The Power of Awareness (Tarcher Cornerstone Editions)

1. Imagination is the creative power that shapes reality

"Imagination is our redeemer, "the Lord from Heaven" born of man but not begotten of man."

Imagination as divine power. Neville Goddard presents imagination not just as a mental faculty, but as the very essence of our creative power. He equates it with the biblical concept of Christ, suggesting that our imaginative capacity is our direct link to the divine.

Shaping reality through imagination:

• Mental images precede physical manifestation
• What we imagine vividly becomes our experience
• The inner world of imagination is the source of the outer world

Goddard argues that by harnessing our imagination, we can literally reshape our reality. This isn't mere positive thinking, but a fundamental spiritual principle that underlies the nature of existence itself.

2. Assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled

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

Feeling is the secret. Goddard teaches that the key to manifestation is not just visualizing what you want, but fully embodying the feeling of already having it. This emotional alignment is crucial for bringing desires into physical reality.

Steps to assume the feeling:

• Relax your body and mind
• Imagine the scene as if your desire is already true
• Engage all your senses in the imaginal act
• Feel the joy, relief, or satisfaction of fulfillment

By consistently assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled, you create a new pattern in your subconscious mind. This altered state of consciousness then works to align outer circumstances with your inner assumption.

3. Your inner conversations create your outer world

"Your inner speech is perpetually written all around you in happenings."

The power of inner dialogue. Goddard emphasizes that our habitual inner conversations shape our external reality. What we repeatedly tell ourselves becomes our lived experience.

Transforming inner speech:

• Become aware of your current inner dialogue
• Consciously craft new inner conversations aligned with your desires
• Persistently practice these new mental patterns
• Observe how external reality begins to shift

By changing the content and tone of our inner conversations, we can dramatically alter the course of our lives. Every external circumstance is a reflection of our dominant inner thoughts and beliefs.

4. Revision: The art of mental time travel and transformation

"Revision is the pruning shears of the mind."

Rewriting the past. Goddard introduces the powerful technique of revision, where you mentally recreate past events as you wish they had occurred. This practice isn't about denial, but about actively reshaping your memory and, consequently, your future.

How to practice revision:

1. Recall a recent unpleasant or disappointing event
2. Reimagine the scene in vivid detail, but with your desired outcome
3. Feel the emotions associated with this new, ideal version
4. Repeat this process until the new version feels natural and real

Revision allows you to change your emotional reactions to past events, altering their impact on your present and future. It's a form of forgiveness and a tool for personal transformation.

5. Faith is the substance of things hoped for

"Faith does not question—Faith knows."

Understanding true faith. Goddard redefines faith not as blind belief, but as the unwavering conviction in the reality of your imagined state. It's the ability to see and feel your desire as already accomplished, despite contrary evidence.

Cultivating unshakeable faith:

• Practice living from the end result
• Dismiss contradictory sense evidence
• Maintain your assumption regardless of circumstances
• Trust in the invisible law of manifestation

True faith, according to Goddard, is a creative force that shapes reality. It's not about hoping for the best, but knowing with certainty that your desire is already yours on a spiritual level.

6. The law of assumption governs all manifestation

"Man's chief delusion is his conviction that there are causes other than his own state of consciousness."

Consciousness as the only reality. Goddard posits that our assumptions about reality, not external circumstances, determine our experiences. This law of assumption is the fundamental principle governing all manifestation.

Applying the law of assumption:

1. Choose the state you wish to embody
2. Assume the feeling of that state as if it were true now
3. Persist in this assumption, disregarding contradictory evidence
4. Allow the outer world to conform to your inner assumption

By understanding and applying this law, we take responsibility for our reality creation. Every experience is a reflection of our dominant assumptions about ourselves and the world.

7. Change your concept of self to change your life

"You can be anything you want to be if you will only believe it."

Self-concept as destiny. Goddard teaches that our self-concept, or the beliefs we hold about ourselves, determines the course of our lives. By changing how we see ourselves, we change our entire world.

Steps to transform your self-concept:

• Identify limiting beliefs about yourself
• Create a new, ideal self-image
• Live from this new concept in imagination
• Persist until it feels natural and real

As you change your concept of self, your behaviors, opportunities, and experiences naturally align with this new identity. The outer world must conform to your inner self-image.

8. Inner speech is the key to unlocking your desires

"The circumstances and conditions of life are out-pictured inner talking, solidified sound."

The creative power of words. Goddard emphasizes the importance of our habitual inner dialogue in shaping our reality. Our internal conversations are constantly creating our external circumstances.

Harnessing inner speech:

• Become aware of your current inner dialogue
• Craft statements that align with your desires
• Repeat these new inner conversations consistently
• Feel the truth of these statements as you speak them internally

By consciously directing our inner speech, we can reshape our subconscious beliefs and, consequently, our external reality. Every word we speak to ourselves is a seed planted in the garden of our life.

9. Live from the end result, not towards it

"To reach a higher level of being, you must assume a higher concept of yourself."

The power of present tense living. Goddard advises against working towards a goal, and instead advocates living as if the desire is already fulfilled. This shift in perspective is crucial for effective manifestation.

Techniques for living from the end:

• Imagine scenes implying your desire is already true
• Engage in mental conversations as if your wish is fulfilled
• Feel the emotions associated with having your desire now
• Act in your daily life from this new state of being

By consistently living from the end result in your imagination, you align your entire being with the reality you wish to experience. The future you desire is pulled into the present through this practice.

10. Persistence and relaxation are crucial for manifestation

"The art of fortune is to tempt him so to do."

Balancing effort and surrender. Goddard teaches that while persistence is necessary, it must be coupled with a relaxed, natural feeling. Straining or forcing goes against the principle of easy manifestation.

Keys to effortless manifestation:

• Maintain your assumption with gentle persistence
• Relax and know that it is done
• Let go of the "how" and trust the process
• Allow your desire to unfold naturally in its own time

The balancing act of persistent assumption and relaxed acceptance creates the ideal conditions for your desires to manifest. Trust in the law and allow it to work through you effortlessly.

Last updated: August 28, 2024