“Alright then, Miss Taylor,” says officer John Larson, checking the sensors on the curious machine in front of him. “We’ll start with something simple. Do you know who’s been stealing from the dormitory?”

Margaret Taylor frowns.

“No, I don’t,” she says.

The machine’s needle barely twitches.

Larson leans back and smiles. “You seem relaxed. That’s good.”

This scene is from 1921. For the first time, John Larson is testing out his new lie-detecting device.

Margaret Taylor has reported a string of thefts at her University of California dormitory.  She’s lost a diamond ring in the thefts.  And she’s volunteered to go first in the hot seat.

The test went well.  As expected, Margaret showed no signs of lying. 

But later, after the test, Larson had a thought: 

Maybe Margaret’s reactions weren’t just from the questions.  Maybe some of her reactions were because of him.

Larson decided to test his theory.  

He called Margaret back in and clipped on the sensors.  This time he asked Margaret to lie to him.

Margaret’s response is lost to the sands of time.

But whatever she said, something sparked.  A year later, John Larson and Margaret Taylor were married.

(the connection must’ve been electric!)

And the dorm thief?  They found her among the other students and Margaret got her stolen ring back too.

Today, John Larson is known as the father of the polygraph.  His 1921 machine was the first example of a lie-detector test being put to use.

Or was it?

It might jolt you to hear this, but lie-detectors have actually been around for centuries.

Even millennia.

Believe it or not, we’ve all got our very own in-built lie-detector test.

Not only that, but this test is foolproof and it’s always switched on.

That lie-detector test?

It’s our feelings.

There’s no better way to tell whether your thoughts are lying to you than your feelings.

Feelings are real-time, in the moment signals which tell us exactly how we’re using our thinking.

And if you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, insecure, uncertain, frustrated, uneasy or confused, it’s like a big, red lie-detector light going off and saying:

Your thoughts are lying to you!  Don’t trust that thought!

The more I catch wise to the fact that I feel my thoughts, the easier it’s become to let go of some of the thoughts and feelings that don’t serve me.

After all, thoughts are made to ebb and flow. 

Unless I decide to take a thought, hold on tight and not let go.

But that’s my choice.  I don’t have to do that if I don’t want to.  And knowing this has made all the difference for me.

Before I sign off:

If you’re curious about how coaching might help you turn down the dial on your overwhelm, uncertainty or frustration, let’s explore together.

Here’s where to go to see the lie of the land:

https://waitinglist.followingfulfilment.com