Tag: subconscious mind
What I’ve Learned From 20 Years Working As A Hypnotherapist
Exactly 20 years ago to this month (March 2005), I had my first paying hypnotherapy client.
To say I was nervous is an understatement.
My client wanted help to stop smoking and as I prepared the room for the session, I must have thought about leaving ten times.
Prior to this moment, I’d completed 10 months of training with a nationally recognised institute in Regents College, London. The theory they taught was fascinating and made it seem like treating clients would be a seamless experience. However, as I waited for my client to arrive, I felt woefully light on practical experience and painfully aware that my fresh faced 24-year-old appearance wasn’t going to fill the client with confidence in my ability.
I never heard from that client again. I very much doubt she stopped smoking. I feel a little bad that she had to part with her hard-earned money so a novice could get his break but we all have to start somewhere.
Since that inauspicious start, though, I’ve seen hundreds of clients, working thousands of hours on issues as diverse as weight loss, overcoming insomnia, reducing anxiety, and a host of psychosomatic conditions like being unable to look at TV or mobile phone screens without getting splitting headaches.
I’ve also worked in some interesting locations. Throughout my 20 years, I must have operated at 10 different clinics, been flown to Italy to help a client in his home and worked as an in-house hypnotherapist at a major engineering company.
What have I learned from all this experience?
A LOT.
Much like a previous article I wrote about my 20 years’ experience as a tennis coach (click here to read), there should be something here for everyone.
Whether you also want to become a successful therapist or just learn the secrets of a fascinating but little-known field, read on.
1. Leaving your comfort zone is how you grow
Let’s go back to my first session. Although filled with nerves and fumbling my words, I finished the job.
Much of my first two years was spent like this. Of course, I had some successful sessions but in many the client never booked a follow up or returned only to tell me that little to no change had occurred.
This made me doubt my abilities. Pre-session, I could feel the nerves rise in the pit of my stomach and I frequently thought of messaging my clients, making an excuse and cancelling our appointment.
However, I never did.
Instead, I reminded myself of the Woody Allen saying, “80% of success is showing up,” and made sure I take care of this side of the equation.
As a result, kicking and screaming inside, I forced myself into a situation that made me adapt, learn and grow.
To this day, I occasionally feel on edge with new clients (which, I tell myself, is a good thing) and get presented with unusual issues that make me question whether I have the ability to help. However, I’ll always push myself to meet the challenge.
My success has been built on this principle.
2. Improving as a hypnotherapist is straightforward
If you stick with a job long enough, you discover that getting better at it is fairly rudimentary.
You just need to put in the hours.
Even though, like me, you might feel out of your depth when you first start, by turning up, session after session, year after year, experiencing new cases and clients and dealing with unexpected situations (like clients breaking down in tears during hypnosis or their mobile phone ringing while in trance), you’ll be amazed at how much you improve.
There’s nothing glamorous about this. It’s not a hack. However, there’s real power in clocking up the hours.
3. You get the best results when you stop caring about the outcome
This statement needs clarifying.
I ALWAYS push myself to do the best for my clients. They’ve paid for an outcome and I do everything I can to make sure it happens. However, when that session finishes, and the client leaves the clinic, I won’t waste any time worrying about whether I’ve helped.
This wasn’t always the case.
For the first 13 years of my practice, I would die a little inside when a client reported that nothing had happened.
I took it very personally and started doubting myself and the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. However, at around the end of 2017, I stopped giving a damn.
My results improved immediately.
Stopping caring meant that I was more confident with clients, less prone to panic when something went wrong and my self-esteem as a therapist remained untouched.
I would estimate that my success rate with clients has risen from around 50% pre-stopping caring about the outcome, to over 80% since. It’s made a massive difference.
4. Your subconscious is ALWAYS trying to protect you
You want to get on a flight but you’re too scared to fly.
You want to fall asleep but something’s keeping you awake.
You want to deliver a great presentation at work but the words won’t come out.
Why do we keep sabotaging our best intentions?
You must understand that your subconscious has zero ability to rationalise. Instead, if something bad or traumatic has happened in the past, connected to the thing you’re trying to do, it will make the oftentimes false connection that that particular activity is a threat which needs to be avoided at all costs.
How does it get you to avoid the threat?
By pumping your body full of norepinephrine (the chemical associated with anxiety), and if that doesn’t work, perhaps a full-on panic attack.
It’s your bodies way of telling you to get the hell out of there.
Understanding this should ease some of the frustration you experience. You no longer need to beat yourself up over your perceived failures.
What you need to do next is update your subconscious mind by reframing the original scary/traumatic event that caused the problem so you’re no longer trapped by your bodies threat response. This can sometimes be done through self-hypnosis but it’s probably more effective to seek a therapist for help.
5. One of the most powerful hypnotic words is “notice”
“As you notice the sound of my voice you might be surprised to find that every word and sentence I speak helps you to relax more deeply.”
“As you notice the sound of the music in the background you might find yourself slipping deeper into a peaceful state.”
The word “notice” can draw a client’s attention to something in their environment they find relaxing. It also has a deeper use.
Life can be a mixture of positive and negative events but which one of those you more frequently notice will have a huge impact on determining your happiness and success.
Do you notice all the successes you had this week or do you focus on the one or two failures?
Do you notice the 10 lbs you lost over the last month or do you focus on the fact you still have 50 to go?
By using the word “notice” in trance, you can shift the client’s subconscious to focus on the factors that’ll make them feel good about changing a bad habit (how much cleaner and healthier their lungs feel after stopping smoking) or confident in their abilities (the audience members responding enthusiastically to their speech).
You can also use this word in your own life. Simply “notice” all the reasons you have to be happy and “notice” all the successes you’ve had in the past that give you reason to believe in yourself today.
6. Keeping existing clients is easier than acquiring new ones
I used to think the key to getting new clients was spending lots of money on advertising. However, when I acquired one, I’d always feel apprehensive about asking them to book more sessions because I didn’t want to come across as pushy.
This was a mistake. I was both leaving money on the table and neglecting client care.
Now, I’ll always ask a client whether they want to book another session (when the therapy has finished) or give them the other option of me emailing them in a few days’ time to arrange the next appointment.
Furthermore, if a client makes an initial enquiry and I email them back and don’t hear anything from them, I’ll send out a follow up email asking if they’ve received the first.
This is because they’re a warm lead (they’ve already displayed an interest in my services) and it’ll be far easier to convert them into a paying client (even if they have some doubts) than to pay for advertising which, over 95% of the time, will be reaching people with no interest or need of hypnotherapy.
Take care of your clients, follow up with them, do a great session and you’ll be amazed at how they become a source for more business through their recommendations and repeat sessions.
7. Limiting beliefs really do hold you back
If you recall the story that started this blog post you’ll remember that I referenced my concerns about being a fresh faced 24-year-old hypnotherapist.
This wasn’t a throw away comment. It was something I was painfully aware of whenever I’d be treating clients 10 years, or more, older than me (which was most of the time).
“How is this young kid going to help me solve my issues? What life experience has he had?” is what I’d imagine them all thinking.
As a result of these negative thoughts, a limiting belief formed. I convinced myself I was too young to be taken seriously as a hypnotherapist.
The outcome?
I spent the early years of my career struggling, both when it came to producing results and building a business.
I wasn’t alone, though, in having limiting beliefs. Most of my clients were there for the exact same reason.
As I got better at helping them and shedding my own limitations, I had a realisation.
OUR LIMITING BELIEFS AREN’T TRUE.
They’re just the product of an overactive imagination making false assumptions. In fact, they’re nonsense.
Furthermore, there’ll be an authority figure in your life (parent, teacher, media, boss, doctor) who’ll tell you that you’re not good enough or that there’s something wrong with you. However, part of maturing and developing critical thinking skills is realising that these authority figures are often flawed, incorrect or have an agenda in keeping you down.
My 20 years experience of working as a hypnotherapist has taught me that you should ignore their words (unless they’re giving you constructive advice or help).
You always have been, and still are today, good enough for whatever you want to do.
GET YOUR FREE COURSE
If you want to discover a passion you can make a living from and overcome the fears that are holding you back, check out my free course 30 Days to Escape The System. Click here to get the course right now! (You’ll find the tips on developing belief and self-confidence fascinating!)
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THE ONLY 7 SELF-HELP BOOKS YOU NEED TO BECOME A COMPLETE PERSON
Can you remember the Power Rangers?
I wasn’t a big fan of this 90s kids TV program but I have a vague recollection of each of the five rangers morphing to form one giant fighting machine (called a Megazord).
It seemed every episode ended that way. The individual rangers couldn’t defeat whatever comically designed live-action suitmation monster they were facing that week so they had to unify. Then, once combined, they were unstoppable and always won the day.
I want to turn you into a Megazord. However, rather than do it with a mastery of weapons, robotics or magic, I’m going to use books.
I’m going to present you with 7 self-help books to read which, once combined and acted upon, will provide all the life skills needed to become a complete person.
Just as the Power Rangers had a unique colour and skill, these books will focus on different areas of your development.
They’ll be a book on mastering the law of attraction, one on productivity, a couple on human relations, one on mental clarity, something on developing inner strength and more.
Read these books multiple times, put their advice into action and you’ll have the wisdom of a Buddha, the charisma of a Hollywood star and the dynamism of a billionaire entrepreneur.
Let’s begin.
1. The Power Of Now (Eckhart Tolle)
Poise and peace of mind are the words that best describe the benefits of assimilating the knowledge contained in this book.
The key concept is simple but incredibly powerful.
All anxiety is caused by worries about the future.
All depression is caused by dwelling on the mistakes and trauma of the past.
Therefore, if you can train your mind to stay present (in the now) then you’ll be happier, appreciate life more, have greater energy and perform better in pressure situations.
The Power Of Now teaches you to disassociate from, and even switch off, the parts of your mind that drain you with constant mental chatter and negative self-talk.
Free from these, you’ll have the ability to focus your mind on the goals that are important to you and perhaps more importantly, live with a calm and serene disposition.
2. The ONE Thing (Gary Keller)
There are many obstacles preventing you from creating the life you want. Of all of them, time seems to present the greatest barrier. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.
You may have to work a full-time job, have family commitments, a social life AND be trying to build a business on the side.
This is where The ONE Thing shows its value.
It teaches you how to become a productivity machine.
This is achieved by narrowing your focus. There will be key areas of your work that will make the most impact and your task is to identify what they are.
Once found, concentrate on completing just one of these every day.
Try to work in time blocks. Carve out 4 hours as early in the day as possible to work exclusively on your most impactful task and leave emails and other less important activities for later (if you can’t find 4 hours because you work a full-time job, then 1 or 2 will suffice).
This is the path to productivity. Follow the blueprint laid out in The ONE Thing and what once seemed like an impossible workload will become manageable as you double or treble your efficiency.
3. The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind (Joseph Murphy)
Over the years, countless books on the law of attraction have been written but this 1962 classic stands the test of time.
In fact, calling it a “law of attraction” book does it a disservice.
This is a deep dive into the metaphysical, consciousness and the best aspects of The Bible (although don’t think you have to be a Christian to enjoy it, I’m not).
It asks and answers the question, “What force determines the direction and outcomes of my life?”
Is it random occurrences, the environment you’re born into or the genes you inherit?
The answer is, none of the above. A belief, held with great enough conviction and backed by strong emotions (i.e. can you feel the reality of your dreams coming true?) is what will determine the direction of your life.
That belief might be negative or positive. It doesn’t matter. Your subconscious mind will faithfully obey your conscious mind and give you the energy (or lack of), ideas (or lack of) and put you on the path to meeting the right people (or remaining isolated) to make sure you realise your habitual thinking.
Of course, the book shows you the techniques to ensure you’re using the power of your subconscious mind positively and, having mastered these, you’ll be successful at whatever it is you choose to do.
4. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
What will you choose to do, though? How are you going to navigate your way through life?
The Celestine Prophecy provides an answer.
This book is unlike the others on the list because it’s a work of fiction. It’s in the same mould as The Alchemist although I feel it contains clearer and more impactful lessons and a more interesting narrative.
The narrator sets off on a journey to the Peruvian jungle in search of an ancient manuscript that will spark the next evolution in human consciousness, ushering in an age of peace and prosperity.
On this journey, he learns about the concept of synchronicity and how this is the key to finding your path through life.
If you can raise your energy to a sufficient level (the book shows you how), then people, ideas and events will be put on your path to provide a direction for you to follow.
You’ll discover your purpose in life (which is ever evolving) and can begin to move towards fulfilling it.
5. How To Win Friends And Influence People (Dale Carnegie)
Whatever that purpose might be, you can’t get around the fact that success in achieving it will largely depend on your ability to interact with other people.
How are you going to master this skill?
The original self-help classic is the answer.
Carnegie’s understanding of psychology and human relations is far reaching. He gets to the core of what motives people to take action and how to get the best out of them.
For example, when seeking to win someone over, never criticise them. Instead, show genuine appreciation for the qualities they possess (everyone has something you can find praiseworthy).
Furthermore, don’t talk about yourself all the time. Instead, become a good listener and frame anything you’re selling or promoting (whether that’s through a website, an advert or a product description) in a way that’ll benefit the consumer or solve their problem.
6. The 48 Laws Of Power (Robert Greene)
How To Win Friends And Influence People’s darker and more cynical younger brother.
As useful as the aforementioned book is, it might not be enough when it comes to developing your skills of persuasion.
The world’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Succeeding at any kind of scale will require you to operate in a cutthroat environment where everyone is out for themselves.
In such a world, being a good person won’t be enough. You’re going to have to learn how to manipulate other people and situations to your advantage and this is what The 48 Laws Of Power teaches.
Some of Robert Greene’s most impactful laws are;
- Law 6: Court attention at all costs (attention is currency so make something about you stand out and stay in other people’s minds).
- Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never their mercy or gratitude (nobody really cares about you, they want to know what you can do for them!)
- Law 32: Play to people’s fantasies (don’t sell people a harsh truth when marketing your product or cause but, instead, let them believe their desires can be achieved without struggle).
7. Man’s Search For Meaning (Viktor Frankl)
To be a complete person, you must have strong foundations and none are stronger than those rooted in meaning.
This is a powerful truth Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl discovered after surviving 3 years in Nazi concentration camps.
He estimated that he had a 1 in 20 chance of survival but then noticed a strange phenomenon amongst the few that remained alive – they all had something to live for.
If you can develop this, he concluded, then it’s possible to get through almost any difficulty you face, including loneliness, illness, physical depravation and failure.
How to create this meaning?
Frankl suggests three sources;
- Love – people find meaning through their most important relationships.
- Work – if you have a mission you’re passionate about this will keep you going.
- Personal dignity – if you commit to bearing your suffering with dignity and refuse to lose this despite what the world throws at you, it can give you something to hold on to during the hard times.
That’s the point of Frankl’s book.
There will be hard times.
Even with all the skills and knowledge you’ve developed from the previous six books, life will throw you curve balls and you need a strong foundation to keep you going when this occurs.
The 8th Book?
After I finished writing this blog post, I couldn’t help but feel something was missing. However, it wasn’t a book.
Instead, it was an aspect of being a complete person that isn’t covered by the previous seven classics – HABITS.
Habits are incredibly powerful, being the small daily actions you take that eventually create a lifetime of greatness.
The obvious go-to book on this subject is Atomic Habits by James Clear. However, I had a problem listing it with the other books because I don’t think it’s good enough.
That’s not to say I think it’s a bad book, it just fails to offer anything lifechanging or even a set of habits that might get you closer to your goals.
So, instead, I’ll leave you with a link to my blog post on the 7 daily habits that will create the life of your dreams. In return, perhaps you could suggest some great books on habits in the comments section below.
Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash
GET YOUR FREE COURSE
If you want to discover a passion you can make a living from and overcome the fears that are holding you back, check out my free course 30 Days to Escape The System. Click here to get the course right now! (You’ll find the tips on developing belief and self-confidence fascinating!)
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7 Simple Daily Habits that will Create the Life of your Dreams
Steven Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, once said,
“Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.”
This blog post will challenge you to look into the minutia of your day and question how you spend your time. Then, it will ask for just an hour and a half in implementing 7 simple habits that have the potential to create the life of your dreams.
Is that too much time to ask for?
Is living life on your own terms, getting to do the work you love and spending time with the people you love, worth sacrificing 90 minutes a day for?
I’m sure it is.
Let’s begin.
The Golden Rule when Creating Habits
The following 7 habits all adhere to one simple rule. The actions they require you to take are small enough that you can repeat them EVERY day without impinging on the rest of your life.
Anything extra and life would make these habits too difficult to maintain. You might stick to them for a week but, sooner or later, you’d get busy at work, something would happen with the kids or you’d have a weekend away and everything would be thrown out of sync. After that, you’d lose momentum, struggle to get back into the routine and, ultimately, give up.
That’s why I value DOING LESS when it comes to daily habits.
Get the basics done EVERY SINGLE DAY, build momentum and, with time, watch your life change.
Bear this in mind as you read through the list below. The following 7 actions should become so routine you’re able to maintain them even when taking a vacation.
HABIT 1: Upon waking in the morning, repeat between 3 and 7 important life goals.
This should be the first thing you do upon gaining your senses.
Lie in bed, close your eyes and speak your goals out loud.
Here are some of mine;
- 1 million copies sold (referring to the total number of books I want to sell)
- 1 Tesla car (I want to own)
- 80 kilograms (target weight)
TIP: When repeating these goals, match each one with a vision in your mind. For example, when I repeat 1 million copies sold, I imagine myself celebrating with my arms held aloft.
Also, repeat your goals three times over.
Both the repetition and the visualisation make these goals more believable to your subconscious mind. Their achievement seems REAL and your subconscious will respond with the ideas, and chance encounters, that’ll ensure you reach your destination.
Repeat Habit 1 just before falling asleep at night.
HABIT 2: Make you bed
It sounds like such a simple thing and I’m sure there’s a good chance you already do it, but there’s power in making your first action of the day productive.
Admiral William McRaven writes about this in his book, Make your Bed. The military are big on bed tidiness and for good reason.
You must start the day as you mean to go on.
Making your bed is the foundation for the tasks you’re going to complete later in the day. Furthermore, it gets you out of bed BEFORE you check your phone (reducing your chances of starting your day in the wrong way).
HABIT 3: Do 1 hour’s work on a project you’re passionate about
My advice is to do this as early as possible. If a day job prevents you from completing it in the morning then do the work as soon as you return home. Or, you could try doing 30 minutes before work and then 30 minutes after.
Doing this every single day, without fail, is how you become an expert in a field. Then, once you’re an expert, you can monetise your passion.
Let’s say your passion is writing. You want to monetize your blog or get paid to write articles on Medium.
At the modest rate of writing 400 words per hour, you would complete a new article every 4 days (1500 words is a typical sized blog post although you could go shorter). By the end of the month, you’d have churned out 6 or 7 new compositions.
Do that for a year or two or even three, and something amazing will happen.
First, your writing will improve. Second, you’ll have a trove of useful content with the potential to attract a sizeable audience. Finally, because you’re being consistent and releasing material on a weekly basis, people will be inclined to follow and pay you.
Of course, you might not be passionate about writing and that’s fine. Whatever your vehicle for doing the work you love, commit an hour to it every day.
HABIT 4: Read a non-fiction book for 15 minutes
It doesn’t matter when you complete this habit. It could be lunchtime, after work or before bed.
The reason it must be a NON-FICTION book is because this habit is about learning (not entertainment). Of course, there’s nothing wrong with reading fiction but I suggest you save that for bedtime when you want to unwind.
Pick a genre you’re keen to learn about. Personal development is a great place to start but you could also educate yourself on finance, property, history or art.
I’m a medium paced reader and I tend to read 10 pages in 15 minutes. At this rate, I complete a 300-page book (a typical size for non-fiction) in 30 days.
This means that my daily 15 minute reading habit (which is so easy to maintain), enables me to complete 12 books over the course of a year. I can then use the knowledge I’ve acquired through this reading to improve my business and life.
TIP: Highlight the important sections from your non-fiction book for future reference.
HABIT 5: Find somewhere you can sit, and be silent, for 10 minutes.
Take a break from whatever it is you might be doing and, preferable, find somewhere in nature (a garden or a park will suffice) to sit down and relax.
During these 10 minutes of quiet time, you can either focus on your surroundings or close your eyes.
If you opt to close your eyes, you could then notice your breathing, clear your mind or visualise yourself being successful (or a combination of all three).
Noticing your breathing is a great way of relaxing and recharging. Furthermore, it allows you to experience the benefits of meditation because, when connected to your breathing, you can’t be distracted by your thoughts.
Clearing your mind is another way to meditate. If you haven’t had much practise, you might struggle at first. Thoughts about what you’re eating for dinner later, an argument you had with your girlfriend or boyfriend or chores you need to complete, might disturb your inner peace. Just let them pass through and keep emptying your mind of any disturbances. Eventually you’ll reach a state of calm.
Visualising success is an extension of Habit 1. Think about one of your important life goals and imagine yourself achieving it. Alongside the visualisation, see if you can capture some of the joyful/excited emotions you’ll feel when it comes true.
Whatever you do during your 10 minutes of silence, remember that this is probably the most important part of your day.
Once complete, you’ll feel refreshed. Furthermore, through meditation and visualisation, you’re mastering skills that’ll enable you to live in the now and prime your subconscious for success.
HABIT 6: Eat 5 portions of fruit/vegetables
At the risking of sounding like the government, or your parents, try to make sure you eat a minimum level of these nutrient rich foods each day.
Not only is it going to improve your health but sticking to this habit will stop you from eating junk food. (Take away pizza or fish and chips aren’t going to cut it if it’s approaching dinner time and you haven’t yet eaten your 5 a day.)
Eating 5 a day also helps you bypass the willpower problem when dieting or seeking to eat a healthier diet.
It’s very hard to stick to the promise of saying, “I won’t eat chocolate or I won’t eat X.” This is because your subconscious still hears the word “chocolate” or whatever treat it is you enjoy. However, if you focus on something else – eating more fruit and vegetables – then your attention is focused elsewhere and unhealthy foods become easier to resist.
HABIT 7: Leave your phone in another room before going to bed
This habit has multiple benefits.
First, it assists sleep. By preventing you from scrolling through your phone while in bed, you negate the possibility of staying awake 30 minutes longer than you intended.
This makes a difference to how fresh you’ll feel the next day.
Second, your subconscious is at its most fertile before going to bed. It’s one of the best times to think about how you want your life to be. You’ll go deeper into the emotion of your desired life and this will make your imaginings real to your subconscious.
TIP: If you like listening to music or reading before going to bed, do so on a device separate to your phone. It’s harder to scroll through social media, or your messages, on a Kindle or laptop.
CONCLUSION
Following these 7 daily habits will create the life of your dreams.
Implement them today.
Small changes CAN make a big difference.
GET YOUR FREE COURSE
If you want to discover a passion you can make a living from and overcome the fears that are holding you back, check out my free course 30 Days to Escape The System. Click here to get the course right now! (You’ll find the tips on developing belief and self-confidence fascinating!)
(image used courtesy of Greta Egan’s photostream on flickr.com)
10 Rules for Mastering your Mind (and getting whatever you want from life)
Your mind is your most powerful tool for personal transformation.
Not your diet, not adopting “good” sleeping practices, not some wonder drug and not changing your habits.
Don’t get me wrong, all of the above are important but, when it comes to making a shift that will render you, and your life, unrecognisable to someone who knew you 10 years ago, it’s your mind that’ll have the biggest impact.
This is because, by mastering your mind (with the 10 rules I’m about to give you), you’ll be altering the cause of your environment, circumstances and present bodily conditions, not just dealing with the symptoms.
The following 10 rules have been created from my 20-year journey into exploring, and understanding, the workings of the mind.
This journey began, and was inspired by, some seminal works on the subject (the following are recommended reading if you want to explore further – The Power of your Subconscious Mind, As a Man Thinketh, Think and Grow Rich, The Power of Now, Psycho-Cybernetics, Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting, Becoming Supernatural), over 15 years of working with clients as a hypnotherapist and, most importantly, my own experiments into using this power to change my life.
Rule 1: Focus on what you want
Starting today, think only about the outcomes you want to achieve.
Are you preparing for an important speech, pitch or presentation?
See your audience being wowed. Imagine your words flowing and the information you’re sharing having the desired impact. Think about people coming up to you at the end, or emailing you, and telling you how good your presentation was and how much inf0rmation they gained.
If ever you think about forgetting your lines, how much pressure you’re under or what you stand to lose if the pitch isn’t successful, then banish these thoughts. Instead, focus firmly on one of the positive outcomes above.
Apply this rule to anything you want to achieve.
Rule 2: Create a daily, mind focusing routine
Every day, take time out of your hectic schedule to focus on either achieving the outcomes you desire or living the life you want.
How much time?
Five minutes is sufficient (but you can spend longer if you want).
At present, all I do is repeat seven goals, 3 times over, upon waking up in the morning and going to bed at night.
Here are three of these goals;
- 10,000 copies sold (referring to my book sales)
- 1 Tesla car (that I want to own)
- 80 kilograms in weight (my ideal weight)
This particular approach may, or may not, work for you. It doesn’t matter. There are many different ways you can focus your mind.
You could;
- Relax, close your eyes and spend 5- or 10-minutes visualising what you want to achieve or the life you want live
- Write out, and repeat, a statement (only needs to be a paragraph or two) describing your ideal life and the experience of living it
- Create a DCA (Definite Chief Aim, see Napoleon Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich) and repeat it three times every morning, noon and night
Choose whatever method works best for you (or create your own).
Rule 3: Channel your thoughts when your mind isn’t actively engaged
Alongside your daily mind focusing routine, use the moments when your mind isn’t actively engaged to focus on the outcomes you want to achieve or the life you want to live.
Obviously, this doesn’t apply when working, engaged in a conversation, playing a sport or taking part in a hobby. On these occasions, and many more, your mind should be focused on the task, or person, at hand.
However, at all other times (see list below), you can return your thoughts to the contemplation of the outcomes you want to achieve and the life you want to live;
- Washing the dishes
- Cleaning your house
- Driving your car
- Taking a shower
- Walking to work
- In between points while you’re playing tennis
- In between sets at the gym
Rule 4: Keep your instructions simple
Whether you’re completing your daily mind focusing routine, or channelling your thoughts when your mind isn’t actively engaged, keep it simple.
Whenever you focus your thoughts, you’re giving an instruction to your subconscious mind. This part of your mind responds best when fed with clear, concise directions.
For example, if you want to recover from any kind of ailment, or disease, then you would repeat, over and over again (until you receive the outcome you desire) instructions and affirmations like,
- Perfect health
- I am healing
- My body works perfectly
- Health
Alter your instructions depending on the objective you want to achieve.
Rule 5: Make your thoughts visual
To make a greater impression on your subconscious mind, create a visual accompaniment to the thought you’re thinking.
For example, with the mind focusing routine mentioned in Rule 2, I link each outcome to a visual image.
- For 10,000 book sales, I think about writing the number ten thousand down in a diary where I keep track of my sales
- For owning a Tesla car, I imagine myself getting into a black Model 3 and noticing the distinctive interior
- For getting down to 80 kilograms, I see myself with visible abs
All of these images are meaningful to me. Find the ones that trigger a similar reaction in you.
Rule 6: Make your thoughts resonate
There must be an emotional connection with the thoughts you’re thinking and the images you’re visualising. Without this vital ingredient, your thoughts are powerless and will lack the ability to influence your subconscious mind.
It’s estimated that we think around 6,000 thoughts a day. Very few of these have any impact on the direction of our lives. However, if you can inject a thought with a powerful positive emotion then it can bring you the outcome you desire (BEWARE: This works just as well for powerful negative emotions).
In his book, Becoming Supernatural, author Dr Joe Dispenza tells his readers to, “continuously fall in love” with their vision for the future. This is how powerful your emotions need to be.
Rule 7: Learn to live in the now
For peak performance, and to prevent anxiety from holding you back, learn to live in the now.
If ever you find yourself distracted by mindless mental chatter, or worrying about the possibility of something going wrong, ask yourself this question, “Where am I now?”
And then answer it.
Notice everything around you and describe it, either out loud or in your head.
This simple practise forces you out of your head and into the world. As a result, you’ll be able to give all of your attention to whatever it is you’re doing and perform at your best. Furthermore, your fears won’t escalate and prevent you from taking the action necessary to move your life forwards.
Rule 8: Ignore your negative voice
Over the course of an average day, your critical voice is going to throw all kinds of negative statements at you in response to what you’re doing.
It’ll tell you that;
- You’re not good enough
- You’re ugly
- You’re going to fail
- You should give up
- You’re too old to do something
- You’re too young to do something
- Other people won’t like you or what you have to offer
ALL OF THESE STATEMENTS ARE A LIE.
In his book, The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle explains that there are two competing forces in our minds.
The first is the “I,” which is our essence, represented by our personality, emotions and dreams.
The second is the “self,” which is artificial, represented by our internal dialogue.
Tolle teaches us to separate these two entities. Understand that your “self” isn’t who you are. It’s just a very annoying voice, attempting to sabotage the good you intend to create.
Therefore, you must NEVER listen to this voice. Instead, ignore it and, eventually, it’ll weaken and go away.
Rule 9: Don’t overload your mind with multiple information streams
We live in an age where it’s possible to avoid any type of silence or deeper thought.
We have podcasts, the radio or Spotify to listen to. We have Netflix, YouTube or the cinema to watch. And, if we ever need to be distracted, we have social media or the internet, to browse through.
It’s now possible to continuously jump from one information stream to another without ever having to engage in the practise of disciplining your mind or focusing your thoughts.
This isn’t healthy. While there’s nothing wrong with doing any of the above, you must set aside time every day (in addition to your daily, mind focusing routine) to be alone with your thoughts and direct them towards your higher purpose.
Rule 10: Feed your mind with inspiration
You don’t have to do all the heavy lifting.
For the occasions when you’re struggle to motivate yourself, use inspiring songs, movies and books to provide the boost you need.
- Create a motivational music playlist
- Watch the movies that connect you with your life purpose
- Read the books that make you believe anything is possible
Do whatever you can (excluding becoming dependent on drugs) to get yourself in an inspired, high-energy state.
What’s the payoff?
Follow all 10 of these rules and something incredible will happen.
Your subconscious mind will respond by providing you with the ideas, chance encounters and peak states that will enable the realisation of your dreams.
The power to change your life is within you. Your mind can either set you free, or cage you through the forces of fear, confusion and self-doubt.
Faithfully follow the rules above, and give yourself enough time to master them, and there’s no force in the universe that can prevent you from getting to where you want to go.
GET YOUR FREE COURSE
If you want to discover a passion you can make a living from and overcome the fears that are holding you back, check out my free course 30 Days to Escape The System. Click here to get the course right now! (You’ll find the tips on developing belief and self-confidence fascinating!)
Excerpt from my New Unreleased Book: The Personal Freedom Manifesto
CHAPTER 5: CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Back in 1903, James Allen’s book As A Man Thinketh was released. The title is an abbreviation of a bible verse from the book of proverbs. In its entirety, it reads, “as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.”
To our modern world, this is a curious promise. 21st century life is about the material. We value what we can see, touch and, most of all, possess. This is real. The laws of nature, which we believe we’ve discovered, govern how our universe works. As a result, we live with the belief we have almost everything figured out.
Compared to these discoveries, what is a thought? The materialist would probably dismiss it as irrelevant mental chatter or understand it as a reaction to the events of the day. However, what if the relationship was reversed? Is it possible that the thoughts in your mind determine the circumstances and events of your life?
It’s a dangerous idea. After all, if you follow this line of thinking then you become responsible for everything that occurs. If you spend too much money and slip into debt then you only have yourself to blame. Likewise, if, after years of stress, poor diet and lack of exercise, you experience a heart attack or develop a terminal disease, then you must accept responsibility.
Although both of these examples appear to have a physical cause – too much spending and poor lifestyle choices – there is a deeper trigger point. The debt might occur after persistent thoughts of impressing people with your gadgets, cars or clothes. Likewise, the illness might occur as a result of focusing on money to the exclusion of your health.
How do you feel about this diagnosis? Are you angry or upset? Do you dislike the idea of being responsible for your misfortunes?
While total responsibility can be a bitter pill to swallow, there is a silver lining to this way of thinking. Surely, if you create your reality through thought then, within your ability, is not just the potential to harm your life, but the possibility of setting yourself free. Persistent thoughts of success will lead to their material and spiritual realisation. Likewise, persistent thoughts of health and harmony will lead to an optimally functioning body.
Society never promotes this idea. We’re taught that the individual is powerless. Not only are we subject to the laws of nature, but we are also governed by the rules of society. As a result, life is very much out of our control. Illness, breakdown of relationships, accidents and our successes and failures have little to do with what we did. Instead, we are granted the comfort of excuses. It was our genes, our personality, our mental disorder or bad luck.
Which option do you prefer? Are you willing to shoulder responsibility in return for the opportunity to create the life you want? Or, would you rather allow external factors to govern the direction of your life while you remain blameless?
After reading this chapter, my hope is that you will choose the former. In doing so, there is an important point to remember.
The Bible states that, “as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.” On first reading, this may appear to be an oxymoron. After all, we don’t think with our hearts. However, on deeper inspection, the Bible hasn’t made a mistake.
Thinking with your head is something that, according to a 2005 National Science Foundation study, occurs 12,000 to 60,000 times a day. Most of these thoughts are repetitive (95%) and have little to no (direct) impact on your life. We can all attest to the fact that merely thinking once about a million dollars or a brand-new Ferrari doesn’t result in their manifestation. However, thinking with your heart is something entirely different and is far rarer.
Thinking with your heart occurs when your thought generates an emotional reaction. This might happen when you’re thinking about an upcoming presentation and a wave of anxiety hits you. Alternatively, you might be thinking about achieving your goal and it generates a feeling of joy. This is thinking with your heart and it shapes your reality.
Understanding the distinction between these two types of thinking reveals what it means to be a positive thinker. The common misconception is that positive thinking involves imagining yourself doing well. For example, throughout your day, you might deliberately visualise yourself meeting your future husband or wife or reaching your sales target.
The reverse applies with negative thinking. Throughout your day, you might repeatedly, although this time unintentionally, see yourself failing. However, what happens if these thoughts, whether positive or negative, fail to trigger an emotional response?
Not a lot. The thought, lacking emotion, won’t penetrate your subconscious and form a belief. Instead, it will be dismissed.
Therefore, to be a true positive thinker, you must be a positive feeler. You must be skilled with your thoughts and aware of your emotions. Don’t get frustrated running hundreds of so-called positive thoughts through your mind wondering why nothing is changing. You’d do far better to relax, choose one specific goal, or outcome that you know would make you happy, and, from time to time, focus on this.
After a while, you’ll build up a connection with this goal or outcome and will train your subconscious to respond with a positive feeling. (In NLP this technique is called anchoring, although is typically performed by touching some part of your body or through a routine). When this occurs, changes happen. You’re able to raise your energy and this will have a dramatic impact on your work, creativity, relationships, sports and anything else that is important to you.
Remember, though, this discipline takes time. Your first step is to adopt traditional positive thinking. Imagine yourself doing well even if, at first, you feel no emotional reaction. Work on releasing the negatives as well. If you catch yourself dwelling on an unpleasant memory, or fear of an event in the future, remind yourself to let go.
With time, you’ll figure out your triggers and be able to generate a positive emotional response. When this happens, you’ll discover that your mind operates in a similar manner to a computer. It has to obey your instructions. Positive thoughts, backed by emotions, will bring you answers and encounters that will advance you in the direction of your dreams.
Why you shouldn’t place limits on your thinking
Perhaps your dreams are on an epic scale. Like Elon Musk, you have visions so great you imagine colonising Mars. Or, like Michael Jackson, you believe you can fly (He was once quoted saying, “We can fly, you know. We just don’t know how to think the right thoughts and levitate ourselves off the ground.”)
Crazy, right? These kinds of people are unhinged and don’t live in ‘the real world.’ However, look at what they accomplish.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX created the first privately developed rocket to carry a commercial satellite into orbit. Michael Jackson, despite being told by everyone around him that it was impossible, created the greatest selling album of all time. So, are they crazy for having outrageous dreams or is this kind of thinking a prerequisite for achieving goals that seem out of the ordinary?
We’re always being told about our limits. According to society, so much is impossible. For example, for a long time, it was deemed physically impossible for a human to run a mile in under 4 minutes. However, since Roger Bannister broke that limit in 1955, over 500 people, in America alone, have matched this feat.
In Arnold’s Schwarzenegger’s autobiography, Total Recall, he mentions that,
In weight lifting, for many years there was a 500-pound barrier in the clean and jerk . . .But as soon as the great Russian weightlifter Vasily Alekseyev set a new world record of 501 in 1970, three other guys lifted more than 500 pounds within a year.
Another limit gets broken. How much proof does humanity need before it opens its collective mind to the idea that there are no limits (or, that’s it’s not useful to think of them)?
Perhaps you are apprehensive of removing the limits on your thinking for fear of what other people might say. To prevent this shutdown, we’re going to make a deeper analysis of Michael Jackson’s comment about people flying.
Of course, to date, no one has been recorded achieving this feat. And, perhaps, no one ever will. However, cast your thoughts back to the mind-set of a human living 600 years ago, ponder the possibility of machine powered flight from this perspective, and you’ll see that you’re presented with a similar situation.
Back then, if someone had said that humanity will crisscross the skies in giant flying machines within 600 years, it would have been considered utterly impossible. However, fast forward to today, and this is our reality.
Do you get the point? For the so-called impossible to occur, it takes people with a mind-set like Michael Jackson and Elon Musk. Such a person, living 600 years ago, would have been interested, rather than dismissive, about the possibility of machine powered flight. As a result of this curiosity, research would have been undertaken, prototypes built and, as the centuries passed, and other illuminated minds continued their work, actual flight would finally occur.
A similar situation might occur with thought-powered flight. Or, it might not. Whatever the case, it serves no purpose to dismiss ideas on the grounds that they challenge the paradigms of our day. For, as we have seen with the examples of Jackson and Musk, thinking outside society’s limitations is beneficial for both the individual and for humanity.
To achieve your dream, you will also have to let your imagination soar. Allow yourself to contemplate the so called impossible, go to possibilities in your mind that have never been conceived before and, by doing so, unlock your full potential.
Never say that it can’t be done. What’s the point? If it can’t, then you’re no worse off than before and, if it can, you could be the one breaking new ground while everyone stares in amazement.
LIKE WHAT YOU’VE READ? TO BUY MY NEW BOOK ‘THE PERSONAL FREEDOM MENIFESTO’ ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE BOX BELOW AND YOU’LL RECEIVE AN EMAIL UPON RELEASE – LIKELY EARLY JANUARY 2021
My New Book is Ready: Read The Introduction to ‘The Genius of Joe Barnes’
If you’ve read any of my previous work, be it books, blog posts or even watched my YouTube videos or attended my talks, you’ll know I’m passionate about letting people know they have options. You don’t have to accept the life you are presented with. If you want something extra, or different, it is within your power to create it.
If you’re familiar with my work, you’ll also know I’m fond of misquoting Henry David Thoreau. In his book Waldon, he stated that, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Over the years, this quote has been embellished. Some creative, and wise, soul, added the words, “and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
For me, this improves on Thoreau’s insightful observation. Yes, the majority of people living in the so called ‘developed world’ are desperate. Mental health medication rates and suicide figures reveal this. Divorce is also an indication of our dis-ease. Even our inability to sleep (two thirds of the adult UK population report experiencing disrupted sleep) reveals that something is amiss.
We’re not happy with modern living. It’s fast pace, polluted space, endless written and unwritten rules and various forms of media distractions, disconnects us from nature, our fellow man and the deeper calling of our inner selves. However, rather than protest this malaise, as Thoreau suggest, we suffer in silence.
Why does this happen? Why won’t anyone speak out?
The simple answer is that we believe we are wrong for feeling the way we do.
Since childhood, we’ve been conditioned to accept the world as it is presented. This is ‘how the world works’ we are told, if we ever complain about the stifling limitations imposed upon us.
The implication behind this statement is life could never be any other way. Therefore, we are left in a predicament whereby we must adapt ourselves to the world. If we were to protest, we would be laying ourselves open to looking stupid and courting ridicule. Why challenge the unchallengeable? Far better to get on with life and make the best of what you’ve got.
This is why our desperation is “quiet.” Voicing it appears pointless. Instead, we suffer in silence and attempt to finish the job society started by telling ourselves that we should,
• be happy with a boring job that offers little more than a monthly pay check.
• tolerate a total lack of free time to do what we want.
• accept a passionless marriage devoid of intimacy.
• ignore our increasingly failing health as we prematurely age and deteriorate.
We should accept all of these things because that’s what ‘good people’ do. They get on with things, think about others and don’t complain (or only complain behind closed doors). However, try as we might to force ourselves to fit into the narrow confines of what society wants us to be, the unease and desperation never leaves.
What is the impact of living in a state of “quiet desperation?” Sadly, we shut ourselves down. We trade passion and meaning for security and comfort. As a result, all that we could have been goes to the grave without ever being expressed.
This begs the question, what could you do with your life? What is your song?
Could you have a positive impact on the world through a unique message you need to share? Might you have the potential to entertain millions, bringing joy and amusement into their life? Or, might you make a discovery that will save lives? These are all possibilities. However, they are only possibilities when you open your mind to the idea that you are right to want something more (or different).
Giving yourself permission to ‘want more’ may sound selfish. It’s the antithesis of what we’ve been taught. According to society, you should put others first, be humble and realistic. This makes you a reasonable and likeable person. On the other hand, those that ‘want more’, or something different, are either selfish or troublemakers.
Few people want these labels. They’d rather avoid the criticism and hassle. However, try as you might to be what other people want, there will always be a part of you longing to be itself.
The only way to free this part, and end the internal turmoil, is to embrace your desires. Go for what you want. Don’t be restrained by society’s notions of achievability or acceptability. By doing so, not only will you get to express your ‘song,’ you’ll also have the potential to inspire others.
The rest of this book teaches you how to do this. The method I’ve chosen to achieve this aim is telling stories. You’ll find that some of the sections are based on my personal experiences and most use examples taken from historical, and current, figures and various informative books or studies. Around each story, a lesson is offered, giving you the insight needed to get closer to creating the life you want.
What will this life look like? That’s up to you to decide. I can’t know the individual nuances of your desires. However, what I do know, is that you’ll find your guidance within.
Within you, is an untapped well of ideas, visions and urges, all pushing you in the direction of greater creativity, fun, love and enjoyment. Tap into these. Use them to start piecing together a future where you set your own schedule, have the financial freedom to only do the work you enjoy, have time for your hobbies and exercise, can travel when you feel like experiencing something new and have meaningful relationships that enrich your life. This is your aim and it’s perfectly achievable with a combination of the knowledge in this book and your will to use it.
So, take flight. Let this book be your guide as you attempt (and then succeed) at living life on your terms. There are few greater rewards than being able to say you crafted your own existence. Today marks the first step of achieving this aim.
I would say ‘good luck,’ but you don’t need it. The power is within you.
A Quick Look Inside The Book
Below is the contents page. The book has been designed so that you can either read it cover to cover, or dip into specific sections that are relevant to you. I expect it to be released some time in August and, if you want to go on a list to be notified of the exact date and receive an early bird discount, just enter your email address below the list of contents.
Part 1: Breaking Free
Chapter 1: Guidance for living an extraordinary life
Why you should aim for the ‘impossible’
How to avoid living a life you regret
What happens if you don’t follow your dreams
Chapter 2: Free your mind so you can achieve the impossible
Why you should stop living in the ‘real world’
Why trusting authority can be dangerous
Why you shouldn’t trust mainstream media
How you are being manipulated by science
Why you can push The System’s boundaries far more than you think
Chapter 3: Challenge the 9 to 5 to find something greater
Why it’s bad to have a ‘good job’
How to know whether you should quit your job
Why your work should be about achieving a mission, not selling ‘stuff’
Chapter 4: Embrace your individuality and shine
What to do if you’re not ‘normal’
Why you should feel happy about being depressed
Why you should be proud to be in a minority of one
Part 2: Discovering your Greatness
Chapter 5: Change your thoughts to change your life
How to use the power of belief to achieve your goals
How to avoid the ‘over thinking trap’
Why you shouldn’t place limits on your thinking
Chapter 6: Vital skills to become outstanding
How to reconnect with your genius
How to get rid of self-doubt once and for all
Why it’s so difficult to break habits and how you need to approach change
How to learn new skills quickly
How to perform under pressure
Chapter 7: Daily practices for peak performance
How to coordinate your conscious and subconscious to create the life you want
How to use meditation and self-hypnosis to rid yourself of anxiety and program your mind for success
What happens when you meditate every day for a year
How to set up a quick, daily motivational routine
Chapter 8: Strengthen your soul to overcome any challenge
Why you must have a positive self-image
Why your perspective determines your success
How to bounce back from wasted years and regrets
What to do if you’re worried about getting old or how you look
Part 3: Creating the Life you Want
Chapter 9: Advice for when beginning your journey
Why hope and desire are enough to get you started on your journey to a better life
Why you only need £50/$60 a day to create the life you want
How much T.I.M.E should you invest in your project or business each week?
Why you have a 66% chance of success
How your intuition provides reliable guidance during your journey
Chapter 10: Essential knowledge for achieving results
Why you must become obsessed with your most important goal
Why you must show understanding to yourself when trying to make progress
Why the effort you put into a project isn’t always reflected in the results you achieve
Why you shouldn’t let expert advice stop you from experimenting with your own ideas
Why you shouldn’t give a damn about being successful even with your most important projects
Chapter 11: Practical tips and strategies for getting your work noticed and more
Why advertising might be a waste of your money and what to do instead
Why you should use your existing network to sell your new product
How to highlight the benefits of your product to your customers
Why you should consider rationing the amount of TV you watch
How to overcome the anxiety of sharing your work, project or business with the world
Chapter 12: Clarity when you feel like everything is lost
Why you shouldn’t listen to naysayers
How to cope with heartbreak
The 3 questions you must ask before giving up on your dreams
How to Use the Power of your Subconscious Mind
Since being published in 1963, The Power of your Subconscious Mind (by Joseph Murphy), has sold more than 1 million copies and impacted lives the world over. A quick perusal of it’s Amazon page will reveal well over 2000 reviews, 78% of them 5 star and the kind of affectionate language usually reserved for a well loved relative.
There’s something magical about this book. It has the ability to sooth and simplify in a way that few others can. People’s lives change after reading it. Mine did. Alongside The Matrix and Fight Club, it was the catalyst for me breaking free from The System and pursuing my dream to become a best selling author.
Having experienced The Power of your Subconscious Mind’s life changing impact, I want to relay its secrets to you. As of this year, I’ve read the book five times, written a 4000 word piece on it for HiBooks and run a workshop covering its key points. I like to think I know it inside out and, to my reckoning, there are 3 key parts you must understand.
- First, we have the theory
- Second, having understood the theory, you’ll need to know some of the techniques for accessing the power of your subconscious mind
- Finally, I’ll warn you about what not to do so you can avoid sabotaging your success
The Theory
Let’s start with a quick definition. Your mind has 2 parts – the conscious and the subconscious. The conscious is the one you’re more familiar with. It’s the voice in your head. Rational in nature, it’s the part of your mind you can control.
The subconscious is the deeper part of your mind. It’s much harder to control and emotional in nature. It responds more to metaphors and images and is less influenced by language.
Joseph Murphy uses two metaphors to explain the relationship between your conscious and subconscious. The first is the captain and the ship. Your conscious mind is the captain, standing on the deck, giving the orders. The rest of the ship, from the crew, to the sails, to the anchor, is the subconscious, faithfully carrying out whatever order the captain gives.
The second metaphor is the watchman at the gate. Here, the conscious mind is the lone guard, deciding who and what can enter the fortress. The subconscious is everything beyond the gate. Therefore, it’s the watchman’s duty to determine the impact of what he lets pass.
Both metaphors emphasize the significance of the conscious mind. You must take responsibility, and be very aware of, your thinking. Your thoughts aren’t insignificant mental chatter. Instead, they are commands. Guard against negative self-talk and thinking about what might go wrong.
The metaphors also reveal that the subconscious can’t discern discern between good and bad. Sure, it’s powerful and will carry out whatever you request. However, it won’t help you in determining whether these requests are going to be of benefit (Present images of failure to your subconscious and it will just assume this is the direction you want to move in and carry out the order).
The subconscious draws its power from a connection with the infinite intelligence. You are not an isolated individual. Through your mind, you are connected with the intelligence that moves the tides, keeps the planets orbiting around The Sun and presents people with ideas for changing the world. Make use of this connection, and through your intuition, your subconscious will reveal the path to your best possible life.
Exactly how to do this, is the subject to which we’ll now turn our attention.
Techniques for Impressing your Subconscious
Murphy highlights two main techniques for impressing a belief on your subconscious. The first is based around visualisation. He advises playing mental movies over in your mind before going to bed and when waking in the morning.
The reason for this timing is that, in his words, there is “the greatest outcropping of the subconscious” upon waking and going to sleep. This is when you’re at your most impressionable.
Your mental movie should be about you succeeding. Perhaps, like me, you want to be a best selling author. If that’s the case, visualise the number of book sales you want to achieve. See a big fat 1,000,000 or 100,000. Also, imagine yourself signing books at a book launch and conducting interviews with popular podcasts. See yourself living the life of a best selling author.
The same principle applies to healing (much of Murphy’s book is concerned with this area). If you’re currently suffering from an illness, or experiencing an injury, imagine your body being healthy and whole. Visualise yourself moving around, being active and partaking in all the activites you did before your illness or injury.
When using the mental movie technique, you’ll want to both keep it fresh and rely on trusted favoruites. The subconscious responds best to familiarity. A repeated mental movie, with time, will be able to trigger an emotional response. Also, big bold numbers (such as book sales totals) or a repeated slogan (I am fit and healthy), easily sink in. However, at the same time, be mindful of the fact you might, occaisonally, get bored. Therefore, be ready to change up your regular mental movies and try something new.
The second technique for impressing your subconscious is called the written statement. Here, you write down a paragraph or two, stating what you want to achieve, as if it has already happened. For example, if you are looking to find your soul mate, you might write,
I am a in love. My ideal partner is with me and it feels amazing. We share incredible moments together and are perfect for each. I’m attracted to both their looks and personality (elaborate from here) . . .
Pay close attention to the language. There’s no room for ‘hopes’ or ‘wishes’. This is affirmative. It’s happened. You have done it. Therefore, be bold and assertive when creating your written statement.
Once created, you should read it out loud 3 times over, 3 times a day. Again, it’s suggested you should do this upon waking and before retiring. Fit the third time of day in whenever convenient for you.
Perform your mental movie and written statement with emotion. Both will be ineffective if you simply read off the script and run a few images through your mind. Instead, you must dig deeper. Why is this dream so important to you? How will it feel when you’ve achieved your desire? Whatever the answer, capture that emotion when performing these techniques.
If you can, amazing changes will occur.
First, new beliefs will form in your subconscious. Your beliefs set the boundaries for your world. The person who believes they can do anything, or that they can achieve their desire, has access to many more opportunities, and far greater information, than someone who believes something isn’t possible.
Second, your subconscious will hit you with insights (via the infinite intelligence) about how to progress. These will come in the form of ideas, usually accompanied by a feeling of inspiration.
Look out for these moments. What they reveal can lead to a new creation or connection that dramatically changes your life.
What NOT To Do
There are 6 reasons why you may fail to influence your subconscious in the manner you’d hoped.
1. Lack of confidence. We live in a world obsessed with the material. Therefore, it can hard to see the importance of the spiritual. However, if you doubt the effectiveness of Murphy’s techniques, it will only work against you. Remember, the subconscious realises your beliefs. This means your doubts will be manifested.
2. Too much effort. Willpower doesn’t work when it comes to influencing your subconscious. Struggling only implies an obstacle. Therefore, let go, and believe your mental movies and written statement will come to pass.
3. You get disheartened. If you get disheartened because your desires haven’t been realised in a week, a month or a year, the message received from your subconscious is that you don’t believe it will happen. How will your subconscious react to this message? Yep, you’ve guessed it, it will continue to deny you the thing you want. Therefore, keep believing until it happens.
4. Old negative beliefs dragging you down. Be aware of the baggage you bring to this book. If you’re like me, you won’t be working with a blank slate. I approached the book with a whole host of hang ups, doubts and fears. As a result, I was constantly sabotaging my progress by fighting with my old problems. It’s far better to let them go. Don’t think about them at all. Focus on what you want to move towards and, eventually, the past will fade away.
5. Imagining the change will happen in the future. This will always make the realisation of your desire something beyond your reach. Instead, know it happens now.
6. Setting yourself too many goals. This disperses your energy. Have one main goal. Focus all your mental energy on achieving it and then move on once complete. This avoids your ship being steered in too many directions and failing to get to its destination.
Final Thought
I hope you’ve found this post useful. Your subconscious can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. Spend time learning how to master its ways. While doing so, remember that emotion is the key. When you can feel the realisation of your desire, the physical equivalent won’t be far away.
Get your FREE Course
If you want to discover a passion you can make a living from and overcome the fears that are holding you back, check out my free course 30 Days to Escape The System. Click here to get the course right now! (You’ll find the tips on developing belief and self-confidence fascinating!)
EXTRA RESOURCE: If you want to learn more about your subconscious mind and how to use it, make sure you check out the article below from iNLP Center. It comes with a free 18 page workbook which guides you through different exercises to explore the deeper workings of your subconscious mind.
Subconscious Mind| 9 Facts you should Know [plus FREE WORKBOOK]