“You, and you alone, must decide whether or not the reward is worth the price you must pay for it in effort.”
~ Napoleon Hill
The Third Principle of Success: Autosuggestion.
“Nature has built human beings, so that, through our five senses, we can have control over the material that reaches our subconscious mind. ”
We have already been introduced to the concept of Auto-Suggestion earlier in the book, but it appears so important, Hill gives the concept it’s own chapter. And we are instructed to come back to this chapter – which repeats the Six Steps of Turning Desire into Gold – and re-read it after we finish the book. It is of such great importance, it will warrant repeating in practically every chapter !!
Hill makes note of the fact that just because we can exercise control over our mind, we often don’t, “which explains why so many people go through life in poverty.”
I am once again draw to the similarities in Hill’s understanding of life, and the Buddha’s. Buddha talks about the “Six Sense Doors” which are at the root of our suffering. We are familiar with our normal five senses. The sixth sense – the door of mind (which Hill is discussing) – refers to our thoughts, emotions, and mental images. The Buddha taught that these six modes of perception define the totality of our experience—in other words, every moment of our lives involves experiences that are known by way of one of these sense doors. Further, the Buddha said that each experience received in this way is colored by a feeling tone, which is either pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.
Understanding our experience in these terms reveals the importance of bringing mindfulness to every moment of our existence. The sense doors must be guarded as frequently as possible by mindfulness. Without mindfulness, we become mere creatures of mental conditioning, constantly trying to manipulate our experience so as to increase our pleasure and minimize our pain. And it is through these actions that we divide our world and experience, creating suffering.
As Hill walks us a second time through the Six Steps of Turning Desire into Gold, he says that the mere reading of our Plan is not enough. I must be mixed with emotion or feeling.
Plain unemotional words do not influence the subconscious mind.
Hill asks us not to be discouraged if we cannot control and direct our emotions on the first try. Anyone who has taken up the practice of meditation knows how true this statement is !! But by repeating the instructions, we will create a thought habit that will reinforce our efforts.
But why do we care about impacting the subconscious mind ??
Hill writes: “Do not wait for a definite plan through which you will exchange services or merchandise in return for the money you visualize. Just start right now to see yourself in possession of the money, DEMANDING AND EXPECTING that your subconscious mind will hand over the plans you need.”
He tells us to be on alert (ie. Mindful !!) for these plans. “When they do appear, they will probably “flash” into your mind in the form of inspiration or intuition from Infinite Intelligence.”
When we receive the inspiration, we must act right away. Is there any other way to show faith?
The editor of this book notes that in Hill’s first book “Law of Success”, he tells us to surround ourselves with books, pictures, mottoes, and other suggestive devices. Pick things that symbolize and reinforce achievement and self-reliance. Constantly add to this collection, and move things to a new place where you can see them in a different light and in association with different things.”
I started this year by focusing, and creating a new dreamboard. Each day, I meditate in silence so that I can hear infinite intelligence. I then move to my desk, to look at the images, binders and art which reinforce the person that I am becoming.
“If we do as we are instructed, in spirit as well as in act, the time will soon come when a whole new universe of power will unfold to us.”
