While the Compulsion Blowout Technique increases desire until it becomes overwhelming and unpleasant, the Last Straw Technique takes a different approach. It focuses on enhancing discomfort or frustration to the point where you finally say, “That’s enough!”—and take action to change.
Think about times in your life when you had a bad habit or were stuck in an unhealthy pattern, and one day, something just clicked. You reached a point where you refused to tolerate it any longer. Maybe you overindulged in a dessert and couldn’t even look at it afterward. Or perhaps a toxic relationship crossed a line once too often, and you finally decided to walk away.
Sometimes, we tolerate situations—not because they’re good, but because they’re not “bad enough” to push us to act. This can include an unsatisfying job, annoying habits, or draining relationships that drag us down but don’t quite feel intolerable.
In more serious cases, even when we know something is deeply harmful—like a manipulative partner or a toxic work environment—we may still find ourselves stuck, unable to make the change.
This is where the Last Straw Technique, developed by Connirae and Steve Andreas in Change Your Mind and Keep the Change, becomes powerful. It uses submodality threshold patterns to help push someone from passive tolerance into decisive action.
Understanding the Threshold Concept
Reaching the threshold means becoming aware that something is unbearable, but not yet doing anything about it.
For example:
- You try to squeeze into a pair of jeans and feel completely frustrated with your weight… but you don’t start exercising.
- A partner makes one too many critical comments, and suddenly, you’ve had enough and break it off.
- You find yourself in a job that feels soul-crushing, and after one particularly bad day, you quietly commit to leaving and begin making your exit plan.
Crossing the threshold is the key shift—it’s the emotional and cognitive turning point after which there’s no going back.
Using the Last Straw Technique
Here’s how to apply the technique:
- Recall a time you almost made a change but didn’t.
What was building up? What elements—visual, auditory, or physical sensations—became more intense? - Identify the submodalities that increase intensity.
For example, does the image of the situation become larger or darker? Does the inner voice get louder or more urgent? - Think of a moment when you truly crossed the threshold.
Often, this moment comes with a clear internal message—like a voice saying “I’m done” or a mental picture of a better version of yourself. - Visualize a new path forward.
It’s important to pair the “last straw” moment with a clear vision of what comes next. Maybe you see yourself acting more confidently, healthier, or standing up for yourself.
This method works by building emotional momentum until it flips the switch from tolerance to transformation. It helps individuals take back control and make lasting, empowered changes in their lives.