 
The above sentence was not always the case and being the best in the financial realms of the building industry was my aim and getting there by any means. I now know this is, and was, the worst way ~ even if I did make director of one of the largest building companies in Cambridge by the age of 30.
 
One of the major realisations came on my first ever training in hypnosis. I found that it’s not a win lose world and that a win win is only a low basis to live.
 
Being true to your beliefs and coming from a place of integrity where service is paramount. This understanding together with lots of NLP skills helped create my last partnership in the building industry grow from a turnover of £800k to £16m in less than twelve years and that can only be done with giving more than expected.
 
Another shaping of me came from two traumatic events in my life that happened within six months of each other which created a number of major changes in me and by beliefs in what is possible. I have written about my experience and how I dealt with it but more importantly it really showed me my love for my three boys and theirs for me and resulted in the step up to become a trainer of NLP (which I never intended) and my close and exciting work with two of my sons. In supporting Joseph and help create change in people in our training’s and his wonderful life changing ‘Be your potential weekend’ and with Luke the continuing development of Cambridge Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis processes. My relationship with my third son Daniel just keeps getting better and better too.
 
Not knowing how good I had become in change work in the beginning I generally studied, practiced and saw clients then things started to happen when I started to work following just my instincts. Two clients come to mind both in effect dying from the effects of what was happening to them and the way they felt and within one and two sessions respectively not only won the will to live they changed virtually in front of my eyes and being apart of that process was and is the best feeling alive.
 
The above are just three of many brilliant learnings I have had in my life.
The more formal bit

 
Paul Clough

I am a Trainer and Master Practitioner of NLP and Hypnosis and am passionate in assisting those who want to reach their full potential and his special skills form a unique foundation for success. I constantly seek and develope new skills and learning’s – through advanced levels of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy ™, Hypnosis and to improve everyone I work with.

I have an understanding of the mind/body connection which enables me to create in my clients the difference that makes the difference ~ from excellence to outstanding.

For those that want qualifications:

Certified Trainer and Consultant of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Certified Master Practitioner of NLP & Time Line Therapy

Certified Master Hypnotist and Hypnotherapist

Together with Luke and Joseph I have consistently strived and succeeded to create ways to improve peoples lives and give new beliefs of what’s possible. Our potential is without limits ~ infinite in every way.
