Awakened Imagination

1. Imagination is the key to shaping reality

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Imagination as creative force. Neville Goddard posits that imagination is the fundamental creative power in the universe. It is not merely a mental faculty for daydreaming, but the very essence of reality itself. This concept challenges the conventional understanding of imagination as separate from the "real world."

Practical application. By consciously directing our imagination, we can shape our experiences and circumstances. This involves:

• Visualizing desired outcomes with vivid detail
• Feeling the emotions associated with the fulfilled desire
• Persisting in this imaginative state until it becomes our dominant mental attitude

The author argues that this practice is not wishful thinking, but a deliberate use of a natural law that governs human experience.

2. Inner speech and thought patterns create our outer world

"Inner speech from premises of fulfilled desire is the way to create an intelligible world for yourself."

The power of inner dialogue. Our habitual inner conversations and thought patterns are constantly shaping our external reality. These internal dialogues act as instructions to our subconscious mind, which then works to manifest these patterns in our lived experience.

Changing inner speech. To transform our lives, we must consciously alter our inner speech to align with our desired outcomes. This involves:

• Monitoring our current thought patterns and self-talk
• Deliberately crafting new inner dialogues that reflect our goals and aspirations
• Consistently practicing these new thought patterns until they become habitual

By doing so, we reprogram our subconscious mind and set in motion the forces that will bring our desires into physical reality.

3. Revision is the art of transforming past experiences

"Every time one really forgives—that is, every time one relives the event as it should have been lived—one is born again."

Rewriting the past. Revision is a powerful technique for transforming our perception of past events and their influence on our present and future. It involves mentally reimagining past experiences in a way that aligns with our desired outcomes.

Steps for effective revision:

1. Identify a past event that continues to negatively impact you
2. Reimagine the event as you wish it had occurred
3. Vividly experience this new version in your imagination
4. Repeat this process until the new version feels more real than the original memory

This practice not only changes our relationship to the past but also alters the trajectory of our future by releasing us from limiting beliefs and emotional patterns.

4. The power of living from the end result

"Whenever the actions of the inner self match the actions which the outer, physical self must take to appease desire, that desire will be realized."

Embodying the desired state. Goddard teaches that the most effective way to manifest our desires is to live as if they have already been fulfilled. This involves fully embracing the thoughts, feelings, and actions of our ideal self.

Practical steps:

• Clearly define your desired end result
• Imagine in detail what your life would be like if this desire were already fulfilled
• Mentally and emotionally inhabit this state as often as possible
• Allow your external actions to naturally align with this inner state

By consistently living from the end result, we create a bridge between our current reality and our desired future, making its manifestation inevitable.

5. Conscious direction of imagination leads to desired outcomes

"To passively surrender to appearances and bow before the evidence of facts is to confess that Christ is not yet born in you."

Active creation vs. passive acceptance. Goddard emphasizes the importance of consciously directing our imagination rather than passively accepting our current circumstances. This requires a shift from being a reactive observer of life to becoming an active creator.

Techniques for conscious direction:

• Regular mental rehearsal of desired scenarios
• Cultivating a feeling of naturalness about your desires
• Persistently redirecting attention from unwanted circumstances to desired outcomes
• Developing faith in the unseen reality of your imagination

By consistently practicing these techniques, we train our minds to focus on and manifest our desired reality, rather than reinforcing unwanted circumstances through passive acceptance.

6. The importance of persistent assumption in manifesting desires

"An assumption, though false, if persisted in will harden into fact."

The power of persistence. Goddard teaches that the key to manifesting our desires lies in persistently assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled. This involves maintaining a consistent mental and emotional state aligned with our goals, regardless of external circumstances.

Strategies for persistent assumption:

• Regular visualization and mental rehearsal of desired outcomes
• Emotional alignment with the feeling of the wish fulfilled
• Consistent inner speech that reflects the desired state
• Unwavering faith in the reality of the imagined state

Through persistent assumption, we create a mental atmosphere that inevitably brings our desires into physical manifestation, often in ways we could not have anticipated.

7. Understanding the nature of consciousness and states of being

"Man is all Imagination. God is Man and exists in us and we in Him."

Consciousness as the foundation of reality. Goddard presents a radical view of consciousness, asserting that it is the fundamental substance of all existence. In this perspective, individual consciousness is seen as an individualization of the universal consciousness, or God.

Key concepts:

• All possible states of being already exist within consciousness
• Our experiences are determined by the state of consciousness we occupy
• We can change our reality by shifting our state of consciousness
• The physical world is a reflection of our inner states

Understanding this nature of consciousness empowers us to take full responsibility for our experiences and to consciously choose the states we wish to inhabit.

8. The practice of forgiveness through imaginative revision

"Revision is of greatest importance when the motive is to change oneself, when there is a sincere desire to be something different."

Forgiveness as transformation. Goddard reframes forgiveness as an act of imaginative revision, where we mentally recreate past events in a way that frees us from negative emotions and limiting beliefs.

Steps for forgiveness through revision:

1. Identify a situation that requires forgiveness
2. Reimagine the event with a positive outcome
3. Fully experience this new version emotionally
4. Repeat until the revised version feels more real than the original memory

This practice not only heals past wounds but also transforms our present and future by altering our perception of what is possible in our relationships and experiences.

9. Awakening to the true self as the creative power

"The Real Man is a Magnificent Imagination."

Recognizing our divine nature. Goddard teaches that our true identity is not the limited ego-self, but the infinite creative power of imagination. This awakening to our real nature is the key to unlocking our full potential.

Aspects of awakening:

• Shifting from victim mentality to creator consciousness
• Recognizing that all experiences are projections of our inner states
• Taking full responsibility for our life circumstances
• Embracing the power to consciously create our reality

By awakening to this true self, we move from a state of helplessness and limitation to one of infinite possibility and creative power, fundamentally transforming our relationship with life itself.

Last updated: September 2, 2024