# Done with Head Trash: A New Way to Think About Thinking | Dr. Noah St. John | TEDxMizner Boulevard

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEztl3_S25k
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/EEztl3_S25k
Generated: 2026-02-25T18:07:04.58+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Dr. Noah St. John concludes that to achieve goals faster, individuals must eliminate "head trash," which are self-limiting beliefs expressed as statements like "I can't do it because..."; he replaces the ineffective method of affirmations with "aformations," which are empowering questions designed to automatically engage the brain's search function for positive answers, effectively getting one's "foot off the brake."

**Key Points:**
- Head trash is defined as the voice in your head stating limitations, such as, "I can't do it because dot dot dot."
- The speaker updated Henry Ford's quote, asserting, "whether you believe you can or you believe you can't, you make yourself right," meaning self-limiting beliefs become reality.
- Affirmations, like stating "I am rich," often fail because the brain contradicts the statement, with a University of Waterloo study showing 75% of users end up more frustrated.
- The speaker invented "aformations," derived from the Latin word 'form' (to give shape to), which leverage the brain's natural tendency to search for answers to questions, unlike statements.
- The analogy of driving a car illustrates that head trash acts like having one foot on the brake, making progress toward goals slow regardless of upgrading gas, tires, or the car itself.
- Empowering questions like "Why am I so rich?" force the brain to search for positive answers, aligning with the law of sewing and reaping thought seeds to create a better life.

**Context:** Dr. Noah St. John shares his personal journey, starting from a moment in the fall of 1992 when he decided to commit suicide due to job loss, lack of money, and a breakup, realizing later that his crisis stemmed from not knowing the answers to fundamental questions like his purpose. This realization launched him on a quest to understand how humans think, leading to his central concept of overcoming "head trash" through a new mental technology.

## Detailed Analysis

The presentation centers on eliminating "head trash," the internal monologue that creates self-imposed limitations preventing people from reaching their goals, exemplified by excuses like lacking time or money. St. John argues that humans are goal-oriented, but traditional goal-setting advice often ignores the internal resistance. He criticizes standard affirmations (e.g., "I am rich") because they often clash with reality, causing frustration, citing a study showing 75% of users become more frustrated. To solve this, he introduces "aformations," a method based on the understanding that the human mind operates by searching for answers to questions, not by accepting unverified statements. By asking empowering questions like "Why am I so rich?" instead of making statements, the brain automatically searches for supporting evidence, thereby shaping reality positively. This technique is presented as the solution to removing the unconscious restraint (the foot on the brake) that slows down goal achievement, allowing individuals to consciously control the questions they ask and, consequently, change their habits and results.

### Personal Catalyst

- Speaker faced suicidal ideation in 1992 after losing his job and relationship, realizing his crisis was due to not knowing his life purpose
- He embarked on a journey to find answers, leading to his discoveries about thinking.

### Defining Head Trash

- Head trash is the voice saying, "I can't do it because..."
- This limits opportunities, as believing you can't do something makes it true, referencing Henry Ford's concept updated to "you make yourself right."

### The Car Analogy

- Progress towards goals is hindered by unconscious habits acting like one foot on the brake while the gas (effort) is applied
- Upgrading gas, tires, or the car (external solutions) fails if the foot remains on the brake.

### Critique of Affirmations

- Affirmations are statements of what you want to be true, but if you don't believe them, the brain rejects them
- Scientific data shows 75% of affirmation users end up more frustrated.

### The Invention of Aformations

- Aformations are empowering questions that leverage the brain's automatic function to search for answers
- Affirmations seek to make something firm (from Latin 'firmare'), while aformations seek to form or shape reality (from Latin 'form').

### Practical Application

- Instead of the statement "I am rich," ask the question "Why am I so rich?"
- This forces the brain to search for supporting answers, sewing better thought seeds to reap a better life.