Think and Grow Rich Summary - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Auto-suggestion – The Medium for Influencing the subconscious Mind

1.       Auto-suggestion = a term which applies to all suggestions and all self-administered stimuli which reach one’s mind through the 5 senses.

2.      Auto-suggestion = self-suggestion.

3.      It is the agency of communication between that part of the mind where conscious thought takes place, and that which serves as the seat of action for the subconscious mind.

4.      No thought, whether it is negative or positive, can enter the subconscious mind without the aid of the principle of auto-suggestion.

5.      They could be stopped by the conscious thinking mind, and may be either passed on to the subconscious mind, or rejected at will.

6.      Auto-suggestion is the agency of control through which an individual may voluntarily feed his subconscious mind on thoughts of a creative nature, or by neglect, permit thoughts of a destructive nature to find their way into this rich garden of the mind.

7.      Thoughts do remain stored in the subconscious; they remain just as thye were input, and the more highly emotionalized the thought are when they are input, the more influence they exert on attitude and behavior.

8.     The mere reading of words is of no consequence – unless you mix emotion, or feeling with your words.

9.      Your subconscious mind recognizes and acts upon only thoughts which have been well-mixed with emotion or feeling.

10.  Your ability to use the principle of auto-suggestion will depend largely upon your capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that desire becomes a burning obsession.

11.   Fix in your own mind the exact amount of money you desire, hold your thoughts on that amount of money by concentration, or fixation of attention, with your eyes closed, until you can actually see the physical appearance of the money.

12.  The subconscious mind takes any orders given it in a spirit of absolte faith, and acts upon those orders, although the orders often have to be presented over and over again, through repetition, before they are interpreted by the subconscious mind.

13.  Because you believe it, that you must have the amount of money you are visualizing, that this money is already awaiting your claim, that the subconscious mind must hand over to you practical plans for acquiring the money which is yours.

14.  Do not wait for definite plan, through which you intend to exchange services or merchandise in return for the money you are visualizing, but begin at once to see yourself in possession of the money, demanding and expecting meanwhile, that your subconscious mind will hand over the plan, or plans you need.

15.   When visualizing the money you intend to accumulate (with closed eyes), see yourself rendering the service or delivering the merchandise you intend to give in return for this money. This is important.

16.  Today, auto-suggestion is also called Creative Visualization – a specific technique that involves the use of imagination, creativity, vivid imagery and affirmations, all focused on creating something you wish to manifest in reality.

17.   If you choose to follow some of the instructions but neglect, or refuse to follow others – you will fail! To get satisfactory results, you must follow all instructions in a spirit of faith.

18.  Steps to stimulate subconscious mind to work:

a.      1^st à Go into some quiet spot (preferably in bed at night) where you will not be disturbed or interrupted, close your eyes and repeat aloud, (so you may hear your own words) the written statement of the amount of money you intend to accumulate, the time limit for its accumulation and a description of the service or merchandise you intend to give in return for the money.

b.      As you carry out these instructions, see yourself already in possession of the money.

c.       “I believe that I will have this money in my possession. My faith is so strong that I can now see this money before my eyes. I can touch it with my hands. It is now awaiting transfer to me at the time, in the proportion that I deliver the service I intend to render in return for it. I am awaiting a plan by which to accumulate this money and I will follow that plan, when it is received.”

d.      2^nd à Repeat this program night and morning until you can see, (in your imagination) the money you intended to accumulate.

e.      3^rd à Place a written copy of your statement where you can see it night and morning and read it just before retiring and upon arising until it has been memorized.

19.  Surround yourself with books, pictures, mottoes and other suggestive devices. Pick things that symbolize and reinforce achievement and self-reliance.

20. Constantly add to your collection, and move things to new places where you can see them in a different light and in association with different things.

21.  Remember: your subconscious mind will only act upon instructions which are emotionalized, and handed over to it with feeling. Faith is the strongest, and most productive of the emotions.

22. The time will soon come, if you do as you have been instructed, in spirit as well as in act, when a whole new universe of power will unfold to you.

23. Skepticism, in connection with all new ideas, is characteristic of all human beings. But if you follow the instruction outlined, your skepticism will soon be replaced by belief, and this in turn, will soon become crystallized into absolute faith.

Chapter 5: Specialized Knowledge – Personal Experiences or Observations