An idea has to seem self-generated.

That’s the only way it’ll stick.

An epiphany. A revelation. A new connection of ideas. A dream.

That’s just the mind self-projecting an idea back to itself to make it FEEL self-generated.

Maybe that’s why motivational videos don’t work.

The subject’s mind can always trace the genesis of the idea to someone else.

The subject has to project the idea back onto their own mind for it to stick.

You need to make the subject say to themself:
“Wow I never thought I could do this. I think I can actually do this”

Rather than telling the subject:
“You can do this. You should do this.”

The former will always push the subject to do more than the latter ever will.

The idea of love has to be self-generated in your partner’s mind.

You can’t make them love you.

They have to feel like it came from their own mind, sort of like a magical realization, for them to hold on to it.

Else, it will fade quickly.

Yes, love is an idea.

The more deeply rooted the idea is, the more magical it feels.

The less self-aware the subject is, the less deeply rooted the idea needs to be for it to feel like love.

Nevertheless, it is the self-belief that it is love that makes it just as compelling

There is a ubiquitous question looming over this thread.

And to be honest, I don’t know the answer either.